Thursday, April 12, 2018

#road2reading Challenge - new books to know about 4.12.18


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.


Here are some new series or new additions to series that you must check out!  Some are transitional chapter books - most between 100-200 pages, all with illustrations and have plot lines that are appropriate for readers who are starting to read chapter books on their own.  Others are early graphic novels - they have the frames and continuous stories we see in graphic novels but these are broken up into episodic chapters.  Happy reading!


Big Foot and Little Foot by Ellen Potter
Big Foot and Little Foot
written by Ellen Potter
illustrated by Felicita Sala
published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams
published April 10th

I was first introduced to author Ellen Potter in her Piper Green and the Fairy Tree series.  I loved how she captured the essence of childhood in a realistic fiction series that had a dose of childhood magic.  Now she is giving us a new series that flips the feel - this time it's a fantasy with a dose of realistic fiction that makes this series very relatable to young readers! Our narrator is Hugo the Sasquatch who has dreams beyond his small village in the woods, yet Sasquatch must stay away from humans which limits his options!  But right away Hugo ends up meeting, accidentally, a young boy.  While the friendship doesn't start with flying colors, the two end up seeing past their differences and finding similarities.  
I really loved this friendship story and I can't wait to see the direction this story goes in.  This is a book I'm looking forward to getting in the hands of young readers.  

The Creature of the Pines (The Unicorn Rescue Society, #1)
The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Creature of the Pines
written by Adam Gidwitz
illustrated by Hatem Aly
published by Dutton Books for Young Readers
published April 10th

If you are looking for an end of the school year read aloud, look no further!  This is going to be such a fun series to read and share with students.  I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while reading this one.  It's a perfect read aloud, fun and funny, suspenseful and exciting and it's the first in a series!  Wouldn't it be great to read this one aloud and let students know to be watching for book 2 in July?!


Narwhal Peanut Butter and Jelly
by Ben Clanton
published by Tundra
published March 27th

I love this earlier graphic novel series.  Readers who are so excited about graphic novels, but aren't ready for some of the more complex story lines will be thrilled to see this series that is perfect for them.
Narwhal and Jelly are up for more adventures in the sea this time all revolving around food. Jelly introduces Narwhal to the food group known as peanut butter :) and the fun begins - new names, new games and new/old food!  This makes a fun read aloud and a great book to give kids who are ready for a little bit on independence in their reading.


Do you work with readers who are starting their journey on the road to reading?  Join Alyson Beecher from Kid Lit Frenzy and me every Thursday as we explore books and ideas to help readers have a successful start to independent picture book and chapter book reading. If you blog or have a Goodreads page, please link up with us!

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