elementary school | Page 7 of 7

Diary of a 5th Grade Outlaw, upper elementary go-to fiction

The presentation is one of the first things that elementary aged readers will notice about Diary of a 5^th Grade Outlaw by Gina Loveless and Andrea Bell. It’s much more of a rectangular prism than other books. This allows smaller hands to easily grasp the hardback book and look at its cover. From there those readers will see the rough notebook like appearance to the book and might erroneously presume that it’s cut from the same cloth as Wimpy Kid. It’s not and once you open up the book you’ll see that Diary of a 5^th Grade Outlaw is exactly what some kids need in order to become better readers.

Its text, layout and subject are perfect for mid-elementary ages

Ravi’s Roar, teaches through fun and not guilt

There are two current illustrate book series on kid’s emotions that have been in our wheelhouse lately. For our money, and for a couple of reasons the Big Bright Feelings series is much more enjoyable and effective. The later term is more important for us now because our 8 year-old is having issues processing certain things. Currently his ‘thing’ is anger, thus it was a perfect time for us to read Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival.

Ravi’s Roar lets early elementary aged kids know that they’ll get angry and that’s OK, but it also lets them know how to deal with it.

Teaching about anger is tough for kids, Ravi’s Roar does it w/out preching

Lola Dutch! I Love You So Much, #3 in a must-read series for 3-7

Oh, Lola Dutch, you are too much. If you’ve got a kid who is between three and seven this series of books needs to be on your radar. Lola Dutch!, I Love You So Much is the third book in this series by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright. These books will skew a little more for girls than boys, but that’s only because Lola is a girl who wears a tutu. When our son was six he laughed along with us as we read Lola Dutch, the first book in series to him. He’s old enough to where he can read them by himself, laughing as he looks at the art.

Lola Dutch I Love You So Much is the third book in this imaginative and art heavy series about a young girl and the power of pretend play.

This book series is imaginative play and rhyming at it’s cutest

I’m Gonna Push Through!, inspirational and divisive

How can something be inspirational and divisive? Before we dive into that, I’m Gonna Push Through! is not meant as a threat. It’s meant as a way for kids to become empowered. This is something that they can think or say to themselves when things get challenging. You can do it! I’m gonna push through, who doesn’t want their child-or themselves to have that can-do attitude?

Great message, preachy book

Owly, The Way Home-now in a graphic novel for new audiences

We often chat about all age comic books. Since 2012 we’ve done a weekly podcast where we talk about some of the week’s new comic books. That podcast is accompanied by a post where all of the week’s comic books and graphic novels that are good for kids are listed. Owly is an OG all age graphic novel and the first book in Eisner Award-winning series is being reprinted, this time with color illustrations done by creator/artist Andy Runton.

Our 8YO just found a graphic novel that he Wants (!!!) to read

Slamdown Town is middle grade reading gold

Take everything that a 10 year-old kid wants and put it into a middle-grade novel. It must have humor, heart, lots of jokes, parallels to school, the cliques that operate therein and have a side dash of science fiction. That’s a tall order but Slamdown Town encompasses all of those categories and another big one that will bring in some fans and that’s wrestling. Almost more impressively, the book weaves the wrestling into the book without alienating those that don’t like, or don’t know about the joys of a slightly pre-arranged body slam and victory.

Slamdown Town is a GREAT, go-to book for upper elementary through middle school readers

Dog Man For Whom The Ball Rolls, this time with more heart

Dog Man is a publishing behemoth. Not only do the books sell millions of copies, they’re read, re-read, shared, dog-eared, suffer broken spines and can usually only be spotted in elementary school libraries by the empty space that houses it for the five minutes in-between check outs. This is Greek to you unless you have a student in elementary school. We were like that with Captain Underpants. Sure the title is catchy, but we didn’t have a kid who could read yet and oh my gosh have you seen how ridiculously entertaining this book is?! Yeah, that was our reaction when our children first started reading it too.

Dog Man is cut from the same (underwear) cloth. While Dog Man For Whom The Ball Rolls has similar elements to the first six books that made it a go-to for elementary school readers; there are elements that make this book the most mature in the series yet.

Dog Man For Whom The Ball Rolls, deepens the characters and improves the pool

Mr. Wolf’s Class, Lucky Stars delivers the elementary reader goods

If you’re one of those elementary school parents who yearn for an original graphic novel that will appeal to your children Mr. Wolf’s Class, Lucky Stars is for you. Also, if you’re one of those elementary school students who want a think, entertaining graphic novel that perfectly captures life as you know it, check out Mr. Wolf’s Class, Lucky Stars. This book is proof that you don’t need potty humor to engage the reading bug in those students who between 6 and 9.

Mr. Wolf’s Class, Lucky Stars is the third entry in this fabulous series of original graphic novels that elementary aged readers will want to read.

If you’re looking for a great graphic novel for elementary aged kids, this is it.