My middle daughter is so picky that she started her own blog on the things that she likes. Getting her a book she likes for me is an education in getting reluctant readers to engage. Tonight at dinner she asked me to blog on her blog to drive traffic to it. Smart kid. I told her that she needs to put up 4 posts first so that readers will know what her blog is about. This is her second post but I changed the book descriptions. If you want her opinion on why she likes these books, please read her post at Picky Kid Pix. (She’d be delighted with some traffic and she doesn’t mince words!).
I might add that every chapter book to this picky kid of mine is a tough sell and she complains heartily at the beginning of most of these books making me sweat bullets for the first few chapters until she gets drawn in. While we share the reading burden (she still needs help decoding the long words and won’t know the meaning of complex words), I’ll read most of the first few chapters in my most engaging voice even changing voices for different characters if need be to get her to the “exciting” part.
I’ll also pause at the subtle funny parts to see if she chuckles. That’s always a great sign for both comprehension and, of course, enjoyment and she generally gets all the bits of humor. We just finished the 2nd Penderwicks and read way past her bedtime to finish the chapter book. You can’t leave her hanging on the last 3 chapters! Tomorrow morning will be brutal but it will be worth it. We start the 3rd Penderwicks (The Penderwicks at Point Moulette) tomorrow and it’s coming out soon in May. I’m not allowed to blog on it until then but (psst! It’s sooo good! You can pre-order if you want it as fast as possible).
p.s. Related posts:
Civil Rights Movement Books for 4th Grade and MLK Day
Diversity Picture Books for 4th Grade
Chapter Books to Support 4th Grade or 5th Grade Immigration Unit
Olympic Chapter Books & Non-Fiction For 4th Grade & 2nd Grade
Best Books for 4th Grade by 4th Grade Girl
Books for 4th Grade and 5th Grade
Books for 3rd Grade & 4th Grade
“Outside-the-Box” Math Books: Life of Fred (4th -12th Grade)
10 Middle Grade Books About Immigrant Families
10 Great Books for 4th Grade
10. Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
My fifth grader is insisting that I read this series. I have started the first one but I wish I never saw the movies because I feel like I’ve read the books even though I haven’t! But… the books are better than the movies!
9. The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
I have a blog post on this book here.
8. George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
I have a post on Roald Dahl Day here.
7. Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant
I can’t believe I’ve never read this book but my middle daughter has read it three times and she never does that!
6. The BFG by Roald Dahl
It seems that every third grader I know is reading and loving Roald Dahl. This book is unisex in appeal and would be the perfect non-movie book to introduce your child to Roald Dahl.
5. Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker
I have a bunch of posts on this series, but here is the first one.
4. All-of-a-Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor
I am on a personal mission to get this series back in print. I post on it probably too much though it doesn’t seem to be working. *Update: Hooray, The All-of-a-Kind Family series is back in print!!
3. Matilda by Roald Dahl
This book comes heartily recommended to me by my kids’ third and fourth-grade friends but note that they are all girls. In one word: funny!
2. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
If were to only recommend one book in the world, it would be this one. Such a gem.
1. The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
I love this series and I’m not supposed to blog on the one so I can only say that it’s terrific and we all love it!
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Top 10 middle grade books…I like this article..
these all books seems interesting.
Thanks for this nice article..
Cage
Hi 1-1Tutor,
Thank you for your kind words.
Hi,
I’ve been reading your list and would love to hear what your daughter thinks of my book, Alice-Miranda at School which is being released in the US on 5 April by Random House Delacorte. I love many of the books she loves and so I’m hoping I’ve written one she might like. There’s a link to the details below. I’m published in Australia by Random House too and we’re up to the third book in the series here. I’m so excited about the US release.
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385908115&view=email_prep
Best wishes and keep up the great blogging.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Jacqueline,
My daughter and I would love to read your book! Would you mind sending us a copy?
I remember reading both books aloud with my kids on two different road trips a few summers ago, and they loved the stories. They were happy to hear the next one is coming out in May…May seems to be the magic month, Rick Riordan’s Kane Chronicles Book 2 is also coming out in May!
Hi Nat,
I’m so glad you and your boys loved The Penderwicks too. It seems to have unisex appeal. I can’t wait for new Riordan Kane Chronicles too!
Great post, I’m a new follower (as well as a father of a six year old girl who doesn’t know yet that she likes to read).
To Man of la Book,
Thank you for your kind words!
Great list! I am in the 8 Year Old BOY Zone, so it was nice to see a Top 10 list from an 8 Year Old GIRL’s perspective.
I also love that she’s a tough sell – makes her list that much more interesting!
To Alison,
Thank you so much! I’ll keep posting on her book picks. She has her own blog now, Picky Kid Pix … very appropriate but sigh! tough for the mom!
Hi,
I’m going to email my publicist and ask that she sends you a copy of Alice-Miranda at School. Can you tell me where I need to have her send it?
Maybe if you email me on my email address that would be better.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
To Jacqueline,
Thank you. I will email you.
Great list! My daughter has read many of these and I am sure she would agree! I just met Jeanne Birdsall last week at Book Expo! She was very sweet!!
To Theresa,
I am envious that you met Jeanne Birdsall. We are loving all her books! I can’t wait for the next two Penderwicks! And I’m glad she is nice. It would be so disappointing if she wasn’t!
You might want to check out my soon to be released middle grade work of fiction, Second World.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Second-World/248239998520489?sk=info
To Rebekah,
Thanks for the heads up on your book. Congrats!