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chapter books for new readers
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From: Lisa Von Drasek <lisav>
Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 11:41:33 -0400
Dear CCBC community,
This is a subject dear to my heart. We call these bridge books here. Many of the previously mentioned series Magic Tree House, the Zack Files fly off the shelves here. What about those crazy Time Warp Trio guys? by Sciezka and Smith. I know they like to think of them as guy books but this was the series that really got one of our 8 year old girls over the hump to chapter books. I second the recomendation for Iris and Walter , Elissa Haden Guest, illus. by Christine Davenier.
An example of a perfect early chapter book is Not My Dog by Colby Rodowsky, pictures by Thomas Yezerski , FSG 1999. A 10 out of 10. A simple story of a girl who wants and was promised a puppy but her family takes in an older dog from a relative who is unable to care for him. To the checklist. Short book- yup, only sixty nine pages. Engaging plot. Expressive illustrations, at least one per chapter. Clean layout. Straightforward text yet high literary quality- "Ellie Martin had red hair and green eyes. She also had one hundred and twenty-four freckles. At least the last time she counted she did." So well paced that I would love to read it aloud but there are so few really great books of this type, I wouldn't want to ruin it for the independent readers.
Solo Girl by Andrea Davis Pinkney .illus. by Nneka Bennett. 56p. Hyperion 1997. Cass is a third grader who just moved to the neighborhood and is trying to fit in. Important issues for all age groups but especially our kids in this age group. It is a rare ability to write well for this audience, we have the other issue of providing books with kids of color. Yes there is the Julian books, then what? Pass along Solo Girl.
Lisa Von Drasek, MLIS Children's Librarian Bank Street College of Education 610 West 112th St NY NY 10025
lisav at bnkst.edu
Received on Wed 03 Oct 2001 10:41:33 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 11:41:33 -0400
Dear CCBC community,
This is a subject dear to my heart. We call these bridge books here. Many of the previously mentioned series Magic Tree House, the Zack Files fly off the shelves here. What about those crazy Time Warp Trio guys? by Sciezka and Smith. I know they like to think of them as guy books but this was the series that really got one of our 8 year old girls over the hump to chapter books. I second the recomendation for Iris and Walter , Elissa Haden Guest, illus. by Christine Davenier.
An example of a perfect early chapter book is Not My Dog by Colby Rodowsky, pictures by Thomas Yezerski , FSG 1999. A 10 out of 10. A simple story of a girl who wants and was promised a puppy but her family takes in an older dog from a relative who is unable to care for him. To the checklist. Short book- yup, only sixty nine pages. Engaging plot. Expressive illustrations, at least one per chapter. Clean layout. Straightforward text yet high literary quality- "Ellie Martin had red hair and green eyes. She also had one hundred and twenty-four freckles. At least the last time she counted she did." So well paced that I would love to read it aloud but there are so few really great books of this type, I wouldn't want to ruin it for the independent readers.
Solo Girl by Andrea Davis Pinkney .illus. by Nneka Bennett. 56p. Hyperion 1997. Cass is a third grader who just moved to the neighborhood and is trying to fit in. Important issues for all age groups but especially our kids in this age group. It is a rare ability to write well for this audience, we have the other issue of providing books with kids of color. Yes there is the Julian books, then what? Pass along Solo Girl.
Lisa Von Drasek, MLIS Children's Librarian Bank Street College of Education 610 West 112th St NY NY 10025
lisav at bnkst.edu
Received on Wed 03 Oct 2001 10:41:33 AM CDT
