Book List… Great Reads to keep kids motivated!

My children love going to our local library. Besides the fun they have, I appreciate the opportunity to mix new books into our rotation with the tried-and-true at home. However, sitting in front of those rows and rows of shelves at the library can be intimidating! The librarians are always helpful, but sometimes its nice to go into the library with a general plan of what Id like us to check out.

I have started bringing my copy of The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. I highly recommend adding this to your collection of parenting books. The first half of the book makes the case for reading out loud to your children often and throughout their childhood. The second half is made up of recommendations for read-aloud books from board books to long, classic chapter books. The recommendations are broken down into genre and organized by age/grade level with a short description (looking for a sports book for a second grader? Hes got it!). Yesterday at the library I bookmarked several of Jims suggestions, found a couple, and brought home some excellent books!

Book suggestions for K-6th grade.Below are some ideas to get you started. Ask your school or local library for other ideas.

K-2 grade Girls:

• Amelia Bedelia books
• Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
• Charming Opal by Hollie Hobbie
• Eloise by Thompson, Kay
• Chesters Way by Henkes, Kevin
• Swamp Angel by Isaacs, Anne

K-2 grade Boys:

• Curious George by H.A. Rey
• Dogshow by Elizabeth Winthrop
• How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long
• JoJos Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney

3-4 grade Girls:

• Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
• Charlottes Web by E.B. White
• Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary
• Because of Winn Dixie
• American Girls series
• American Girl Series
• Sarah, Plain and Tall by MacLachlan, Patricia

3-4 grade Boys:

• Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
• Horrible Harry & the Mud Gremlins by Suzy Kline

5-6 grade Girls:

• James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Island of the Blue Dolphins
• Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine
• Nancy Drew series
• Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

5-6 grade Boys:

• Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
• James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine

6-8 grade girls:

• Beastly
• Counting by 7s
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• School for Good and Evil
• Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
• Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
• Legend by Marie Lu
• A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
• Imperfect Spiral by Debbie Levy

View this BATTLE OF THE BOOKS LIST... it is full of excellent books that are diverse and sure to please everyone.

• Banks The Indian in the Cupboard
• Blume Superfudge
• Bulla The Sword in the Tree
• Burnett The Secret Garden
• Cleary Ramona the Pest
• Clements No Talking
• Denzel Boy of the Painted Cave
• DiCamillo The Tale of Despereaux
• Farley The Black Stallion
• Goble The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
• Gutman Honus and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure
• Haddix Running Out of Time
• Howe Bunnicula
• Juster Phantom Tollbooth
• Karr The Great Turkey Walk
• Kellogg Paul Bunyan
• Konigsburg From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
• Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Naylor Shiloh
• Osborne Dinosaurs Before Dark
• Park The Kite Fighters
• Peck Soup
• Riordan The Titans Curse
• Sachar Sideways Stories from Wayside School
• Shahan Frozen Stiff
• Taylor The Trouble with Tuck
• Urban Crooked Kind of Perfect
• Wardlaw 101 Ways to Bug Your Friends and Enemies
• Wilder Farmer Boy
• Wise Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler

AND MORE

• BirneySeven Wonders of Sassafras Springs
• ByarsWantedMud Blossom
• ClearyRalph S. Mouse
• ColeMagic School Bus: Inside the Earth
• CovilleJeremy Thatcher
• CreechRuby Holler
• DahlCharlie and the Chocolate Factory
• DalglieshCourage of Sarah Noble
• EricksonOriginal Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
• GutmanMillion Dollar Shot
• HaddixRunning Out of Time
• HanniganIda B
• HobbsLast Best Days of Summer
• KliseRegarding the Fountain
• LaFayeWorth
• LobelFabies
• LowryAll About Sam
• McSwiganSnow Treasure
• ODellIsland of the Blue Dolphin
• RaskinWesting Game
• RawlsSummer of the Monkeys
• RiodanLightning Thief
• RobinsonBest School Year Ever
• RuckmanNight of the Twister
• SpeareSign of the Beaver
• SperryCall It Courage
• TolkienHobbit
• WilesEach Little Bird that Sings
• WredeDealing With Dragons
• YepWhen the Circus Came to Town
• MacLachlanSarah, Plain and Tall

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