From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 12:28:22 -0500

Thank you Lisa for a wonderful word: Bridge Books!

Yesterday I listed some books that were for kids who were just ready for chapter books. They would need a lot of picture support, lots of white space to rest their eyes (which are just now learning to track text), large typeface, predictable plot, and just a few characters to keep straight.

There is a whole different level of book--at least to my mind--of books that are a smidge more challenging. These books are a little challenging for the first go at chapter books, but still are clearly "bridge books." Often the biggest difference for the child reader is typeface size. I wish I could tell you how often children reject books with the phrase, "the print is too small."

Here are some of my favorites:

My Father's Dragon, et al by Ruth Stiles Gannett Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner American Girls books (Addy, Kirsten, Felicity and the whole crowd) Lady Lollipop by Dick King Smith Sophie books by Dick King Smith Judy Moody and Judy Moody Gets Famous by Megan McDonald Brooklyn, Bugsy and Me by Lynea Bowdish Howie Bowles, Secret Agent by Kate Banks Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charley? by Rececca Caudill Russell and Elisa books by Johanna Hurwitz Morgy Makes His Move by Maddie Lewis

I asked my students what the first chapter book they ever remember reading was. For most of them, this event has just occurred. Here is what they said:

Boxcar Children (shortened and regular) Magic Treehouse Junie B. Jones Charlie and the Chocolate Factory A to Z Mysteries Meet Abraham Lincoln Commander Toad Amelia Bedelia Captain Underpants Arthur chapter books (Marc Brown) Abridged Little House Books Peewee Scouts Catwings (Ursula LeGuin) Clue, Jr. Nate the Great Step up Classics Frog and Toad

This discussion brings up a question that I think is an interesting one. Sometimes a parent in my class will notice that the books I read aloud are often "easier" than the books the first grade teachers read aloud. This is sometimes true. I read aloud for a million different reasons, but one of the reasons I read some of these bridge books is to introduce new authors and books to my children. They get stuck on the same old books and need a little push in the right direction. When I choose more challenging books, I can always remind them that some books work better for listening and some are fun to read on their own. The pressure on my students by their parents and peers to read harder books is overwhelming. I try to make my independent reading program one where we read because we love the book--not because of what anyone else says. I also assign books for class discussion--that is another issue altogether. Happy reading, Robin Smith
Received on Wed 03 Oct 2001 12:28:22 PM CDT