Top Ten: Ways to Find & Enjoy Books (from January, February and March 2022 school bulletins)
Parents and Guardians: It’s almost a full time job finding books that your student WANTS to read or listen to you read to them. Here is an idea each week to help you find and enjoy books.
Visit the public library and randomly try 3 new books on the shelf! Or visit a bookstore and see what is on display!
2. Teacher Recommended Series (Our Colton Elementary Teachers recommended these titles!)
*in order from youngest audiences to middle grade (ages 9-12) audiences
Sofia Martinez series
Mercy Watson series
Magic Treehouse series
Geronimo Stilton series
EllRay Jakes series
The World According to Humphrey series
Eerie Elementary series
Judy Moody series
Stink series
Ranger in Time series
Junie B Jones series
The Fudge series by Judy Blume (2-5)
Pages & Co. series by Anna James (3-5)
The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins (3-5)
The Oddmire Series by William Ritter
The Hero's Guide to Saving your Kingdom series(3-5)
Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4-5)
Chronicles of Narnia series
Hobbit series
The Books of Elsewhere series
Wings of Fire series
Keeper of the Lost Cities series
Harry Potter series
3. Colton Elementary STAFF FAVORITES…Recommended Family Bedtime Read Alouds:
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (2-5)
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey
Wonder by R.J. Palacio (3-5)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (4-5)
4. “Novelist Content” on the public library website: LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)- Hands down, the easiest way to find books and series similar to ones students already like. It’s the biggest hidden gem- no sign in or account needed. Here’s how to find it:
Go to the LINCC website, not the app.
Search/type a book your student already likes.
Click that book (must be book format, not audiobook)
Scroll down to the very bottom and see the line “Novelist Content” and click that.
Find suggestions for “Similar Titles” and “Similar Authors” and “Similar Series”
5. Recommendations: Send a text!
Send a text to friends and family with similar-aged kids - ask which series or books their kids are reading at this age. Fellow students are the best resource. They are the ones who have to finish a story. What is capturing their peer's interests these days?
6. Audiobooks- Listen to a book while…
Riding in a car
Playing legos
Doing a puzzle
Drawing
Painting with watercolors
Resting under a cozy blanket
Audiobooks have gone from cassette tapes, to CDs and now streaming! Audiobooks were not easily available 5 years ago. But now they are- and it’s a great alternative to screen time. Mrs. Wagner’s favorite FREE ways are through the public library’s two apps: CloudLibrary and Libby AND our school’s Sora account (click HERE to get to our school's Sora program and/or download the app).
7. Book to Movie: Read a book and watch the movie adaptation. Suggestions:
Matilda
The Secret Garden
A Wrinkle in Time
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Holes
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Charlotte’s Web
8. Bedtime Chapter Book: Do a “family read aloud” (read a book to your student(s) at home, even if they can read chapter books on their own). Suggestions (found by searching keywords: “Family Read Aloud”):
A to Z Mysteries (any)
Magic Tree House (any)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The Cricket in Times Square
The Tale of Despereaux
(Usually a chapter or two at a time is perfect, unless there is begging to continue)
9. SERIES: Find a series that is popular for your students’ grade. Consider reading #1 of the series to your student (and siblings), then if they really like it encourage them to read #2 or finding #2 in audiobook format. Our school library website lists series popular by students in each grade.
Here is a 2nd Grade list of popular series:
10. KEY WORDS: Use key words to search the internet or Pinterest for book lists:
“books ___ grade”
“read alouds for ___ grade”
“picture books for 3rd grade”
“chapter books for _1st_ grade”
“chapter books for _3rd_ grade boys”
“chapter books for _4th_ grade girls”
“children books for February”
“early chapter book series”
“book series for _2nd_ grade”
“book series for middle grades*”
*middle grades is a term publishers use for books targeting 8-12 year olds
