“What should I read next?” It’s a question heard by many parents and teachers and one that challenges readers of all ages. If you’re trying to raise a reader or helping your child fall in love with books and language, here are some titles that can be a springboard into their next read. And families, all of these titles are wonderful read-aloud options!
A new title helps you discover an author.
Richmond’s own Meg Medina has a brand new picture book about the special friendship between little Ana and her caregiver, Mimi. How will that relationship change when Abuela comes to stay? The good news is, after No More Señora Mimi charms your family, head to the “M” shelf in the picture book section of the library and discover Medina’s other titles: Tía Isa Wants a Car; Mango, Abuela, and Me; and Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away. And more good news: all of these books are also available in Spanish.
(Pre-K through early elementary)
One series of books leads to another.
Do you have a Mercy Watson fan in your house? Kate DiCamillo’s earliest chapter books were published in 2005, and they continue to charm countless new readers. When your child is ready for just a bit more, those same characters appear in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series in stories with more length and depth. You can also explore DiCamillo’s other early reader series, including Bink and Gollie and the brand new Orris and Timble.
(Pre-K through early elementary)
Learn something new!
Have you spent the summer enjoying delicious produce from your garden or your favorite farmer’s market? Use that tasty tomato as an opportunity to learn about all the activity above and below the soil’s surface with Kate Messner’s nonfiction picture book Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt. From there, learn about other hidden worlds with Over and Under the Waves, Over and Under the Canyon, and Over and Under the Snow.
(Pre-K through early elementary)
Read it before you watch it!
Peter Brown’s masterpiece The Wild Robot comes to the big screen this month, so it is a great time to institute the rule that you have to read the book before you can see the movie. An engrossing read-aloud, the story of Roz and her adventures in the wilderness will captivate the whole family – ages six to sixty and beyond. Then you can follow Roz’s adventures in the two sequels, The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects.
(Elementary school)
Think of a multi-author anthology as literary speed dating.
You meet a collection of authors in short story form, discover some you love, and go find more work by them. You Are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh of We Need Diverse Books (diversebooks.org), contains stories that all happen on the same day in the same Chicago airport, written by twelve Asian American authors who are writing amazing books for young readers. Some favorites from these authors: The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat and Those Kids From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly.
(Upper elementary and middle school)
When you discover there’s an entire series!
National Book Award Finalist Ghost is often a reader’s first introduction to the work of Jason Reynolds. It tells the story of a boy who finds his way onto a track team and into a community that helps put him back together. Patina, Sunny, and Lu are his fellow rookies on the team, each with their own compelling story.
(Middle and high school)
A good series goes a long way – in nonfiction, too!
Football season is upon us, and Undefeated tells the little-known story of Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School football team in the early days of the sport. Once your nonfiction readers are hooked by Steve Sheinkin’s brilliant storytelling, they can learn more history with Fallout, Impossible Escape, and
The Port Chicago 50.
(Middle and high school)
