DPS Review Crew
Engaging readers. Reading for fun.
Reluctant Readers Edition
Early Elementary Reads
King Baby
Easy Fiction
By: Kate Beaton
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2016
Lexile: 360
Babies; Humor
"All hail King Baby”! Told from the point of view of a lovable little tyrant, King Baby is the amusing tale of a tot who holds sway over all the adults in his life. King Baby’s demands are great and only he decides if he will grant his subjects laughs and smiles. What happens when King Baby is no longer a baby? Author Kate Beaton sets up the possibility of a sequel!
This entertaining tale is sure to be a hit with young readers of all genders and an instant classic. Great read-aloud for Pre-K through 1st grade. This book may help students who have a baby sibling at home.
Denise Cushing
Carson Elem.
Blue Penguin
PS-2
Easy Fiction
By: Petr Horacek
Candlewick Press, 2016
Penguins; Being Different; Friendship
One day, near the South Pole, a blue penguin was born. No one had ever seen a blue penguin before. He couldn’t dive or jump as well as the rest, but he was good at catching fish. The others didn't think that he was a real penguin and left him alone. He was lonely, and began to sing a song about a white whale that he dreamed about. A little penguin came close and asked him to teach her the song. Soon they became friends. The other penguins were drawn to his song and he was no longer lonely. When the white whale came to take him away, the others asked him to stay. He was now their friend and a penguin like the rest of them.
This is a good story for young readers to learn that different can be good too. It is important to include everyone and be their friend, even if they are a little different. This is a fun book, that makes a good read aloud and can start a great conversation about friendship and acceptance.
Karen Burns
Place Bridge Academy
Star Scouts
3-5
Graphic Novel
By: Mike Lawrence
First Second, 2017
Lexile: 625
Scouting; Science fiction; Space; Friendship
While collecting a specimen for a school project, a young alien accidentally beams aboard a lonely earth girl looking for adventure. The two become instant friends. Adventure awaits as they attend a scout camp, build robots, and try to avoid the methane-breathers.
Diverse characters, both human and alien fill the pages of this colorful, humorous, space romp. Avani is Indian American and her space friend Mabel is a blue-skinned Zirdonian. Star Scouts is a great title for STEM and examining the value of diversity, teamwork, and the importance of setting aside rivalries and pettiness.
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Hattie and Hudson
Easy Fiction
By: Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press, 2017
Fantasy; adventure; tolerance
Hattie McFadden is living near a lake. While singing in a canoe, she attracts a giant, Loch Ness-like beast, whom she names Hudson. Others in the community are frightened, but Hattie saves Hudson and educates those around her about tolerance. Children will love the beautiful artwork and the myriad details found on each page and will delight in imagining having such a friend as Hudson with whom to play.
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
May I Have a Word?
K-3
Easy Fiction
By: Caron Lewis
Illus. by Andy Rash
Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2017
Letter sounds; word formation
Bright anthropomorphic look at the letter magnets on a refrigerator. What happens when 'C' and 'K' get in an argument over the same sound they both make? It's cute, to be sure, and each letter's face is humorous and sweet. The similar sound issue never gets clearly explained, but kids will find plenty to look at and try themselves.
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
Leap!
PS-2
Easy fiction
By: JonArno Lawson
Illus. by Josee Bisaillon
Kids Can Press, 2017
Lexile 640
Animals; activity; fantasy
Colorful pictures and rhyming descriptions of all the animals that can leap. Some of the words and rhymes are awkward and unbalanced, making a rhythm challenging to establish, but children will likely want to show off their leaping skills.
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
Upper Elementary Reads
Bug Girl
3-5
Action Adventure
By: Benjamin Harper and Sarah Hines Stephens
Illus. by: Anoosha Syed
Imprint, 2017
Lexile: 810
Superheroes; Friendships; Middle-school; Insects
Amanda feels like an outsider at Oyster Cove Middle School. Her former best-friend is now one of the popular girls and it doesn't help Amanda's status that she is obsessed with bugs. After a strange occurrence in her town, Amanda discovers her legacy.
Filled with rich science vocabulary, this book teachers readers about obscure bug facts in a superhero story. Comic book style illustrations may entice reluctant readers to pick this book up. This could be an extension to science curriculum for upper elementary, or early middle-school. Also, a feel good read for those who feel that they don't fit in. Great for reluctant girl readers.
Denise Cushing
Carson Elem.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
3-5
Fantasy
By: Kelly Barnhill
Algonquin Young Readers, 2016
Lexile: 640
Family; Magic; Witches
Every year a village must sacrifice a baby to the evil witch of the forest. Every year a healer from the forest rescues an abandoned baby. She decides to keep one special child filled with magic to raise as her own. One young man from the village decides to change the fate of the village by killing the witch. Each story intertwines to become one.
This enchanting, well-crafted fairy tale is filled with engaging characters and is sure to be popular with those that enjoy stories filled with fantasy, classic fairy tale elements, magic, and overarching themes of love.
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
The Sleeping Gypsy
3-5
Fiction
By: Mordicai Gerstein
Holiday House, 2016
Lexile: 640
Painters; Art; Dreams
This is a beautifully illustrated story based on the painting “The Sleeping Gypsy” by Henri Rousseau. The story opens with Rousseau dreaming of a girl in the desert. She travels all day, until the sunset. She stops and has a meal, then picks up her mandolin and sings a beautiful song. Then she went to sleep on the warm sand. While she slept, some of the desert animals came to see who this was. A lizard, a snake, and a rabbit discussed who she was. They were soon joined by an ostrich, a baboon, a tortoise and the moon.Then the lion roared, “She is mine!” and stood over her. A man came into the picture, set up an easel and began to paint. When Rousseau woke up, his dream disappeared. He finished what was to be his famous, “The Sleeping Gypsy.”
This would be a great book to introduce a unit on artists, using imagination, and to kick off a lesson in an art class.
Karen Burns
Place Bridge Academy
Everything's Changed
3-5
Realistic Ficion
By: Julie Sternberg
Illus. by: Johanna Wright
Boyd's Mill Press, 2017
Lexile: 550
Friendship; Moving
Celie and Jo Valentine and their parents are back after moving to a new home especially selected so that aging Granny can live with them. Celie had to change schools and is missing her old friends, but maybe classmate Mary Majors, although she seems a little wild, will be a substitute. Celie is a little worried as she learns more about her, but it isn't until the girls get involved in Jo's boyfriend trouble and take a wild subway trip across New York City that Celie decides she needs to make better choices.
Told in journal form with humorous black and white illustrations, Celie's story and trials with family and relationships are convincing and authentic. Discussion topics include decision making and getting along with others. This is the third book in the series, and all the others are equally engaging.
Peggy Obert
Alumni
I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944
3-5
Historical Fiction
By: Lauren Tarshis
Illus. by: Scott Dawson
Lexile: 740
Disasters; Child Heroes
Young Jewish siblings Max and Zena defy the Nazis and escape from the Warsaw ghetto. Hiding on a farm, they contact the Jewish partisan resistance, are reunited with their father and aunt, and make their own contribution to the war effort.
This is part of the extensive “I Survived” series from Lauren Tarshis. Founded on careful research, each volume tells a story of children triumphing against challenging odds. Simple sentences, accessible vocabulary, and the focus on action makes these books a good choice for reluctant readers. Many English language learners—girls and boys—favor these short chapter books.
Nick Bleckley
Cheltenham Elementary
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
3-5
Comic Fiction
By: Stephan Pastis
Candlewick Press, 2014
Lexile: 520
Adolescent humor; Single mothers and sons; Detectives
This first of the Timmy Failure detective stories features a rollicking frolic through Timmy’s world. We quickly meet Timmy’s business partner--a polar bear; his wealthy nemesis, Corrina Corrina; his long- suffering mom; and her latest unsavory boyfriend, The Bowling Turkey. Despite the machinations of teacher Old Man Crocus, the unwelcome advances of Molly Moskins, and the bumbling of his best friend Rollo Tookus, Timmy somehow recovers his mom’s missing Segway and solves several other cases (at least to his satisfaction).
If all this sounds like something from the comics, it’s no surprise. Author Stephan Pastis pens the Pearls Before Swine strip. His witty plots and outrageous drawings will make even reluctant readers guffaw, while parents will appreciate his sophisticated vocabulary.
Nick Bleckley
Cheltenham Elementary
Middle Grade & High School Reads
I Love You, Michael Collins
6-8
Historical Fiction
By: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Farrar Straus Giroux Books, 2017
Lexile 800
NASA's Apollo 11 space flight; friendship; families
I Love You, Michael Collins is a tender novel set in a richly detailed 1969 small town America. Written in letter-style between a young girl and astronaut Michael Collins, the book is a great example of voice. This is a solid choice, a delightful first-person account of friendship, anxiety and national engagement.
Terri Faulkner
DPS Library Services
Daniel Coldstar: The Relic War
Science-Fiction
By: Stel Pavlou
Harper, 2017
Orphans; Forced Labor; Battle of Good vs. Evil
Highly Recommended
Set a thousand years in the future, our story begins when young Daniel Coldstar is returned to the Racks, an underground bunker for kids forced mine on a forgotten planet for mysterious artifacts that will help the Overseers (scary henchmen) and the Sinja (powerful aliens) prepare for a coming war. When he uncovers a one-of-a-kind relic with fantastic powers, life changes for Daniel. He escapes the mines and finds himself in an epic outer space adventure, meeting Truth Seekers and fighting Sinja, all while trying to rescue his friends from the racks.
This sci-fi romp is reminiscent of the early Star Wars stories, even down to the comic relief robots. Some of the invented words may be difficult for lower readers to decipher, but a helpful glossary is included. Stel Pavlou is a Colorado author. Highly recommended, a great addition the sci-fi section in an upper elementary or middle school. It could also be an entertaining class read-aloud.
Denise Cushing
Carson Elem.
Wonder Woman: Warbringer
6-8
Fantasy
By: Leigh Bardugo
Random House, 2017
Lexile: 750
Battle between good and evil
Princess Diana is the daughter of the queen of the Amazons. The Amazons are all immortals, women who were killed in battle and chosen by the gods to live on Themyscira, except for Diana who was made from the clay of the island. Alia is the protected daughter of wealth. She is also a warbringer, a woman who brings unrest to all around her. Diana will try to save her but there are those who wish to kill her in order for there to be wars, ways for men to do heroic deeds.
This book is recommended for upper Middle to High School. Could be used as a bridge between graphic novels and chapter books for reluctant but good readers.
Chris Coble
CEC Early CollegeCheck here to see if your school has this title
Almost Paradise
5-8
Fiction
By: Corabel Shofner
Farrar Straus Giroux Books, 2017
Lexile 730
Humor; Family Relationships
Almost Paradise has its share of solid storytelling strengths: a down-on-her-luck but plucky protagonist (Ruby Clyde), adult characters ranging from the truly bad to the truly extraordinary, a masterclass use of voice, and pearls of wisdom embedded in tight writing. Unfortunately, it also has significant plot holes, which detract from the book's endearing quality. Fans of Sheila Turnage's Three Times Lucky will find a similar Southern charm. This book is a fine read; if only the author hadn't resorted to seismic and unbelievable plot twists to resolve the conflict.
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
Restart
Realistic Fiction
By: Gordon Korman
Scholastic Press, 2017
Lexile: 730
Humor; Bullying; Middle School
Perennial favorite Gordon Korman serves up another win, this time tackling bullying from the bully's perspective. Korman uses alternating character perspectives to weave this story of understanding, acceptance and forgiveness, effectively illustrating how people can look at the same details and come to different conclusions. A solid addition for collections and a great starting point for discussions of school-based bullying.
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
The Lovely Reckless
9-12
Realistic Fiction
By: Kami Garcia
Imprint, 2016
Lexile: 650
Grief; School; Families
Frankie Devereux has let her grief over her boyfriend's death consume her. She is no longer welcome with the country club set; instead, she has moved in with her father, a tough cop. Public high school is a very different life.
Could be recommended to students to support social emotional challenges, changing schools, or grieving. Recommend for High School
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Check here to see if your school has this title