I adore middle-grade fiction, and I loved reading them to my daughters when they were younger. I still find myself picking up a middle-grade novel at the library to enjoy on my own from time to time. During this time of library closures, I have found myself pulling old favorites off our shelves with some regularity. Good middle-grade authors create wonderfully complex characters and highly interesting plot lines. Middle-grade novels are engaging and thought-provoking, and they stay with the reader and stand the test of time. Although they are intended for 8- to 12-year-olds, I think that middle-grade novels make great read-aloud books for younger children, as well as silent reading for all ages.
Here is a list of wonderful middle-grade novels for reading aloud or quietly in a cozy corner this summer: (Some of these books may not be appropriate read aloud books for younger children, so I organized the list from more appropriate to less appropriate for younger audiences.)
I hope your Tuesday includes moments of wonder and time spent with a good book.
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We had a free homeschool membership to the Art Institute when we lived in Chicago, so we visited often. There were some areas we always visited, like the Impressionists and the Thorne Rooms, and the members' lounge with free hot chocolate at Christmastime was a big draw. Whatever the draw was, both daughters have developed a deep appreciation of art. I know the access they had to an amazing art museum had an impact, but the many children's biographies about artists they read had an important impact as well. Learning about the lives of artists helped them make connections with the artwork. Reading the beautiful biography about Georgia O'Keeffe led us to visit Clouds Above Sky IV every time we visited the museum, and reading about Jackson Pollock helped us all understand Greyed Rainbow a little better. Museum visits are not in the cards for any of us right now, but I would suggest reading some of these books and pairing it with a virtual museum visit.
I hope your Tuesday includes moments of wonder and art discovery. How are you? I hope your family is healthy and hanging in there.
I have read a few articles recently about the comfort found in a familiar book. These articles led me to think about the many illustrated children's books that have comforted me, brought me joy, or have elicited memories over the years. Do you have favorite books that bring you comfort and joy? Please share if you do. Here are some of the books on my list:
I could go on, but I will stop there, and leave you with a link to "What to bake if you run out of ingredients" from King Arthur Flour. I made the carrot muffins this afternoon and they were well-received. I think the original cake pan cake is up next. I hope your Tuesday includes moments of wonder and a good book. My husband read to my older daughter every night for almost 10 years. This was a sacred ritual they held dear – a time to spend together every day and an opportunity for my husband to introduce his favorite literary genres to our daughter. They read series ranging from Little House to The Lord of the Rings, and my daughter and husband still look back at that time with fond memories.
Perhaps you already have a ritual of reading to your child before bed, or another time during the day, or maybe you would like to begin. Today I am focusing on book series, because this seems like a good time to read through a series or two. The list is in order from shorter to longer books. I am not including age ranges because every child's capacity for listening is different. I have included links to the Common Sense Media reviews. Here is our tried and true list of a few favorites:
I hope your Tuesday includes moments of wonder and a good book. 40% of the weight of our move three years ago was books. We love books. Even though we have plenty of options on our shelves, we frequent our library in normal times. With the closure of libraries, we have turned to our home library over the last few weeks, sometimes turning to a classic we have intended to read or revisiting a favorite book. One of our daughters set up a book nook in a window sill, with rotating book options. I like this idea. A few chosen books put out in a visible spot will be picked up and read more often than a large bookshelf crammed with books. Books can be chosen randomly or by subject, author, or theme. Your family can also take turns curating the collection.
Whether you are encouraging reading for enjoyment or working on skills, here is a list of reading instruction ideas: Reading with writing, drawing, or discussion prompts:
Book suggestions and supplemental reading activities:
Access to books online:
Online reading games: Podcasts:
I hope your Tuesday includes moments of wonder and a good story. |
AuthorWelcome! My name is Heidi. I am a mom of two daughters, one dog, and one rabbit, and wife to one guy. I have been a homeschool mom for thirteen years – the first ten in Chicago and the last three in St. Louis. I am glad you found your way here! Archives
July 2020
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