Excellent Books for Early and Eager Readers

by Kathleen T. Isaacs

Overview

Listen to an interview with the author now!

For children, reading level and experience level are not always the same. Eager readers are often interested in ideas and topics that seem advanced, but situations and subjects that sixth graders can handle with aplomb may be emotionally confusing for a younger child. Early and eager readers deserve stories they can get into, information that's challenging and up-to-date, and ideas that are new and stimulating, all while remaining age appropriate. Here, children's lit expert Isaacs offers 300 book recommendations for early able readers ages 4–10, honing in on writing that will challenge but not frustrate young readers. Assisting librarians, teachers, and caregivers, this resource

• provides recommended titles both old and new in a multitude of genres, including short stories, mystery, fantasy, adventure, picture books, poetry, historical fiction, classics, biography, folklore, mythology, fairy tales, animal fantasy, and nonfiction;
• offers guidance on steering kids towards the best books for their age;
• points to resources for finding quality books; and
• includes an extensive index for locating titles, authors, and themes quickly.

Isaacs' experienced guidance will help adults encourage children who love to read … to read even more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838913444
Publisher:	American Library Association
Publication date:	12/19/2015
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Kathleen T. Isaacs spent many years as a teacher, with intermittent stints as a school and public librarian. She has taught in schools and universities in Baltimore, Washington, Hong Kong, and Xi’an, China, and has traveled extensively in many parts of the world. She has chaired selection committees for ALSC’s Sibert Award, ALSC’s Notable Children’s Books, and USBBY’s Outstanding International Book Committees, and twice served as a member of ALSC’s Newbery Award committee. Most recently, she has been teaching children’s literature in the education program at Towson University in Maryland. She regularly contributes articles and reviews to professional publications.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

1 Early Eager Readers and Their Books 1

2 What Makes a Good Children's Book and What Makes a Good Book for a Young Reader? 7

3 Early Reader Transitional Books 17

4 Poetry 33

5 Families 47

6 Friends and School 65

7 Talking Animals and Tiny People 79

8 Witches and Wizards and Magic 95

9 Quests and Adventures 111

10 Traditional Tales 127

11 Living Long Ago 145

12 Real Places and People 163

13 Humor 183

14 Compelling Characters 197

15 Complicated Plots 213

16 Finding Books for the Eager Reader 227

Subject Index 231

Author & Title Index 239

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2016
This thoughtful list of 300 old and new titles chosen for curious children begins with a thorough discussion of the characteristics of the eager reader. The author emphasizes understanding children's interests, life and emotional experiences, and previous reading materials. She cautions against suggesting "good" books (award winners, titles that promote positive values, or are educational) or adults' long-remembered childhood favorites; she shows appreciation for popular series that provide comfort and build reading fluency. The insightfully annotated list of materials for readers ages four to 10 is broken down into chapters such as "Humor" and "Compelling Characters." "Transitional Books" (the first books children read on their own) and "Poetry" also receive their own chapters. The selections are varied in terms of genre and reading level. Each annotation includes interest level, Lexile measure, genre, and series. Because the focus is on independent reading, picture books are mentioned only briefly. Especially helpful is the consideration given to the classics and old favorites. The author observes that some older offerings have been updated to eliminate offensive stereotypes. Even revised editions, however, may contain outmoded attitudes; for instance, Isaacs notes that Little House in the Big Woods requires an adult to put the story in historical perspective. Some adapted classics, such as Hans Brinker and Gulliver's Travels, are improvements over the originals, but the author cautions against settling for abridged versions of The Secret Garden and Little Women. Subject, author, and title indexes are included. VERDICT Those seeking books for early voracious readers will consult this valuable compilation often, eagerly, and gratefully.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, VA

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