Starting the #road2reading journey 1.03.17

All journeys have a starting place.

This is a weekly place to find books and tools 

that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.

Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

When Alyson Beecher of KidLitFrenzy put out a call for a weekly challenge that had to do with early readers, I jumped on it right away.  It's a topic I have written about in the past and feel passionate about.  

Reading really is a journey.  Everyone begins and travels along their journey at separate times and different paces.  We are lucky to have a variety of books at our fingertips (or at the local library) to help readers along their journey.  However, I notice that books are marketed to us in different ways that can lead us to select only certain books and forget others.  Or they are marketed in a way that can be confusing, not only to readers, but to the adults that put books in their hands.

We're very familiar with the picture books that have generated a lot of buzz.  And then from there we hear a lot about popular middle grade books.  But somewhere in there lies gaps.  When readers are ready for some independent reading, they need support with words, font, sentences, patterns, plot and characters.  Also, when readers are ready for longer stories, they often need a chapter book that supports them along the way instead of jumping into longer more complex middle grade stories. 

Alyson and I are looking forward to opening the conversation with you about this journey and the books we can use.  Specifically, we're going to be talking about early readers - both picture and chapter books - and transitional chapter books and graphic novels.  Every Tuesday we'll dig into these types of books and offer suggestions - books that are new and upcoming, some favorites and some that have older publication dates that you may have missed.  We'll look at these formats a bit closer so we all get a better idea of the reader these books may fit.  

We hope you join us on Tuesdays, as either a participant or a learner.  If this is an area that you feel would benefit you and your readers, join us!  Alyson has some ways you can participate in the challenge:

• Stop by on Tuesdays and check out our posts, leave comments and link up your own reviews of early readers and transitional chapter books.
• Set a goal for how many books in this category you would like to read. Since these books tend to be short, you may find it easy to read one or two a week. Or you may just want to focus on one book from a new series or author per month. Keep your goal realistic and fun.
• Share your posts or what you are reading on twitter with the hashtag #Road2Reading - this will also allow others to find everyone’s posts.
• There will be interviews, guest posts, giveaways, and new release posts.
• If you would like to participate in this challenge, please link up your blog or GoodReads Shelf using the Widget at the very bottom of the post. Please know that you can join in at anytime throughout the year.
• You are welcome to grab the image at the top of the post to use in your weekly posts.

Be sure to visit Alyson's blog KidLitFrenzy for additional information about this weekly challenge and even more upcoming book ideas.

Want some books to help you along your way?  Check out these January 2017 releases:

Early Graphic Novel

Egg by Kevin Henkes

Early Reader

What This Story Needs is a Bang and a Clang by Emma Virján

Early Chapter Book

My Kite is Stuck and Other Stories by Salina Yoon

Transitional Chapter Book

Tales of Sasha by Alexa Pearl

I hope you'll join in on the fun!  In the comments, add what you would like to see discussed - book suggestions, information about these books, how to use them, etc. We're looking forward to the conversation!