These absorbing middle-grade reads have a timeless, almost old-fashioned appeal, with stories sure to be classics. And with Newbery Medal winners in the mix, this lineup gets five stars.

"The Boy on the Porch" by Sharon Creech; HarperCollins; 160 pages; $16.99.

Just seeing the name Sharon Creech cemented to me how good this little book would be. The heartwarming tale of a young farm couple who discovers a sleeping little boy on their porch, Creech's beautiful story is calm and reassuring for 8- to 11-year-olds, and the rare timeless tale will appeal to boys and girls alike. Jacob can't speak and is with John and Marta for quite awhile. They learn to love and care for him as their own. The pair realizes it most when Jacob's harsh father comes to take him back. It's then that they decide to care for many needy kids and invite foster children into their home. Though they stay pining for Jacob, wondering how he's doing.

With a vintage farmland setting, loving old beagle pet and country accents, "The Boy on the Porch" is a quick page-turner sure to hook youngsters. Happily, at the end of the lovely book, Jacob returns for a visit, sure to wrap up Creech's latest winner with a smile.

"Snap" by Ellie Rollins; Razorbill; 320 pages; $16.99.

The author of "Zip" returns with this zesty tale of a girl and her best friend who take pet pony Sancho on a high-stakes journey down the Mississippi River. Danya Quixote and her friend Pia are guided by a list of heroic tasks taken from one of the books of her estranged author grandmother. They face crocodiles and Louisiana casinos on their way to Florida, where Danya's abuelita lives. Some of their tasks? Receive supernatural aid, speak to a prophet, rescue someone suffering an injustice and give chase to the enemy.

With a highly lively, often funny way of storytelling, author Ellie Rollins has created a pair of friends who learn much along their journey, including that real treasure isn't in a box or wallet, but inside each of them. Adventurous girls especially will be thrilled by this exciting read.

"One Year in Coal Harbor" by Polly Horvath; Schwartz & Wade; 224 pages; $16.99.

Polly Horvath's "Everything on a Waffle" was a Newbery Honor Book, and this sequel is heading that way. Primrose Squarp, the invincible heroine of the first book, returns to Coal Harbor to try to fix everything — Uncle Jack and Miss Bowzer's relationship, the logging of the local mountains and Ked, a local foster child turned best friend.

Horvath's down-home way of writing is hilariously endearing (she calls some tangly haired, non-meat eaters "vegetarian war orphans"), incredibly witty and clever. Readers will fall in love (or awe) with everyone they encounter in this amazing tale. Part Pippi Longstocking, part Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird," Horvath's Primrose is a young female character readers will never forget.

"Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green" by Helen Phillips; Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 304 pages; $17.99.

Another quirky, fabulous adventure starring girls, Phillips' new tale introduces a pair of sisters with no fear, tons of smarts and heart. Mad and Roo brave the Amazon jungle to search for their father, who is missing after getting a job to track birds in Central America.

Prompted to action by "the Very Strange and Incredibly Creepy Letter," which doesn't sound like their father at all, the girls journey to Lava Bird Volcano to find their dad themselves. Along the way, they make some unusual friends, face lots of trouble and get closer to each other.

With mystery, high-energy action and tons of adventure, this jungle cruise brings to mind a sort of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," this time starring feisty sisters.

KIDBITS

Looking for a worthy app to play? Bookopotamus is an audiobook trivia app designed to entertain book lovers while raising money for First Book, a nonprofit organization making sure all children have new books. Available via the Apple's App Store and Google Play, this new app exposes more users to the value of audiobooks. In each round of Bookopotamus, the player — usually older kids and adults — is presented with an audible audiobook quote and asked to guess, against the clock, which book it is from. The earlier the answer is provided, the higher the player's score. As they play, users evolve from curious little Bookworms into Bookopotamuses with insatiable appetites for books.

Book selections range from bestsellers to the classics. Context clues within the quotes can guide even those with less book exposure to find the right answer. The more people who download the app and play, the larger the donation creator Findaway World is making to First Book. Donations will continue to accumulate through March 2014.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.