#Road2Reading Challenge: What questions do you have about early readers?

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and transitional chapter books. We hope that you will join in with your own posts or enter into discussion through the comments. 

Today, I did a training with instructional coaches. At a basic level, I wanted them to walk away feeling more confident in their ability to pick books and match them to readers. If they could see that it was possible to evaluate books and make good matches without the use of an app or an AR Level, then maybe they could share that understanding with the teachers they work with and as a result, others would develop the same confidence. 

It was interesting to observe as they looked at and sorted 100+ books into different levels. I found it fascinating to see which books were placed where. As small groups of teachers discussed the books in front of them, I eavesdropped in on their conversations. Occasionally, I interjected a comment. At other times, I sent a book back to the group that tried to pass it off to an "easier" level and asked them to take a closer look. Overall, they worked hard and had honest, reflective conversations with one another.  I suspect that for many they have never had this kind of discussions about books. Not because they are not interested in having the discussions but because we often don't have the time to actually look at books and talk about them. Other tasks get in the way, which is why so many teachers want an app or program to level a book for them. 

When I started this challenge, I modeled it after the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge I host on Wednesdays. It was basically with the thought that I would read a bunch of books and share a bunch of titles. However, as each week passes, I realize that early readers and transitional chapter books are a completely different beast. One that is often misunderstood and overlooked, unable to compete with their cousins known as the picture book with it's beautiful illustrations or the more developed and lyrically charming, middle grade novel, early readers and transitional chapter books are seen as a stepping stone to the next level. 

As a result, I will probably alternate sharing book titles and reviews with exploring aspects of early readers that will assist teachers working with children in this reading level to grow as a reader and as a reader who loves books. To better focus these posts, I would love to know what questions you have about early readers and transitional chapter books. Please share thoughts in the comment section below. 

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out Michele's post and link up your #Road2Reading Challenge posts below.

#Road2Reading Challenge: What am I reading?

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and transitional chapter books. 

Recently, I went into one of my local indie bookstores searching for some new early readers. You would think this would be an easy task. If I was looking for a picture book, transitional chapter book, graphic novel or middle grade novel, I could have easily located them. New early readers are a challenge to track down. So, I picked up a few new to me books and requested a couple from my library. 

This past week, I read some new to me early readers. And re-read some new early readers in their finished form. The books below technically fall within the early reader category based on size, and style. Several of them have 3 to 4 very short chapters and others are one continuous story. The reading levels of these books vary significantly so I would encourage teachers and parents to look at the text to determine the best match for a particular reader. Even if you don't feel that the books would be a match for a child's independent reading level, any would make an enjoyable read aloud. 

Spark (Tiny Tales #1) by Kallie George; Illustrated by Genevieve Cote (Simply Read Books, 2013) - There are three books in this Tiny Tales series featuring magical creatures. 

Lana's World: Let's Go Fishing! by Erica Silverman (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2015) - I am a fan of Silverman's Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series and was interested in checking out her Lana's World series. I really enjoyed this one as well. And out of the list this is more of a true early reader. 

Get a Hit, Mo! by David A. Adler; Illustrated by Sam Ricks (Penguin Young Readers, 2016) - This follow up to the 2016 Geisel Winner, Don't Throw It to Mo!, was another true early reader that fans of the first book will equally enjoy.

The Toad by Elise Gravel (Penguin Random House Canada, 2016) - Gravel has about seven or eight books in this Disgusting Critters series. Though the size is compact, the text and humor makes this for a slightly more sophisticated reader. 

My Kite is Stuck! And Other Stories by Salina Yoon (Bloomsbury, January 10, 2017) - This sequel to Duck, Duck, Penguin! is one of my favorites. I am always amazed at how Yoon can get so much emotion on the faces of her characters. The dialogue boxes make this one a great mentor text for children learning to incorporate dialogue in their own writing. 

Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder; Illustrated by Emily Hughes (Chronicle Books, April 11, 2017) - This new book from Snyder is sweet and whimsical. Divided into four separate stories in short chapter formats. 

Snail & Worm Again by Tina Kugler (HMH Books for Young Readers, May 3, 2017) - Kugler's follow-up to Snail & Worm is just as wonderful. I love this quirky friendship story and Kugler's illustrations are delightful. 

Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan; Illustrated by Marc Boutavant (Chronicle Books, June 6, 2017) - This one is more of an early chapter book. Readers who are beginning to build stamina but are not ready for a true early chapter book or transitional text will find this one just right. Children looking for pet stories will enjoy this one. 

Look for all of these books at your local indie bookstore or community library. 

Don't forget to check out Michele's post today and link up any reviews you have done below:

#Road2Reading Challenge: Navigating Chapter Books: What Readers Need to Know

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and transitional chapter books.  This week, I am looking at what readers need to know to navigate chapter books. 

Lately, I have been contemplating reading levels and what do they mean. I am a big advocate for choice reading. However, many educators have not yet built up the confidence to match readers with books at a "just right level". Of course, "just right levels", can vary depending on a given day or the topic of the book. Some days a child may be able to focus longer and deal with more complex texts but on another day, may only be able to handle shorter less complex texts. And interest and prior knowledge can make all the difference in the world. If I know a lot about science fiction, then reading a science fiction novel may seem easier than if I was completely unfamiliar with the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre. 

For teachers supporting second and third graders as they develop into fluent and competent readers, it is important to consider what readers will encounter with the structure/plot, and character development. Will there be tricky parts and will readers know how to navigate those parts successfully? And are there any other elements that readers will need to understand to best comprehend what they are reading? 

What are some questions or elements to consider when conferencing with readers?

* How many problems does the main character(s) encounter? Will all be solved in the story? 
* Are there problems or issues that need to be inferred? 
* How does the character change from the beginning to the end of the book? How does the reader learn about the character's traits?
* What role does the minor or secondary characters play in the book?
* What parts might be tricky for readers such as vocabulary, figurative language or parts that are intentionally unclear at first?
* Why do the characters do what they do?
* How does the setting influence the story and what does the reader need to understand to understand what is happening? 

One way to begin with helping readers transition to more complex chapter books is by using a familiar set of stories such as fairy tales.  Many children have been exposed to a variations on traditional fairy tales through picture book read alouds. Given this prior knowledge of characters and plot, readers can be coached through tricky parts and develop important skills that they can transfer to other stories. 

Here are a few books/series to explore with readers.... 

Grimmtastic Girls: Red Riding Hood Gets Lost by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams (Scholastic, 2014) 

Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale (Scholastic, 2015)

Little Red Riding Hood: An Interactive Fairy Tale Adventure by Eric Braun; Illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum (Capstone, 2015)

Look for these and other books at your local indie bookstore or public library.

Check out Michele's post and if you have a #Road2Reading post, please link up below. 

#Road2Reading Challenge: Where are the diverse books?

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and transitional chapter books.  This week my post is tied into a recent event that I was a part of at a local bookstore.

On Sunday, I had the wonderful opportunity to be on a panel with author, Linda Sue Park and editor, Zareen Jaffrey. The panel was moderated by Jessica Palacios and hosted by Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, California. 

The focus of the panel was Diversity and Inclusion in Children's Literature. One of the questions asked dealt with where we still saw gaps. We each had different areas that we identified but one of the areas that I failed to mention was diversity in books for beginning readers. We are improving slowly in lots of areas but we still have a long way to go, especially in the area of early readers and transitional chapter books. 

There are a lot of talking animals in early readers and transitional chapter books. There are also talking robots and lots more talking animals and lots, and lots of white children. What we don't have is a lot of is children from diverse backgrounds with stories that authentically represent their lives. Linda Sue Park encouraged those who attended the panel to buy and read more diverse books in order for publishers to know that we not only want these stories but we also will buy them. 

Here are a few titles to start with if you are looking for more diversity in your Early Reader/Transitional Chapter Book collection. 

Book Uncle and Me
by Uma Krishnaswami; Illustrations by Julianna Swaney
Groundwood Books (September 1, 2016)
Fiction * People & Places * Asia

This transitional chapter book is set in India and features a young girl who loves to read, and a former teacher who now runs a lending library. When the lending library is in jeopardy of being shut down, Yasmin and her friends learn about how to advocate and make a difference. Krishnaswami may have chosen to set her story in India, but the themes of the book are very universal.  

Juana & Lucas 
by Juana Medina
Candlewick Press (September 27, 2016)
Fiction * People & Places * Latin America

From India, we travel around the world to Bogotá, Colombia, where we meet Juana and her dog, Lucas. Young readers get a glimpse into the life of a child living in another country and can find common ground in many of Juana's daily activities and experiences. The author includes a number of Spanish words and phrases, as well as, shares with readers Juana's struggle to learn English. Though this book appears to be for early readers, it does assume a certain level of reading skill placing it closer to transitional chapter books for reading skills. 

Ling & Ting: Together in All Weather
by Grace Lin
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (November 3, 2015)
Fiction * Siblings * Family

Though I have never thought about where, as in what country, Ling & Ting takes place, there is a universal connection for readers with the experiences that these siblings share in each story. In the span of four short chapters, readers see Ling & Ting engaging in a seasonal activity.  

What are some of your favorite diverse early readers and chapter books?

Don't forget to check out Michele's post and to link your #Road2Reading posts here....