In no particular order, check out these amazing new 2020 middle-grade chapter books. This list contains mystery, historical fiction, survival, sci-fi, and adventure genres — lots of choices for every reader. Middle-Grade Books, February and March 2020 Winterbone Home for Vengence and Valor by Ally Carter MYSTERY April is a foster kid invited to […]
Continue ReadingBooks, Activities, and Games for Elementary Age Kids
Teachers, parents, librarians, and grandparents, find the best book reviews and recommendations, activities, lesson plans, writing ideas, fun educational ideas, games, and toy ideas for elementary age children who are ages 5 to 12.
In the U.S., elementary school is usually kindergarten to fifth or sixth grade.
Here are some quick links to get you started finding good children's chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction books.
5- and 6-Year-Olds:
Best Easy Reader Books for 5 and 6 Year Olds
Best NONFICTION Books for 5 and 6 Year Olds
6- and 7-Year-Olds:
Best Easy / Beginning Chapter Books for 6- and 7- Year- Olds
Best Book Series for 1st Graders
7-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 7 Year Olds (2nd Grade)
18 Fantastic Chapter Book Series for 2nd Graders (7-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 7-Year-Olds
8-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 8-Year-Olds (3rd Grade)
24 Book Series for 3rd Graders (8-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 8-Year-Olds
9-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 9 Year Olds (4th Grade)
32 Book Series for 4th Graders (9-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 9-Year-Olds
10-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 10-Year Olds (5th Grade)
27 Book Series for 5th Graders (10-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 10-Year-Olds
Be the Change! Books to Inspire Activist Kids
An activist is a person who works to bring about political or social change. Use these children’s books about activism to teach your children and students about activists who sparked change in their communities and the world. You’ll read biographies and stories about changemakers and movement starters, females and males, young and old, who stood […]
Continue ReadingGardening Books for Kids
It’s almost spring! Are you excited to start a garden with your kids? Or at least teach your kids about gardening? Then, these gardening books for kids will be helpful tools as you share your love of nature with your children. Garden Toys If your kids don’t have their own play garden toys, I highly […]
Continue ReadingNew Biography Books for Elementary and Middle School
A reading strategy I like to use with children reading nonfiction is connecting to background knowledge. As you read these biographies, both picture books for preschool and elementary ages as well as biographical story collections for upper elementary and middle school, help your kids connect to what they’re reading. Start with prompts like: How are […]
Continue ReadingOwnVoices Beginning Chapter Books for Growing Readers Ages 6 – 9
Continuing my series of OwnVoices books for kids, check out these excellent #ownvoices beginning chapter books. What does OwnVoices mean? OwnVoices is when an author writes about a person or group of which the author also shares their identity. This is particularly important with regard to diversity and continues to be a growing movement. […]
Continue ReadingNew Picture Books, January and February 2020
Want the scoop on the best newly published picture books? Here’s what I’ve been reading and can recommend to you and your students and families. New Picture Books, January and February 2020 Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE / #OWNVOICES This beautifully […]
Continue Reading16 Standout STEM Engineering and Invention Picture Books
Want to find picture books that inspire engineering, tinkering, and invention in kids? Read one or all of these engaging engineering and invention themed books. You’ll love how they show the STEM concepts in such a positive light. And, I bet they’ll put some new ideas in your child’s mind. Ideas like inventing their own […]
Continue ReadingWhere to Find Diverse, Multicultural Books for Kids
What multicultural children’s books are you loving right now? If you’re like me, you always want to learn about new diverse books to share with children. First, let me tell you something exciting…today is the 7th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day. This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen, book-loving […]
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