#Road2Reading Challenge: Turning Picture Books into Early Readers

Have you ever noticed the trend where a picture book comes out and then about a year or so later it becomes a board book? 

Little Cub by Olivier Dunrea is an example of this formatting change when the new edition came out. 

Tad Hill's Duck & Goose got a make-over into an oversized board book. 

Another trend I have noticed is the picture book that becomes an early reader.

Above is the cover for Bonny Becker's A Birthday for Bear in picture book format. 

Here is the cover for the early reader version of A Birthday for Bear. 

And then you have the spin offs...

Fancy Nancy picture book 

The Diary of a Worm picture book

Everything Goes On Land by Brian Biggs (picture book)

Everything Goes as an early reader

Then there is Tad Hill's adorable story about a dog learning to read. 

Followed by the Drop It, Rocket! early reader.

If I were to be able to select a picture book series to turn into an early reader series, I would vote for the following books.

Friendship books are the heart of many early reader series, and what better friendship than Little Elliot and his pal mouse. The text in the picture book makes a great read aloud but is a bit above the average beginning reader.  However, I can imagine an early reader series developing from the picture book series as a spin-off.

Sibling relationships are another popular story line for early readers. I fell in love with Lori Nichols' Maple and then again when Maple & Willow came out, I immediately imagined it as a spin-off early reader series. 

My final pick, of course, would be the fabulous fuzzy friends from Anna Kang & Christopher Weyant. In this case, the text is already early reader friendly and it would just require a size change. 

What books can you see being made into an early reader series? 

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. Don't forget to pop over to Michele's blog to check out her post as well. 

#Road2Reading Challenge: Movie-Tie In Books

School is almost out for many kids and part of the fun in the summer is going to the movies. Children and parents look forward to the big blockbusters, the silly comedies, the super hero movies, and the sequels to previous favorites. Check out Common Sense Media's Kids' Summer Movie Guide 2017 for a more complete list than the one below. 

Given that this is a book blog and not a place for movie reviews, where's the connection? Well, we all know about books turned into movies, and this summer has a couple of big ones. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (Movie Release: May 19)

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (Movie Release: June 2, 2017)

However, a common trend is to create a paperback book pack featuring a picture book, an early reader, and a junior novel tie-in for popular movies.  

Despicable Me 3 (Movie Release: June 30)

Wonder Woman (Movie Release: June 2, 2017) 

Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Movie Release: May 5, 2017)

Cars 3 (Movie Release: June 16, 2017) 

I tend to be a bit of a book snob and prefer books to their movie counterparts. Yet, is there a place for these movie tie-in books? Though I am not a huge fan of these books, from a literary perspective, I do have to admit that they often are popular with kids. Especially kids who are less likely to pick up just any book. And for that reason I am a fan. 

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.  Don't forget to pop over to Michele's blog to check out her post as well. 

#Road2Reading Challenge: Wallace and Grace - A Read & Bloom Book

Bloomsbury Publishers are about to release the third pair of books in their Read & Bloom series for beginning readers. 

"The Read & Bloom line offers high interest, character driven stories for newly independent readers that feature full-color illustrations throughout and will transition kids from leveled readers to a lifetime of reading." 
 

Wallace and Grace
by Heather Alexander: Illustrated by Laura Zarrin (Bloomsbury, May 2017)
Audience: Ages 5 to 7
Fiction * Mystery * Early Chapter Book
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from Publisher: 
In this charming series, perfect for newly independent readers, kids will be treated to simple whodunit mysteries as an utterly delightful owl duo put their heads together. In their first adventure, Wallace and Grace meet a rabbit who is sure he saw a ghost! But the clues lead them in a different direction. Something is spooking the garden . . . can Wallace and Grace solve this case? 

Quick thoughts about this series:

Wallace and Grace are nighttime detectives and in this first book in the series, they are in search of a ghost. In particular, to get rid of a ghost that their rabbit friend, Edgar, has spotted. 

Wallace and Grace demonstrate collaboration and critical thinking as they go about solving the mystery. The story is told over four chapters with large print, colorful illustrations, humor, and just enough white space to make it easier to read for young readers. A fun read for beginning sleuths. 

Check out the other books in the series. In March, Stinky Spike was released. 

Back in January, Agnes and Clarabelle made their debut. 

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

Don't forget to link up your reviews...