Category: Books

I have said many times how I recommend Jim Trelease’s book The Read-Aloud Handbook.  He recommends books for you to read to your kids and his taste is excellent.

On his website, he lists his favorite kindergarten novels. 

Jim Trelease’s Favorite Kindergarten Novels (with my comments)

(in order of difficulty according to Trelease)

• Two Times the Fun by Beverly Cleary–The Cleary one is a compilation of stories.  We were only able to find Two Dog Biscuits and The Real Hole at our library.
• Chibi: A True Story from Japan by Barbara Brenner & J. Takaya
• Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
  by Barbara Park–a little edgy but memorable
• The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla
• My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett–My Father’s Dragon is fun.  There are also two sequels.
• Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith–Amy read this one.
• Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne–Dinosaurs before Dark is the first of the Magic Tree House series.
• The Reluctant Dragon adapted by Inga Moore–delightful classic.  Audio also available of this one.
• The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron–short–one sitting.
• The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith–Lots of fun!
• Wolf Story by William McCleery–Wolf Story is a bit more challenging–it is about a dad telling stories to his son and his friend.
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl–Amy read this one.

 I wholeheartedly recommend Trelease’s book.