Generally best enjoyed by children between five and eight years old; but every child is unique, so only you know best.
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.
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: 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: 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.
Published: 2015 Theme: Following a Dream Best for: 7 to 9 "Firefly didn't know if she should zoom straight up into the air or take shelter behind Cricket. There was no time to think, because with one step of his huge legs, the miniature giant was there." If you are looking for a message about staying in one place where you belong, this is not the children's book for that. This is adventuring, a la Wind in the Willows.
Published: 1947 Theme: Childhood Behavior Best for: 5 to 8 "Pretty soon down the stairs came a terrible old witch with a long black dress, a tall black hat and a big gnarly black cane. Mary Lou was very scared until she saw the sparkly eyes of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle under the black hat." Everything about this children's book reminds me of Mary Poppins, and a spoonful of sugar with the medicine...
Published: 2015 Theme: Self-confidence Best for: girls 8 to 10 "Sadie imagined Jess and Maya calling from the road and asking what she was up to. 'Oh Nothing much. Just doing magic with a friend. Nobody you know.'" With a little imagination, and the help from the Backyard Witch, "a most magical and mysterious visitor, who always appears just when you need her," Sadie's summer, and her own sense of self-worth is transformed.
Published: 2010 Theme: Irish Fairies Best for: 7 to 9 "Strange, sweet music came from the whistle. The music was both sad and happy. It was full of beauty and hope, pain and sorry. Like the fog over the river, the music seems to blend everything together." I personally learned a lot more about leprechauns and Irish fairytales after I read this delightful children's book.
Published: 2005 Theme: First Chapter Books Best for: 6 to 9 "Mr. Gaskitt was minding the baby. It was his turn. And doing the grocery shopping and opening the trunk and feeling in his pocket for the parking-lot ticket and tying his shoelace... and looking the other way." Imagine the above sentence written with only 4 or 5 words on a line, and you can see why these first chapter children's books are great for new readers
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