Magic Tree House

Magic Tree House books are great young reader chapter books. This is a series by Mary Pope Osborne (click here for author page) that takes children to all sorts of places. Jack and Annie find this magic tree house filled with books and through the books they magically travel to places like jungles and go to historical time periods such as those with knights protecting their kingdoms. The series is written at a third and fourth grade vocabulary level but can be great read-a-louds to younger readers. Another great thing about the Magic Tree House books is that the author has created some non-fiction companion books to go with the fictional stories called the Fact Trackers. For example, to go with the story with the setting in Egypt, there is a non-fiction book on the Pyramids and the Mummies. These are also well written and designed for elementary age readers.

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood

Have some fun with a bit of Louisiana lingo with the book Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. The author Mike Artell tells the story with a read-a-loud rhythm and a twist from the traditional Red Riding Hood tale. Instead of a wolf, the "Red Riding Hood" encounters an alligator on the Bayou as she goes on her special mission. While the AR level is 3.9, this book may be enjoyable for kindergarten through third grade. 

Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is a story about a boy in New Orleans where music is a big part of the community. "Shorty" tells how he came to be known with his trombone and what life is like in New Orleans. This delightful children's easy autobiographical title is a Caldecott Honor book and written at a 4.2 AR level and can be enjoyed by second graders and up.

Rainbow Soup

We all need some humorous ways to describe our world. Poetry is one place we can do just that. Rainbow Soup: Adventures in Poetry by Neal Layton shares about 50 visual experiences in his poems. There are puns, rhymes, and whimsical illustrations to entertain all ages. Many poems target the upper elementary student and I found some writings very funny as an adult.

Zen Shorts

How would it be if a story telling panda suddenly arrived in your neighborhood? Well, it happened to Addy, Karl, and Michael. Jon J Muth writes an entertaining story with three Zen stories within. Zen Shorts (AR level 2.9) is well written and provides some mini life lesson stories through his panda Stillwater. It is an enjoyable title for children and adults. Muth also has some other notable titles that can be found on an author link (click here for more book titles). 

A Wrinkle in Time

Many people are fascinated by the recent trend of alternative time lines or alternative societies. Well, Madeleine L'Engle published her series, starting with A Wrinkle in Time (AR level 4.7), for youth in the 1960's and is what I call a classic for sci-fi/fantasy. Three children are in search of their scientific father and discover that he is trapped in a parallel time. The additional books in this series are A Wind in the Door (AR level 5.0) and A Swiftly Tilting Planet(AR level 5.2). While targeting upper elementary, this may be a good read aloud for younger elementary if the concept is of interest.

Ross the Rooster Takes a Vacation

Take a journey to the out of the way places with Ross the Rooster. Ross and his farmer Ron travel from American Falls, Idaho through parts of Utah and Nevada to Las Vegas. He even visits Montello and Angel Lake. This is a great book to include some geography learning. Ross the Rooster Takes a Vacation is written by Kelly Steele and is targeting the younger elementary child. While no AR level is available, it is likely readable by a second grader with some parent support. Steele has a few other Ross the Rooster stories also available such as Ross the Rooster Discovers Gold and Ross the Rooster Goes Camping.

A Very Improbable Story

How do you explain probability? Even as a grown-up it is sometimes hard to compute this mathematical concept. Edward Einhorn has written A Very Improbable Story that introduces the concept of probability in a humorous tale of a boy and a cat that talks. The cat challenges the boy in different tasks as the boy is trying to get ready for his soccer game. A Very Improbable Story (AR level 3.2) is targeted at the second through fourth grade reader. However, an inquisitive younger math student may gain some sense of probability through this fun story.

Bud, Not Buddy

Go back in time, a hard time in American history, and experience life as a young boy on his own. During the Great Depression Bud is in search of a man he believes to be his father after escaping a bad foster home situation.  Bud, Not Buddy (AR level 5.0) written by Christopher Paul Curtis is for upper elementary readers and is also a good historical read for jr. high, high schoolers, and adults.  

Seed to Plant

Seed to Plant by Kristin Baird Rattini and published by National Geographic Kids is a colorful non-fiction showing the amazing process of plants. With realistic photos and comparing the parts of the plant to the parts of a human, this title can stimulate interesting discussions about our natural world. The AR level is 2.5 and a good non-fiction read aloud for K-2 students.

Star Wars: the Visual Encyclopedia

So, you think you know everything there is to know about Star Wars? Well, check this book out- Star Wars: the Visual Encyclopedia. In this book you find out more than you can imagine about all the stuff in the Star Wars series. There is info on geography, characters, and all the props. With realistic pictures, history, and trivia this book will entertain the mildest Star Wars fan. 

Snoring Beauty

So we know the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, but do you know about the Snoring Beauty? Bruce Hale takes the idea of Sleeping Beauty and creates a whimsical story where the princess is turned into a Snoring Beauty, a hot pink and purple dragon. With a variety of characters such as the sarcastic frog narrator and the fairy Hexus this comical tale, Snoring Beauty (AR level 3.2), will keep the elementary age reader entertained.

Library Lion

What would you do if there was a lion at the library? Library Lion (AR level 2.2) by Michelle Knudsen is a story about just that situation. This is a good prediction story as readers can consider if this is a realistic or make believe situation, what might happen to the lion, or how will other library visitors react. It also is fun to think about animals visiting the library, even something like a common house cat. Some libraries do have animal mascots.

Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm

Scholastic Books has a series by Joanna Cole called The Magic School Bus (click here for all her titles). In this title Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm (AR level 3.4) children learn about weather. The appealing thing about this series is that while it is considered non-fiction, children learn through a story telling adventure of other kids on their teacher's magical bus. The popularity of these books also led to the creation of a video series. This is a good series for all elementary ages.

Panda-monium!

Stuart Gibbs has written a comical series called FunJungle. In the title Panda-monium Teddy solves a mystery for the zoo concerning a missing panda. This book is entertaining and targeting upper elementary (4th-6th). While the Accelerated Reader website does not have this title listed yet, other books in the series are given a 5th grade reading level. This could also be a read with or read aloud to 3rd graders. The author has other mystery titles targeting the upper elementary reader (click here for author link). 

Super Simple Walk & Run

An easy non-fiction to share with children about exercise is called Super Simple Walk & Run. With realistic photos the author Nancy Tuminelly provides different creative activities to engage kids in exercise. For example, there are ideas for a Scavenger Walk and an Obstacle Run. Other books are available such as Bend & Stretch and Throw & Catch. The author provides simple steps for some fun ways to move and be healthy.

Critter Club: Liz Learns a Lesson

Callie Barkley has written a fun series known as the Critter Club (click here for author page) . In the title Liz Learns a Lesson (AR level 3.0), eight year old Liz discovers she is going to Summer School, which of course is not what she really wants to do. And then, there is suddenly a turtle in the midst of things. This is a great easy level, or what I call a "transitional chapter" book. Targeting the younger elementary child this is a cute chapter book series that could also be read aloud.

The Wild, Wild Inside: a View from Mommy's Tummy

So, does your child know anyone expecting a baby? Well, here is a fun and simple book for talking about the arrival of a new baby. The Wild, Wild Inside: a View from Mommy's Tummy is a story told from the perspective of the soon to be born baby. The author Kate Feiffer adds a bit of imagination to her story telling.

No, David!

No, David! by David Shannon is a favorite for younger readers (AR level 3.7). While its AR level is high for the higher level word choice, the text is minimal and story line is simple. The illustrations tell the story more than the words on the page. David is the little boy always testing his boundaries and learns that he is even during his challenging moments, he is still loved.

Skippyjon Jones Class Action

Skippyjon Jones is a peculiar cat with a variety of adventures. Author Judy Schachner (click here for Amazon author page) has a collection of titles with this character. In Skippyjon Jones Class Action (AR level 4.0), Skippyjon Jones wants to go to school but his mom tells him, "School is for Dogs!" The author has great rhythm in her story telling and wonderful word choice alongside the illustrations showing the adventures of Skippyjon Jones. This book is a fun read for K-3.

Far Flutterby

Karen Kingsbury, known more for her adult realistic fiction, writes this tale for children called Far Flutterby (AR level 4.3). A caterpillar learns that God has more for his life than just eating and crawling. In a well written lyrical style, this book can be an encouragement and book of hope for children. 

The River

A realistic fiction author that is great for upper elementary through high school is Gary Paulsen. Paulsen creates a survival story in The River (AR level 5.5) with a character from a previous book called The Hatchet (AR level 5.7). When I read Paulsen I am taken to a real place and learn essential survival skills. This is a story about solving problems and asking yourself, what would I do in this situation?

Elephant & Piggie

Elephant & Piggie books are lots of fun for the pre-school child. K-1 students will enjoy them as easy, early readers. They are written by Mo Willmes and have simple illustrations and minimal text. The stories are told from their pictures as much as the words. The author has multiple titles such My Friend is Sad (AR level .7) and The Thank You Book (AR level 1.4). Click on this sentence for more titles by Mo Willems.

You May Just be a Dinosaur

Who doesn't like a book about dinosaurs? You May Just Be a Dinosaur is written by Heather Macht. It has factual information boxes alongside a simple story line (found in the easy picture book section). The author asks a lot of questions of the reader comparing human habits to those known by dinosaurs. This will need to be read to younger readers but will be very engaging to all who turn the pages.

Jacky Ha-Ha

James Patterson has written a humorous book of an upper elementary girl named Jacky. Jacky has decided this year she will be good and not get any detentions. However, things don't go exactly as planned. This chapter book is reasonably easy to read, though a bit longer than chapter books written for the younger grades. This could be read to 2nd or 3rd graders but a good independent read for 4th grade and up. Jacky Ha-Ha has an AR level of 4.7.