Published: 2013 Theme: Pluck Best for: 8 to 10 "Every time a human walks out of a room, something with more feet walks in. Mice, of course, who are only a whisker away. It's true of the room where you are sitting. It's truer still of Buckingham Palace." This lovely tongue-in-cheek children's book will definitely bring smiles to readers, especially those who can grasp some of the satire.
Published: 1990 Theme: Light Mysteries Best for: 8 to 10 "I did not write a long letter to Aunt Veronica. All I did was introduce myself and tell her that the only reason why I had not written before was that my father had never told me of her existence." The earliest writing of Alexander McCall Smith, this series of mystery books for children is easy to read, silly, and good entertainment.
Recently, as the school year ended, I thought of two 9-year-old boys I work with. They are both bright, articulate, and just catching up with their reading. I created a summer reading list that might match their interests and skills. Happy to share it with you. Note that these are all on the easier-to-read scale.…
As the school year ended, the parents of the students going from 4th grade to 5th grade asked for some summer book recommendations. In our Waldorf school, the fourth graders generally turned 10 during the year, and in fifth grade, they will be 11. Here’s a short list of my favorite children's books for this age,…
Published: 2015 Theme: Trust Best for: 6 - 9 "Marvin sees crumbs under the table, but those are nothing special. The beetles find crumbs all the time. But then he sees something else. Something shiny. Something silver." My criteria for an good children's book for emerging readers is that it is not too daunting, and not too dull. This book meets both criteria.
Published: 2016 Theme: Freedom of Literary Speech Best for: 8 and up "The hover ladders were floating platforms with handrails, book baskets, and ski-boot safety locks that allowed you to float up and retrieve any book simply by entering the book's call number into a keypad." The reason I found this particular children's book compelling is that it offers a very strong message about the importance of books, libraries, and freedom of press.
Published: 1998 Theme: Gentleness and Bravery Best for: 6 to 10 "'A tridrake,' the dragon repeated. 'A three-headed dragon.' Only then did the children notice that the dragon had two other necks, branching off on either side of the first neck, and two other heads... both sound asleep." This book reads like an old fashioned tale, as each head of the dragon tells of an earlier encounter with a child who trusted and helped the dragon.
Published: 1975 Theme: Loyalties Best for: 6th grade "Of all the stupid things he had ever done, this was the worst by any measure. He had completely humiliated his kind father in front of Yoshida - the man upon whom all their livelihood depended." This compelling children's book has so much going for it that the best advice is to read it. In fact, that's what the sixth grade class does in our Waldorf school, and I hope parents read along.
Published: 2015 Theme: Raising Chickens Best for: 9 and up "Mom says she has no intention of ever being a farmer, even though she knows how to drive a tractor and prune grapes.. But if I'm going to live on a farm, I guess I might as well be a farmer..."This is a totally lovable book, and a very likable heroine, who is trying her best to learn all about chickens, one chicken at a time.
Published: 2015 Theme: Friendship Best for: 5 - 8 "Diva was the gardienne's dog, which mean that Diva was practically responsible of the whole of 11 avenue Le Play, including the courtyard. It was a very big job for a very small dog." Hooray! An enchanting first chapter book for children that delights, amuses, is readable, and even stretches our reading muscles to read some French words.
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