Michigan Weighs In: Recommended Summer Reading by Kids

Posted on 05/19/2013

Spring has finally sprung here in Michigan, and as the kids abandon their snow boots for flip-flops, these are the books they’re bringing with them to the beach.

First grader Gabby recommends the Kylie Jean series by Marci Peschke and Tuesday Mourning.

“Kylie Jean is always supportive and good with everything. She spends most of her time with her Grandma, who has a farm. She calls her dog Ugly Brother – it’s a funny series. Boys and girls will both like it.”

mighty robot
Gavin, 7, suggests readers try Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot series. These graphic novels by Dav Pilkey and Martin Ontiveros are favorites because:

“Dav Piley always writes funny books. There are crazy characters like mutant mosquitos and giant stink bugs. The flip-o-rama thing they do in every book is awesome.”

Secret Book

Alexander, 11, recommends The Name of This Book is Secret By Pseudonymous Bosch and the series that follows.

“It’s a great, hilarious book that talks to the readers. It’s a fun mystery/comedy series with insane twists that just gets funnier and funnier… even the titles are funny.”

Thanks to Gabby, Gavin, and Alexander for sharing their go-to summer reads. Do you have a favorite book? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Notes from the Read-Along Crowd

Posted on 05/16/2013

Preschool and kindergarten teachers know that one of the best ways to develop life-long readers is to introduce young ones to books with lots of repetition, books that encourage young listeners to engage with the text by chanting along, adding motions, and predicting what comes next. Kale, 3, already has a list of favorites. Here are several of his current “best reads.”

Chock-full of memorable lines, WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT retold by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury has everything a good read-aloud offers. Want to hear Michael Rosen read the book? Check out the video!

I Went Walking by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie VivasBrown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric CarleWho doesn’t love the snappy rhythm of the familiar BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle. No wonder it’s a classic. The simple predictable pattern made it easy for Kale to memorize and there’s nothing better for encouraging a love of reading than the joy and sense of accomplishment a young one feels when he gets to read all by himself.

Much like Brown Bear, a jaunty rhythm introduces See Otto by David Milgrimanimals and color words in I WENT WALKING by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas. Clues in the illustrations Step Gently Out by Helen Frost, photographs by Rick Liederhelped Kale predict which animal would be next to join the walking parade.

Kale loves robots and his favorite book at the moment is SEE OTTO by David Milgrim. He loves “the monkeys that paint Otto.”   He also enjoys pouring over and talking about the different insects in STEP GENTLY OUT by Helen Frost, photographs by Rick Lieder.

Thanks so much to Kale for sharing his latest favorite books! Do you have a favorite read-aloud? Tell us about it in the comments below.

THE MAGIC THIEF

Posted on

Summers in Portland and Seattle are beautiful and GREEN.  Time to play some backyard soccer, hit around a tennis ball, and bike with friends. Might even bike to a bookstore – there are many – and get a refreshing smoothie or a sour lemonade.  Look over the books, choose a couple good ones, get comfortable, and spend a few hours reading before heading back home. Eli from Seattle and Portland, who spent the winter in Mexico, recommends:

Title:  THE MAGIC THIEF

Author: Sarah Prineas

Illustrator:  Antonio Javier Caparo

Why this book?  This was the best book I read in third grade.  Actually our teacher read it out loud to the whole class. We all thought it was great – and very funny.

Why did you enjoy this book?

An orphan boy who lives on the street gets money and things to sell by being a pick-pocket.  Then one time he pick-pockets a magician. Not a good idea. That is the beginning of lots of “magic” problems!  L  You will never guess how the story ends!

The very good news – after you read THE MAGIC THIEF you will want to read more and there are two more books in the series.  And more good news from the author Sarah Prineas:

 “My first novel, The Magic Thief, was published by HarperCollins in June 2008 and by a bunch of other publishers around the world. The next book in the series, The Magic Thief: Lost, came out in May 2009, and the third, The Magic Thief: Found, was published in spring 2010. My next book from HarperCollins was Winterling (2012), followed by two sequels!”

And HERE is an “educational” fun booktrailer to view.

A whole summer of fantasy to enjoy!!  Please comment with recommendations of your favorite fantasy books.

The Cirque du Freak Series: A Spooky Summer Read for the Older Crowd

Posted on 05/14/2013

Marcel (Age 11) recommends this chilling series.

Author: Darren Shan

Who might enjoy this series? Kids who enjoyed the Harry Potter series. These books are scary and very suspenseful – not your sunshine and lollipops type of books.

If you’re ready to be haunted page after page, book after book, Darren Shan’s series is precisely what you’re looking for, according to Marcel. School Library Journal agrees with him in saying, “Shan creates heart-pounding, page-turning action that will keep readers reading.” Sounds like super summer reading, doesn’t it?

The back flap of Book One, Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare, reads, “This is a true story. I don’t expect you to believe me – I wouldn’t believe it myself if I hadn’t lived it – but it is. Everything I describe in this book happened, just as I tell it…I just wanted to make that clear before I began.” Knowing this makes Cirque du Freak: Sons of Destiny, the twelfth and final book of the series even more compelling. Indiebound states that, in Sons of Destiny, the time has, “…finally come for protagonist Darren Shan to face his archenemy, Steve Leopard. One will die. The other will become the Lord of the Shadows – and destroy the world!” Kind of a definite ending, wouldn’t you say?

Read the Cirque du Freak series this summer, if you dare. And, if you do, keep the hall light on all night, won’t you? Boo!

Books By Bob: The Ultimate Early Reading Series

Posted on 05/12/2013

Piper (age 4 – almost 5) recommends this series

Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen

Illustrator: John R. Maslen

Who might enjoy these books? Anyone who is learning to read independently

Piper is eager for her first days in kindergarten. Because of this, she is busy developing her reading skills to assure she’ll be a super success. Her sets of Bob Books are helping her do so. Piper is a naturally confident and self-assured little girl. Couple that with a solid foundation of the basics of reading, her kindergarten experience is going to be sensational!

Not only are the books fantastic, the Bob Books website is packed with downloadable supplemental activities and helpful instructional videos, all designed to make those first reading experiences as positive as they can be. Take Piper’s lead and commit this summer to sharpening those reading skills in a fun and productive way!

Bats and Unicorns

Posted on 05/09/2013

One of the best things about books in a series is that when you come to the end of one terrific book, you can reach for another (and also a glass of cold lemonade and a few chocolate chip cookies)!

Macey (age 6) recommends this terrific series:

Title: UNICORN’S SECRET  series:  Book #1 is Moonsilver

Author:Kathleen Duey

Illustrator: Omar Rayyan

Who might enjoy this book? Girls and boys, ages 5+

Why did you enjoy this book?  It has a lot of adventure and excitement. It starts out sort of sad.  Then a little girl named Heart discovers a white mare.  Then the adventure begins.  There are 8 books in the series, and they are all excellent.

Scared of bats?  You won’t be after reading this batty book that Macey recommends because bats are amazing (and they eat a zillion mosquitoes):

Bats

Title:  ZIPPING, ZAPPING, ZOOMING BATS

Author: Ann Earle

Illustrated by Henry Cole

Who might enjoy this book? boys and girls, ages 4+

Why did you enjoy this book? It has interesting facts about bats. It tells some of what bats eat, how they hunt, and ways we can protect them.

Great recommendations! Thanks, Macey. If any other young readers want to suggest books they love, please leave a comment below or send your recommendation to readerkidz at readerkidz dot com. Let’s spread the word about great books – for kids, by kids!

“From adventure, to mystery, to funny poems”

Posted on 05/07/2013

Our friend Gabe, age 10, lives in Connecticut and is a big reader. So is his brother Nate. Here are their great reading suggestions for this summer. Gabe first:

benedict#2 mysteriousbenedictsocietyBorn to Fly by Michael Ferrari – “This book was a very exciting adventure, told in historical fiction, that tells the story of a Japanese boy and an American girl.”

Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart –  “These books were a very good mystery series.  I kept trying to predict what was going to happen next in the story.”Ranger's Apprentice

The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan – “This series had lots of descriptive language and was extremely adventurous.  It was a medieval style series with knights and archers, etc.”

Where the Red Fern GrowsWhere The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls – “This book was a very emotional book that gives you feelings for the characters.  The author used very descriptive language to help you picture the story and that helps make it a great story.”Big Nate

Big Nate series by Lincoln Pierce – “These books were very funny and styled in a comical way.  They bring laughter to all who read them!”

Gabe’s brother, Nate, who’s seven, likes a slightly different kind of book. Here are some of his ideas:

Dolphins at DaybreakMagic Treehouse #9 Dolphins at Daybreak by Mary Pope Osborne – “Because I just love submarines.” From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

From the Mixed-up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsberg – “It’s a good story and they have an adventure.”Amazing Rescues

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel SilversteinAmazing Rescues by George Shea – “Cool rescue stories.”

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein – “I really like funny poems.”

Great recommendations! Thanks, Gabe and Nate. If any other young readers want to suggest books they love, please leave a comment below or send your recommendation to readerkidz at readerkidz dot com. Let’s spread the word about great books – for kids, by kids!