My nine-year-old daughter picks her favorite chapter books of 2011 and she cautions her peers, “I think that every book is boring in the beginning. Maybe the second or third chapter is when it starts getting good. Just keep reading.”
Tag: 4th grade chapter books
Chapter books for 4th grade including easy chapter books, Newbery chapter books and chapter book series.
More 2012 KidLit and YA Awards: Sibert, Stonewall, Morris and YALSA
Here are the rest of the 2012 Children’s and Young Adult book awards…”The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in Dallas.”
A Wrinkle in Time: Can You Believe It’s Been 50 Years?!
I remember reading A Wrinkle in Time about — dating myself — 35 years ago and how much I loved this book and this author. It was as if entire worlds opened up for me; suddenly science was something mysterious and exciting, as it should be, not something to toil over and memorize. Is it because it’s a tale of a classic theme of good versus evil; light against dark? No, there is so much more to this book. Madeleine l’Engle is not just a great storyteller, but a scientist, dreamer and philosopher.
Grace Lin’s Dumpling Days: Delicious as Always!
To say that Grace Lin speaks to the Asian American experience is probably not specific enough and, simultaneously, also much greater than that. As a sensei (sorry, I’m half Japanese and this means second generation in Japanese), Grace speaks poignantly of the pushes and pulls between her homeland and her “Americanization” conflicts that stem from trying to find the space where she fits in and yet connects with her ethnicity. I especially love Grace Lin’s Pacy series. The Year of the Dog is where Pacy discovers her career path in writing and illustrating books. The Year of the Rat has Pacy dealing with big changes coping from the loss of her best friend — the only other Asian American girl in her class who moves away to California. In real life, this happens to Grace as well, and this best friend turns out to be her future editor!
Top 10: Best Children’s Books On Civil Rights Movement
In honor of Martin Luther King, Junior, I have selected ten children’s and young adult books, both fiction and non-fiction, to help us all to understand exactly the magnitude of achievement that Martin Luther King, Jr. accomplished during his too short life. Happy Martin Luther King, Junior Day! And thank you to all the unsung heroes out there who stand up to injustice every day!
Top 10: Best Historical Fiction for Kids
Please give a warm welcome to my librarian/blogger extraordinaire/Mom Friend The Fourth Musketeer! She graciously agreed to guest post on her her favorite books of 2011. I really, really wanted her list because she’s an expert in children’s and young adult historical fiction, and selfishly, I wanted this list for myself and my kids! We will work our way through it in 2012! How about you? What is your favorite historical fiction picture book, chapter book or young adult book?
The Penderwicks and Science of Dark Matter
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street brings up research on Dark Matter. Here’s more information on Dark Matter to draw out the scientist in your child.