Helping emerging and developing readers find series they love to read.
When children are 6 to 9 years old it can be often be tricky to keep them engaged and interested in reading. As I discovered with my own two children, even a 7 year old who has enjoyed reading can quickly start to loose interest if they do not find books that are right for them. Many parents, grandparents and teachers talk about how if is often difficult to find a good variety of stories for this age group. Yet if you know where to look and what you are looking for, there are plenty of wonderful stories to engage all sorts of readers.
The quality of books of books for 6 to 9 years that has been published in the last few years is amazing. At this age finding several series that a child really likes can really make a difference.
I showed my 10 year old son (who is a reader) the selection of books shown below and asked him a question:
‘If your cohort, their parents and their teachers had know about these books when they were in year 2, 3 and 4, how many of them by the time they got year 5 would be enthusiastic readers of middle grade fantasy fiction and adventure?” His answer “most of them”.
What’s special about this collection?
- designed to inspire any 6 to 9 year old to want to read
- Includes 17 series, a few of which the first book in the series has recently been published.
- many of them are original stories that gently challenge sterotypes
- the books are great to be read aloud/shared or read alone
- The following books may be more suited to 8+ years: Dragon in the Library, Map of Monsters, The exploding life of Scarlett Fife.
Not quite ready for the above? – Try these illustrated first chapter books
What’s great about these illustrated first chapter books is they are great for both emerging and confident readers.
Narwhal and Jelly is a graphic novel for younger readers, with plenty of humour to interest older readers too.
Step into fantasy – open the ‘Gateway’ to future fantasy with these books
Want to prepare children so that by the age of 10 they can read any middle grade adventure or fantasy story they choose?
Then give them the chance to read and or be read aloud these ‘gateway’ to fantasy books. By doing so you will have given them a chance to escape to other worlds and to get excited by a variety of plots and narratives which means when they are ready for that next step they will have something to build on.
The readers among you will have noticed that 2 of these 8 titles are not fantasy they are historical fiction. These are Sky Chaser by Emma Carrol and The Great Fire Dogs by Megan Rix. But, because they are narrative journeys they are accessible adventures and historical fiction. Both will open the door to middle grade fiction later on.
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Twitter and Instagram: @melissacreate15
Melissa Jordan
Readers that Care.