Early readers? Does this refer to a child or a book? Transitional books? Early Chapter Books? Do you ever wonder what all those terms mean? Or do you think it is all confusing and glad that someone else has to worry about it? Well, there are those who do “worry about it”. After writing the recent Nerdy Book Club announcement post on Early Readers and Chapter Books, I shared with Michele Knott how I wanted to host a book gap challenge to help teachers and librarians learn more about new books and new series. With some additional conversation, we decided to partner together for a new book gap challenge called #Road2Reading. Our intent is to provide blog posts that would seek to inform and educate and also celebrate books for students just embarking on the journey of reading.
Michele and I talked about doing a monthly post about new releases in the early reader and chapter book categories. The lists from these posts can assist teachers, librarians and parents in selecting new titles that may be of interest to children in grades K to 3. Another week will be dedicated to reviewing and featuring books within the category of early readers. A third week will focus on reviewing and featuring books within the category of transitional chapter books. And a fourth week is optional and may highlight graphic novels for this age group.
We are inviting you to come on this journey with us. How can you join in?
1. Stop by on Tuesdays and check out our posts, leave comments and link up your own reviews of early readers and transitional chapter books.
2. Set a goal for how many books in this category you would like to read. Since these books tend to be short, you may find it easy to read one or two a week. Or you may just want to focus on one book from a new series or author per month. Keep your goal realistic and fun.
3. Share your posts or what you are reading on twitter with the hashtag #Road2Reading - this will also allow others to find everyone’s posts.
4. There will be interviews, guest posts, giveaways, and new release posts to check out.
5. If you would like to participate in this challenge, please link up your blog or GoodReads Shelf using the Widget at the very bottom of the post. Please know that you can join in at anytime throughout the year.
6. You are welcome to grab the image at the top of the post to use in your weekly posts.
We look forward to expanding our reading lives with this new book challenge and hope you will join us on this new adventure.
Recent and upcoming releases to check out:
Super Fly vs. Furious Flea! by Todd H. Doodler (Bloomsbury, October 2016)
Little Shaq: Star of the Week by Shaquille O'Neal; Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III (Bloomsbury, October 2016)
The Bad Guys (The Bad Guys #1) by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press, December 27, 2017)
Misty Copeland (You Should Meet) by Laurie Calkhoven; Illustrated by Monique Dong (Simon Spotlight, December 27, 2016)
Bad Kitty Takes the Test by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook Press, January 3, 2017)
What This Story Needs Is a Bang and a Clang (Pig in a Wig) by Emma J. Virjan (HarperCollins, January 3, 2017)
I am Jim Henson by Brad Meltzer; Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos (Dial Books, January 10, 2017)
Inspector Flytrap in the Goat Who Chewed Too Much (Inspector Flytrap #3) by Tom Angleberger; Illustrations by Cece Bell (Amulet Books, January 10, 2017)
My Kite is Stuck! And Other Stories (Duck, Duck, Porcupine! #2) by Salina Yoon (Bloomsbury, January 10, 2017)
Agnes and Clarabelle by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel; Illustrated by Sara Palacios (Bloomsbury, January 17, 2017)
Agnes and Clarabelle Celebrate! by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel; Illustrated by Sara Palacios (Bloomsbury, January 17, 2017)
Going Places (Piper Green and the Fairy Tree) by Ellen Potter (Alfred A. Knopf, January 17, 2017)
Jesse Owens (You Should Read) by Laurie Calkhoven; Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic (Simon Spotlight, January 17, 2017)
Ballet Cat What's Your Favorite Favorite? by Bob Shea (Disney-Hyperion, February 7, 2017)
Harry Miller's Run by David Almond; Illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino (Candlewick Press, February 7, 2017)
Snail and Worm Again by Tina Kugler (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 28, 2017)
All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.
Link up your blog or goodreads challenge shelf to indicate that you are interested in joining in: