Learning to read can be an exhausting affair for little ones. There are so many new words to stretch out and recognize that it's easy to get burned out after a page or two.
That's why it's so great to find beginner books that are playful and explore ideas they can relate to, and make them feel happy and accomplished.
This spring, I've highlighted five beginner series that are certain to reduce wiggles at reading time. Some are silly, others sweet, and all are fast-paced and irresistible to look at.
Max Spaniel (Two Books)
Written and illustrated by David Catrow
Orchard Books, 2009-2010
$6.99, ages 4-8, 40 pages
A goofy, lovely pooch named Max tries to convince everyone that he's not a dog in this side-splitting series about chasing your dreams.
In every book, Max gets a wild hare to be something new and gets in one funny predicament after another.
In Dinosaur Hunt, he struts about like a great hunter and ends up creating his own prey out of garden tools, then in Funny Lunch, Max declares he's a great chef, only to realize he's made a pizza mess.
Catrow's illustrations are incredibly funny and keep readers giggling.
Elephant and Piggie, 12 Books
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Hyperion Books for Children,
Congratulations to the winners of the 2006 Cybils! I'd like to send out a special cheer to previously featured winners: author Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long for An Egg Is Quiet (Chronicle)(author and illustrator interview); author-illustrator Melanie Watt for Scaredy Squirrel (Kids Can); and David Levithan (along with his co-author Rachel Cohn) for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Knopf)(author interview). I'd also like to say thanks to all the amazing volunteers behind this wonderful new award program. This is an amazing effort. Please do know that it is appreciated!
Don't miss this super cool video interview with author David Lubar as he talks to Expanded Books about his forthcoming True Talents (StarScape, March 2007)(excerpt). Visit here, and read a related recommendation by Greg.
Interview with Kimberly Duncan-Mooney by Jenna Glatzer from Absolute Write. Kimberly is the US editor of Barefoot Books, a small publisher established in 1993 with offices in Cambridge, Mass.; and England.
"An Unsafe Bridge" by Peter T. Chattaway from Christianity Today. Author Katherine Paterson chimes in on the film version of "Bridge to Terabithia."
Submit to the 11th Carnival of Children's Literature, sponsored by Big A, little a.
Picture Books: Plan, Polish, and Publish by Dori Chaconas. Read interviews with Dori on On A Wintry Morning (Viking, 2000) and One Little Mouse (Viking, 2002) from my web site.
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast #6: Kelly Herold at Big A little a: an interview with one of my favorite bloggers.
Thanks to Greg at Greg LSBlog for inviting me to be a guest blogger this past week. The featured authors and illustrators from those posts will be highlighted once more here so that no one misses hearing about their wonderful books. This will result in some short-term repetition; however, I'll be sure to also include new news as we're catching up.
Huge thanks to all who've supported my guest blogging (during tech woes) and the launch of my new YA novel, Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007), including: Book Moot; Laura Bowers; Julia Durango; Alex Flinn; Carrie Jones; Cynthia Lord; Liz Garton Scanlon; Laurie Stolarz; Three Silly Chicks; Lara Zeises; April Lurie, Jo Whittemore; Shaken & Stirred; Colleen Cook; Mitali Perkins; Varian Johnson; Chris Barton; Kellye Carter Crocker; Jody Feldman; Debbi Michiko Florence; Varian Johnson; Jo Knowles; Uma Krishnaswami; Carolyn Lehman; David Lubar; Kerry Madden; Mary E. Pearson; Laura Ruby; Tanya Lee Stone; Anastasia Suen; Don Tate; Kim Winters; Sara Zarr.
Where Do Media Tie-ins Come From? with Laurie Calkhoven from the Institute of Children's Literature.
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Non-swimmer me, with my fear of the water, can relate to this one. I'll be sure to keep off any branches hanging over water.
One of the Cork & Fuzz books is on our library's summer reading list.