I read a comment this week from a follower wondering about summer reading lists for young readers and I wanted to follow up with a few suggestions to keep young and budding readers reading over the summer. It can be tricky to find leveled books to match the needs of our youngest readers. I have a few series suggestions for teachers and families. First, check your child's report card to see if the teacher mentioned a reading level. If you aren't sure the level, read a few of these series to your child at the bookstore or the library and you'll be sure to find the right match when your child begins to read along with you. I like to recommend series books for the summer because once a reader is hooked, he will have plenty of books to read! In other words, it builds stamina easily.
Books that you can easily find at your child’s independent reading level:
Level C and D Readers:
Brand New Readers Series
click here for information about ordering. My favorite characters are Piggy and Daddy, Worm, Termite, and Mouse. Adults will even find these simple books laugh out loud funny.
Level E and F Readers:
Puppy Mudge Series by Cynthia Rylant
Tiny Series by Cari Meister
Kipper Series by Mick Inkpen
Level G and H Readers:
Turtle and Snake Series by Kate Spohn
Biscuit Series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Fly Guy Series by Tedd Arnold
Level I and J Readers:
Dragon Series by Dav Pilkey
Poppleton series by Cynthia Rylant
Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant
Fox Series by Edward Marshall
Level K and L Readers
Commander Toad by Jane Yolen
Arthur Series by Lillian Hoban
Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
Pinky and Rex series by James Howe
Some websites that will support oral language development and nonfiction reading:
National Geographic for Kids http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
PBS Kids http://pbskids.org/
And, if you are planning for summer bookstore or library time this week to get out of the heat, here are some books that kids and adults love to talk about together. Remember that your kids are NEVER too old for read aloud. They love hearing the sound of your voice and talking about books with you! Happy reading!
Read Aloud Titles:
Keller, Holly Sophie’s Window. Greenwillow, 2005.
Fleming, Denise. Buster. Henry Holt, 2003. Ages 4 - 7
Montenegro, Laura Nyman. A Bird About to Sing. Houghton Mifflin, 2003. Ages 5 – 8
Hopkins, Lee Bennett, editor. Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins: Creature Poems. Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. HarperCollins, 2002.
O'Connell George, Kristine. Little Dog Poems.
Marshall, James. George and Martha. Houghton Mifflin, 1974.
Marshall, James. George and Martha Round and Round. Houghton Mifflin, 1991.
Marshall, James. George and Martha One Fine Day. Houghton Mifflin, 1982.
Waber, Bernard. Bearsie Bear and the Surprise Sleepover Party. Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books; Reprint edition. 2002.
