Easy reading

PETE THE CAT AND THE BAD BANANA by James Dean. Harper, 2014.

A bad banana
Makes Pete avoid them, searching
For a substitute.

Who has stolen cheese?
Ali Gator prvides clues.
Rats provide the help.

Animal Fare Week

MY NEW FRIEND IS SO FUN! by Mo Willems. Hyperion, 2014.

Elephant and Snake
Are worried Piggie and Bat
Are now new best friends.

Save your brains!

SAVE YOUR BRAINS! Harper, 2014.

Pants versus Zombies
The game is on! Crazy Dave
Might just save your life.

Myths Retold

DO NOT OPEN! THE STORY OF PANDORA'S BOX by Joan Holub. Illustrated by Dani Jones. Simon Spotlight, 2014.

Pandora cannot
Resist opening the box.
Sad consequences.

THE ONE EYED PEOPLE EATER: THE STORY OF CYCLOPS by Joan Holub. Illustrated by Dani Jones. Simon Spotlight, 2014.

Odysseus and
His men are trapped by Cyclops
But they outwit him.

Too Cool for School

PETE THE CAT: TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL by Kimberly and James Dean. Harper, 2014.

What to wear asks Pete
Too many different answers.
He should pick his own.

Serious about series

Just learning to read?
Grab one of these and be proud
That you CAN read it.

Little Ducks Go

LITTLE DUCKS GO (I Like to Read) by Emily Arnold McCully. Holiday House, 2014.

Little ducks need help
When they fall in a sewer.
Who will rescue them?

Olivia!

OLIVIA GOES TO THE LIBRARY by Lauren Forte with illustrations by Jared Osterhold. Simon Spotlight 2013.

Olivia and her Dad go to the library. Olivia has not finished reading her book, but her Dad assures her she can check it out again. But then, the book goes missing while Olivia is at the story time. Can she find her book?

Here, kitty kitty!

ROTTEN RALPH'S ROTTEN FAMILY by Jack Gantos with illustrations by Nicole Rubel. FSG, March 2014.

Rotten Ralph heads off to spend some time with his family. He soon discovers that his family is not the place where he is loved for exactly who he is. He returns back to his owners a bit chastened, bit for how long?

BAD KITTY: DRAWN TO TROUBLE by Nick Bruel. Roaring Brook, January 2014.

Bad Kitty challenges her own author in the latest installment of the series. Nick Bruel gives kids tips on drawing Bad Kitty, but BK is often interrupting and challenging advice and story lines. Metafiction, meta-art, anyone?

Eye Spy

EYE: HOW IT WORKS by David Macaulay. Macmillan, 2013.

How does the eye work exactly? Macaulay provides young readers with lots of information within the confines of a story about a soccer player coming to the field. Glossary, index, and bibliography are also included. Pair this with the pop-up book about eyes, too.

Horrible Home

HOME SWEET HORROR by James Preller with illustrations by Iocopo Bruno. Feiwel and Friends, 2013.

Dad thinks a new home will help Liam and his sister Kelly recover from their mother's death. What Dad did not count on was the house being quite as creepy as it is. At first, Liam and Kelly try to convince themselves that this is simply the nature of old homes. But there is something more malevolent lurking within the walls of this new house, something that threatens Liam's life.

easy reading

THE VELVETEEB RABBIT CHRISTMAS by Maria Barbo with illustrations by Michael Hague. Square Fish, 2013.

Level 1 of the My Readers imprint offers simple stories for emergent readers. Here the Velveteen Rabbit prepares to celebrate Christmas with his owner.

MUMMY MYSTERIES: TALES FROM NORTH AMERICA by Brenda Guiberson. Square Fish, 2013.

This nonfiction book describes how the discovery of mummies had led to other discoveries about man and how he lived. Simple and direct nonfiction can lead students to other books about this topic.

Judy Moody and Friends

JUDY MOODY AND FRIENDS by Megan McDonald with illustrations by Erwin Madrid. Candlewick Press, 2014.

JESSICA FINCH IN PIG TROUBLE

ROCKY ZANG IN THE AMAZING MR. MAGIC

Megan McDonald's new series will be a blessing for those younger kids whose older siblings read her novels already. Here are easy reading chapter books featuring some of Judy's friends from the neighborhood. Rocky Zang is working hard on magic tricks (with Judy's help, of course). Jessica wants a pig more than anything else for her birthday. The stories are straightforward, incredibly realistic, and just plain fun.

I Like to Read

HAPPY CAT by Steve Henry

COME BACK, BEN by Ann and John Hassett

PETE WON'T EAT by Emily Arnold McCully

FIREMAN FRED by Lynn Rowe Reed

ME, TOO! by Valeri Gorbachev

WHERE AM I? WHAT AM I? by Ted Lewin

Here are a half dozen of the "I LIKE TO READ" series from Holiday House. Early, easy readers by some of the best authors and illustrators in the business. These are perfect for sharing with a class or one-on-one parent and child. It will not be long before kids can "read" along with the teacher or parent. Perfect for developing confidence while also providing entertainment.

Step into Reading

DIG, SCOOP, KA-BOOM by Joan Holub with illustrations by David Gordon. Random House, 2013.

Machines clear the land
Making room for new buildings
With the sandbox crew.

OLLIE AND MOON, ALOHA! by Diane Kredensor. Random House, 2013.

Ollie, Moon, best friends
Each daring the other to
Do a daring stunt.

ROBOT, GO BOT! by Dana Meachen Rau with illustrations by Wook Jin Jung. Random House, 2013.

Bot has to do chores
He could use a break from them
But who can he get?

Early Readers

PETE THE CAT: PLAY BALL by James Dean. Harper, 2013.


Meet beloved picture book cat, Pete. In this early reader, Pete's team plays against another one in the league. What happens when Pete does not play well? This book in intended to be shared with early readers.





WEDGIEMAN TO THE RESCUE by Charise Mericle Harper with illustrations by Bob Shea. Random House, 2013.

Wedgieman, the hero of several chapter books, moves into the early reading series. He defeats Bad Dude in this easy to read early chapter book.

Pinch and Dash are back

PINCH AND DASH AND THE TERRIBLE COUCH by Michael Daley with illustrations by Thomas F. Yezerski. Charlesbridge, 2013.

Pinch is none too happy when P and S (for Push and Shove) Movers deliver a horrible red couch to his cozy house. But what can he do once the monstrosity has taken up all his living space? Perhaps there is a way? The humor is subtle, the characters are endearing. Kids who like this one should read PINCH AND DASH MAKE SOUP, too.

Hi-Low

COMING CLEAN by Jeff Ross. Orca, 2012.

RAT by Lesley Choyce. Orca, 2012.

SHALLOW GRAVE by Alex Van Tol. Orca, 2012.

For those of you who are not familiar with the series from Orca, Orca Soundings, all of the preceding books are written at about the 2nd to 3rd grade level. The short chapters and non-stop action keep the plot moving forward at breakneck speed. The books deal with ghosts (Shallow Grave) seeking revenge, drug runners brought to justice (Coming Clean) and dealing with bullies (Rat). Also try the Bluford series if you are searching for some more hi-lo books. Bear in mind, though, that there are many accessible YA novels, not part of series, that might be tied to these books. For kids who liked SHALLOW GRAVE, recommend CONNECTION by Charlie Price. A good tie in to COMING CLEAN might be GO ASK ALICE by Anonymous (Beatrice Sparks) or CRANK by Ellen Hopkins. RAT could be tied to the novel by the same title by Jan Cheripko.

Easy Reading

DIXIE WINS THE RACE by Grace Gilman with illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers. Harper 2012.

Part of the I Can Read series, Level 1, this easy to read book is about Dixie who just cannot stand on the sidelines while her owner is running a relay race. <648>

EVERYTHING GOES: HENRY GOES SKATING BY Brian Biggs. Harper 2012.

Here is another I Can Read book, this one meant to be a shared reading experience (read aloud to a child). Henry and his family travel through the snow and ice to go skating. <649>

MITTENS AT SCHOOL by Lola M. Schafer with illustrations by Susan Kathleen Hartung. Harper 2012.

This I Can Read Book (Level 1) shows what happens when Mittens the cat gets loose before show and tell and wreaks havoc at school. <650>

TICK TOCK CLOCK by Margery Cuyler with illustrations by Robert Neubecker. Harper 2012.

This I Can Read book is good for reinforcing phonics in emerging readers. Twin girls wear out their guardian for the day with all of their antics around the clock. <651>

NEVER TRUST A TIGER: A STORY FROM KOREA by Lari Don with illustrations by Melanie Williamson. Barefoot Books 2012.

The Early Reader series offers some folk tales from other countries like this one from Korea. A good Samaritan rescues a tiger from a pit. The tiger then decides to devour his rescuer. Fortunately, all ends well (at least for the Samaritan). <652>

THE TORTOISE'S GIRFT: A STORY FROM ZAMBIA by Lari Don with illustrations by Melanie Williamson. Barefoot Books 2012.

From Zambia comes the story of a remarkable tree that holds food for all the animals of the jungle. In order to call the fruit forward, though, one must call the tree by name. One by one, animals set off to learn the name of the tree. The plodding tortoise is the one who is ultimately successful. <653>

TUGG AND TEENY: THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR by J. Patrick Lewis with illustrations by Christopher Denise. Part of the I Am a Reader series, this book tells of the friendship between Tugg the gorilla and Teeny the monkey. <654>

Going Graphic

KILLER APP by Michael Dahl. Stone Arch Books, 2012 (Capstone)

The new app, Ravenwing, is a killer app all right. Open it and suddenly flocks of ravens are descending, wreaking havoc. This nod to Poe's "The Raven" would serve as a wonderful introduction to the work of the master of horror. And don't forget, all are rescued by a librarian here. <646>

TREASURE IN THE GRAVEYARD by Roberto Pavanello. Stone Arch Books 2912 (Capstone)

The first book in ECHO AND THE BAT PACK series of graphic adventures introduces readers to a family of sleuths who team up with a bat to solve the mystery of who is haunting the graveyard in search of treasure. <647>