Posts Tagged ‘book recommendations’

For all families, schools and libraries, finding ways to create a literacy-friendly environment should be a top priority. I feel fortunate that my boys have been surrounded by books since infancy and they both read enthusiastically and without difficulty today.

The Kids’ Book Club Book: Reading Ideas, Recipes, Activities, and Smart Tips for Organizing Terrific Kids’ Book Clubs written by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
Parenting and Professional Resource for Teachers and Librarians published by Penguin Group USA

When The Kids’ Book Club Book: Reading Ideas, Recipes, Activities, and Smart Tips for Organizing Terrific Kids’ Book Clubs arrived on my doorstep, I was at once curious about the contents and the authors’ approach. For so many young people, a kids’ book club could be a fantastic way to boost enthusiasm for reading and books.

After suggesting ways to organize a group and choose books, the authors focus on fifty titles. They recommend books for grades 1-5, 4-7, 6-8 and 9+ . For each book they provide a summary, information about the author, recipes for treats that tie-in with the selection and more. Engaging headings like “Make It!” “Try It!” and “Ask It!” lead to enjoyable ways to make reading and discussing the books meaningful and fun.

Selections for younger children include The Boxcar Children; Sarah, Plain and Tall and Because of Winn-Dixie .

For middle grade readers they look at Holes, The Breadwinner, Harry Potter, Eragon and more.

For young teen readers, one of the suggested books is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Suggested topics for discussion (paraphrased here) include how the four girls deal with their problems, what each girl learns, which character you most identify with and why the girls’ bonds are so strong.

Authors’ Website

The Kids’ Book Club Book: Reading Ideas, Recipes, Activities, and Smart Tips for Organizing Terrific Kids’ Book Clubs is a user friendly, upbeat and comprehensive resource for any parent, teacher or librarian looking for ways to establish and nuture a young readers’ book club

The Kids’ Book Club Book at Amazon.com

Kids Book Club Book at Amazon.ca

Stay involved with your child’s reading even middle graders: how to find the best chapter books

When our children are very young, we are often very involved in choosing picture books to share at bedtime. No doubt your child will have some favorites that she wants to hear over and over again. Hopefully you’ll find time to visit the public library and return home well-stocked with a mix of books, some chosen by your children and some that you’ve picked.

Depending on the size of the collection at your library, you may find it helpful to approach the shelves, armed with a list of authors or titles that you’d like to “check out.” To this end, I strongly suggest using a trusted source to identify some of the not-to-be-missed titles.

Award winners are often well worth a look. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre maintains lists of award winners on their website and in their annual publication; Best Books.

New York Public Library Offers 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know and Love To Read – Recommended Titles for Third Grade

By the time your child is independently reading chapter books, it is tempting to “bow out” of selecting books and leave the choices to her. Hopefully, she has been blessed with a school librarian or classroom teacher who will take an active part in recommending titles.

If your middle-grade reader has difficulty finding chapter books that engage her, may I suggest getting actively involved in the search? Look for the following resources:

David Bouchard’s For the Love of Reading – books to Build Lifelong Readers. With the help of Sally Bender, Anne Letain and Lucie Poulin-Mackey, Mr. Bourchard provides great book ideas (500 annotated listings, some Canadian) for children of all ages. Included in the book, more than 100 French children’s books.

For the Love of Reading: Books to Build Lifelong Readers at Amazon.com

For the Love of Reading: Books to Build Lifelong Readers at Amazon.ca

James Blasingame’s Books That don’t Bore ‘Em includes books for older children – grade 5 and up. In addition to providing annotated lists, it includes author interviews.
Books That Don’t Bore ‘Em at Amazon.com

Books That Don’t Bore Em at Amazon.ca

Jim Trelease offers many, many book recommendations in The Read Aloud Handbook. His commentary and suggestions are sure to inspire you and your child.

The Read-Aloud Handbook at Amazon.com

Read Aloud Handbook at Amazon.ca