Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

If your child doesn’t like to read on their own, and you have to force them to read the books sent home from school for homework, you are not alone! My daughter loves books, and loves being read to, but when I try to get her to read on her own it’s a struggle. She has absolutely no interest in sight word books that have no story. A simple book about a cat and a ball does not hold her attention the way Harry Potter does. There is hope though, there are many beginning reading books that have simple, but great stories.

What exactly are beginning readers, and where should I look for them, you say? Beginning readers are usually a child’s first step in independent reading. You can find them in the children’s department and the catalogue labeled JBR. They are often called leveled readers, but there are many in the collection that are not part of a leveled reading series. The difficulty of the book varies depending on the series – some are numbered levels, and some use ABC. It can get a little confusing because a level one in one series may be much easier than in another series. It’s always best to look through the book yourself, or show it to your child to make sure it’s not too hard, or too easy for them. You can also ask your child’s teacher what level they are reading at school.

You can also check out these related blog posts about the reading ladder at Toronto Public Library:
The Clue to the Children's Library Collections – Mystery Solved
Where Does Your Child Stand on the Reading Ladder?

Amelia Bedelia: by Peggy Parish/ Herman Parish
You probably remember these books from when you were a kid, and they still go over well with children today. The original books are written by Peggy Parish, and the newer ones are penned by her nephew Herman Parish. A new series featuring a young Amelia Bedelia started in 2009 and is published under the I Can Read Series.

Biscuit:  by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
This is a great series to start with; it features a small yellow dog named Biscuit. The pictures enhance the text, and the stories are simple but engaging. Many young children fall in love with the Biscuit character, and are eager to find more books about the silly puppy.

Katie Woo: by Fran Manushkin
Katie Woo is a spunky schoolgirl who has many adventures. The books are set up as chapter books, with each chapter being a couple of pages. At the end of the books there are discussion questions and writing prompts you can use with your child to practice their reading comprehension.

Elephant and Piggie: by Mo Willems
Mo Willems never disappoints, even in this series with few words, kids will be laughing their heads off. This award winning series is written in comic book style, and features an elephant named Gerald and Piggie the pig. See if you can find the pigeon (from one of Willems other famous series) hidden on the back cover of every book.

Pete the Cat: by James Dean
You may be familiar with the Pete the Cat picture books by Eric Litwin, and illustrated by James Dean. Now they are available as beginning readers written and illustrated by James Dean. The series uses the same rhythmic language as the picture books, and follows Pete, the cool cat, on his daily adventures.

Award winning author Cynthia Rylant has several great series for beginning readers: Brownie & Pearl, Henry & Mudge, Puppy Mudge, and Mr. Putter & Tabby. These are well written and enjoyable stories told with humour. Brownie and Pearl and Puppy Mudge are excellent series for those just starting out, with only 1-2 sentences per page, while Henry and Mudge and Mr. Putter & Tabby, are great for readers who are a little more advanced.

Here are a few other popular series you may want to try: