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Book Recommendations: Primary/Elementary Readers

by Laura Gordon || 23 Jan 2019

Once their children start to crack reading, parents ask us what books we recommend… it is an exciting moment for everyone!

We always remind parents that in the early days of regaining interest in reading after months or years of struggling, the goal is to keep all reading practice fun and enjoyable. It is also a big bonus for the content to be interesting and appropriately challenging. Instead of strictly enforcing reading each night, we recommend finding books that your child wants to read without any prodding. Graphic novels, comic books, and age appropriate chapter books are all places to start.

Here is a list of books that parents and kids have recommended to us over the last year. The books are roughly organized from easiest to hardest for each list, but most of all, I recommend you ask your local children’s book shop and librarian for suggestions. They will know of books that fit a particular reading level and set of interests.

Graphic Novels

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea

Press Start

Dogman

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Tom Gates

Chapter Books

Rise of the Earth Dragon: A Branches Book (Dragon Masters #1)

Stealing the Sword: A Branches Book (Time Jumpers #1)

Nonfiction Books

We love the beautiful books created by National Geographic. For instance, I like these:

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)

For a more advanced reader, Magic Treehouse has a line of research books that are quite good:

The Magic Tree House Research Guide 18-Book Set

Have any recommendations? Leave a comment so we can amend our listing!

Laura Gordon was a lecturer in English literature at the University of Maryland and editor for Public Health. She is a mother of two children and is now an Easyread System Manager for David Morgan Education, supporting children and their parents on the journey to confident reading and writing.

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