Walking into the children's section of a bookstore or library can be overwhelming. Shopping for books online can be even harder because there is no sales assistant or librarian to assist you. Aside from subject matter, finding a book that is the appropriate level for your child's age and reading ability can be a challenge. If you are familiar with the basic genres, it can help you make better book choices.
Picture Books - Parents are usually most comfortable choosing picture books. Picture books are read aloud by parents of young children. As early readers, children often read picture books first. Even with picture books, the word count and level of language sophistication can vary greatly. When you kids are just beginning to read, look for sparse word count and simple language.
A wonderful tale of self-awareness and acceptance. This book is loved by millions of children throughout the world, recently the art remastered by the illustrator. Don and Audrey Wood in there classic children's book tell a story about a young boy describes himself as "loud as a lion," "quiet as a clam," "tough as a rhino," and "gentle as a lamb." Kids will enjoy the many animal expressions and discover emotions, and learn that all feelings are valid.
Emily doesn't mean to be loud, but whenever she says anything in her Emily voice, plates shatter, neighbors are astonished, and birds are frightened right out of the trees. It seems like she will never fit in, then she sees a sign on a ship that reads: LOUD HELP NEEDED. NOW. So off she goes sailing on the high seas, where much to her delight she find a place where she fits in.
I Can Read books are designed for kids who can read on their own but still some help, ages 6 -8 years.
They write letters, go swimming, tell stories and find lost buttons, Frog and Toad are best friends always there for each other there for each other. Frog and Toad Are Friends is a Level Two I Can Read book. These classic Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel have won a Newbery Honor (Frog and Toad Together), a Caldecott Honor (Frog and Toad are Friends), ALA Notable Children’s Book, Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book), School Library Journal Best Children’s Book, and Library of Congress Children’s Book.
Amber Brown and Justin Daniels are best friends who have known each other most of their lives, they sit next to each other in school, do homework together , and always stick up for each other. Justin never says things like, "Amber Brown is not a crayon." Amber never says, "You're Justin Time." When disaster strikes and Justin has to move away, they end up having a fight, will they make up and be best friends again before it too late? The Amber Brown chapter books are beloved for taking on real life issues such as the ups and downs of shared custody, using thoughtfulness, humor, and plenty of puns to solve problems.
Chapter Books - Chapter books range from easy-to-read to books of 100 pages. The easy to read books are terrific for emerging readers, and the longer chapter books are for readers who are ready for a full story, and can read independently. For more advanced readers, typically age 8 and up, chapter books and the middle grade novel offers a more sophisticated storyline, including fully developed characters and subplots.
The classic heartwarming book from Kate DiCamillo is about when one summer's day, 10-year-old India Opal Buloni goes to the supermarket for some groceries - and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog, she's a best friend. Because of Opal's and Winn-Dixie relationship, Opal develops the courage dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal says, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie.
This #1 New York Times bestseller and Winner of the Newbery Medal moving and memorable book by Katherine Applegate. It brings to light the transformative power of unexpected friendships. The One and Only Ivan is based on a true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, who unexpectedly makes friends with an elephant.
Young Adult Novels - This is the category that parents of 'tweens and teens must be cautious about. The writing style and plot lines are can be as sophisticated as adult novels. More recently, the themes of young adult novels have become "edgy" and may not be appropriate for your young reader. If you have a 12 year old who is an advanced reader, you need to be especially diligent. There are some tame young adult books, but some contain content including drug use, sexuality, child abuse, and more.
The Uglies is soon to be a major motion picture streaming on Netflix! Scott Westerfeld’s New York Times bestselling and award-winning Uglies series is an international phenomenon that started the dystopian trend.
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and in just a few weeks she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever.
The Giver, a Newbery Medal winner, has become one of the most influential novels of our time. The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.
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