Conquering the Early Chapter Book

Editor's Note: Los Altos Patch put out a call for community bloggers. We invited them to write about the pursuits and events in their lives that capture their attention and time. 

Today we introduce Freya Hooper, a Los Altan who writes her own blog, called One Great Book.

I'm a mom of three with a passion for kid's literature! No matter what book series our kids devour, as they come to an end, we as parents ask the inevitable question, "what's next?"

I am ever on the job, trying to answer that question. I try to do it with a variety of books. Some are silly, some true to life, some pure fantasy, but in the end I hope they make my children love words, explore new ideas, and laugh!

I write a weekly blog at www.onegreatbook.com on books ranging from picture books to 8th grade.  My goal is not to give you all the award winners or the latest books to be published, although I do read all those.  My job is to find a variety of books that make your children want to read, and I have read every book that I post.

Conquering the Early Chapter Book

This week I am looking at the early chapter book.  Early chapter books are the biggest struggle for new readers and parents. This is a critical time when kids are first learning to read.  Parents are afraid that a book that is too hard will turn kids off, but some of the easier books have such simple stories that they don't inspire your child.  Kids want to move up to chapters to feel more grownup, so what is a parent to do?

First don't give up.  We are fortunate that some great authors have made the leap to early chapter books, such as Newbery winner Kate DeCamillo, with her Mercy Watson series profiled below.  There is also a greater interest by publishers in this age group, so the selection and quality has grown.  I hope you and your children find some condenders with this weeks offerings!

Title: Mercy Watson to the Rescue

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Target: Grade K-2

Series: Yes

What this book is about:

Mercy Watson is a pig, who also happens to be a beloved member of the Watson family.  When she decides to crawl into bed with the Watsons, the floor boards break under the weight and only Mercy can get out.  When Mercy ambles over and incites the neighbors, she is unwittingly deemed a hero for saving the day, when in fact, she was just looking for a snack.

Why I love this book:

This is a fun adventure with a lovable pig and a big series of misunderstandings which the reader is in on!  The illustrations are perfect and capture the essence of the story.  Our villain, the neighbor Eugenia runs around throughout the book in a bathrobe and curlers only to be outwitted by a delightful pig.  Each book in the series is a charm.

Who this book is for:

This is for children just starting chapter books.  Illustrations are plentiful and the big type and spacing make the pages feel manageable.

Final thoughts:

A delightful beginning chapter book!

For more of my early chapter book recommendations, visit my blog at www.onegreatbook.com