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that you may use with readers
at the start of their independent reading journey.
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Happy 2020! I have some end of the year 2019 books to share with you. This post is a binge of reading and I'll split them up into skills readers have a handle on:
* Readers who have a sight word vocabulary, can use phonics strategies to decode words, but still rely on picture clues *
My First Puppy
written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
photographs by Jill Wachter
It's a puppy book... right there it's a winner for young readers! Perfect for kids relying on sight words and picture clues. In the back are more caring for your puppy tips. This section has a bit more challenging vocabulary but could be the section an adult provides assistance when reading.
* Readers who are using more advanced phonics skills to decode words, have control over sight words, and use context to help figure out unknown words *
Snail and Worm All Day
by Tina Kügler
This is the third book in the series and it does not disappoint. Readers enjoy the silly tales of Snail and Worm. There is some inferring readers have to do as the jokes are not literally explained, but readers will use the story to help them figure out what is not explicitly being said. Episodic stories told in three chapters, readers will laugh at Snail as he joyously expresses himself or switches moods and is scared. Worm, as our practical character, always saves the day in the most practical way. I like that the conversations are in different colored fonts so young readers can keep track of who is doing the talking.
The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle
written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
illustrated by LeUyen Pham
I really enjoyed this one because it made me laugh and I think kids will laugh too. Gross smells? Monsters that need to take a bath? Just plain silliness!
This book is more advanced than Snail and Worm because it is longer, a lot more text on the pages, and now there is vocabulary that is more difficult to decode. However, there are still illustrations on all of the pages. This gives some context to what is happening in the print. It also allows readers to work on stamina because it is longer but still has visual support.
* Readers who are ready for longer chapter books, that are between 100-150 pages, and are no longer reliant on illustrations on every page *
Bad Bella
by Ali Standish
I love books that are written from the dog's perspective (hello Fenway and Hattie!). It would be so fun to know what is going on in their heads, but until that happens, we have these wonderful books to help us know otherwise!
Bella is the story of a rescue. In the very beginning of the book, Bella is trying hard to be loved by her family but too many things go wrong and the family brings her to the pound. The father drops her off saying "this is not our dog". What an interesting concept, one to be explored by readers and by Bella. We see this resonate with Bella for a long time, even after she is adopted by a new, loving family.
Coming in at under 150 pages, this book is perfect for readers who are working on reading stamina. I can see this fit with readers from 2nd-5th grade!
I loved author Ali Standish's note at the end of the book telling us about the real Bella!
Dory Fantasmagory Tiny Tough
by Abby Hanlon
I absolutely adore Dory and everything that happens to her - real or imagined.
I feel like this book gets back to the roots of Dory stories, those that are full of her imagination and characters that make us laugh.
And this book has Tub Town. This was a bath toy from the 1980s that had suction cups on the back so you hung the whole thing on the bathtub wall. It had multiple rooms and levels and little people and boats.... so much imaginative play would happen with this toy!
Whether you teach kg or 5th grade, I bet there is a book on this list for your readers!
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