12 Aug Beginning Chapter Books
The shift from early readers to chapter books can be intimidating – for both children and their caregivers – but it can also build a child’s confidence and increase their love of reading!
Tips for caregivers
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you navigate that transition:
- Choose books that interest your child. This is essential for motivating your child to rise to the challenge! Whether they’re into history, video games, animals, sports, science, mysteries, or fantasy, find some books featuring what they already enjoy. We have a wide variety of beginning chapter books in our collection, and we’re happy to help find something your child will love!
- Be mindful of reading levels, but don’t be strict about them. Nothing squashes a child’s enthusiasm like being told that they can’t read a book because it’s too hard (or too easy) for them. That said, trying to read something that’s well above their level can cause a child to feel frustrated and want to give up. Try the five-word guide to give you a sense of how easy it might be for your child to get through a chapter book. If they’re really excited about a book that’s well above their level, let them try it (and be there to help!), but find something similar that’s more accessible for them as well.
- Check in with your child about how much they need or want pictures. Some beginning chapter books still feature pictures on most pages, while others only have a few illustrations in each chapter. Likewise, some children prefer visuals that break up the text, while others would rather rely primarily on their imagination to envision what’s happening in the story. Both approaches are fine! Support your child with whichever they prefer.
Try these titles
At PGTPL, we have a lot of options to help children make that leap into chapter books! Branches books are published specifically to be a bridge between picture books or early readers and chapter books, but those aren’t the only options! Here are a few popular beginning chapter books, and a link to a whole list from our catalogue:
Diary of a Roblox Pro: Monster Escape
If your child is into gaming, they’ll love this book that takes them into the world of Roblox! Ari doesn’t believe there’s a monster living in the local abandoned warehouse and dares to enter the building with his friends. As soon as they set food inside, all the doors lock behind them, and they come face-to-face with the beast itself! Can they escape? Or will the monster win this game?
The Kingdom of Wrenly: The Lost Stone
Meet Lucas, the eight year-old prince, and Clara, the daughter of the queen’s seamstress. Lucas is an only child who longs to make friends and go on adventures. Clara knows the kingdom well, so she and Lucas team up and explore the lands of Wrenly. On their exciting adventures, they travel to all the main attractions of Wrenly, including islands that are home to fairies, trolls, dragons, and wizards!
The Magnificent Makers: How to Test a Friendship
The Magnificent Makers series is filled with science, adventure, and characters that readers will love! Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science. So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the Science Space at school, they can’t wait to check it out! This series covers scientific topics at an age-appropriate level and includes two science activities kids can do at home.
Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamond
No mystery is too great for super-sleuth Cam Jansen and her amazing photographic memory! Can Cam help catch the diamond thief? Cam and her friend Eric are sitting at the mall when the jewelry store is robbed. Cam sees the thief, but the police arrest the wrong person. Now it’s up to Cam to catch the real criminal.
Written by Carolyn L., Youth Services Program and Outreach Coordinator
