Hiking around a pine woods with a dog and soccer ball makes for the perfect book club for The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall.
Tag: chapter book series
Top 10: Books for Kids with Science Concepts
Thank you to author Jacqueline Houtman for the Giveaway of The Reinvention of Edison Thomas. Please leave a comment with the reason why you want to win. The most compelling comment will win. The winner will be picked in one week. I will confess that I have been thinking and working on this post for MONTHS. The gist in my mind was science-y books that are NOT non-fiction, that make science fun and accessible, and excite a child’s imagination. Yep, it’s taken a while to find enough books that fit this criteria to make it to 10 but I think these are worthy of this list. What do you think? What non-fiction science-y books do you and your children like? Are there enough to actually make this a new children’s lit. genre? Now THAT would be exciting!
Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 7-14)
Reading list for boys, grades 1-6. I love to find books that excite reluctant readers. The key is to find that magic intersection that marries your child’s just-right level with content that matches their interest and a layout that is visually appealing (small chunks of text broken by pictures, larger font size, etc.). Alas, this is a moving target. I have an actual person that I select these books for, my youngest son’s best friend’s older brother who is a 4th grader with my oldest. My mom friends have had success with these books for their reluctant boy readers and suggests you try them. If you want to purchase a book, click on the image of the book to buy at Amazon.com.
Best Middle Grade Books from My 5th Grade Daughter
I am thrilled that she is loving to read and now that she is cranking through book series, I am noticing a pattern: she loves fast paced, fantasy adventure books, particularly those in which the main characters possess special powers. I asked her for her Top 5 Series recommendations and all fit the bill except for The Mysterious Benedict Society. These series also have unisex appeal as I have noticed that she is lending out her books to both male and female classmates. Finally, these books are appropriate for a wider audience beyond 5th grade, I’d say the range is grades 3rd through 8th.
Best Old Fashioned Families in Children’s Books
I do love those old fashioned books; you know, the ones where no one fights at all EVER. Siblings get along beautifully, parents never get divorced, and there’s always a happy ending. In fact, there is so little conflict, there isn’t much plot. It’s more like a series of short vignettes of what life was like back then. Was life that simple and conflict free back then? I doubt it, but I do love reading about it with my kids.
Easy Chapter Book Series for Girls: Clementine
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is a hit with 2-4th graders. Clementine is a third grader with a big heart and and even bigger imagination.
What Are Your Kids Reading This Summer? Win Prizes by Sharing!
My going-into-fourth-grade middle child has a summer reading assignment. She must read five books and do a book report project by the first day of class. Even though we read year round, she is protesting and slightly stressed about this homework. To select these books, I consulted My Best Book Lists and came up with these five.