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Sophie's birth!
Our little book lover is born! Sophie has been read to since Mama was 20 weeks pregnant - she has heard stories such as Dr. Suess, Winnie the Pooh, and Charolette's Web. -
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Developmental Books
A timeline of books for Sophie's developmental stages. -
Sophe is exposed to lots of books...
May 1994-Aug. 1999 (start of kindergarten) Sophie is exposed to all kinds of reading - Mom and Dad read aloud to her every night at bed and take her to library storytimes and show her reading can be fun. She has lots of books in her room and gets to play with books every day. The more exposure and seeing Mom and Dad read, the better! This makes for a better chance Sophie will be a reader. -
Pre-K: I Want My Hat Back
Klassen, J. (2011). I Want My Hat Back. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Gr. Pre-K-3. A bear has lost his hat and is on the search to find it. He stops to ask several animals about his hat: a turtle, a squirrel, a reindeer. And no one has seen his hat, or so they claim. The bear knows he has seen his hat somewhere along his journey – but who has it?
Why: This is a very logical, simple story. Small kids like stories of separation and reunion. Kids recogonize emotions such as happy and sad. -
Pre-K Classic: The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss. (1957). The Cat in the Hat. Random House Children’s Books.
Gr. Pre-K-3. Sally and her brother are home alone, bored inside due to rain. But then the Cat in the Hat arrives and makes the day fun with his mischief.
Why: This book is sequential and easy to follow. It has rhyming, which kids like. It is also about following rules, and kids this age are into that. -
Kindergarten: Olivia
Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Gr. K-3. Olivia is one busy little pig! She loves to paint, dress up, sing and wear everyone out, including herself. Olivia has a wonderful and fun personality, and is comfortable being herself, no matter what others think.
Why: This book is sequential and kids can follow it easily. Olivia is also independent, and kids are trying to become more independent at this age. -
1st grade: Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type
Cronin, D. (2000). Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Gr. K-3. Cows that type? Impossible! But Farmer Brown's cows type. And they are demanding electric blankets, or no more milk. What will Farmer Brown do?
Why: This story is sequential, and kids this age are starting to understand that. Kids also want to solve problems, and Farmer Brown has a problem they could help him solve. -
1st grade: Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice
Schachner, J. (2009). Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice. Dutton Juvenile.
Gr. K-3. Skippyjon Jones is back in his next adventure: to the Red Planet, Mars. He is off to look for green Martians who look like him, hoping they are not just a story. And, he is looking for dog Martians, as he believes he is a Chihuahua.
Why: This book has rhyming, which is fun for kids this age. It also uses a lot of imagination. Planets and space are usually interesting to young kids, so this is perfect. -
3rd grade: Because of Winn Dixie
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Candlewick Press.
Gr. 3-6. Who knew a stray dog could help someone so much? Opal is new in Naomi, FL, where she has moved with her father. One day, Opal is at the store and adopts Winn-Dixie as a way to save him. But her quick decision gives her a new friend – and helps her more than she ever would have guessed.
Why: Kids always like animals, and especially stories where animals play an important role. Making friends is important. -
4th grade Classic: Charlotte's Web
White, E.B. (1952). Charlotte’s Web. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gr. 4-6. Wilbur is the pig everyone wants to visit, thanks to Charlotte, the gray spider who lives in his pen. Wilbur and Charlotte become friends and show us all that friends can come in any form if we are open to the world’s possibilities.
Why: Abstract and moral thinking are becoming stronger at this age. Friendships are becoming more important. -
4th grade: The Tale of Despereaux
DiCamillo, K. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux. Candlewick Press.
Gr. 4-6. Despereaux the mouse is in love with music and Princess Pea, which causes him to be shunned by the mouse community. Roscuro the rat is shunned because he loves light. And Miggery Sow is shunned because she is lazy. An adventure awaits all 3.
Why: Kids of this age can start to comprehend abstract ideas. They want to test rules and limits. -
6th grade: Al Capone Does My Shirts
Choldenko, G. (2004). Al Capone Does My Shirts. G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Gr. 4-6. Moose and his family live on a very famous island: Alcatraz. The warden's daughter is trouble, but Moose can't stay away from her. And Moose's sister needs constant care. Moose just wants to be normal and follow the rules, but he is having a hard time doing that.
Why: Kids’ identities are shaped by external influences now. They start to realize their parents aren’t perfect. They can start to see their own faults. -
8th grade: Thirteen Reasons Why
Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. Razorbill.
Gr. 7-12. Hannah has thirteen reasons why she committed suicide. And she recorded a set of tapes to explain them all. Each tape tells about a person who contributed to her suicide, and each person has to listen to his or her role and then pass the tapes on to the next “reason.”
Why: Kids now think about the meaning of life. They feel the influence of a peer group, want to be normal, and focus on popularity. May have poor self-concept. -
9th grade: American Born Chinese
Yang, G. (2006). American Born Chinese. First Second.
Gr. 7-12. Jing Wang is a Chinese American kid just trying to fit in. Chin-Kee comes to visit his cousin Danny each year and embarrasses him. The Monkey King is trying to discover his true form. They all teach us a lesson about being true to ourselves.
Why: Kids in 9th grade start to develop deeper moral thinking. They are trying to find a sense of identity and feel the pressure of peer influence. They test rules and limits. -
10th grade Classic: To Kill a Mockingbird
Lee, H. (1960). To Kill a Mockingbird. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gr. 7-12. A story of morals and conscience, Scout takes us into the lives of her community of 1934 Maycomb, Alabama. An unfair trial and a mysterious neighbor help Scout learn about the world and herself.
Why: This story needs a lot of consideration of morals and right and wrong, which is developing now. They are also starting to develop a conscience and understand what that means. -
11th grade: The Book Thief
Zusak, M. (2006). The Book Thief. Alfred A. Knopf.
Gr. 7-12. Death is the narrator of this novel set in Nazi Germany, but we follow Liesel, “the book thief,” as she learns about herself and her world. Life is full of fear and danger, but Liesel has her books and her friend, a Jewish man hidden in the basement of her foster parents’ house.
Why: As Death is the narrator here, kids need to be able to think abstractly. They are also developing deeper moral thinking. -
Sophie's graduation!
Sophie graduates from high school and gets ready to go to college. -
Ready for College: Life of Pi
Martel, Y. (2001). Life of Pi. Seal Books.
Gr. 11 and up. Pi and his family are leaving India to escape frightening political change. On the voyage, their ship sinks and Pi is the only survivor of his family. He is at sea for 227 days with a menagerie of animals and has nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.
Why: This is a very complex novel of religious and moral implications, as well as philosophical thought.
