Early Chapter Books You Might Not Have Heard Of

I thought this week I would post some great early chapter books you may not have heard about. I think parents struggle the most during this phase of their child's reading to find great books. It's tricky to get a book at just the right level, with just the right amount of illustrations, with just the the right vocabulary, that also interests your child.

If they don't like Ivy and Bean or Magic Tree House (or if they have finished these series,) it is sometimes difficult to find the other books out there that will inspire them. I hope you like this week's selection.  These books have great characters, fun plots and I hope they will inspire your child to continue a love of reading!

To see the rest of my selections, visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com

Title:          Zeke Meeks vs the Putrid Puppet Pals

Author:      D.L. Green

Target:       Grades 1-3

Series:        Yes

What this book is about:

Zeke is in third grade, and when his friends begin buying the latest toy craze, Puppet Pals, he has no one to play basketball with at recess. Without any one to play with, he considers using the allowance he has been saving for the Great Epic Superhero video game to buy Puppet Pals. Will Zeke succumb to the latest toy phase or will he convince his friends that there are other things to do that can be more fun?

Why I love this book:

This book surprised me. It was funny and smart at the same time. Zeke is actually a very real and likable character and the author captured the feelings of kids obsessed with any commercially driven toy fad—can you say Silly Bandz?  The other characters that surround Zeke are also well done.  Kids will love Zeke’s little sister who can’t stop singing princess jingles, Grace the class bully with fingernails sharp, as well nails, and Owen the smooth talking popular kid who charms his way around the class.

I also want to add that the illustrations by Josh Alves are well done and quite clever. They add quite a bit of humor to the book.

Who this book is for:

Great for early chapter book readers with pictures on each page and larger text.  This book is full of good stuff but never feels overwhelming.

Final thoughts:

Zeke Meeks—defender of the puppet pal free playground!

To see the rest of my early chapter book selections, please visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com