Book reviews

Impressive New Middle Grade Books You Don’t Want to Miss

Many of these middle-grade books are all about the hard work of growing up– whether they’re about coding or adoption or ADHD or something else — they’re still tackling coming-of-age, too. Coming-of-age means these are about kids growing into young adulthood learning hard-earned life lessons about who they are and how to make sense […]

Your Kids Will Love These New Easy Readers

If you’re a teacher or parent of someone learning to read, you know how important quality, engaging, and interesting reading material is to hook your kids. These new easy readers are really awesome — you’re going to love them! See ALL My Recommended Easy Readers. If your child is learning to read or you teach […]

11 Chapter Books Featuring Kids in Foster Care

Do your kids know about foster care? Or are in foster care themselves? No matter your children’s life experience, chapter books like these about kids in foster care are important to read. For kids who are in foster care, they might see that they are not alone. They’ll see that other kids have gone through […]

What’s New in Middle Grade? More Good Books I’m Reading…June 2019

Want more good middle-grade books to add to your to-read piles? I’m so excited to tell you about these new titles! If you like science fiction and coding, check out The Ghost Network: Activate by I.I. Davidson! If you just want a great adventure, you’ll like Elements of Genius: Nikki Tesla and the […]

Beautiful, Emotional Middle Grade Books That Probably Will Make You Cry

In a strange coincidence, these five early 2019 middle-grade novels share a common thread — they’ll probably be the most beautiful, tender, and emotional stories you’ll read all year. Or even for many years. Not only that, all five of these books include a main character with special needs — intellectual differences as well as physical. […]

14 New Picture Books, Late Fall 2018

I’m happy to share with you 14 more newly published picture books. Also, don’t miss my other recent picture book lists that I grouped into the categories of friendship and bedtime. Some really good read aloud choices!! By the way, did you see when I shared P is for Pterodactyl on Instagram and Facebook? It’s gone crazy […]

10 Favorite Spooky Chapter Books for Middle Grade Readers

written by Kathie MacIsaac, librarian and middle-grade book lover (full bio below) Do you like to read a book that makes you pull the covers a little tighter around you? Do you enjoy a story that gives you goosebumps, or requires you to sleep with the light on? Many kids love scary stories with ghosts […]

Hook Tweens on Magical Realism with These Incredible Books

Magical realism books aren’t like fantasy — there are no magicians or magical creatures — this is a genre of realistic stories containing just a little bit of magic. Like the story of a girl on a farm with chickens who have powers. Or a tree in an orchard who grows things that the child […]