DD is turning 10 and in fourth grade. She's dyslexic, so she doesn't read books at her (high) comprehension level on her own since her oral reading fluency is very low. We do a read-aloud every night. We've been recently doing some "Whatever After" and some "Cupcake Diaries". Have also read things like Little House and am considering Harry Potter (but I don't think it's really her thing at this point, nor do I think she would like Percy Jackson yet). We also read the "Upside Down Magic" series. Just curious what girls her age may be choosing on their own. I need content that is still appropriate for her 2nd grade sister as well, since I read to both of them. We've read a lot over the years. Ramona series, Humphrey Hamster, Boxcar Children, Wonder, American Girl books, Hank series by Henry Winkler (dyslexic character) also come to mind. Thinking of adding some of her big sister's books (Wish, Because of Winn Dixie; haven't tried Nancy Drew) to our reading list but would like to hear your ideas, too.
Anyone read "Horse Girl?" Likes horses, and all animals.
They do not like scary or sad...DEFINITELY no dying animals!!!!!
We really have to get her going with an audio books set-up for reading independence but she has been resistant; moving closer.
So next point is that she HAS read on her own and really enjoyed some graphic novels (!!! do you know how cool it was for me to see her reading on the couch on her own??), but they have to be simple enough in layout/words that she can handle it but not too simple in theme.
How is the "Click" series? "Swim Team" or "The Tryout"? Getting her the second "Animal Rescue Friends" book.
We have Invisible Emmie, etc, but I feel like she's not quite there yet for the middle school story lines?? Thanks.
Post by steamboat185 on Dec 2, 2022 10:52:30 GMT -5
We have a 9 year old and a 6 year old they both love the Diary of a Whimpy kid series and LOVE Land of Stories (they have taken that series audio books out from Libby like 15 times.) The 9 year old has read the entire series of Dork Diaries (not my favorite). She also has read some in the Ever After High series and Goddess girls.
Both kids love Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, but some of the plots can be a bit much.
My Weird School or Tales from the Sideways School are fun and no animals are harmed.
Bunnicula was also popular last year.
My 9 year old has to read books at a certain book level for school which puts a cramp reading some of the books in this list, but hopefully that won’t be a problem at your school.
My boys (9 and almost 12) both LOVED Swim Team (I think that's what it was, at least. I'm guessing there are few graphic novels out there that are about swim teams!) It probably helps that they're both swim team kids, but they thought it was great.
Our whole family has also really loved Kelly Yang's Front Desk series. We're working on the 4th one right now. I can't say enough about how much I love these books. Strong, young female immigrant lead, lots of inclusion of social justice issues (immigrants, racial profiling, etc.). They're just really great!
I love following KitonLit on Instagram. She has SO many recommendations for great books that I would never hear of otherwise.
My DD is similar. She just turned 10. She likes Wimpy Kid, Big Nate.
I just asked her and she says “I prefer graphic novels. But a lot of other girls - almost everyone in my grade - likes The Keeper of the List Cities.” But she says that’s too hard for her so probably too hard for your DD also.
DD recommends Wings of Fire graphic novels and Babysitters Club graphic novels.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Dec 2, 2022 11:38:24 GMT -5
My dd loved the Raina Telgemeier books (Smile, Sisters, Drama, etc.) that are graphic novels, as well as her graphic novel versions of babysitters club (she didn't really get into the actual babysitters club books, which broke my heart after I pulled out my old books and got super excited to share them with her and tracked down the few I was missing on ebay though). She also loved Dork Diaries (similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid but for girls, but she also liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid books). She also liked the 'Puppy Tales: A Dog's Purpose' series. It's more light-hearted than the Dog's Way Home series (she is super sensitive about animals too...there were some sad moments but always happy endings).
Post by pinkpeony08 on Dec 2, 2022 14:02:42 GMT -5
My 10 yo was obsessed with the Amari book series - I think there are 4-5 books? They are fantasy. She is very sensitive to scary things and she didn't have any concerns about them.
Post by wesleycrusher on Dec 2, 2022 14:14:38 GMT -5
My DD is 10 and has a high reading level but loves cutesy animal books. She loved the Upside Down Magic series. She also liked Dragons Girls book series, Magic Kitten book series (the also have Magic Bunny, Magic Puppy, Magic Pony- but she likes cats the best)
Wings of Fire are the major obsession in our house right now. DD1 has read the graphic novels, the regular novels, the prequels, the short stories... And now she's re-reading them all again.
Ditto to Raina Telgemeir for graphic novels. Does she like Minecraft? There are a lot of graphic novels (and easier chapter books) around that world. My 11 year old niece is really into Dork Diaries.
My 11 daughter is an avid reader, who wasn't the strongest until 4th/5th grade. Kelly Yang (Front Desk series and more), was a big hit in our house. The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser is a really engaging. The old school Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books fun and easier to chunk into smaller sections.
Kelly Entrada Kelly is another of our favourite authors. Her books cover a wide range of reading levels- the Maybe Marisol series would be a good place for your daughter to start.
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At that age my girls liked (some I read to them, some they read on their own) - wings of fire series - warriors series - Fablehaven series - waterfire saga series - Pegasus series - everything by reina telgemeier
My newly 11 year old DS likes - big Nate series - last kids on earth series - max and the midknights series - cat kid comic book club series - dog man series - diary of a wimpy kid series - I survived series - Calvin and Hobbes books
- everything by reina telgemeier (because he has big sisters these books have been around, he loves them, but t they probably wouldn’t be books people would generally buy for boys)
I will also say that books are actually a really good to process the emotions you feel with a scary or sad book in a “safe” way. It’s actually really good to be exposed to scary or sad things like this before you have to face sad or scary things in real life if that makes sense.
Our whole family has also really loved Kelly Yang's Front Desk series. We're working on the 4th one right now. I can't say enough about how much I love these books. Strong, young female immigrant lead, lots of inclusion of social justice issues (immigrants, racial profiling, etc.). They're just really great!
Thank you for the heads up that there’s a fourth one! I just put it on hold. I think we first found out about these from you and my kids really got into all three. We’ve stalled out a little with the third Anne of Green Gables and I can probably get them back to family night reading with this book.
Wings of Fire are the major obsession in our house right now. DD1 has read the graphic novels, the regular novels, the prequels, the short stories... And now she's re-reading them all again.
It seems like all the kids, boys and girls, in DS' grade are reading Wings of Fire. He just started book #14.
My 9yo loves graphic novels. InvestiGators (funny, science bent), Bad Guys (there’s a movie now), Amulet, Cat Kid Comic Club, & Geronimo Stilton.
There’s also graphic novels of Wings of Fire, some of the I Survive series,etc. we discovered a lot by browsing the graphic novel section of the kids library
My 10yo is obsessed with Keeper of the Lost Cities, too. She's staying up until 10pm to read, which... I appreciate as an avid reader, but GIRL, come on.
We do read aloud every night and I've been reading her Land of Stories. I think that might be doable for your DD to read to herself or for you to read to both.
Other books series she likes: City of Ember Trials of Morrison Crow
If these are too high level for her capabilities or desire, maybe look into the Branches series like Owl Diaries, Wings of Fire, etc. Maybe even Emily Windsnap?
For read-alouds we liked the Missy Piggy-Wiggle books much more than the old Mrs. Piggy-Wiggle books. The Power of Poppy Pendle (and the following books), Tuesdays at the Castle series.
For audio books Keeper of the Lost Cities, Wings of Fire, Wolves of the Beyond, and Harry Potter are listened to on repeat.
Post by sporklemotion on Dec 3, 2022 17:29:22 GMT -5
In addition to what’s been mentioned, my 9 year old Upside Down Magic fan loves the Pip Bartlett trilogy and the Menagerie trilogy (by the Wings of Fire author). She is also into excitement that doesn’t get too dark or scary, but she seems good with these. I think menagerie may be slightly darker than Pip Bartlett. She did both on audiobooks, but listens to them over and over again. She is now listening to the OG babysitters club books, too.
My 9 yo 4th grader has read a lot of books in this thread. She’s also read:
The Secret Series The Bad Magic Series (both by pseudonymous Bosch) The Penderwick series The Long Way from Chicago series Fenway and Hattie series Flora and Ulysses (and all the other Kate DiCamillo books) The Clementine series The Waylon series (both of these series feature neurodiverse main characters, which I loved)
My older DD also read a lot of these and others mentioned, and she also loved A Series of Unfortunate Events.
I’ve tried to get them both into the Mysterious Benedict Society, but neither one liked it.