Get your kids ages 5 to 18, reading with book recommendations from these up-to-date summer reading lists. They’re at every grade level from elementary to middle school to high school!! Over the summer, choose books on the grade level they will be going into. (Unless you know that your child needs modifications up or down.) Reading, […]
Continue ReadingCompelling Hero’s Journey Chapter Books
What is the hero’s journey? It’s a story about an imperfect hero who goes on an adventure where he or she learns lessons through mistakes and triumphs, wins some sort of victory, and returns home a different person. Joseph Campbell famously wrote more about this concept in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces. […]
Continue Reading8 New Chapter Books, June 2020
Ready for a batch of new book to add to your library holds list? I have 8 new books for you to consider. New Chapter Books, June 2020 Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk HISTORICAL FICTION / GREAT DEPRESSION When Ellie’s family loses everything in the Great Depression, they move to a Maine mountain. She […]
Continue ReadingImpressive New Graphic Novels (June & July 2020)
Get your kids reading more with graphic novels. Here’s what’s new — and good. (I’ve starred books that will be on my “best of 2020” with a purple star.) Impressive New Graphic Novels When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy ages 8 – 12 REFUGEE […]
Continue ReadingEdge-of-Your-Seat Survival Chapter Books For Kids
If your reader likes survival chapter books that are fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventures, I’ve got 27 great recommendations. Because a parent recently told me that her tween daughter only likes survival stories, I wanted to share with you the best of the best. (Incidentally, I think her daughter is not alone; lots of tween kids ages […]
Continue Reading30 Children’s Books with Muslim Characters
Children’s books, picture and chapter books, with Muslim characters show representation, open kids’ eyes to new cultures, and build empathy. We still need more books with Muslim characters. Hopefully. publishers will realize that readers like us want to see more diversity and continue to offer more books with diverse characters. The books on […]
Continue ReadingDiverse Easy Readers for Emergent and Early Readers
What are the best diverse easy readers for emergent and early readers? You may have noticed that most easy readers contain animal main characters. While diversity has gotten a little better in some categories such as realistic beginning chapter books and realistic middle grade books, we still aren’t seeing much representation in early readers. (Or […]
Continue ReadingAnti-Racist Books for Kids Ages 8 – 12
If you’re looking for anti-racist books for kids ages 8 – 12, read these middle grade choices to build empathy and teach kids about prejudice, social justice, and discrimination. How can talk about race with our children? How can we educate children so they’re anti-racist and advocates for social justice? One way to do this […]
Continue ReadingPicture Books That Teach Kids About Prejudice, Inclusion, and Kindness
(Originally published 11/2018, updated 6/2020.) My heart is heavy with the recent surge of institutionalized bullying from leaders, wide-spread, systemic racism from police against black Americans, and prejudice against people who are not in the dominant culture including BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Teachers and parents have asked me to share picture books you […]
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