Early chapter books

Building communities

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Story Rug by Sophie Blackall, illustrated by Phoebe Wahl (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades K-3). Other classrooms may be noisy, but room 203 is silent as the kids indulge their new love of braiding. Whether its hair, shoelaces, or toy horses’ manes, their mantra is “Left over center. Right over center. Left over center.” When Norman can’t find anything to braid, Ms. Morena rips a rag into three strips. Inspired, Noah finds other rags at home, and his braid starts to grow. His classmates join in, finding old curtains, clothes, and blankets to add, and before long, the braid has become longer than all of them are. Norman organizes a Saturday meeting at the library, and the kids get to work sewing their long braid into a coil that grows and grows until it’s the size of a rug. On Monday, they surprise Ms. Morena with it, and the class celebrates together while the neighboring classrooms start braiding projects of their own. Includes instructions for making a braided rug.

Sophie Blackall’s quiet story and Phoebe Wahl’s colorful illustrations perfectly capture a creative class of kids who combine their own passion for braiding with contributions from friends and family to create something they all can enjoy. Perfect for reading aloud in the early days of school to start conversations about classroom community.

School for Woodland Creatures (Our Friend Hedgehog book 3) by Lauren Castillo (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 128 pages, grades K-3). Annika Mae is going to school for the first time, and her animal friends want the very best for her. They’re curious about school, though, and they decide to start one of their own. Each animal picks something to teach, and they take turns learning from each other. As her turn approaches, Hedgehog is nervous that she doesn’t have a talent worth sharing with the others. She likes art, but her projects don’t always turn out the way she thinks they should. When Annika Mae comes home upset that some of the kids in her class made fun of a story she wrote about her animal friends, Mole assures her that she was being true to herself and that’s what matters most. Hedgehog takes those words to heart and bravely leads an art project that celebrates all of her friends.

This is the first book from this series I’ve read, and it’s now on my list of chapter books to read to my first graders. It’s a sweet story with a funny and memorable cast of animal characters, as well as the human girl who brings them all together. Lauren Castillo’s illustrations make it an excellent choice for sharing, whether it’s as a bedtime story or a classroom read-aloud.

Hi-lo chapter books

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The Makeup Cover-Up by Natasha Deen (Stone Arch Books, 72 pages, grades 3-6). Bailey’s trying to fit in at her new school, but she’s torn between friends who are into makeup and clothes, and a mom who has a strict no-makeup policy. When Bailey starts sneaking to a friend’s house before school to put on the forbidden makeup, she feels cool and confident, but she also starts to notice issues with her skin. He big brother, even though he’s off at college studying theater, provides good moral support and serves as a go-between to help Bailey be honest with Mom and negotiate a compromise that works for both of them. Includes a glossary of makeup terms (which are highlighted in the story), a list of skin-care tips, and questions for discussion and writing.

This book is part of the four-book Tween Era series, written at a third-grade level but featuring middle school characters. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, with a short page count, plenty of illustrations, a lower reading level, and relatable issues for both elementary and middle school. I liked that the brother was the makeup expert! A good choice for reluctant readers.

The Clockwork Key (Relic Hunters, book 1) by Vashti Hardy, illustrated by Rebecca Sheerin (Union Square Kids, 104 pages, grades 3-7). Mabel and Will Graystone join their relic-hunting aunt on a journey to look for the lost city of Umber. Mabel is adventurous and impulsive, while Will is more of a thoughtful observer, each one of them bringing unique skills to the archaeological expedition. Aunt Lucy’s talking stuffed cat Grimm brings humor to the adventure, as they discover the secrets that destroyed Umber and outwit rival relic hunter Byron Cogsworth. The final pages hint at the next adventure, The Amulet of Hath.

This series was originally published in Great Britain a couple of years ago, but now the first exciting installment has been picked up by a U.S. publisher. It’s written in a dyslexia-friendly font, with lots of action and illustration and a low page count, making it another great reluctant reader choice.

A couple of wacky books about dinosaurs

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Unlikely Friends (Diary of a Dinoghost, book 1) by Monica Arnaldo (Scholastic, published August 4, 96 pages, grades 1-3). Cobble is a dinoghost–a brontosaurus who has been a ghost “since the asteroid.” When he can’t remember if this is day 36,599,236,001 or 36,500236,002 of being a ghost, he decides he should start a diary. Good thing, too, because things start to get interesting. He’s been hanging out lately at Kevin’s house, Kevin being a seven-year-old boy who loves to put ketchup on everything. When Kevin adds ketchup to his new goldfish bowl, the fish becomes a ghost as well. Cobble and Bonny begin a tenuous friendship, with Bonny trying to convince Cobble to take her to the ocean. Cobble is reluctant to disturb his well-established routine, but finally he agrees. Without the routine, things get a little…chaotic, but the two new friends persevere, and the last page sees them setting off on their journey.

Another Scholastic Branches series just right for the beginning chapter book audience. It’s a quirky story to say the least, but Cobble and Bonny are an endearing pair, and the diary format with the many cartoon-style illustrations make it a great first chapter book. Look for book 2 in November.

I Used to Be a Dinosaur by Casey Lyall, illustrated by Laurie Keller (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). A plucky chicken reminds herself and her fellow hens that, “I used to be a dinosaur.” She recalls past glories of a mighty roar, powerful jaws, and tiny arms (actually, that part is still the same). Life on the farm can seem dull by comparison, but when her chicks hatch, she reminds them of their proud heritage and that they can choose to be as strong as their ancestors.

While the concept of evolution may be a bit over the heads of the intended audience, they’ll enjoy the colorful cartoon-style illustrations featuring dinosaurs, the lively rhyming text, and the message of being your best self. This would pair well with Lena the Chicken.

Enchanting–and familiar–graphic novels

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Ruby the Red Fairy (Rainbow Magic: A Rainbow Fairies Graphic Novel #1) by Claudia Giuliani, illustrated by Erika Turner (Silver Dolphin Books, 80 pages, ages 6-9). Rachel and Kirsty meet on a boat carrying their families to Rainspell Island for a week’s vacation. The two become fast friends, bonding over a shared love of magic. When they follow a rainbow to its end, they’re surprised to find an actual pot…but not as surprised as they are by what’s inside! Meet Ruby the Red Fairy who takes the girls on a magical journey to Fairyland, where they learn of a spell Jack Frost has put on Ruby and her six Rainbow Fairies sisters. The girls are now on a quest to find all seven fairies, which they continue in book 2, Amber the Orange Fairy, to be published simultaneously with Ruby this Tuesday, June 30.

Somehow, I have made it through 26 years as a school librarian without having read a single Rainbow Magic book, but I am certainly well aware of their existence and was only mildly surprised to learn that there are over 300 books in the series. Given this factory-like production, my expectations were low, but I actually really enjoyed this story. The trip to Fairyland included some good world building, and the map of Rainspell Island at the beginning showed some intriguing locations that may come into play in later stories. Give these to fans of graphic novel versions of Magic Tree House, Baby-Sitters Little Sisters, and Whatever After.

Princess Academy: the graphic novel by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Victoria Ying (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Just like in the Newbery Honor novel of twenty years ago, this graphic version features Miri, a young girl living in a remote mountain village where the people work the quarries. Most of their contact with others comes from the traders who visit once or twice a year, usually shortchanging the villagers as they offer food and other goods in exchange for the blocks of linder from the quarries. But one day, new visitors come to the mountain: messengers from the prince who tell them that the prince will choose a wife from the eligible village girls. To prepare them, they must travel down the mountain to a princess academy where they’ll be trained in all the royal arts. At the academy, Miri learns to read and comes to understand more of the world around her. She has her ups and downs with the other girls and their tutor, but by the time the prince comes several months later, the girls have formed an unbreakable bond. There are many twists and turns along the way, including a kidnapping by bandits, but through it all, the girls work together to create a happily ever after for each one of them.

I have read the original Princess Academy, but it’s been quite a few years, and I don’t recall much of the story. The graphic novel seemed true to what I remember, and I like that it’s authored by Shannon Hale, who wrote the original, and who’s also an experienced graphic novelist. Victoria Ying has a background in Disney animation, and the illustrations reflect this, making it an appealing choice for the many readers familiar with this style. Overall, this is an excellent addition to any upper elementary or middle school collection that will introduce a new generation to this captivating tale.

Two series entries to read with Pride

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Sebastian Metzger Solves a Sticky Situation (The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class #11) by Kyle Lukoff (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 128 pages, grades 2-4). Sebastian loves going to the school library with his class, and he’s excited when Mr. Bloom, the librarian, lets him take a new book about octopuses that hasn’t been processed for the library yet. Sebastian promises to be extra careful with it, but when he takes it home, his little sister ends up getting sticky fruit punch all over one of the pages. Sebastian is horrified. He knows his mom can’t afford the $29.95 replacement cost. At first, Sebastian finds ways to avoid going to the library, but the guilt of the situation starts to take over his life. He finally confesses everything, first to Mr. Bloom and then to his mom, and is thrilled and relieved when both adults come up with solutions to help him out, making the library a fun and safe space for Sebastian once again. Includes a preview of the next book in the series.

Although I don’t usually review series books beyond the first one, I was intrigued by this entry by Kyle Lukoff about a transgender boy in Mrs. Z.’s class. For Sebastian, third grade is “the first year that he started as Sebastian and ended as Sebastian, and he was happy that no one seemed to care.” It’s nice to see an elementary trans character handled so matter-of-factly, and Sebastian’s much bigger issue in this book involves the damaged library book. The school librarian is also an excellent role model, as is Sebastian’s single mom, who is clearly working hard and struggling financially but is loving and patient with her kids.

Fruitcake by Rex Ogle, illustrated by Dave Valeza (Graphix, 240 pages, grades 5-8). Rex Ogle continues his graphic novel memoir series with this account of eighth grade. Everyone around him seems to be pairing up, and when he meets the new girl Charlotte, she seems like a good candidate to become Rex’s girlfriend. But Rex can’t ignore his feelings of attraction to his friend Drew, and he starts to wonder if he’s gay. He and Charlotte start dating, but on a camping trip, he and Drew kiss, confirming Rex’s suspicions about his sexuality. Drew can’t admit the truth, saying that he’s straight and just having fun, and Rex gets his heart broken. He starts to notice homophobia in his family and in his grandma’s church, making coming out that much scarier. When he finally gets the courage to tell the truth about himself, he’s happily surprised for the most part. Includes notes from the author and illustrator sharing their own coming out stories.

This funny, honest memoir will ring true for many middle schoolers struggling to figure out who they really are. I love Rex Ogle’s books, and he never shies away from sharing his embarrassing or dark memories of middle school. The content of this book is a bit more mature than the first two books in the series, and I would tend to classify it more for middle school than elementary. It would make a great companion to Ogle’s non-graphic memoir, Free Lunch.

Palling around

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Otter Space (Pip & Pals #1) by Jen de Oliveira (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 80 pages, ages 6-9). Pip is a young otter who’s still learning to swim and tends to get tangled in the seaweed. When he emerges from the water completely green, his bird friend TJ convinces him he’s an alien from otter space. With help from Herman the hermit crab and Gulley the seagull, the friends build a spaceship to blast Pip back to his home planet. A crash landing in the ocean turns Pip brown again, and the animals realize it was the seaweed that made him green. Everyone celebrates Pip being himself, and they look forward to their next pretend adventure.

There’s always room on the library shelves for another easy reader graphic novel series about cute animal friends. This one celebrates the power of imagination and has plenty of humor and adventure. Perfect for fans of Pizza and Taco or Bunbun and Bonbon.

Let’s Be Friends (Pine School Pals #1) by Laine Falk, illustrated by Shannon Wright (Scholastic, 64 pages, ages 6-9). The kids in Room 203 of Pine School share ups and downs in five short comic-style stories. In the first, Tate is nervous about being the new kid, but the other students soon make him feel welcome with their kind acts. Things don’t go quite as smoothly in the other stories, though, and kids have to deal with friendship issues, a lost classroom pet, and a near-disaster at the class play. They manage to fix things up with minimal adult intervention, and readers can look forward to book 2 coming in January 2027 (this one is scheduled for release in September). Includes directions on how to draw Tate.

I’m happy that Scholastic is changing their Acorn books to be the same size as regular early readers; the small ones have tended to get overlooked at my library. This one has an appealing comic book format, colorful illustrations, and lots of friendly kids who work their way through familiar classroom problems.

Surprisingly substantial early chapter books

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The Case of the Pilfered Pearls (The Shrew Detective, book 1) by Margi Preus, illustrated by Junyi Wu (Harry N. Abrams, 128 pages, grades 2-5). Shrew detective Minerva loves her woodland home and can’t understand why any self-respecting animal would live indoors. But when her cousin Tenacity tells her there’s about to be a murder, Minerva feels obligated to follow Tenacity to the house where she lives to investigate. The new owners of the formerly abandoned house are (correctly) certain that their home is overrun with animals and are about to wage an all-out extermination campaign. At the center of the brouhaha is a pilfered pearl necklace. Tenacity is sure if Minerva can recover the necklace, the animals will be saved. Using her considerable detective skills, escaping one close call after another, and fulfilling her lifelong wish to befriend a human, Minerva is able to recover the necklace and, with the help of her new animal friends, surreptitiously return it to the owner in the very nick of time. Includes additional information about pygmy shrews, chipmunks, and flying squirrels.

I often find that mysteries for younger kids have a pretty low-stakes mystery with a less-than-amazing resolution. Not so with this book, which features engaging characters, a life-threatening case to crack in a short amount of time, one narrow squeak after another, and a very cool resolution to the mystery that will have kids going back through the story to find the clues they missed. The cute black-and-white illustrations add to the fun; I particularly liked the one of all the small animals carrying the recovered pearl necklace over their heads.

The Healer and the Phoenix (Legendary Allies, book 1) by Linda Trinh, illustrated by Quynh Anh Nguyen (Annick Press, 172 pages, grades 2-5). Mai is excited on her tenth birthday to be getting an ally animal that will live with her and help her to stay on the path of doing good in the world. When her animal turns out to be the phoenix, she becomes part of the Legendary Allies team that goes on quests all over the land of Van Lang. She’s joined by two other kids and their animals, with the fourth member of the team yet to be chosen. Mai questions whether or not she belongs on the team and wonders if she can fulfill her role as Healer. When a mysterious illness starts spreading in one of the provinces, the team is sent on a quest there, with Mai quickly becoming the key member of the team. As she learns to quiet her mind and trust her team, her phoenix, and herself, she surprises herself by coming up with a healing solution that helps not only those in the province but her own mother who is also suffering from the illness. Includes a preview of book 2, which features Cam and their turtle Emerald.

This short chapter book with lots of illustrations could be a good choice for kids ready to move on from Dragon Masters or some of the other Branches chapter book series. The colorful manga style illustrations, mythological animals, and kids being the heroes of the quests are all elements that are sure to appeal to young readers. I did feel at times like the author was leaning a little too heavily into a message, especially with the illness, which was caused by people forgetting their cultures, but overall, this is a fun and imaginative series starter.

Poets old and new

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The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kitt Thomas (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 144 pages, grades 2-5). Macy’s busy with school, violin, friends, and family, but when she discovers her school library is going to a two-day-a-week schedule, she puts everything on hold to get that decision reversed. Following in her poet dad’s footsteps, she offers to read an original poem at the school board meeting to express what the library means to her and her classmates. She soon regrets the offer, as she can’t come up with a single idea, but the support she gets from those around her helps her to incorporate their voices into her work. Success breeds success, and after a big win at the meeting, Macy is ready to give a flawless performance at her violin recital. Includes an author’s note about his own daughter and how she inspired this story.

Kids will embrace this engaging illustrated novel in verse that would make a perfect quick independent read or group read-aloud. Readers will see a lot of themselves in Macy’s struggles, whether it’s dealing with a father who travels a lot, persisting in difficult endeavors, or enjoying the support of friends at school. And, of course, I’ll always give two thumbs up to a book that emphasizes the importance of school libraries and librarians.

Melodies of the Weary Blues: Classic Poems Illustrated for Young People by Langston Hughes, compiled by Shamar Knight-Justice, art by 23 remarkable artists, HarperCollins, 48 pages, grades 1-5). Shamar Knight-Justice writes in the opening “Letter from the Editor” how he discovered the poetry of Langston Hughes as a 14-year-old and how Hughes’s poem “Mother to Son” helped him to connect with his own mom. The 23 poems cover a wide range of topics: jazz, Harlem, Black history, the ocean. Each one is accompanied by an illustration created by a Black artist, all profiled with thumbnail portraits at the end of the book. There’s also a timeline and additional information about Hughes.

My first thought as I read this book was that I wanted to buy a copy or two and take it apart so that I could put the beautiful poems and illustrations up all over my school for National Poetry Month. Some of the poems, like “Winter Moon” and “Sea Charm” would fit in nicely by the kindergarten classes, while others such as “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and “The Weary Blues” would be fine additions to the fifth-grade wing. Each distinctive illustration will grab kids’ attention and allow them to linger over the poetry.

Graphic novel mysteries for early readers

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The Pet Rock Mystery (Squirrel Lock Holmes and Watson book 1) by Ashley Belote (Random House Graphics, 80 pages, grades 1-4). Reggie the Rabbit has lost his beloved pet rock Dwayne, so he enlists the help of Squirrel Lock Holmes and his bumbling owl assistant Watson. Over the course of five chapters, the detectives ask questions, gather clues, interrogate suspects, and finally solve the mystery. Includes illustrated steps for solving a mystery, instructions on how to draw Holmes and Watson, a search and find spread with five objects to locate, and a preview of book 2 which is due out in September.

This is a fun mystery for beginning readers with lots of silly humor and goofy illustrations. I could have lived without the definitions of words like sedimentary and geologist inserted somewhat jarringly into the otherwise humorous story, but it’s a good introduction to the Dog Man/InvestiGators genre who aren’t quite ready for 200 pages.

Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo by Àlàbá Ònájìn (Holiday House, 144 pages, grades 2-5). Korobá uses a prologue to introduce readers to his family and two best friends, as well as their fishing village of Makoko in Nigeria. He also explains the upcoming Makoko Harvest Festival, when kids break open their Kolo boxes, where they’ve saved money all year, so that they can buy new clothes, shoes, and treats at the festival. Then the story begins, and soon Korobá has a mystery on his hands: his friend Saidat’s Kolo box has gone missing, and she’s pretty sure it’s been stolen. Korobá, Saidat, and their third friend Joba team up to do some sleuthing around Makoko. After eliminating some suspects, Korobá puts together all the clues and unmasks the thief on the morning of the festival. The kids are sympathetic when they learn why the theft occurred and work together to make sure everyone has enough to spend at the market. Includes an author’s note about how his childhood passion for detectives like Nancy Drew, The Famous Five, and Tintin influenced the creation of this story, as well as a glossary of some of the Nigerian terms.

Readers will get a window into a Nigerian village in this endearing graphic novel featuring a lively team of kid detectives. Korobá uses some very impressive deductive skills to solve the mystery in an ending I didn’t see coming, and his two assistants have their own engaging personalities. I’m hoping this will be the first in a series. It’s a longer book than Squirrel Lock Holmes, but still suitable for primary grade readers.

A couple of hatchlings have the best day ever

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How to Hatch: A Gosling’s Guide to Breaking Free by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Galia Bernstein (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Written as a how-to manual for a gosling about to hatch out of its egg, the main part of the text gives six steps from Breathe! to Flop! as the baby makes its exhausting sojourn into the world. Cutaway illustrations give detailed views of what’s going on inside the egg, while sidebars give additional information about each step in the process. The final illustration shows the newly-hatched gosling joining its siblings in a line behind a parent. Includes a glossary, a list of selected sources, and an author’s note about the wonder children experience when watching eggs hatch.

Spring will be here before you know it, and egg incubators will be making appearances in preschool and primary grades classrooms. This is an excellent introduction to the process, with the step-by-step instructions and illustrations explaining the process for the youngest readers and the sidebars adding more scientific information for older ones.

Ember the Fire Dragon (Dragon Hill book 1) by Tracey West, illustrated by Carolina Vázquez (Scholastic, 64 pages, ages 5-7). When Alden the Hill Dragon tells young Ember (Fire Dragon) and Gus (Mushroom Dragon) that his magic Jewel of the Hill is missing, the two friends get on the case. Although they don’t have their full dragon powers, they use some sharp detective skills to track it down. Instead of breathing fire, Ember can only sneeze sparks, so when they find the jewel hidden in a dark hole, Gus remembers the flowers that make her sneeze, and the two work together to recover the treasure. Alden hangs it up over his cave, and the forest is protected by its magic once again.

This cute series opener from Dragon Masters author Tracey West is sure to find an audience with those not quite ready for the longer chapter books. With five chapters, there’s a decent plot, and readers will undoubtedly find the illustrations enchanting. Gus gets his own book when the second installment comes out in early March.