We all know reading aloud to children is important. Many studies have proven this time and time again. One of my reading heroes, Jennie Fitzkee, preschool teacher and the author of the blog Teacher’s Reflections: 30 Years of Wonder, has written post after post about the importance of read alouds. Many of those posts have given me chills and some have brought tears, because they share her stories of how that daily time of sharing chapter books inspires the children in her classes to become lifelong readers. In fact, children don’t need to be preschoolers or even elementary age, they can be any age. In fact, as Donlyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer and another one of my reading heroes, recently said “We do not age out of read alouds. (If we did the audiobook industry would not be thriving)”!

With summer coming (you can tell I’m dreaming about it from my picture!) there’s more time for family read alouds. With our busy lives, though, you just might need to be a little creative to find that time! Here are a few suggestions:

• In the sandbox
• On a swing
• During play dough time on a rainy day.
• During breakfast or lunch
• Audio books as you drive to one of the kids’ summer activities. Your library has lots of titles for downloading or books on CD. It might make those traffic jams a little more bearable for all of you!
• Audio books as you cook dinner together
• And of course, bedtime.

Now, I want to offer some titles I’m sure your entire family will enjoy. That means mom, dad and kids of all ages! Jennie Fitzkee offers some great suggestions in her post, Chapter Reading.  Here are mine!

the lost boy’s gift – by kimberly willis holt 

This sweet story is full of heart, magic, endearing characters and talking animals. It takes place on a storybook street lined with rainbow colored houses full of caring neighbors who notice the world. In one of those houses you’ll find Tilda Butter, who has lived there since her parents dropped her off when she was seven years old and never returned to take her home. Soon after Tilda arrived Aunt Sippy said something rather remarkable. She told Tilda that everyone has a special gift and it’s up to us to discover it and use it. “For a gift should never be wasted.” Shortly after that conversation, Tilda learned about her special gift. She realized she can talk to animals and bugs, and in fact has delightful conversations every day.

Now Tilda is getting new neighbors. Daniel and his mother are moving in next door, but Daniel’s dad is not coming with them. He stayed in their old townhome across the county. Daniel is very sad about his dad staying behind and about moving to a new house. He doesn’t share his mother’s feelings, or his neighbors that he is very fortunate to be living on While-a-Way Lane. He explores the neighborhood and discovers the local pond, lots of animals and lots of trees. He also makes some special friends – the lightning bugs who give him a hug when he needs it the most. And he begins to notice things about his neighbors, the animals and most of all about his mother. Maybe Daniel is learning what it means to live on While-a-Way Lane.

This warm, loving story is one you will remember for a long time. It’s one you will want to read aloud to all ages as you snuggle up together and marvel at the magic you’ll find together on While-a-Way Lane. Teachers, please read it to your class (preschool – grade 3). Librarians, please order it for your elementary library.

wishtree – by Katherine applegate

Just like almost everyone else who has reviewed this beautiful book, I truly loved it. It is such a gentle story full of empathy, compassion and friendship. It would make a wonderful read aloud from preschool through middle school. The narrator is the 253 year old red oak, Red, who has grown old, strong and beautiful while he watched his neighborhood evolve around him. He has watched immigrants from all over the world live in harmony in the houses on his street.  He is close friends with all of the animals who call him home. And most importantly he is the neighborhood Wishtree. Every year on May 1, and some other days as well, his branches are adorned with wishes from young and old. They might be silly wishes like “I wish for chocolate spaghetti”, but they also might be heartfelt wishes, such as “I wish for a friend.” This was the wish from Samar, a Muslim girl who had recently moved to the neighborhood. Unfortunately, her family had not been welcomed. Red decided he would change that. He would help Samar get a friend.

This book deserves to be on every family’s forever bookshelf and shared with everyone you know.. It’s definitely going to be on mine!

the vanderbeekers of 141st street – by karina yan glaser

When I finished this book I realized I had fallen in love with the Vanderbeeker family on the very first page! I wanted to slip right into their cozy Harlem brownstone and join one of their rousing neighborhood get-togethers. I loved every member of this caring family from Laney, the 4 ¾ year old who goes through life handing out huge hugs, to 6 year old creative animal lover Hyacinth, to 9 year old book loving Oliver, to 12 year old twins, Isa and Jessie, and of course mom and dad. This is a story about community, diversity, city living and love. It’s a perfect read aloud for the entire family. I highly recommend gathering all the kids, whatever age, cuddling up under a fuzzy blanket and reading this delightful story together. You’ll find yourself yearning for a large caring family, lots of caring neighbors and wishing you could move to 141st Street in Harlem! This is just book one. Happily there is a book 2, and you’ll get to visit them with them again in September when a third Vanderbeekers will be published. I can’t wait!

the penderwicks – by jeanne birdsall

This delightful story introduces you to the four Penderwick sisters, their loving father who sometimes speaks to them in Latin, their neighbor, Jeffrey, two pet rabbits, Hound and finally Jeffrey’s stern, high society mother. The descriptions of their adventures in a run down summer rental on the shores of Massachusetts will have your kids laughing and begging for “just one more chapter.” And the great thing is there are four books in this series!

the unlikely story of a pig in the city – by jodi kimball

This is a charming story about family, friendship, teamwork and of course, animals. Josie is one of five children in a loving, lively family living in a small townhouse in an Ohio city, who often feels overlooked. When her brother brings home a piglet on Thanksgiving, the runt of the litter from a nearby farm, Josie falls in love and knows in her heart she was meant to save Hamlet.

I especially loved the relationships the five children had with each other, as well as with their loving parents, while they struggled to happily live together in a 3 bedroom city townhome. Each of the kids tries to find his or her place in the family, where there is a lot of competition, but also a lot of support and love for one another. The teamwork among the kids when they are down to the deadline for finding a new home for Hamlet, is heartwarming and brought tears to my eyes, as well as a big smile. This is great family read aloud and a special one for Charlotte’s Web fans and Penderwick fans! And don’t miss the second book in the series, Dog Days in the City.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo

This book was shared at my school with all ages and was loved universally. I’m sure your family will agree!

From Good Reads: “Someone will come for you, but first you must open your heart. . . .”

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely.

And then, one day, he was lost.

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes’ camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.”

These are just a few of my ideas for read alouds. I’m sure you have lots more. I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

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How the week has flown by! It’s Spring Break week in our county and it’s a time for lots of family adventures, some nearby in Chicago, and Wisconsin and some a little further away where there are sunny skies and warm temperatures. We’ve spent the week at our lake house in Michigan we’ve had mostly gray skies and rain. However, that means LOTS of time for reading. I’ve actually read several adult books this week, as well as kids’ books. Here are two of my favorites.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow. I read the Potato Peel Pie Society years ago and recently heard a recommendation from one of my favorite adult book bloggers, Modern Mrs. Darcy, suggesting if you had liked The Potato Peel Pie Society, you would love The Last Telegram, and it was so true. They are both set in England during World War II. You learn about the hardships, the fears and the bravery of those at home, while their loved ones were in the midst of battle. My father was a World War II veteran, and my mother was in high school during the war, so I feel that I have a much better understanding of their experiences after reading these historical fiction books. I highly recommend both of them!

Now back to kids’ books. Here is this week’s Kids’ Books to Remember. I hope these titles will help you find some new books that will become family favorites!

Kids’ books to remember: read aloud

As always, the books this week are those the whole family will enjoy, even your little ones. The links are to Amazon descriptions where you can read a short summary of the story, however these titles should be readily available at your library, as well.

No Flying in the House by Betty Brock

Abel’s Island by William Steig

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

KIDS’ BOOKS TO REMEMBER: picture books

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

This story reminds me of our family reunions each summer in Michigan. I always look forward so much to everyone getting together, but then I’m a little sad once everyone leaves. That is, until I remember that hopefully we’ll all be together once again next summer!

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Molly Lou may be small and a little different, but she has the self confidence to stand up to the meanest bully.

Duck! Rabbit! by jAmy Krouse Rosenthall

I’ve been sharing this delightful book with kindergartners for years and I always get the same response. They delight in the story – is the main character a duck or a rabbit? This will prompt lots of conversations with your little ones, as they tell you why they are SURE it’s a duck or a rabbit! I just realized this is available as a board book, too, so this would be great for your little one who hasn’t quite learned about being careful with a picture book.

KIDS’ BOOKS TO REMEMBER: chapter books or middle grade books

Scumble by Ingrid Law

This used to be a favorite in my library. It’s a fantasy that is full of action and adventure. “The title stands alone in its fast-paced plot with twists and turns galore, and readers familiar with Savvy will eat it up and wish for more.” – School Library Journal

The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merill

Rufus doesn’t set out to be a millionaire. He just wants to save some money on his next tube of toothpaste, but with help from his friends he starts a million dollar business!

Danger Box by Blue Balliet

This mystery is by one of my favorite middle grade authors. It’s set in Michigan, not far from my home, which adds to the fun and the intrigue. This story is full of secret codes, mysterious strangers and a box containing many secrets. Grade 4 and up.

links for mom and dad

Things I Should Have Known Review

This is a great new book for for your middle or high school child. The review comes from a Wisconsin librarian who is a favorite of mine on Instagram.

13 Read-Alouds to Help you Connect with Your Middle Schooler

This list includes so many titles that will help prompt some great conversations with your middle or high schooler.

It’s OK to Write or Draw in These Books! (Gasp!)

If your kiddos love to draw, and you’d love to inspire even more creativity, these would be great additions to their Easter Basket!

Once again, thank you for inviting me into your inbox to help you prepare for your week. What are some titles you’ve found at your library that you’d like everyone to know about? Please let us know in the comments. Have a wonderful week, full of budding flowers and sunny skies (I may be dreaming, but that is truly my wish for you, wherever you are!).

Are you wondering what books to get for the kids on your list? I have 36 books from different genres that are sure to excite your children and will help you find the perfect chapter book gifts!

chapter book gifts: realistic fiction

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Ally is dyslexic and has no faith in herself, but her teacher helps her to find her true potential.

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff. Trent is starting middle school and he’s heard the stories about it being such a rough time. However, after his experience in fifth grade he is hoping that it’s a big improvement and he can make a fresh start! Then after Trent stands up for a girl in the park, Fallon, who is being teased and bullied because of her severe scar, they slowly become friends, but it’s not easy. As you read this book, you’ll find your heart breaking a bit for both of the kids, but you’ll also find yourself feeling very proud of how they tackle their problems.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall; Lexile 800 – 940; AR 4.7 – 5.6. This is a fun chapter book series about four sisters, a very interesting boy and two rabbits. The books are heart warming stories, which are full of adventure.

Sports Illustrated for Kids Chapter Book series by various authors. Lexile 500 – 570; AR 3.0 – 3.7. These are short, easy to read chapter books, each focusing on a different sport

Judy Moody by Megan McDonald.  Lexile 490 – 590; AR 2.9 – 4.2. Judy is a third grader with lots of dilemmas, but she always seem to devise an intriguing solution to every problem. These are fun to read easy chapter books to entice early readers.

The Year of… series by Andrea Cheng (realistic fiction). Lexile 590 – 690; AR 3.9 – 4.3. This charming series is narrated by 11 year old Anna who exhibits thoughtfulness and understanding of others in each book.

The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick. Lexile 800 – 890; AR 4.6 – 5.1.Realistic fiction; Each book in the series focuses on the book being read and discussed by the mothers and the sixth grade daughters in the group, such as Little Women or Pride and Prejudice. The stories explore the relationships between the mothers and daughters, the daughters relationships to one another and their growing up experiences.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. In a few short months, Jeremy will turn 13. Then a mysterious wooden box is delivered, but it is locked up tight with no key to be found. This story describes Jeremy’s search for the key to the box left to him by his late father, so that he can learn the true meaning of life before his 13th birthday.

Everyday Angel series by Victoria Schwab – realistic fiction, (ages 8 – 12). Lexile 690 – 730; AR 4.6 – 5.1 This sweet three book series focuses on an angel, Aria, who is earning her wings by helping girls who are struggling.

Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger.  Lexile 680 – 760; AR 4.6 – 4.9. Dwight, normally thought of as a loser in the sixth grade at McQuarrie Middle School, leads the class to solve their problems with a wise and all knowing finger puppet, Yoda.

Cupcake Diaries by Coco Simon. Lexile 600 – 780; AR 4.0 – 4.8. Katie feels a bit lost when she starts middle school, but she soon finds three new friends who join her to form a cupcake club that spreads joy and earns money.

The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz. This is an inspiring story for a read aloud or for your child to read on their own. After her Grandma’s death, Nina decides to do something ordinary and unnoticed every day of the 65 days of summer to see if she can really make a difference.

chapter book gifts: Humor

Sideways Stories by Louis Sachar. Lexile 440 – 550 ; AR 3.3 – 3.8; Wayside School was supposed to have 30 classrooms all on one floor, but the builder made a mistake and put them one on top of each other, so the school is 30 stories high. And all sorts of strange and funny things happen in those rooms, especially on the 13th floor!

Clementine Series by Sara Pennypacker and Marla Frazee. Lexile 670 – 720. AR 3.9 – 4.6. A very funny series about Clementine, who has ideas “constantly springing up in her brain” which very often lead to a trip to the principal’s office.

Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Lexile 530 – 850; AR 4.3 – 5.1. These are funny, action packed chapter books filled with lots of illustrations on each page, as well as a bonus comic section, which help to draw in a reluctant reader.

chapter book gifts: mysteries

Friday Barnes, Girl Detective by R.S. Spratt; This is such a new series that it doesn’t yet have a lexile or AR level, but I think it will be for grades 4 – 7. I’m including it because I think it’s going to be very popular and is the perfect choice for those voracious readers who enjoy a good mystery. It got starred reviews in Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, which is always a good sign.

A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy. Lexile 410 – 550. AR 3.4 – 3.9. Third Graders, Dink and his pals Josh and Ruth work their way through the alphabet mystery series for young detectives.

Ivy and Bean by Anne Barrows. Lexile 490 – 550; AR 3.2 -3.9. The series follows the adventures of best friends, Ivy and Bean, as they solve one mystery after another.

Ballpark Mysteries by David A. Kelly and Mark Meyers. Lexile 540 – 590. AR 3.7 – 4.0. These are fun, puzzling mysteries, with two nine year old detectives as the main characters. Every story is set at a different ballpark and includes historical details about the park.

Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobel; Lexia 580 – 720; AR 3.9 – 5.2. Each book contains ten stories and always begins the same, with an explanation about who Encyclopedia is. Therefore, the books can be read in any order, which makes it very easy when checking them out from the library or buying the book. Encyclopedia is a fifth grade super detective who always solves the mystery by the end of the chapter. Readers can check their own solutions with Encyclopedia’s, which are found at the back of each book.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. This is a hilarious mystery, with endearing characters.

chapter book gifts: historical fiction 

I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis. Lexile 590 – 740; AR 3.9 – 6.4. Each book describes an 11 year old boy’s experiences in the midst of a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, Pearl Harbor and the Hindenberg.

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz describes the adventures and struggles of the first female rider for the Pony Express.

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood. This story describes Gloriana June Hemphill’s life in Hanging Moss, Missippi, during the summer of 1964. She is so excited to celebrate her birthday in just a few weeks at her community pool, but after it becomes law that the pool must be integrated, it is closed to all. This is a memorable novel about fighting discrimination, family, friendship and making choices.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. In a series of poems, the author shares her experiences of being an Aftrican American girl growing up in the 60s and 70s during the Civil Rights Movement.

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This novel tells the story of Ada and Jamie as they struggle to find safety, love and a new family in the British countryside during World War II.

chapter book gifts: graphic novels 

Smile series by Raina Telemeier (realistic fiction, graphic novel) Stories about growing up told with humor and art.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney; Lexile 950 – 1020 (You need not be concerned about this high level, because this is a graphic novel and is enjoyed by all ages. A great choice for reluctant readers!); AR 5.2 – 5.8. This series, which is full of harmless fun, follows Greg Heffley as he records his daily middle school life.

Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce. Lexile 420 – 520; AR 2.4 – 3.5.Big Nate is a mischievous, fun middle school character who encounters a lot of stress because of his teachers, his parents and his annoying older sister.

chapter book gifts: fantasy 

Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne; Lexile 230 – 540; AR 2.8 – 4.0. This series describes Annie and Jack’s adventures as they fly through time in a magic treehouse.

Half Upon a Time series by James Riley. Jack, son of Jack and the Beanstalk is working to save his family’s reputation along with the help of May, who is actually from this world and is very confused to discover that she is in the middle of a fairy tale adventure.  

Story Thieves series by James Riley. Owen is bored with his life and is in the library when he sees his classmate, Bethany climb out of a storybook. It turns out she is half storybook character and is searching every book in the library looking for her fictional father. Owen is sworn to secrecy and joins her in her search.

Fablehaven Series by Brian Mull; Lexile 700 – 790; AR 4.8 – 5.6. Kendra and Seth are sent to spend the summer with their grandfather, who they barely know. He warns them to stay out of the woods surrounding his house, but of course, Kendra and Seth can’t help but venture into the forest. Their explorations lead them into many adventures after discovering the mythical and magical creatures that live there.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan; Lexile 630 – 790: AR 4.3 – 6.0. This is an extremely popular series with lots of action and adventure involving Greek Gods and monsters.

Heros of Olympus by Rick Riordan; Lexia 620 – 690; AR 5.2 – 6.1. This is the follow-up series to Percy Jackson which includes the same main characters and brings their adventures to a satisfying conclusion.

Tuesdays at the Castle series by Jessica Day George; Lexia 770 – 830; AR 5.2 – 5.8. This series describes growing up in magical Castle Glower that grows new rooms and secret passageways to help the princess and her siblings in their daily adventures.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien; Lexile 790; AR 5.1. Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse with four small children and a huge problem. She must move her family to their summer home immediately, or face almost certain death. This is the first of three books in the series. If your child enjoys these, you can suggest The Redwall series by Brian Jacques next.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Roz, a robot, finds herself alone on a desert island with no way to get home. However, Roz is very intelligent and very adaptable, so she quickly learns how to cope with living in the wood by observing the unwelcoming animals. This novel is heart warming, full of action and is one you won’t want to miss!

Now your life just got a little easier! Surely some of these titles will  help you to check off the chapter book readers on your list! Do you have some titles I’ve missed? Please let us know in the comments, so that everyone’s December is a little easier!

P.S. The picture book gift list is coming soon!

a year ago: Children’s Chapter Books for Christmas Gifts

Children’s Picture Books for Christmas Gifts

What a wonderful week it has been in our house! I am so thankful that much of my family gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving. It all began with the preparations and the cooking (which is half the fun) and ended with a delicious dinner last night with all of my kids. In between, we had a fun siblings night with my sisters, brother and spouses at our house, while the cousins gathered together at my son’s home, a great Thanksgiving brunch and dinner, a fun “turkey trot” on Friday, along with a birthday party that night celebrating my brother-in-law’s 60th birthday. We were even lucky enough to get to share the evening with some our new in-laws (after two weddings this summer, our family is definitely growing! How fun is that?!). And to top everything off, I heard some very kind words about Red Canoe Reader. What a perfect weekend!

Now that we’re all getting back into the routine, I wanted to let you know about some books to add to your library lists for your kiddos. These are definitely some kids’ books to remember!

kids’ Books to Remember: read aloud 

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L.Konigsburg

Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien

Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson

kids’ books to remember: picture books

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

The Piggy in the Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones

kids’ books to remember: chapter books

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

links for mom and dad

Tips to Encourage Kids to Spend Time Reading

25 Picture Books that Promote Empathy and Respect

a bronx librarian keen on teaching homeless children a lasting love of books

posts you may have missed on red canoe reader

beginning chapter book series list is here

Historical Fiction: reading about kids in the past

Do you have some kids’ books to remember? Please let me know in the comments! Look for a post very soon about some books to add to your holiday shopping list!

Before I began to write this blog, I followed several people who blogged about adult books and their lives. My two favorites, by far, are Modern Mrs. Darcy and Emily P. Freeman’s blog, Chatting at the Sky. This past Friday, I received an update from Chatting at the Sky, titled “Let’s Share What We Learned in January”. I’m sure I’ll be reading a similar post from Modern Mrs. Darcy in the next few days. I love this practice, because it encourages you to look back and appreciate your experiences. In September, I started keeping lists of what I learned each month. It’s amazing how many things one learns, large and small, each month. This got me to thinking about all the new books from 2015. In an average year over 5000 children’s books are published. That number is always amazing to me! So I decided to put a little bit of a twist on “What I Learned this Month” and change it to “New Chapter Books I have learned about in 2015”.

When I was a school librarian, I always kept up with the new books by reading many reviews from so many sources. I received weekly emails notifying me about what was coming. I was able to keep up to date with my favorite authors and my favorite genres which enabled me to keep the library collection current. Unfortunately, when I lost my school email address I lost touch with those organizations Luckily, now I am renewing my contacts with many sources, and as I do that I am discovering some new kids’ chapter books that I missed. So I decided to share these with you. I hope you might find some special books to share with your child or your class.

Chris Grabenstein chapter books

We’ll start with the chapter book, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. This is a great adventure that reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Mr. Lemoncello, the most creative and notorious game maker in the world, being very similar to Willy Wonka. The characters are led on a wild and crazy game while they are locked in the amazing, state of the art library. Happily, the author, Chris Grabenstein has published two more books, which are equally fascinating, The Island of Dr. Libris and Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics.

Wendy Mass Chapter books

Wendy Mass has been one of my favorite authors for many years. Her books all contain a surprising twist with a little magic and wonder mixed in! They appeal to both boys and girls. My favorite of all is probably Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Jeremy and his best friend spend the summer before his 13th birthday searching for the key to a mysterious wooden box which is said to contain the meaning of life. 

I was delighted when I was looking at my local library “Battle of the Books” shelf and discoverd a new book by Miss Mass that I didn’t know about, Pi in the Sky. 

She has written so many other notable and extremely popular books as well, such as Every Soul a Star and her Willow Fall Series.

lisa graff chapter books

I was delighted to see that another favorite author had written a new book, Lost in the Sun. This book has appeared on all of the “Best of 2015 Chapter Book” lists, and I’m not surprised. She has written so many well loved books in the past. Her books can be mystical or they can tug at your heart strings, but they are always memorable.

pam munoz ryan chapter books

The first Pam Munoz Ryan book I read was a historical fiction book, Riding Freedom, which described the first female rider for the Pony Express. This book is especially memorable to me, because I partner read this book with my third grade niece, Julia, many years ago. I was taking a Children’s Literature class at the time and one of the assignments, was to partner read a book with a child. Julia was living in New Jersey, but thanks to email, we were easily able to share our thoughts about the book. In fact, if you have a child in your life who is not close by, I highly recommend this method! It is wonderful to have that shared experience and when you do visit with the child, you have so much to chat about.

Miss Ryan published a highly reviewed book in 2015, Echo. In fact, this is a Newberry Honor book. As a reminder, this is an award given to  the author of “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” There is one winner, as well as three honor authors honored each year.

brian selznick chapter books

Brian Selznick’s previous popular books, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the 2008 Caldecott Winner for the best American picture book of the year, and Wonderstruck were always difficult to check out in my library, although we had six copies of each title. The kids loved the amazing black and white illustrations on every other page and the intriguing stories. I was so happy to see that Mr. Selznick has published a new book, The Marvels, where he creates two new stand alone stories, with the first being completely comprised of illustrations and the second an intriguing puzzle in prose. 

sheila turnage chapter books

In 2013, Miss Turnage published an extremely popular book, Three Times Lucky, a Newberry Honor book. This is a hilarious mystery, with endearing characters. Happily, two more books were added to the series this year, Ghosts of Tupelo Landing and Odds of Getting Even.                                  

rick riordan chapter books

Finally, I want to tell you about a new fantasy series, by Rick Riordan, author of the hugely popular Percy Jackson and Olympus Series books. It is Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. After his mother’s death, Magnus is tracked down by a mysterious uncle his mother has always warned him about as being dangerous, but his uncle tells him an impossible secret. He confides that Magnus is the son of a Norse God. The second book in the series will be published in October.

I’m afraid this post, has gotten a little lengthy, but there are just so many new books I want to share with you. I’ll do that in the coming months, I promise! Hopefully, some of these titles will be favorites for the children in your life!