If your beginning reader loves The Magic Tree House books and they've finished the entire series, they're probably wondering what books to read next. Not to worry. I've made a list of suggestions for your Magic Tree House fans. Try these read alike books -- books with mystery, adventure, and fantasy that will keep your growing reader reading and reading... (Good for ages 6 - 9.) If You Love The … [Read more...]
Read Alike Books for Kids Who Love The Princess in Black
Princess in Black is a delightful fiction adventure about a spunky princess who secretly fights monsters. It's a hugely popular easy chapter book. And if you love The Princess in Black books, here are book ideas of what to read next, books that you'll love just as much. The tricky thing for me when recommending read alike books is to give you titles that are more or less at the same reading … [Read more...]
What’s New in Beginning Chapter Books
Here's what's new in beginning chapter books for spring 2018 -- or at least, what's new that I've read and liked. :) What's New in Beginning Chapter Books Our Principal is a Frog by Stephanie Calmenson, illustration Aaron Blecha (ages 5 - 8)I'm very excited about this new, SHORT, easy chapter book series called QUIX from Aladdin / Simon and Schuster. This an engaging story about a … [Read more...]
Wholesome Easy Chapter Books for Girls Ages 6 – 9 (No Sassiness)
I just wrote an easy chapter book list for boys with NO potty humor or sassiness. Many of you asked me for a similar list for girls. Because often (not always), girls and boys are interested in different topics and types stories so I'm making this new list for girls. If you're looking for wholesome easy chapter books for girls about polite kids who aren't sassy or rude, you're going to want to … [Read more...]
A Wholesome Early Chapter Book List for Boys (No Potty Humor, No Rudeness)
A reader who works at a conservative school asked me for a wholesome book list for beginning (early / easy) chapter books that do NOT have potty humor nor rude characters with sass but would interest boy readers. So, I made this new list, specifically for that. These books are my choices for boys ages 6 - 9 with nice kids and plots that are decidedly lacking in toilet jokes. An important … [Read more...]
WellieWishers Easy Chapter Books & Dolls from American Girl
American Girl recently launched WellieWishers, early chapter books and a line of adorable 14 1/2-inch dolls (retail $60) all featuring wellies (rain boots.) My kids and I think the wellie boots are super cute -- as are the dolls themselves. (Which, of course, you can order to own and wear yourself.) The WellieWishers chapter books are lovely -- sweet, nature- and friendship- oriented. Buy … [Read more...]
The Best Chapter Books 2015
I've been reading like crazy to find the best chapter books of 2015. (Don't tell but I've even abandoned books in the middle if I knew they weren't that great!) After much time reading and deliberation, here's my final list of the best chapter books for children ages 5 to 12 -- from easy chapter books through middle grade. The Best Easy Chapter Books of 2015 1. Shivers! The Pirate Who's … [Read more...]
Motivating, Easy-To-Read Chapter Books: BRANCHES
I love the Scholastic BRANCHES “Pick a Series, Grow a Reader” books because they keep kids motivated to read with something for everyone. There's 14 book series about so many topics: superhero chickens, horses, joining a circus, magical twins, a haunted school, and lots more. The BRANCHES book series are designed for newly independent readers (ages 5 - 8) who aren't quite ready for regular … [Read more...]
14 NEW Beginning Chapter Book Reviews, Fall 2015
If you're at that stage (around age six or seven) when your child is taking off with reading, you're no doubt searching for excellent books. Start with these beginning chapter book reviews and see what she want to read first. Let him choose the books. You buy them or check them out. Then find lots of time for reading every day. Go, you! For lots of at-home reading ideas, read this … [Read more...]
Second Grade Summer Reading List
Summer reading lists . . . summer reading programs . . . Yes, it's that time of year again --summer vacation. If you're looking good books for kids going into second grade (2nd grade), these books will keep your child reading. As you know, the more a child reads, the more vocabulary she'll learn and the better her comprehension skills. (Unless there is a learning disability.) So whether or … [Read more...]
10 Terrific Beginning Chapter Books (2014 Cybils)
When kids start transitioning to chapter books, they need good easy chapter books. This year, I'm jugding the Cybils Easy Reader / Short Chapter Books category and I'm looking for well-written books that kids will love which were published in 2014. Remember that beginning chapter books are characterized by having short chapters, a larger font size, and illustrations that support the story. Here … [Read more...]
Best Chapter Books of 2014
We always give at least one gift that is a book, do you? If you have a child who reads chapter books or YA books, here are my picks for the BEST children's books of 2014. Best Chapter Books 2014 1. The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler (ages 6 - 9) MYSTERY My daughter and I loved this entertaining new beginning reader chapter book series about a boy ghost, Kaz, who is blown away from … [Read more...]