Category Archives: Kid’s Books

Kid’s Books are one of my passions. I never read when I was a kid. When I had my own children, I got to read to them. And some of the books written since my time are incredible. Here are a few:

Read to a Twelve Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Twelve Year Old
Don’t stop.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
“Chrysanthemum.”
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
“We like the chapter about reading aloud best. Note: For a while, we thought it might have been better if the child was a little older to better understand the tough subjects in this book. But we’re pleased we made it through. We just might reread this one every year for a few years. What would Atticus do?”
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
“Bought this one by mistake. Search it out.”
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
“Which blue thing are they talking about?”
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Read to an Eleven Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to an Eleven Year Old
Even an eleven year old can be captivated by a read aloud story. Many of these deal with complex issues.
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
“See.”
The Giver by Lois Lowry
“Give back.”
Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian
“Good night Dad.”
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
“This is a tough story.”
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Read to a 10 Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Ten Year Old
Yes, you can still read to a ten year old. If you never have … try it … Now.
Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
“It’s tough to say ‘I’m sorry.’”
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
“A journey.”
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Alton Raible (Illustrator)
“Do you pick your friends, or do they pick you?”
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
“A great story from the past.” Caution: Tough to read aloud … don’t read it first.
Circle of Doom by Tim Kennemore
“Magic potions. But who’s in charge?”
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
The 2003 Newbery Winner. “Evokes an era.”
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
“A story of friendship.”
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
“Our school actually has these weeks.”
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Read to a 9 Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Nine Year Old
Many of these titles will spark interesting conversations.
The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick
“The best part about this book is all the stuff they left out. It isn’t needed.”
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E. L. Konigsburg
“Another one of those books that just sounds good while reading aloud.”
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
“Make the recipes … the potatoes are truly the best.”
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
A 2003 Newbery Honor Book. “Who do you want to be?”
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
“To see.”
Maniac McGee by Jerry Spinelli
“We have rules against much of that behavior in our home.”
Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
“Tough to read aloud, but worth it.”
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
“Survive.”
A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears by Jules Feiffer
“A tall tale.”
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
“It sounds good when reading it aloud.”
Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
“Read it the night before the big competition … or give it as a college graduation gift.”
There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar
(one for Banned Book Week) “The animals talk.”
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
“Read it just before the tenth birthday.”
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Read to an 8 Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to an 8 Year Old
There is no reason to stop reading to them when they are old enough to read on their own. Besides, you’d miss some really great books.
The Landry News by Andrew Clements
“The truth can hurt.”
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
“Go grandma.”
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
“Quite the party.”
The Man in the Ceiling by Jules Feiffer
“One of our favorites.”
Mean Margaret by Tor Seidler, Jon Agee (Illustrator)
“Sometimes it’s hard to love.”
Harry Potter Book and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
“Amazon sent it FedEx to arrive on the release date.”
Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
“Poetry. Very sad. Very good.”
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
“The same story … over and over… good over tea.”
Harry Potter Book and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
“Long … but good enough to read ahead.”
The School Story by Andrew Clements
“A how-to for publishing.”
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
“Is anyone listening?”
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
“We read it in June. But Christmas works, too.”
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The Two Heroes of Harry Potter

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Ben

Now that the Harry Potter sensation is coming to an end, I’d like to present my nominations for the the two heroes of the franchise: J.K. Rowling and Neville Longbottom.

J.K. Rowling is responsible for more kids reading more books than anyone else in the history of the world. She gets my deepest respect for pulling that off in this age.

If you were paying attention, Harry, Ron and Hermione just messed things up. Neville was the one who consistently got things right. I want to be like him.

Ben

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Read to a 7 Year Old

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Ben
Read to a 7 Year Old
With enough perseverance, there is a day, usually sometime near the end of first grade, when they start paying attention long enough to start reading chapter books. Then you can start reading almost anything.
Frindle by Andrew Clements
“The Professor and the Madman at work.”
All About Sam by Lois Lowry
“Sam tells us all about it.”
Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
“Yup, written by Mary Poppins.”
Holes by Louis Sachar
“It all comes together in the end … incredible.”
McBroom’s Wonderful One Acre Farm by Sid Fleischman
“A tall tale … with layers.”
The Cricket in Time Square by George Selden
“Chirp chirp.”
Harry Potter Book and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
“Where it all starts.”
Wayside School is Falling Down and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger by Louis Sachar
“More fun stories.”
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
“Scary … but worth it.”
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All About Sam

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Ben

All About Sam by Lois Lowry

"Sam tells us all about it."

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Frindle

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Ben

by Andrew Clements

The Professor and the Madman at work.

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Okay For Now

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Ben

by Gary D. Schmidt

My prediction for the 2012 Newbery Award:

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