Series: Better than “One of a Kind”

Posted on 02/13/2011

Kids love books in a series and one of the most wonderful things about that, is that once children have gotten HOOKED, they’re guaranteed more delightful reads.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of series for the K-5 reader. We’ve included a few recent favorites here, some, perhaps, more familiar than others.

PRINCESS POSEY AND THE PERFECT PRESENT by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson

Princess Posey is absolutely one of the best new transitional series to publish in the last year. This second in the series is as charming as the first and brought smiles from the very first pages. It’s that wonderful!

In Book 2, (coming in early March) Posey wants to give the perfect gift to her teacher, Miss Lee. Best friends, Nikki and Eva have each decided on very, very special presents. Posey has, too, and she’s certain that when her teacher, Miss Lee, sees what she’s chosen, she’ll “smile and smile.” Not surprisingly, “In her secret heart, Posey hoped Miss Lee would like her more than anyone.”

Of course, things don’t turn out quite as she’d hoped and the way Posey ultimately solves her problem will endear her all the more to readers’ hearts.

* Learn more about author, Stephanie Greene, in a ReaderKidZ Author-In-Residence post  HERE.

AGGIE THE BRAVE by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer

Aggie has an appointment at the vet’s and both she and Ben must be brave. Ben has all sorts of worries. “Will Aggie get hurt? What if she gets hungry?” Poor Ben’s none too happy when he learns that Aggie will have her very first sleepover without him. Ben will have to watch tv with an empty lap and go to sleep in an empty bed…

When Ben picks Aggie up the next day, he learns she must walk around with a lampshade on her head. That’s when Ben decides to turn Aggie the Lamp Head into Aggie the Lion!

This series was completely off my radar until a friend led me to it and I’m so glad she did. Three short chapters, marvelously illustrated by Frank Dormer (Socksquatch), make this the perfect book for beginning readers.

BAD KITTY VS. UNCLE MURRY: The Uproar at the Front Door by Nick Bruel

I remember reading the first BAD KITTY picture book when it was released over 5 years ago. Students loved that alphabet book, as well as its follow-up POOR PUPPY. More recently, Bad Kitty has found an equally enthusiastic audience for its new chapter book format.

The most recent of these, BAD KITTY VS. UNCLE MURRAY, was a delight to read and Bruel has clearly found a format with the room he needed to fully develop KITTY’s character. In each chapter, not only does Bad Kitty give Uncle Murray a run for his money but, sandwiched between,  informational “Uncle Murray’s Fun Facts,”  give the reader something extra. Look for next book,  BAD KITTY MEETS THE BABY, in June.

DRAGON BREATH: Curse of the Were-Wiener by Ursula Vernon

A book about a dragon named Danny and an iguana named Wendell who are best friends is wild enough. But in this latest adventure, when a weird-looking, candy-apple red, school cafeteria hot dog bites mild-mannered Wendell, things begin to turn wilder still! Could Wendell be morphing into a were-wiener?

Strange things are happening and with a full moon on the rise, there’s no telling what Wendell might be capable of! Fortunately, Danny Dragonbreath’s on the job, and with any luck, he’ll have the Curse of the Were-Wiener solved before you know it. Look for the newest book in the series,  DRAGONBREATH: LAIR OF THE BAT MONSTER, in March.

BIG NATE IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF by Lincoln Peirce

Big Nate is like Diary of a Wimpy Kid for a slightly younger audience. Text is broken up with comic panels and spot illustrations in a way that is sure to draw in even the most reluctant reader.

This first in the series follows Nate through an ordinary day at school, which, for Nate, usually means trouble. Except, this day, Nate’s fortune cookie fortune reads: “Today you will surpass all others.” And true to form – and fortune – by the end of the day, Nate does manage to set a new school record. He won’t get one of those display case trophies, but he does leave his mark for all posterity. Look for BIG NATE BOREDOM BUSTER in April

BROWNIE AND PEARL GET DOLLED UP by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brian Biggs

Brownie and Pearl are dressing up and they’ve got all the fixings to sparkle and shine. This short (24 page) text by one of my personal favorite authors, Cynthia Rylant, is a series the youngest child will enjoy reading over and over. Look for the newest, BROWNIE AND PEARL TAKE A DIP, in April.

DRAGONBREATH by Ursula Vernon

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To watch two dramatic, suspenseful, and down-right daring webisodes – Lair of the Bat Monster and Curse of the Were-Wiener –  featuring the antics of Ursula Vernon’s Danny Dragonbreath, his best friend Wendell, and cousin Edward click HERE.

A ReaderKidZ note of warning – Viewer discretion advised. After viewing Curse of the Were-Wiener one’s perception of the everyday hot dog lunch may be permanently altered.

Ouch!

BAD KITTY by Nick Bruel

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If you enjoyed Nick Bruel’s BAD KITTY, then you will love the variety of activities he offers on his interesting website. Such great fun that you’ll want to return to his site over and over again.

To enjoy playing Go Cat Go!, the Bad Kitty Memory Game, and Bad Kitty Mad Dash click HERE.

To watch a charming book trailer click HERE.

And for extra Bad Kitty fun, click HERE for color sheets, a Word Search, a Word Scrambler, and Bad Kitty BAD Libs (A ReaderKidZ favorite).

Make Way for Series…

Posted on 02/06/2011

THE BURGLAR WHO BIT THE BIG APPLE from the series, FIELD TRIP MYSTERIES by Steve Brezenoff, illustrated by C.B. Canga

Imagine finding between the covers of an (inexpensive, colorful) book, not just pages and words but a MYSTERY, plus a bit of the old boardgame, CLUE, and more – graphics, story, illustrations and taped messages.

In this Big Apple adventure, a class of sixth graders fly into NYC for a fieldtrip. Egg and Cat, with friends, Samantha, Anton and Gum, expected to suffer through a couple of boring days, but right off the bat – a robbery is reported at Ports Authority!

As the fieldtrip kids arrive at the Museum of Natural History, creepy people begin to appear – and again at the Hayden Planetarium.  Right from the start, the reader’s job is to help solve the mystery. The adventures don’t stop on the last page…further investigations and games, puzzles, heroes, villains and more are but a computer click away at www.capstonekids.com.  Just type in the Book ID and, even if you don’t yet have a Private Eye badge, you can continue to snoop, explore, and discover amazing facts!

Learn more about this great selection for reluctant readers, both boys and girls, HERE.

MAKE WAY FOR DYAMONDE DANIEL by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

First meet Dyamonde, third grade girl with PLENTY of perky personality, good looks, and a very smart brain.  But what she does not have is a friend. She has a Mom who is considerate, strict, and divorced.  She has the problem of The New Boy.  Worst of all, Dyamonde has the challenge of keeping her cool with the Three T’s:  Tameeka, Tanya and Tylisha.  The Three T’s have their own rules and definitions of who is IN and who is OUT.

Once a young reader has fun following the trials and tribulations of Dyamonde through a dozen short chapters, she will be on to the next book in this series (RICH), and the next and new:  ALMOST ZERO.

ANNA HIBISCUS by Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia

Anna Hibiscus lives with her African father, Canadian mother, and her troublesome, rambunctious twin brothers.  They live in Africa, in a contemporary city.  Unfortunately,  exactly where in Africa is never stated.  Anna has a very large African family and they all like to visit.  This series tells about Anna’s family life.  The reader hears many of the same frustrations and funny interactions that are part of family life anywhere, but also aspects of THIS family life – such as the giving of gifts when someone visits, the showing of respect for grandmothers and grandfathers, and the mixing of traditional African ways with modern ways. An important strength of this series is showing how modern life and traditional ways can co-exist in this faraway continent.  Anna’s stories bring Africa closer to home. The chapters can be read in sequence or as stand-along stories.  The black and white illustrations are a delight.  A fun series of early chapter books to be shared with a child curious about being a kid in Africa.

Learn about the other books in the Anna Hibiscus series HERE.

DYAMONDE DANIEL by Nikki Grimes

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Click HERE to access a Discussion Guide to compliment Nikki Grime’s intriguing Dyamonde Daniel series. Keep the book nearby. You’ll want it to reference the questions asked.

Not only does the guide pose questions regarding characters’ emotional reactions, developing friendships, and various growing pains, it capitalizes on the reader’s own personal experiences, as well. For example, one series of questions ask if “…you have ever been curious about someone or something? Did you find out what you wanted to know?”

Well? Did you? Pray tell.

Zapato Power! by Jacqueline Jules

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Freddie Ramos is a good son, a regular boy, and one especially busy hero!

In Freddie Ramos Takes Off, Freddie’s life suddenly changes when a box arrives at 29 G of the Starwood Park Apartments. Someone has given Freddie a pair of purple sneakers with silver wings. No ordinary shoes, these Zoom! Zoom! Zapato!-powered tennies give Freddie super speed.

In each subsequent book of the series, Freddie’s super powers increase. In book 2, Freddie Ramos Springs Into Action, inventor and Starwood Apartment manager, Mr. Vaslov, develops a wristband with an on/off switch and jumping Boing! power that allows Freddie to expand his superhero abilities.

In book 3, Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue, new silver goggles along with Freddie’s usual dose of smarts help Freddie solve the mystery of the purple squirrel and save a speeding commuter train from imminent disaster.

Jacqueline Jules has created a likable character that kids tackling their very first chapter books are sure to relate to. Freddie’s good heart, and readiness to use his Zapato Power! to help others makes Freddie the best anonymous super-hero Starwood Elementary has ever seen.

Read more about Jacqueline Jules, ReaderKidZ February Author-In-Residence, HERE.

Jacqueline Jules, Author-In-Residence

Posted on 01/31/2011

When Freddie Ramos gets home from school one day, he discovers a mysterious package. Inside, he finds a pair of jazzy purple sneakers. An unsigned note accompanies the shoes: Zapato Power for Freddie Ramos. What could it mean?

Freddie soon learns that Zoom! Zoom! Zapato! power has its benefits. Not only can Freddie use his speedy powers to outrun a nearby train and lend a hand to a friend in need, but he soon discovers that his kind heart, positive attitude, and clever mind make his a super hero in his own right.

Freddie’s just the kind of super hero young readers will love to read about over and over and over again!

From Jacqueline Jules:

I work in an elementary school as a part-time teacher. This gives me the opportunity to hear and see many real-life things that go on in a school. One day, at a staff meeting, our assistant principal shared a story of a squirrel who followed a group of students into the school after recess. The door was propped open and the squirrel just dashed in behind the last kid. The administrator told the story to remind teachers to be careful about closing doors to the building. But as I listened, I came up with an idea to begin Zapato Power # 3.

“What a great first chapter for Freddie!” I thought. “Freddie could use his Zapato Power and run through the school after the squirrel.”

Since I only had a beginning to my story, it took me awhile to come up with a mystery involving the squirrel and a heroic rescue that tied in with the rest of the story. I did some research about squirrels on the internet and slowly but surely one idea joined with another until I had a beginning, middle, and end.

Read “What’s Your Story, Jacqueline Jules?” HERE.

For more about Jacqueline, visit her website HERE.