Summer Book Hook: Early Readers

Happy Summer! And welcome to the first edition of the Summer Book Hook: 10 weeks of Recommended Reads for Kids!

I mentioned last week in my post, Tips to Get Kids Reading This Summer, that I'll be sharing a weekly book list of recommended kids reads throughout the summer. Tried and true, new and old, kid-approved books to encourage them to keep them coming back for more.

The first Summer Book Hook theme is dedicated to Early Readers. Early Reader (also known as Easy Reader) books are books that act as stepping stones for early literacy. A common question parents and caregivers ask about these books is usually, "What do the levels mean? And how do I know which one to use with my child?" Each publisher has a different way of classifying the levels of Easy Reader books- whether it be word count, color coded, or by numbered levels- but for the most part they fall under similar categories:

Pre-Level 1 & Level 1: For the emergent reader. Uses repetitive language, picture clues, and rhyme and rhythm. The stories are usually very short with short sentences and large font.

Level 2: Reading, but with guidance. These readers are getting the hang of reading, but still need assistance understanding certain words. The sentences are longer and the stories are longer.

Level 3 & Up: These books are for children ready to read on their own. Level 3 readers still may need help with a word occasionally.  The stories are longer than Level 2 books and are broken up into short chapters.

If you have a beginner reader or think you're child is ready to attempt reading, Reading Rockets has wonderful tips to help determine if your child is ready to read and how to work with a learning reader. Also, be sure to check out Reading Rockets Reading Topics A-Z.

Below are a few off-the-bat suggestions on selecting books for your reader. Following that is a kid-approved booklist of Easy Reader favorites.

 Let's start at the very beginning.....

Fip-a-Word: Pig Wig by Harriet Zeifert, illustrated by Yukiko Kido

The beginner's beginner books. Bob Books are an excellent place to start. I also recommend trying a personal favorite, Flip-a-Word Books, like Pig Wig and Snake Cake. These are extremely clever and also regularly recommended by a couple of children's librarians I work with.

The Crossover Characters...

Fancy Nancy Sees Stars by Jane O' Conner

Favorite picture book characters are a great way to transition into Easy Reader books. Especially, since the reader is already familiar and comfortable with a character they like. Publishers picked up on this fast and have produced an excellent variety of Early Readers books feature favorite picture book characters. Popular characters like Fancy Nancy, Thomas the Train, Splat the Cat, Clifford, Bernstein Bears, Aurthur, Curious George, Pinkalicious, Olivia, Dora the Explorer, Dog and Bear, Critter, Max and Ruby… shall I go on? There are so many to choose from!

Boys & Star Wars...

What is a Wookiee? by Laura Buller

It's been my experience that boys especially love to read books based on popular TV shows and movies. Star Wars, The Avengers, Pokemon, Lego Ninjago... they can't seem to stay on a library shelf.

Non-Fiction Rules!

Ponies and Horses by Fiona Lock

I distinctly remember one of my favorite easy reader books was not a fiction book, it was a book about the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Tut’s Mummy Lost… And Found. DK Beginning to Read Books has plenty of non-fiction options for the first time reader all the way to the to confident independent reader. Bugs, dinosaurs, space, history, baby animals, natural disasters; you name it, they've got it.

Keep Your Picture Books!

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

Don't ditch picture books! Books by authors Bill Martin Jr., Nancy Tafuri, Lauren Vaccaro Seeger, Lois Ehlert, Antoinette Portis, Pat Hutchins and the like are also great tools for early readers.

Kid-Approved Early Reader Favorites:

Pre-Level 1 & Level 1 Books:

Gus Gets Scared by Frank Remkiewicz

Chicken said, “Cluck!” by Judyann Ackerman Grant, pictures by Sue Truesdell

Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold

Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman

Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories

Hop on Pop (and let's face it, all easy reader books) by the incomparable Dr. Seuss

I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by G. Brian Karas

May I Please Have a Cookie by Jennifer E. Morris

Level 2 Books

Frog and Toad are Friends and the Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel

Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parish, Pictures by Fritz Siebel

Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson

Dragon's Fat Cat and the Dragon Tales series by Dav Pilkey

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories retold by Alvin Schwartz, pictures by Dirk Zimmer

Level 3 Books

Fox Be Nimble and the Fox Tales series by James Marshall

Frog and Friends: Party at the Pond   and Frog and Friends books by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Josee Masse

Minnie and Moo: The Case of the Missing Jelly Doughnut and the Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet

Rotten Ralph Helps Out and the Rotten Ralph series by Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel

Many of the books mentioned are a part of a series or the author's specialty is early reader books.

Let me know if you'd like more Early Reader suggestions!

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

image source: frog and toad

Reading Together

We've had a great time reading together over the past few weeks.
Here's our list of current favorites!

Chloe by Peter McCarty

Hands down favorite over the past week. We can't get enough of Chloe. We also love making bubble wrap popping sound effects.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

We're old fans of the Pete the Cat books, so when the new Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons was released this May, we just could't stop singing his song.

What! Cried Granny by Kate Lum, illustrated by Adrian Johnson

I think this book is so funny and a really great book to read aloud. Might have to introduce it to the storytime kids in the near future.

I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd

Emma Dodd is no stranger in our Reading Together lists. We've been loving her book all about BUGS!

It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler, illustrated by Roger Bollen

This was a book I use to read as a girl. P.J. Funnybunny has a hard time being a bunny, but when we sets out to be someone else he finds out that maybe it's better just to be yourself.

In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming

L has been extremely interested in frogs and bugs lately, so I picked up one of our favorite author/illustrator's books feature animal's lives in and around the pond.

Sally’s Great Balloon Adventure by Stephen Huneck

Sally the dog has a whole series of picture books we enjoy reading. Our favorites include Sally's Great Balloon Adventure, Sally Goes to the Beach, and Sally Gets a Job.

Dinosaur Woods by George McClements

How a group of woodland animals plot to save their forest home by making a dinosaur. Includes an instructional on how to make your very own dinosaur in the back of the book.

Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin

A hide and seek book following Tippy Toes, a very curious kitten.

Pizza at Sally’s by Monica Wellington

We also have two other Monica Wellington books in our current rotation, including Riki's Birdhouse and  Mr. Cookie Baker. She writes wonderful books for L's age group.

Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed by Eileen Christelow

As much as L has been interested in bugs and frogs, she is also been extremely fascinated with monkeys. We also enjoy reading Elieen Christenlow's "Five Little Monkey" books.

Ladybug Girl by David Somar and Jacky Davis

This book is a little on the long side for a two-year old, but L really enjoys reading it when she's in the mood to read through it. And even if we don't read Ladybug Girl the whole way through, she constantly requests it regardless. I like Ladybug Girl, because it's a book geared towards girls without being pink and princess-y.

The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner

A sweet book about friends and sharing.

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

This was our first time reading this timeless classic. How can you not fall in love with Harry? It's no wonder he's been everyone's favorite dog for over 50 years.

Just Ducks! by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino

Last but not least!!! We were quite taken by Nicola Davies' Outside Your Window and haven been having such a good time with Just Ducks! It's meant for an older audience than L, but we enjoy reading it in pieces.

***’Reading Together is a sampling of picture books I’m currently reading aloud to LBD (also known as L or Little L), my toddler daughter. As a children’s librarian, I’m always bringing home stacks and stacks of books to share together. Old and new. These are our favorites. Some of which have been read over and over and over again…. Times thirty. To the tenth power.***

Memorial Day Hello

Happy Memorial Day!

How was everyone's weekend? Go anywhere exciting? Read any good books?

My sister-in-law is visiting us for the holiday, so we've been enjoying some family pool time, gardening, and outside play.  Definitely have relished the two days in a row off work.  With that said, the library was closed yesterday and today for the Memorial Day weekend, so there will be no storytime post today.  Storytime posts will resume next week and throughout June and July. Also, be sure to keep an eye out this week for a new Reading Together post and the first edition of The Summer Book Hook, weekly themed reading lists to help keep kids hooked on reading throughout the summer.

Thank you to the troops who have severed or are currently serving our country.

Wishing you a day of summer hats and swimsuits, ice cream and sunshine!

image source: ice cream

10 Tips to Get Kids Reading This Summer

School's out for the summer!

Barbeques, block parties, pool time, camping... Woohoo it's summer!!! But what seems like endless sunny days ahead, a dark shadow hangs over this time of the year for school age kids K-12, most popularly referred to as "the summer slide".

According to the Summer National Learning Association, "Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematics computation skills over the summer months [and] low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement." One of the best ways to beat these grim statistics is by empowering kids to read during the summer days ahead.

But how?

Below, I've whipped up a few tips that should help beat the summer slide and encourage reading throughout the summertime. Also, starting next week, I'll be posting themed recommended reading lists titled: "The Summer Book Hook". Each Thursday, a recommended book lists will be posted here at Sturdy For Common Things to assist in keeping kids hooked on reading throughout the summer.

10 Tips to Get Kids Reading This Summer:

1. Pick up a summer reading log at your local library. Goals and prizes are great motivators. Here is where you can find a public library in your neighborhood.


2. Set aside reading time. 30 minutes, 6 days a week. That’s 3 hours each week. 30 hours total for the summer. It could be 30 minutes before swim lessons. Or 30 minutes before bed.  Whenever works best with you and your child’s schedule. I recommend downloading this Reading Timer App from Scholastic. Price: FREE! If you schedule it, it won’t fall through the cracks. Treat it like any other appointment.


3. Let them pick out their books. Embrace that they might not pick out a traditional book per se  (Coin Collecting for Kids, the graphic novel series Babymouse, etc.) and really that's okay!  Becoming a passionate reader stems from finding enjoyment in the act. Joke books, I Spy, graphic novels, kids magazines… it has to start somewhere. As a caregiver, you will know what content is appropriate for them, but as the ones doing the reading it's important for kids to have a say in what they read. It will only reinforce their desire to continue reading.


4. Variety. A common concern of parents is that their child has read The Diary of a Wimpy Kid six times in a row and have no interest in anything else. My first response to that is that it’s great they the have found something they enjoy reading. The hardest step is finding that gateway book to perk their interests in the first place, so it’s already an accomplishment that the excitement for reading is there. My recommendation is to allow them to read The Diary of a Wimpy Kid as many times as they like, but persuade them to read a different book in between.


5. Go on an adventure! Read about something they can go experience afterwards. Local monuments, zoos, museums, outside in your very own backyard, etc.


6. Planning to go on a summer trip? Read books about your vacation destination beforehand and/or take a few on the road. Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) has regional and international book lists available for your use.


7. Check out audiobooks! So many families find audiobooks are an enjoyable outlet during road trips whether it's to the grocery store or a trek across the country.  This doesn’t just go for cars... planes, boats, trains, camelback. Also makes for much quieter traveling for the parents. Be sure to take a couple minutes to read this New York Times article which includes a steller list of recommended audiobooks for kids of all ages.


8. Read aloud time. Even if you’re not the best reader, children love being read aloud to. It’s also a great way to set aside time to spend together.


9. Participate in National Summer Reading Programs: New York Times Summer Reading Contest, Barnes & Noble Summer Reading, Scholastic Summer Challenge…  Just like participating in your local libraries program, these national programs also have perks and rewards.


10. Organize a book club! Encourage your child to start a book club with their friends. After they’ve finished reading their chosen book, allow them to host a book club party or a sleepover to celebrate. Go all out and theme the party after the book. Or choose a book that has a movie and have a movie watch party.


11. Constant support. Remember... sometimes getting kids to read is a piece of cake. Sometimes it just so happens, you’ll fail a handful of times before it gets better. Encouragement is key. If you ever you need advice or book suggestions or someone to champion your efforts email me. Anytime. I'm here for you.

Okay, so there was 11 tips... the more the merrier, right?

Good luck and Happy Reading!



additional article sources: UpNext: The IMLS Blog, Reading is Fundamental

image source: summer

Bring a Friend Storytime

Yesterday's storytime was all about FRIENDSHIP. They were encouraged to bring a friend with them to storytime, which also included stuffed animals and imaginary friends. We don't discriminate.

For storytime, we enjoyed four fantastic books about being and becoming friends. Additionally, Ame Dykeman, author of Boy + Bot, sent goodies galore especially for our library's storytime kiddos! After a few entertaining reads, the kids made a robot friend of their very own.

Was it fun? Affirmative.

Bring a Friend Storytime Line-up:

Boy + Bot by Ame Dykeman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

Had to literally sneak this book out of our house for storytime we've been reading it so much at home. A story of how a boy and robot meet one day and become fast friends.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, Paul O. Zelinsky

The whole room was cracking up while reading this picture book about an eager moose, an alphabet production, and a zebra trying to keep everything in line. Easily my new favorite alphabet book.

Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie

The classic story of two best friends and their friendship together and afar.

You Will You Be My Friend! by Peter Brown

Sometimes it takes a few trial and errors before finding the perfect friend. Peter Brown never fails to entertain us!

Robot Buddy Craft:

Since Boy + Bot is such a fun read and you can't go wrong with robots, I thought it might be fun to make Robot Buddies for the post-storytime craft.

When searching for ideas, I came across this Robot Craft on No Time For Flash Cards. I liked the idea of using glitter or shiny materials and having the kids piece together a robot, but instead of making magnet pieces I altered the craft into making movable robot characters.

Here's how we made our Robot Buddies...

Materials Used: variety of glitter cardstock (can be found in the scrap booking section of a craft store), a few sheets of adhesive foam sheets, googly eyes, fasteners, hole punch, scissors, and glue.

Pre-storytime prep: I cut out the robot bodies and the limbs out of the glitter cardstock. The robot bodies were about 8x4 inches, the legs were about 4 1/2 inches long, and the arms 3 inches long. In case you were wondering.

Hole-punch the body where you'd like the arms and legs to go. Hole-punch the ends of the arms and legs as well.

Use the fasteners to connect the limbs to the body.

Decorate!

I cut circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles from adhesive foam sheets and the kids used those shapes as stickers. We also used googly eyes, some of which did not have adhesive backs so white school glue was used to connect them.

I don't know about you, but these Robot Buddies make me want to sing...

That's going to be stuck in my head the rest of the day.

After making their Robot Buddies (check these kid-made examples out!), the kids took home Boy + Bot bracelets, stickers, and bookmarks compliments of the author.

Thank you Ame Dykeman for being a friend of the library. The kids loved the goodies!

image sources: boy + bot, z is for moose, toot and puddle, you will be my friend