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The Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix (beginning with Among The Hidden) were so good. Short, intense, with really vibrant and empathetic characters. I remember them really opening my mind to some really complex moral/ethical/political questions for the age range I read them at, which was like 10-12 I think. They made me think about things like, what moral lines would I be willing to cross to save my own life, how would I know the difference between rules that keep order and are unjust and rules that cause trouble but are just, and balancing the reality that there are good people on the “bad side” and bad people on the “good side.”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0689824750/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_JNicGbQGY745P
That definitely sounds like The Westing Game
I absolutely love that book.
Elliot and the goblin war maybe?
Or Goblins in the Castle? (There are two cover art versions in this Amazon link) https://www.amazon.com/Goblins-Castle-Minstrel-Bruce-Coville/dp/0671727117/ref=asc_df_0671727117/
Ok so on amazon theres a boxset with the hardcovers and i think its that design also, and on there it says the dimensions are 19 x 15 x 10 inches for the box, so i suppose it should be something similar to that? but i dont know about each individual book, sorry. Good luck! https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Hard-Cover-Boxed/dp/0545044251?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_2
Could it be The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base? It's about an elephant's birthday party but animals are disguised in the pictures. https://www.amazon.com/Eleventh-Hour-Curious-Mystery/dp/0140561609 is the link to look inside to see if it is.
This is a bit of an oldie, but I cannot recommend highly enough The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm.
It's a bit low on the YA side (I'd say 8-10 years), but it's a fascinating story in a work that's well built and very similar to our own. It also focuses on an area of the Earth that I don't read many science fiction / fantasy stories centered around.
Don't know what grade you're teaching, but here's what I use for my 6th English ESP: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg.
Since it's an emergency plan, it's basic, simple, and allows for maximum creativity with minimum prep for the sub.
The book is full of beautiful black and white art, each with a fanciful motif. On the opposite page, is a single sentence which comments on the image. My students have the period to write their own short story based on the photo they select or are given.
I have made several copies of each page, enough for all of my students with extras. Students are given an image at random, as well as the caption, which they may use as their story idea or not. They have to show evidence of brainstorming before writing. They may ask partners for help. Sub wanders the room giving guidance, helping with words/grammar/syntax, and reminding the class of time remaining.
Works every time. There are several pages online with other lesson plans on the same book. Check them out and see if one might work better for you.
Check out The Eleventh Hour. Its a kids book, but it is full of codes and messages that help solve the mystery of the book which is sealed in the back.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Eleventh-Hour-Curious-Mystery/dp/0140561609
Very cool, your stuff reminds me of this book by Chris VanAllsburg. You're a really good artist.