This week’s review is filled with books that help transition readers from leveled books to chapter books. These books have stories kids enjoy reading, which helps instill in them the love of reading. I’ll begin with the earliest chapter books and progress to books with more pages, smaller font, less pictures and more complex story-lines. There is an easy formula for parents to quickly locate books that will match their child’s reading level: the thickness of the book, the amount of pictures, size of font and plot. The first group of books have illustrations on every page. The usual age for beginning chapter readers is ages six to eight.
Ricky Vargas: Born to be Funny!, by Alan Katz, and illustrated by Stacy Curtis, is the second book in this series that features young Ricky who thinks of himself as the funniest kid ever. But then he finds his first un-funny day is frustrating and he must get his humor back.
Monstrous Stories: Night of the Zmbie Gold Fish, by Dr. Roach, is one of several stories in the Monstrous Stories series and they are all humorous and light-hearted reads. This story involves a science experiment that gets into the fish food of two friends and the trouble begins.
Scholastic has a new line of transitional early chapter books, Branches, that will go on sale in May. These new books have all the elements that new readers will thoroughly enjoy. They include: Missy’s Super Duper Roal Deluxe Picture Day, by Susan Nees, Boris on the Move, by Andrew Joyner, Looniverse Stranger Things, by David Lubar, The Notebook of Doom and Lotus Lane, by Kyla May.
The next books are longer and have less pictures and a smaller font.
Martha Speaks: Detective Dog, based on the Susan Meddaugh characters, is a great book to introduce mysteries to new chapter readers. Martha is a very brilliant dog (who can also talk) and she sets out to solve mysteries in two different stories in this book. The pictures in the book are all colorful. “Martha Speaks” is an outstanding series kids love.
Scream Team: The Zombie at the Finish Line, by Bill Doyle, and illustrated by Jared Lee, is number four in this funny series. It’s time for the Junior Monster Leagues track-and-field competition and Patsy the Zombie has trained for the Die-athalon, but can she finish? Number 3 in the series is another funny story: “The Bigfoot in the End Zone”.
This last group of books has fewer pictures and much more complex story-lines than the previous books mentioned.
Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s Guide to Fighting Evil, by Scott Peterson, is one in a series and this book is full of secret spy tips, jokes, fill-in activities and more.
Ballpark Mysteries: The Wrigley Riddle, by David A. Kelly, and illustrated by Mark Meyers, is #6 that takes place in different pro-league stadiums. This great mystery takes place in Chicago.
The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True and The Adventures of Sir Balin the Ill-Fated, both by Gerald Morris, are two books in this excellent series that takes readers back to the Arthurian legend. What I love about these books is they teach honor, trust and honesty, along with other great character traits.