Top Ten Cumulative Picture Books

April 16, 2020 Stefanie Hohl

Cumulative stories make great stories to read aloud to children! Each story builds with each turn of the page in a predictable rhythm, making them fun and invaluable to growing readers. Check out our top ten cumulative picture books!

There Was an Old Monster! by Rebecca, Adrian, and Ed Emberley

There Was an Old Monster! was written by a grandfather, daughter, and granddaughter trio. It’s a great book to read or sing, and even includes an option to visit the website for an audio version of the song. The book is filled with rhymes, wonderfully vivid sound words, and colorful monster illustrations!

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers begins this delightful story with a boy named Floyd whose red kite gets stuck in a tree. In order to dislodge the kite, he throws his favorite shoe at the tree. But his shoe gets stuck, too! He continues to throw various objects into the tree, from a cat, to a ladder, and even a boat! The tree quickly fills up with all of these items, making for some hilarious illustrations. Both parents and children will love this book!

The House That Jack Built by Simms Taback

This fun version of the famous nursery rhyme keeps a few of the original elements and adds a few new ones, too. Not only that, but the pages are bursting with colorful and quirky illustrations, as well as interesting details and font. This is definitely an upgrade from the traditional nursery rhyme that your little ones will love!

The Pinata That the Farm Maiden Hung by Samantha R. Vamos and Sebastia Serra

The Piñata that the Farm Maiden Hung also plays with the traditional “The House that Jack Built” structure. It gives a great introduction to many Spanish words with its fun bilingual tone. The illustrations are bright, bold, and colorful, full of interesting characteristics and details. Plus, the end includes a bonus how-to make your own piñata, a glossary of Spanish words, and a few definitions!

Chicken Story Time by Sandy Asher and Mark Fearing

This is a clever story that starts with one librarian, one story time, a few children, and one chicken. But each week, the story time becomes more popular, resulting in more children and more chickens! Children will enjoy the story and the clever ending—the librarian’s solution to so many chickens and children in the library! Above all else, this story is a great reminder of the love we have for our libraries, librarians, and story time!

Who Woke the Baby? By Jane Clarke and Charles Fuge

In this story, the tale follows a baby gorilla as it wakes, adding many more jungle animals along the way, including a hippo, zebra, lion, and crocodile. Each page is filled with lovely illustrated animals, each with their own expressive and endearing faces. This is a great story to read to your little ones not only as they wake, but anytime!

This is the Nest that Robin Built by Denise Fleming

Another spin-off of “The House That Jack Built,” this version features all sorts of woodland creatures as they help Robin build her nest. The fun, repeating text gradually builds and includes a fold-out page revealing all the things Robin did to build the nest for her eggs. Not only is it engaging, the book is also very informative, using lots of content-related vocabulary to teach children how a robin builds a nest.

Baby Says “Moo!” by JoAnn Early Macken and David Walker

This adorable story follows a baby and her parents as they visit the store, a farm, go on a drive, have a picnic, and more. As various animals appear throughout these travels, Mom asks the baby a variation of “What do they say?,” to which the baby consistently responds “Moo!” Little ones and parents alike will delight in this clever, well-written story.

And the Robot Went… by Michell Robinson and Sergio Ruzzier

This story begins with Nosy Fox and a box filled with a pile of robot parts. He and the cleverly-named animals and groups of animals that follow help to build a robot. There are plenty of fun sound words, lots of rhyming words, clever illustrations, and a very grateful robot to boot. And the Robot Went… is a clever and engaging story!

Chooky Doodle Doo by Jan Whiten and Sinead Hanley

Chooky Doodle Doo makes for an engaging read aloud, with words that twist your tongue in knots! The story follows a “chooky chick” as it tries to pull a stubborn worm from the ground. This one is also a great counting book for young ones, as each page adds another “chooky chick.” With bright colors, fun illustrations, and a great surprise ending, this one is a keeper!

We hope you enjoyed our Top 10 Cumulative Picture Books!

For more picture book ideas, check out our Top 10 Newer Picture Books and Top 10 Classic Picture Books!

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Top 10 Favorite Middle Grade Sci-fi

November 14, 2019 Stefanie Hohl

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Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender’s Game takes place in a time when Earth is being attacked by alien buggers, forcing government agencies to breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers to fight. Ender Wiggin is one such boy. He is described as “brilliant, ruthless, cunning, a tactical and strategic master,” and he’s not even ten years old yet. Ender’s Game follows his journey: separated from his family to attend Battle School, he must learn to deal with isolation, peer rivalry, and pressure from teachers, not to mention his fear of the alien invaders. This book is full of surprises, suspense, packed full of battles and wars, and on top of it all, beautiful writing. 9:15

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot is about Roz, a robot who finds herself washed ashore after a ship carrying 500 robots sinks in a hurricane. Roz is the sole survivor, and begins to explore her new habitat and home, full of animals and wilderness. The animals are leery of her until she adopts an orphaned gosling and becomes his robot mother of sorts, and the animals slowly begin to trust her. But Roz’s world is not safe forever, as humans eventually track her down and attempt to make her leave the island. As one review states, “this sweetly quirky fish-out-of-water tale will have readers contemplating questions about life, death, consciousness, and artificial intelligence.” And who can resist a story involving a loveable robot and the wilderness all packed into one exciting story?

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me is a Newbery Winner that “appeals to readers of all types, especially those who are looking for a thought-provoking mystery with a mind-blowing twist.” The book takes place in real world New York City in the late seventies/early eighties. It follows two best friends, Miranda and Sal, who must unravel a puzzle including mysterious notes, missing items, the $20,000 Pyramid game show, and even some time travel! A Wrinkle in Time fans will love this story, with its “exciting, engaging mix of science fiction, mystery, and adventure.”

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry is a classic of my childhood and another Newbery Medal winner. Set in a world in which citizens are assigned to their partners and jobs, where everyone is obedient and doesn’t ask questions, there is no “conflict, inequality, unemployment, injustice...or choice.” But when Jonas attends the Ceremony of the Twelve, where all 12-year olds of the community will be given their predetermined Life Assignments, he is given a special assignment that requires him to meet with an old man known as The Giver. What he learns will shatter his worldview forever. This book is great for discussion—check it out!

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

House of the Scorpion comes with many accolades and awards, including a National Book Award, Newbery Honor, a American Library Association Honor, and a Printz honor, to name a few. The story features Matteo Alacrán, a clone of El Patron, an extremely wealthy man with a huge opium empire and the morals to prove it. Throughout the story, Matt not only questions himself and the world around him, abut struggles to define his relationship and feelings towards El Patron. Matt's story is a thought-provoking tale of friendship, survival, and hope, engaging its readers from beginning to end. This is a must-read for any sci-fi lovers!

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

In this Newbery Award-winning classic, Mrs. Frisby, a mouse, must move her four small children to their summer quarters, but her youngest son is too sick to be moved. Enter the rats of NIMH, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma! This book is will not only take you for a rollercoaster ride of suspense and drama, but it will tug at your heartstrings along the way. It is a fantastic adventure book, with wonderful storytelling and powerful themes of love and perseverance.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

When the underground city of Ember was built, it contained everything needed for survival. Now, several hundred years later, the “storerooms are almost out of food, crops are blighted, corruption is spreading through the city and worst of all—the lights are failing.” Enter Lina and Doon and their friend Poppy, who soon discover pieces of an ancient parchment. Together they try to decipher the words from long ago to save the people of Ember. Worth the read!

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

While walking home from school, Zita and her friend Joseph come across a giant hole in the ground with a red button inside. Zita presses it (of course she would), and Joseph is pulled through by… something! Zita follows (of course) and enters a new world of alien species. She finds out soon enough that she must rescue Joseph and get them both back to Earth safely. This graphic novel has limited text, but the illustrations are engaging definitely worth checking out!

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

Space Case gives sci-fi a murder mystery twist! Twelve-year old Dashiell Gibson is one of the first humans to live on the moon! Raised on Moon Base Alpha, his group is known as the Moonies. Life on the moon isn’t as exciting as it sounds, however, since he and his fellow Moonies aren’t even allowed to explore the moon’s surface. But when a scientist turns up dead, Dash must help uncover the truth about the killer and his secrets. This book has so many wonderful elements—adventure, mystery, suspense, and even humor. It will be sure to please both young and old!

The Strangers by Margaret Haddix

The Strangers by Margaret Haddix is told from three perspectives: Chess, Emma, and Finn Greystone. Though they think they are normal siblings, when they hear of three kidnapped children with the same names, ages, and birthdays, the crazy coincidence makes them wonder! So when their mom leaves for a business trip, they are determined to find out the truth. Along the way, they must decode puzzling clues, complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret. As one review states, The Strangers “blends adventure and sci-fi elements into an engrossing mystery. The kidnapping alone could have made a compelling mystery, but Haddix throws in secret rooms, alternate realities, and a cliff-hanger ending to raise the stakes and delight fans new and old.” Such a great book!

And for more great book lists, don’t forget to check out Top 10 Favorite Middle Grade Fantasy and Top 10 Graphic Novels! Or for younger readers, check out Top 10 Beginning Reader Books or Top 10 Chapter Book Series!

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Top 10 Favorite Middle Grade Fantasy

September 26, 2019 Stefanie Hohl

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven is the series that got my oldest son hooked on reading the summer after 4th grade. Kendra and her younger brother Seth soon discover that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven, a place of fantasy filled with trolls, satyrs, witches, imps, fairies, and more. Through their adventures, Kendra and Seth are forced into battles to save their lives, their family, and maybe even the world! The book is filled with witty dialogue, great vocabulary and language, and engaging stories that will keep you reading late into the night! And even though it’s fantasy, Brandon Mull does a wonderful job making the characters relatable and realistic. Plus, these books make a great read-aloud for a family—heck, parents won’t even mind reading them without the kids!

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale has been one of my favorite books since I first read it almost fifteen years ago. It is a wonderful retelling of the Grimm’s fairy tale of the same name. The story begins in the magical kingdom of Kildenzee, where Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee is born a Crown Princess. As Ani grows, she learns from her aunt the language of the birds, and soon becomes skilled in talking with the animals. But when her mother sends her away to be married in a foreign land, she falls victim to a mutiny and must flee for her life. At this point, she decides to leave her royalty behind, instead taking on work “as a royal goose girl, hiding in plain sight while she develops her forbidden talents and works to discover her own true, powerful voice.” Hale weaves a powerful tale, a coming-of-age story with heart, humor, and even some subtle romance for fun.

Doll Bones by Holly Black

This book was on my to-read list for years. I finally got around to reading it this year and loved it! The story features a trio of friends—Zach, Poppy, and Alice, who have been playing one continuous, ever-changing imagination game. Their game is filled with all sorts of fantasy elements, including pirates, thieves, mermaids, and warriors, all ruled by the Great Queen, “a bone-china doll imprisoned in a cabinet, cursing those who displease her.” Now that the friends are in middle school, Zach’s father pushes him to give up the make-believe game for basketball instead. But when Poppy begins to have dreams of the Queen, she convinces the trio to go on one final adventure to end it all. Filled with a great mix of adventure, fantasy, and a bit of a ghost story, these three friends team up for an epic final journey!

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Echo is a beautiful, moving story—both the novel and the audiobook are extremely well-done. A young boy named Otto starts the story when he gets lost in the woods, only to be rescued by three sisters imprisoned by a witch's curse. In return, Otto promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a harmonica and passing the instrument along when the time is right. Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo. As one review states, "Each individual story is engaging, but together they harmonize to create a thrilling whole." This book is masterfully crafted and worth every second of the read.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman for a class years ago and loved it right away. Nobody Owens, otherwise known as Bod, is a seemingly normal kid, except for the fact that he lives in a graveyard and is being raised by a host of graveyard creatures. After his family was tragically killed when he was 18 months, he escaped the attack and wandered to a nearby graveyard. The graveyard's ghostly residents recognize that he is an orphaned boy and quickly adopt him to raise as their own. As Bod grows from baby to teen, he learns many of life’s lessons among this group of the dead, ghouls, witches, and periodic humans. The book is also full of the dangers of the world beyond the graveyard, where Bod learns his limitations and strengths and acquires the skills he needs to survive. The Graveyard Book has won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal, the Carnegie Medal, Audio Book of the Year, and more. Check it out!

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

The Night Gardener is just the right amount of creepy and is so good! It’s a Victorian ghost story that follows two orphaned Irish siblings, Molly and her younger brother, Kip, who take on work as servants at a creepy English manor house. The family who lives in the manor house is full of secret surprises as Molly struggles to figure out what is really going on within the house’s walls. As one review states, “Lots of creepiness, memorable characters, a worthy message...and touches of humor amid the horror make this cautionary tale one readers will not soon forget.” The book is full of suspense that will keep you reading until the end!

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds is great for kids who zip through a series, because there are a lot of these books! As one review states, this book is ‘The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter.” In a town called Quill, where at an annual purge of all thirteen-year-olds, children are categorized into the Wanted, or those who are strong and intelligent, and the Unwanteds, who will soon be sent to their graves. However, when the day of the Purge comes, identical twins Alex and Aaron learn of a hidden world and an eccentric magician named Mr. Today who saves the condemned. This new hidden world “is a colorful place of talking statues, uncommon creatures, and artistic magic, where creativity is considered a gift...and a weapon.”

Wing and Claw Trilogy by Linda Sue Park

Wing and Claw is a fun, entertaining adventure story. The audio book is excellent. The story mixes fantasy, adventure, magic, and botany, and it includes themes such as family, duty, and home. It features Raffa Santana, a 12 year old boy and gifted apothecary, who loves the mysterious Forest of Wonders. After a seemingly simple encounter with an injured bat, Raffa is led to the magical city of Gilden. Along his journey, Raffa and his friends must work together to save the creatures of the Forest of Wonders that he loves. As one review states, “With its engaging hero, talking animals, arcane magic, moral issues, unresolved plot, the first of a proposed trilogy promises more exciting forest wonders.”

Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan

Ranger’s Apprentice is one of my son’s favorites series. I think there are about 21 books in the series, so this can keep your child busy for a long time! Will is a fifteen-year-old trying to figure out his place in the world. The village in which he lives is made up of a group known as the Rangers, who he later will learn are the protectors of the kingdom and “fight the battles before the battles reach the people.” He has been chosen as the Ranger’s apprentice. These books are full of mystery, terrifying creatures, epic battles, and much more!

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

The Iron Trial is a fun series with a lot of similarities to Harry Potter. Known as a “thrilling coming-of-age story that embraces fantasy tropes while keeping readers guessing,” The Iron Trial follows Callum Hunt, a twelve-year-old who has been taught by his father to fear and avoid magic all of his life. So when it’s time for the Iron Trial, he does all he can to fail, but instead lands himself right in the Magisterium, the magician's training school. This path leads him to more challenging tasks, trials, and choices he must face as he learns who he can trust and who he should not. And when this book ends and readers crave more, there are plenty more books in the series to love!

What are some of your favorite middle grade fantasy books?

And for more top 10 lists, don’t forget to check out Top 10 Graphic Novels list, Top 10 Chapter Book Series, or, for younger readers, Top 10 Beginning Reading Books.

Top 10 Middle Grade Graphic Novels (Ages 8-12)

July 11, 2019 Stefanie Hohl

When graphic novels first came out, I thought they were glorified comic books and turned up my nose. Then I read one. Holy cow, was I off-base! Graphic novels have the same great elements as traditional novels—with the added bonus of illustrations. And sure, while seeing an image might make things easier in that the reader doesn’t have to create a picture in his or her mind, that reader still has to “read” the images. In this way, graphic novels help teach children to pick up clues about emotional body language and facial expressions, which is always a bonus in our tech-heavy world. Here are my top 10 favorite graphic novels for 8-12 year olds (or teenagers. Or yourself. Because really, I recommend them for everyone).

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Roller Girl centers on 12-year old Astrid, who has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. Then Astrid signs up for a roller derby camp and Nicole doesn’t, forcing Astrid not only to step into the new world of roller derby, but to do it without her best friend at her side. This story’s got lots of humor, real-life dilemmas, and great themes of friendship, perseverance, and girl power! Plus, it’s full of awesome roller derby girls with even-more-awesome names like Braidy Punch, Scream Soda, and Thrilla Godzilla. Thanks to all of that and its colorful illustrations, Roller Girl was not only awarded a Newbery Honor Award, but it’s also been on The New York Times bestseller list!

HiLo by Judd Winick

A boy named HiLo fell from the sky. He has no idea why or how he fell from the sky, nor does he understand basic human things, like why we eat food or why he can’t just wear his undies to school. Throughout his hilarious adventures, HiLo’s friends DJ and Gina help him try to fit in, all while running into lots of craziness, including machine monsters, a mutant robot ant, and other cool sci-fi elements. And bonus— this is a series, so if you love it, you’ll have more to enjoy and read!

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

The Amulet series follows the adventures of Emily and her brother, Navin, who move to their great-grandfather’s house after their father’s tragic death. Emily soon discovers a magical amulet in the house, and shortly thereafter, her mother is kidnapped by a monstrous arachnopod! In their attempt to save her, Emily and Navin find themselves in an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals! There are 8 total books in the series, each with its own story arc and plenty of fantasy, suspense, and adventure— we’re talking other worlds, mysterious elves, arachnopods, a humanoid fox, curses, robots, and much more! Check it out!

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Seventh grader Jordan Banks “loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life.” But his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school, rather than the art school of his dreams. This forces Jordan to not only navigate the difficult world of middle school, but to do so while trying to fit into a place where he doesn’t belong. Not only that, but he’s one of the few kids of color in his entire grade! New Kid address many issues, including middle school and being the new kid, as well as deeper issues of prejudice and race. As one review states, “it is [a] heartbreakingly accurate middle-grade tale of race, class, microaggressions, and the quest for self-identity… Engrossing, humorous, and vitally important.”

Ghosts by Raina Talgemeier

When Catrina and her family move to a new town in the hopes of helping Catrina’s younger sister with cystic fibrosis, Cat isn’t thrilled. Things only get worse when Cat learns her new town’s cold weather and fog makes it a perfect place for ghosts—something the people of the town take very seriously! Ghosts has a great mix of Hispanic traditions, a glimpse into the world of cystic fibrosis, the special bond of sisterhood, and overcoming the fear of dying.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Based on the life of the author, Cece Bell, who lost her hearing suddenly at the age of 4, this book is a graphic novel memoir of her life from the time of hearing loss through grade 5. It portrays many of her feelings and thoughts as a child growing up while feeling different from the rest of her friends and classmates. To help her cope with her struggles, Cece invents a superhero version of herself, El Deafo, strapped with her super-power hearing aids! The story is relatable, funny, and touching. It also helps to give a greater understanding of those who are different and includes great messages and themes throughout. As the author herself states, “Our differences are our superpowers.”

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale

As the front page reads, this story recounts “the life, times, and last words of Nathan Hale, America’s most famous spy.” While the story is based on historical facts (meaning—your child will learn a ton!), its graphic novel format makes it fun and easy to comprehend. Somehow, narrator Nathan Hale manages to bring comic relief to even the heaviest topics discussed. The end includes “a little more biographical info about” Nathan Hale and others from the story. And once again, it’s a series! Win!

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood is a memoir based on growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution of the 1980’s. Author Marjane Satrapoi shares various experiences of her childhood: suddenly being forced to wear a veil at age 10, watching as her parents participated in demonstrations, finding out that her playmates had been killed, bombings, and many more horrific events. Her powerful story is told in the form of words and powerful black and white images. Well-worth the read for kids and adults alike. It would also make for a great book club discussion!

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Speaking of memoirs, Sisters is the memoir of fourteen-year-old Raina Telgemeier and her family. While the basic story follows their adventure on a round-trip road trip from California to visit family in Colorado, it also features flashbacks that depict various moments in Raina’s life: when she begged and begged her parents for a sister, when that sister was finally born and turned out to be a crying wild animal, and lots of other hilarious stories. Sisters is funny and charming—a story that many siblings can relate to!

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Apparently I’m a big fan of graphic novel memoir, because Real Friends is based on author Shannon Hale’s elementary school experiences. It touches on the good and bad in friendships, friends moving, cliques, feeling inadequate, childhood cruelty, and the ups and downs of family life, especially within Shannon’s dynamic relationship with her older sister. Yet despite all the challenges, the final Author’s Note is full of positive and encouraging words for anyone struggling to find their “group.” Overall, this is a very honest book, with lots of opportunities for reflection on one’s own life and how we treat each other.

What are some of your other favorite graphic novels?

Top 10 Chapter Book Series

June 20, 2019 Stefanie Hohl

Chapter books are books written for kids aged 6-10. There are still illustrations on almost every page, but they are usually black and white, and text is still needed to understand the story. The print is usually bigger and easier to read, and there are often ten chapters. These are almost always published as series, because once kids find one they like, they want more. The plots are usually fairly simple. Here are some of our favorite series from over the years.

The Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne

The Magic Treehouse series centers around siblings Jack and Annie Smith from the small fictional town of Frog Creek, Pennsylvania. Each adventure originates in their treehouse, but takes them to cool and magical places “around the world and throughout history!” With titles like Dinosaurs Before Dark, The Knight at Dawn, Mummies in the Morning, Sunset of the Sabertooth, Vacation Under The Volcano, and a total of 28 other exciting books, kids are sure to find topics that keep them excited and engaged in reading!

Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows

Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows is a series that includes over 200 books! Within the overall series are a slew of smaller series of 4 to 7 books focused on a central theme. Such topics include The Weather Fairies, The Endangered Animal Fairies, The Party Fairies, The Helping Fairies, Sport, Music, Princess, Superstar, and so many more! Most books also include a mix of actual events, like school, sports, and attending Brownie meetings, as well as fantasy, such as visiting fairy lands. This makes it easy for readers to connect to the story and have a bit of adventure, too!

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

The Flat Stanley series starts when Stanley gets flattened by a bulletin board—and discovers that being ½” thick has its perks! Flat Stanley can be rolled up and mailed, or flown like a kite, for example. In the fabulous series, Stanley’s adventures continue. While he isn’t always flat in every book, each one is filled with some sort of adventure, such as turning invisible, magic genies, going to space, and more! Plus, there’s a worldwide adventure set that takes Stanley across the world to Africa, Australia, France, and more. And each character in the adventure set has a great historical aspect involved. A great series for this age group!

Geronimo Stilton/Thea Stilton by Geronimo Stilton

Geronimo Stilton is another huge series, with over 75 books, not including additional special editions, graphic novels, or the 30-plus books in the Thea Stilton series. Geronimo Stilton is a mouse (and the author of the series) living on Mouse Island as a journalist and publisher of a famous newspaper. Geronimo himself is a very quiet and polite mouse who prefers a quiet, normal life; however, in each story he somehow ends up involved in far-away adventures with various characters, including his sister, Thea. These books are fun and exciting, and most are written in an almost autobiographical format.

I Survived Series by Lauren Tarshis

The I Survived Series is a thrilling series detailing actual events from history. There are over 20 books in the series, and each is told from the perspective of the survivor! Stories include events like volcanic eruptions, sinking ships, hurricanes, shark attacks, and more! While these books are still considered fiction, they bring to life many historical events and help kids become interested in history and reading! Win-win!

Cam Janson by David A. Adler

Cam’s real name is Jennifer, but she’s known as “the Camera” for her amazing memory. These books are great entry into the mystery genre, as each story is filled with mysterious cases to solve! Readers will follow along as Cam uses her photographic memory to solve mysteries from missing monkeys to school play divas! Plus, Cam is a great role model for children - she’s full of wit, curiosity, and uses her intelligence for good!

My Weird School by Dan Gutman

My Weird School is a very fun series that features A.J., his friends, and their super weird school! AJ is a second grader at Ella Mentry School, and each book in the series focuses on an adult who is seriously weird. From food fights, teachers thrown in jail, a principal who finds himself stuck at the top of a flag pole, and so much more, there’s no shortage of hilarity! And aside from all this crazy stuff, the stories are actually quite relatable to a typical elementary school when it comes to dynamics of friends, homework, and more. Plus, there are over 20 books to choose from! And if your readers finish this series and want more, the author has written a third grade follow-up called (My Weird School Daze), as well as a fourth-grade series (My Weirder School), with another series on the way!

Who Would Win Series by Jerry Pallotta

In each of these Who Would Win Series, two unlikely animals or creatures are paired together in a theoretical match up. Lions vs. Tigers, Komodo Dragons vs. King Cobras, Tarantulas vs. Scorpions, and 9 other awesome matchups make up the series. The author provides tons of facts and content-related vocabulary, so your child will learn lots about each animal! From size, body type, where they live, adaptations, what they eat, interesting facts, and so much more, there’s a ton of information to help kids better understand each animal AND decide who would win! After roughly 30 pages of facts and information, the theoretical battle takes place over several pages, and a winner is deemed victorious!

A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy

A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy is a great mystery series that features three third grade friends: Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose from Green Lawn, Connecticut. In each book, the friends solve different crimes and mysteries. With 26 books in all, and each with its own clever title, like “The Absent Author” or “The Canary Caper,” readers can go in alphabetical order or “skip around without missing anything!” This is a great chapter book series with just the right number of words and fun illustrations scattered throughout!

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

Ivy and Bean are unlikely friends. While Bean loves to run around and yell, Ivy spends most of her time quietly reading books. So when their parents pair them as friends, they initially think there is NO WAY that will happen! Luckily for us, Ivy and Bean realize that their differences actually make life way more fun! Each book is full of their “adventures and disasters.” From finding a ghost at school to visiting forbidden dark places and trying to cast spells, these two have lots of fun while creating some trouble along the way. And not to worry—there are illustrations every few pages to help aid comprehension!

I hope you enjoyed this top 10 Chapter Book Series List!

For more book lists, check out my Top 10 Beginning Reader Books, Top 10 Classic Picture Book List, and Top 10 Newer Picture Book List!

Top Ten Newer Picture Books (Published after 2000)

March 21, 2019 Stefanie Hohl

Here are our family’s favorite picture books published within the last twenty years. We have read these countless times and they never get old. Hope you enjoy them too!

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

Want to know what worm life is really like? Worm describes his surprisingly relatable life as he goes to school, plays with his friends, wakes up from a bad dream, and so much more! The text is simple but clever, and full of funny situations your little ones will love! Although this book is a work of fiction, it may give your little ones a better appreciation for worms and all the good they do for the earth!

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

This adorable counting book counts backwards from 10 to 1, and with each turn of the page, a ladybug “disappears.” The book includes plastic ladybugs on each page for kids to touch, making it a great way to practice counting and one-to-one correspondence. Its cute rhyming story makes it a fun read-aloud, too!

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

While Little Pea is generally a “happy little guy,” there’s one thing he cannot stand - and that’s CANDY! Throughout this hilarious tale, his pea parents do all in their power to force him eat his candy before getting his dessert! It’s clever, funny, and cute.

Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems

Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus is another hilarious book that will be sure to have your children laughing and interacting! The bus driver asks readers to watch his bus while he takes a short break, with only one rule: Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus! Once he’s gone, the pigeon tries all sorts of arguments, including begging and pleading, to get his way, and it’s up to the readers to hold firm on the driver’s request. Not only is the story engaging, but the simple, expressive illustrations are perfect for a great laugh.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Press Here by Herve Tullet is one of my favorite interactive picture books.The book asks the reader to press, shake, tilt, and blow on the pages. After each of these actions, the following page magically transforms. The concept and art are simple, but so effective and fun for kids. I love watching my son's excitement as he makes things happen in this book. So fun!

Snuggle Bunny by Kate Dopirak

Snuggle Bunny is an sweet tale about a sleepy little bunny who wants to stay in bed! His mama and papa “know just what to do,” and quickly join this snuggle bunny in bed, along with brothers, and before too long, animal friends from all over town! Not only is this book a fun read-aloud with adorable illustrations, but there are also extra text and bonus questions to engage your little ones. Questions such as “Do you have a special bedtime buddy?” or “Who do you like to snuggle with?” help children develop critical thinking skills and extend the learning of the text. Plus, at the end of the story, the book includes even more ideas and activities - including fort building fun, ideas to create your own holiday, rhymes, and riddles!

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Extra Yarn begins in a cold town where all one can see is white snow and black chimney soot. Then a little girl named Annabelle discovers a box of colorful yarn, and she begins to knit. She starts with a sweater for herself, and then she makes one for her dog. With more and more leftover yarn, she creates more and more projects. That is, until the archduke realizes the magic of the never-ending yarn box and attempts to steal it! Readers will enjoy how the story unfolds, as well as the transition from muted illustrations to more and more color as Annabelle completes her projects. I love the magical elements of the story, and the illustrations are beautiful.

After the Fall by Dan Santat

This is my new favorite picture book. Most people are familiar with the original Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme—this one will make you rethink the classic tale while also giving it a positive spin! It’s a beautiful story about perseverance, facing your fears, and following your dreams. The ending gives me chills every time I read it. I highly recommend this book for children AND adults! LOVE IT!

I'm Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton

Reading more like a story, I’m Trying to Love Spiders is a perfect nonfiction choice for every non-spider-lover out there! Readers will learn all about how fascinating and amazing spiders really are. There may also be a few hilarious accidental “spider squishings” along the way, as the narrator attempts to overcome her own fear of the crawly critters. And when it comes to illustrations, the beautiful watercolors direct and focus the reader’s attention on the spiders. Overall, this is a clever nonfiction book that many of us can relate to!

I hope you enjoyed our family’s favorite picture books published within the last twenty years! And in case you missed it, don’t forget to check out our Top 10 Christmas Book List and Top Ten Classic Picture Book List!

Top Ten Classic Picture Books (Published before 2000)

February 7, 2019 Stefanie Hohl

Here are ten of our family’s favorite classic picture books. These are tried and true—I’ve read each of these books over and over and over and guess what? I still love them.

Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton

Sandra Boynton is known for her hilarious and silly texts—and this one is no exception! She uses lots of fun animals with lots of silly sounds, many of which are not the traditional sounds we expect. Cows may “moo” in her story, but pigs might say “la la la!” It’s a great book to encourage fun and silliness while helping to develop a love of reading aloud and sharing stories! This has been a favorite of all my kids.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a classic and one of our favorite letter-learning books. The rhythm is so fun! This is one of those books I can recite because we’ve read it so many times. It’s about a bunch of letters who all decide to climb into the coconut tree. But “...will there be enough room?” Readers will delight in this book as each letter is brought to life with simple but bright and bold illustrations!

No, David! by David Shannon

Kids can’t help but laugh at David’s silly antics in No, David! Based on a book he wrote when he was a child that consisted entirely of the words “no” and “David,” author David Shannon wrote No, David! as a means of “celebrating those familiar variations of the universal ‘no’ that we all hear while growing up.” Throughout this book, David gets into lots and lots of trouble by doing things like tracking mud in the house, running through the streets naked, playing with his food, breaking things, playing ball in the house, and so much more! My kids love David’s mischievous ways and are grateful they aren’t the ones in trouble!

Baby Beluga illustrated by Ashley Wolff

This is such a fun book to read or sing, as it depicts Raffi’s beloved song about the “baby beluga in the deep blue sea.” With beautiful illustrations full of fascinating creatures, in addition to the baby beluga and his mama, this was a favorite of my youngest son, and we sang/read it night after night.

Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins

In this charming book, Rosie the Hen enjoys a relaxing walk around the farm. Little does she know that a sneaky fox is behind her the entire time, just waiting to make his move! Readers will enjoy Rosie’s oblivious nature, as they “see” the fox she cannot and his many attempts to capture her. They will also delight in all of the humorous ways the fox’s plans are spoiled! Although the text is minimal, the book’s illustrations keep readers engaged in this delightful story.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This is a classic book that is, to me, the epitome of what a picture book should be. Eric Carle uses simple text and beautiful collage illustrations to tell the story of the life cycle of a caterpillar. My kids especially love all the food the caterpillar eats, complete with tiny ‘eaten’ holes throughout. The beauty of this simple book is that it also reinforces concepts such as the days of the week, numbers 1-5, fruits, colors, and so much more!

Ten Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss

In this story, animals try to balance apples on their head, ultimately competing and one-upping each other. With its fun illustrations and the ridiculous numbers of apples involved, your kids will be sure to enjoy the pictures while counting the apples! And in classic Dr. Seuss style, its rhythm and jaunty rhymes make it a fun read.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

In If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a small mouse is given a cookie. This leads him to make many more requests—resulting in naps, cleaning, and a giant art project! In addition, the illustrations are rich with color and detail. We love the cause and effect in this story and how it returns to the beginning at the end. There are also several more books in this series to enjoy. Don’t miss out!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

This is one of our all-time favorites. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt follows five siblings who decide to go on a bear hunt. Along the way, they adventure through long, wavy grass, a river, mud, and more until they finally reach the bear cave. Your little ones will enjoy the fun pattern and rhythm to the text, and may even be able to “read” along! There are also plenty of onomatopoeias (sound words) to read and say, and it’s fun to do hand motions with each one. With alternating black & white and color illustrations, this is a really fun read (and sometimes act!)-aloud.

Brown Bear, Bear, What Do you See? by Bill Martin Jr.

If you haven’t already read this book to your little one— please do so now! This book is a favorite of almost all children who read it! Between the patterned text, beautiful illustrations, and gorgeous creatures, your kids will enjoy reading this again and again. It’s also a great book for learning animals and colors. And you may even find your little ones “reading” it on their own, too!

I hope you enjoyed our family’s favorite classic picture books!

And in case you missed it, check out our previous Top 10 Christmas Book list!

Top Ten Favorite Christmas Picture Books

December 13, 2018 Stefanie Hohl

Christmas picture books are my favorite! Every year on Christmas Eve I give my kids a new Christmas picture book. We now have a huge collection, so I thought I’d share my top ten favorites.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

This is the truly heartwarming story of Mr. Toomey (or Mr. Gloomy, according to the villagers), who has come to see the world as a dark and gloomy place after the loss of his wife and baby. Then a widow and her son seek out Mr. Toomey’s woodcarving skills to recreate a nativity set the widow lost in her travels. Mr. Toomey begrudgingly takes the job and allows the little boy to watch him work. Over time, the boy and his mother influence Mr. Toomey for good, as their companionship offers him the hope and joy he’d lost. A beautiful story about the real reason for the season.

Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold

Olive the Other Reindeer follows Olive, a dog, who mistakes the classic lyric “All of the other reindeer” for “Olive, the other reindeer!” She decides she must actually be a reindeer and heads straight for the North Pole, just in time for Christmas Eve and Santa’s special delivery of presents. Needless to say, she and the actual reindeer have plenty of adventures as they deliver gifts around the world!

The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry

Who doesn’t enjoy a book you can smell? The Sweet Smell of Christmas follows Little Bear through all the wonderful smells and traditions that mean Christmas is coming! From apple pie, to a pine tree, a candy cane, gingerbread, hot chocolate, and a Christmas orange, both Little Bear and his readers will be drooling in Christmas anticipation by the end of the book.

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree is the darling tale of a Mr. Willowby and his magnificent, specially-delivered Christmas tree. When it arrives and is placed in his parlor, Mr. Willowby quickly realizes it is much too tall! So he calls a butler to trim the top. He passes the extra piece of the tree to the maid, who finds great joy in her new tree, but finds it is too tall for her room. So she, too, cuts off the top! In this way, the tree gets passed through several people and animals. Told in rhyme with beautiful illustrations, Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree is full of the magic of Christmas and the joy of giving, a perfect story to share during the holiday season!

Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson

Karma Wilson is known for many of her Bear and friend stories, and for good reason! In Bear Stays Up for Christmas, Bear’s friends wake him from hibernation just in time for Christmas. His friends do all they can to keep Bear awake—they get a tree, make popcorn garlands, sing Christmas songs, and more. But can Bear make it? This is a great holiday story to share!

Santa Calls by William Joyce

Santa Calls tells of a young boy and his sister who receive a mysterious package from “S.C.” The package ultimately leads them to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus himself. The story is full of rich vocabulary, detailed illustrations, and an adventurous story that even includes a wicked snow queen! With a touching ending that includes two secret letters readers can open and read for themselves, Santa Calls is a great read for siblings who may need a reminder to show love and kindness to one another!

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson

In Mortimer’s Christmas Manger, a loveable mouse named Mortimer finds his mouse hole a little too cold and creepy, so he sets out to find a new home. He finds what he is looking for on top of a table. However, this new home is filled with tiny statues that are crowding his tiny bed of hay! It isn’t until he overhears the humans retelling the story of Jesus’s birth that he realizes what and who the statues are. A unique perspective on the Christmas story, the lovable Mortimer, coupled with beautiful illustrations, make this book a must-read this Christmas.

Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell

In this tale of Jesus’s birth, Kind Ox states, “There’s always room for a little one here.” He allows many sorts of creatures to join him in the stable, including a dog, a cat, and a mouse. Finally, a tired donkey arrives, along with Joseph and his wife Mary, who is about to give birth. Of course, Kind Ox knows there is still room for another little one. This sweet Christmas story reminds us not only of the Christmas story, but of Jesus’s teachings to love and care for others.

The Night Before Christmas, illustrated by Christian Birmingham

Birmingham’s large full-color illustrations, interspersed with small black-and-white illustrations, bring life to this classic rhyming story about the anticipation and magic of the night before Christmas. With large font and easy-to-read print, it’s great for read-alouds as well as beginner readers. Add this book to your holiday traditions!

The Twelve Days of Christmas, illustrated by Alison Jay

With the traditional song as the text, The Twelve Days of Christmas follows a happy couple on their way to a Christmas party. As they travel, they find wonderful gifts. The stunning illustrations match each of the gifts and illustrate Alison Jay’s “crackle-glaze style” artwork. Each spread includes not only a full-color illustration, but various other intricate and smaller illustrations that correspond with the lyrics. It’s a lovely holiday read for people of all ages!