Are you looking for good children’s books about divorce? I have picture books, chapter books, and middle grade books to share with you that I... The post 26 Good Children’s Books… Read More

Would your readers love these popular illustrated chapter books and illustrated middle grade books? Whether your kids are emergent readers or middle grade readers, here... The post 60 Popula… Read More

2024 is halfway over, which is a good time to reflect on the best picture books of the year so far. What are my criteria... The post Best Picture Books of 2024 So Far (January to June) appea… Read More

I found nine new middle-grade books to share with you!! (Admittedly, I started, abandoned, and won’t be sharing quite a few others.) In months like... The post 9 New Middle Grade Books… Read More

Election season gives us an opportunity to teach children about elections by reading kid-friendly children's books like these books that show the democratic process of electing leaders. The… Read More

Here are nine new picture books that I think you’ll enjoy sharing with children. Note: You will see Poison Garden on the images I’ve made... The post 9 New Picture Books July 202… Read More

It’s halfway through 2024 and a great time for those of you who are librarians and teachers to order the best 2024 middle grade books... The post The 16 Best Middle Grade Books of 2024… Read More

Remember those childhood days of binge-reading a favorite series like Nancy Drew? Book series give us so many rewards — least of all, not having... The post The Best Book Series for Ki… Read More

I hope you’ve downloaded my free summer learning printables — Brain Camp — and seen the math options from which your kid can choose. If... The post Summer Math Activities f… Read More

If you’ve downloaded my free Summer Brain Camp printables, you’ll see the page of choices for summer writing ideas. Today I want to make sure... The post Summer Writing Ideas for… Read More

This month, I haven’t found as many favorite middle grade books to share with you as I did last month. But here are six worth... The post 6 New Middle Grade Books, June 2024 appeared f… Read More

Did you know that mystery picture books help children develop thinking skills? It’s almost impossible to read these mysteries without thinking deeply about the clues,... The post 18 Be… Read More

So many picture books, so little time… (YAY!!!) June brings us a wealth of wonderful new books. Are you ready? If you’ve been following my... The post 18 Must-Read New Picture B… Read More

You’re going to love these adorable new board books out in 2024! Two publishers have multiple books on my list with amazing choices: Hello! Lucky... The post Adorable New Board Books… Read More

What are good Father’s Day books to give as gifts? How about these fantastic picture books with stories of kids and their dads as well... The post Heartwarming Father’s Day Books… Read More

These top activity books for kids ages 9 to 12 (workbooks, puzzle books) will help kids develop skills, be creative, and learn new things. Whether... The post Top Activity Books for Kids Age… Read More

What are the best activity books and learning workbooks for early elementary kids ages 5 to 8? Kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third-grade kids... The post Super Fun Activity Bo… Read More

Toddlers and preschoolers benefit from quality preschool activity books. In fact, all of these will build skills in kids who are ages 3 to 6.... The post Best Preschool Activity Books For Ag… Read More

If you have growing readers who need good chapter books, you should know that I’m endorse chapter books based on several factors — a great... The post 5 New Chapter Books, June 2… Read More

Nonfiction is so important for kids to read starting young — but they need good book choices. Here are some new nonfiction books from 2024... The post 14 New Nonfiction Books (+ Activi… Read More

It’s amazing how many new middle grade books continue to arrive on my doorstep! Today’s post includes 8 new favorites of the last few weeks... The post 8 More NEW Middle Grade Bo… Read More

I love playful learning games and am always looking for the best U.S. geography games and puzzles for my kids. Because isn’t it the best... The post U.S. Geography Games & Puzzles… Read More

Take a middle grade reading road trip around the USA! Discover the best middle grade books set in each state of the United States of... The post 50 States Reading Road Trip (Middle Grade Boo… Read More

Get your 8-year-olds reading nonfiction books for 3rd graders! It’s SO important to have a balance of fiction and nonfiction in their reading diet. Why?... The post Impressive Nonficti… Read More

Today let’s celebrate big imaginations and wild musings with brilliant picture books about imagination. Books in themselves encourage our imaginations, don’t they!? This list of… Read More

The illustrations in this month’s new picture books SHINE. That’s the whole reason we read picture books, right? The art tells the story as much... The post 18 Memorable New Pict… Read More

written by Kim Howard Gifting books at a baby shower, whether they’re in place of the card or as a stand-alone gift, is always a... The post Eight Best Picture Books to Gift at a Baby… Read More

written by author Laurie Morrison A couple of weeks into kindergarten, my son told me he liked everything at school except Spanish class. This surprised... The post How Stories Make Hard Par… Read More

Disclosure: This is a partner post sponsored by National Geographic Kids. Explorer Academy Vela: The Sailor Cipher is about Sailor York and her classmates who... The post Explorer Academy Ve… Read More

These moving middle grade books about grief and death are all books I’ve personally read and recommend for readers ages 8 to 12. They include... The post 22 Moving Middle Grade Books A… Read More

2024 continues to impress me with amazing new middle grade books. This huge batch of books includes historical fiction, realistic fiction, adventure, graphic novels, and... The post 14 New… Read More

Mystery, time travel, fantasy, adventure, realistic fiction and historical fiction — there’s a book for every inerest on this list! You’ll recogize some of the... The post… Read More

I interview children's book authors Victoria J. Coe and Cheryl Lawton Malone about their new book Writing Kidlit 102. The post Interview with the Authors of Writing Kidlit 102: A Self-Guided… Read More

Find the best new picture books for April 2024! The post 30 Outstanding New Picture Books, April 2024 appeared first on Imagination Soup Read More

Veera Hirandani is a prolific and wise middle grade author. Her books often include children of mixed faiths and are always about complicated humans, kindness, and culture. The post Author… Read More

If you're a parent, librarian, or teacher of growing readers ages 6 to 9, I have new, sweet, funny, and playful chapter books that you'll want to know about. The post 11 New Chapter Books f… Read More

Kids can easily write a list poem using their powers of observation. This is a GREAT way to start young kids with writing poems. Especially if children are intimidated by poetry. The post Te… Read More

What if you give a first birthday gift not for the one-year-old child, but for the 18-year-old young adult they will be? The post First Birthday Gift: A Time Capsule of Books! appeared first… Read More

The Curse of the Ten Broken Toes is the new middle grade novel from superstar storytelling teacher Matt Eicheldinger. I was lucky enough to interview Matt. The post Inspiring Interview with… Read More

Animals, poems, facts, Shakespeare, elephants, and more--there are a lot of fascinating topics in this batch of new children's nonfiction books, most of which are for middle grade readers. T… Read More

Discover 16 new release middle grade books that I've read and highly recommend, including my favorite book of the month! The post 16 Must-Read New Middle Grade Novels, March 2024 appeared fi… Read More

I'm so impressed with the quality of the new picture books this month! You'll find stories about bedtime, spring, death, cats and more that are funny, sweet, and poignant. The post 20 Excell… Read More

Kids LOVE bugs, right? Help them learn more about insects by reading these best nonfiction children’s books about bugs, insects, and non-insect bugs like worms... The post Best Childre… Read More

I always love reading a Barbara Dee book because she always addresses complex, real-life issues with reliability and brilliance. You may already know some of her books-- books like Maybe He… Read More

Find the best nonfiction books for 7th graders (12 year olds in 7th grade) with this book list of highly recommended nonfiction books for middle grade young readers. The… Read More

In school, 11-year-old readers (in 6th grade) are reading more nonfiction books than ever. Which means they need practice in excellent books. Books like these nonfiction books for 6th grader… Read More

It's so important for 10-year-olds in 5th grade to read for meaning in nonfiction texts. 5th graders need practice, lots of practice, in well-written nonfiction books for 5th graders like th… Read More

Use this list of good nonfiction books for 4th graders (9-year-olds in fourth grade) as a resource for finding the best nonfiction books that your kids will enjoy reading. The post… Read More

Don't forget about nonfiction books for 7 year olds! It's also fun to read informational fiction with fictionalized elements to learn facts, too-- which are gateway books to straight nonfict… Read More

Kindergartners who are 5- and 6-year-old beginning readers need to read nonfiction books as well as fiction books. They'll practice different comprehension skills & learn how to read for… Read More

Have you ever adopted a tree and watched it through the seasons? Kids love watching trees. This is even more meaningful when they learn about trees. Take a peek at these inspiring and inform… Read More

I love planning book travel! Make your next vacation a bookish road trip for kids (or adults) with exciting literacy travel destinations. The post Book Birthdays! Bookish Road Trips for Kids… Read More

Funny, sweet, and meaningful. That's what you'll find in these new picture books published primarily in February 2024. Happy reading! The post 13 New Picture Books, February 2024 appeared fi… Read More

Funny, sweet, and meaningful. That's what you'll find in these new picture books published primarily in February 2024. Happy reading! The post 8 New Picture Books, February 2024 appeared fir… Read More

Find amazing children’s book women’s history month biographies with this list of picture book biographies as well as middle-grade nonfiction biographies for k… Read More

Find amazing children’s book women’s history month biographies with this list of picture book biographies as well as middle-grade nonfiction biographies for k… Read More

Are you ready to get the scoop on my favorite middle grade books from February and a few from January 2024? The post 11 Exciting New Middle Grade Books, February 2024 appeared first on Imagi… Read More

Adam Gidwitz is a prolific and unique children's book writer of middle grade and chapter books. In our interview today, he shared his journey of storytelling and finding his unique writing v… Read More

On February 20, 2024, Medusa arrives in the world. It is the first book in a new middle grade series called The Myth of Monsters written by Katherine Marsh. The post Medusa (The Myth of Mons… Read More

You asked for it, so here it is -- a list of wholesome middle grade books for boys ages 9 - 12 with main characters of character and substance.  The post Wholesome Middle Grade Books fo… Read More

From reader requests, I’ve made a wholesome middle grade books for girls ages 9 – 12 with kind main characters you’d want as a friend.... The post Wholesome Middle Grade Bo… Read More

If you're looking for wholesome easy chapter books for girls about polite kids who aren't sassy or rude, you're going to want to know about these books. The post 32 Wholesome Chapter Books… Read More

A reader who works at a conservative school asked me for a wholesome book list for beginning (early / easy) chapter books that do NOT have potty humor nor rude characters with sass and would… Read More

Discover excellent Passover books for kids to read aloud and share to learn more about this important Jewish holiday. The post 10 Important Passover Books for Kids appeared first on Imaginat… Read More

A great way to develop curiosity and intellect is providing books to help deepen understanding about a topic like these rocks and minerals books! The post 10 Fascinating Rocks and Minerals B… Read More

Are you ready to learn who won the 2024 Newbery and Caldecott awards and honors? The post The Winners of the 2024 Newbery & Caldecott Awards appeared first on Imagination Soup Read More

What are good middle grade books for 5th grade girls that they'll love reading? And that will keep them immersed in excellent stories with rich language, relatable themes and topics, and exp… Read More

I want to share the top ten middle grade books for 5th grade boys when they need something to read. The post 10 Best Books for 5th Grade Boys appeared first on Imagination Soup Read More

As a kid, many books scratched my itch for mystery, but none were better than the Nancy Drew books with mystery, adventure, and girl detectives! The post 11 Exciting Nancy Drew Books for Mys… Read More

What middle grade books for girls will motivate your kids to read? Using my background as a teacher and parent, I am recommending 14 excellent choices The post 14 Best Books for 6th Grade Gi… Read More

What middle grade books for boys should you give your kids to read? Start with these twelve choices that are excellent stories that appeal to boys with action, adventure, and emotional reson… Read More

A reader who works at a conservative school asked me for a wholesome book list for beginning (early / easy) chapter books that do NOT have potty humor nor rude characters with sass and would… Read More

If you're looking for wholesome easy chapter books for girls about polite kids who aren't sassy or rude, you're going to want to know about these books. The post 32 Wholesome Easy Chapter B… Read More

Teachers, parents, & librarians, find the best read alouds for Black History Month books with this list of picture book biographies. The post 50 Outstanding Black History Month Books app… Read More

I love recommending graphic novels for 4th graders because graphic novels often help kids read more--which is the goal, right? The post 18 Exciting Graphic Novels for 4th Graders appeared f… Read More

Does your 10-year-old boy or girl in fifth grade need a good book? Find good middle grade books for 5th graders with my recommendations and reviews, plus... The post 100 Best Books… Read More

Find the best chapter books and middle grade books for 4th graders. These books for 9-year-old boys and girls in 4th grade are book recommendations that I've personally read and reviewed. Th… Read More

January 2024 arrives with new picture books that your readers will love! Read aloud these stories about kindness, friendship, mindfulness, gravity, and more! The post 10 Best New Picture Boo… Read More

Looking for a winter book to read aloud to your children? You'll love these winter-themed picture books stories with beautiful illustrations. The post 40 Wonderful Winter Books to Read Aloud… Read More

These impressive middle grade books include historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, funny, and a ghost story. I liked them and think you will, too. The post 8 Amazing Middle Grade Bo… Read More

When you make reading a priority for your children, a home library is essential. Plus, a home library helps kids become lifelong readers! The post How to Build a Home Library for Kids appear… Read More

One of my kids was born on St. Patrick’s Day, so I’ve always been interested in finding good St. Patrick’s Day books to read aloud... The post 10 Exciting St. Patrick&rsquo… Read More

Today, I'm thrilled to reveal the cover of the picture book biography Dancing through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights written by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud, and p… Read More

What if we find friendship poems all year long, and share them with our besties or those who are in need of a pick-me-up? The post 7 Warmhearted Friendship Poems to Share with a Friend appe… Read More

So many books, so little time! 2024 is shaping up to be another amazing year for fictional middle grade books! The post Incredible Middle Grade Books to Read in 2024 appeared first on Imagi… Read More

Do you wish there were a reading challenge for you? Well, hold on to your books because we are launching an adult reading challenge: 24 in ‘24! The post Imagination Soup’s 24 in… Read More

Reading journals for kids motivate more reading and encourage children to think deeply about what they read. Here are the top choices. The post 5 Best Reading Journals for Kids appeared firs… Read More

Here's a list of books around 1000 Lexile, appropriate for young advanced readers in various genres including fantasy and memoir. The post 50 Challenging Books for Young Advanced Readers app… Read More

The new releases in picture books seemed much less this month, making this possibly my shortest picture book review list ever in my 16 year history! Here are the new titles I thought you wou… Read More

If you're like me, you love the Dory Fantasmagory chapter book series for its whimsical storytelling and captivating characters. It's one of the books I recommend for ALL new readers -- beca… Read More

Are you finding it challenging to get your kids to write? Me, too! Sigh. This is why I'm happy about bubble letters because they can really motivate more writing. I love that-- and so will y… Read More

As your year wraps up, you won't want to miss these seven nonfiction books! The post 7 New Nonfiction Books, December 2023 appeared first on Imagination Soup Read More

Want to teach your kids how to write a letter? Start by reading children's books mentor texts filled with letter writing and use them as examples! The post 15 Children’s Books to Teach… Read More

Kids in my school library love manga so I gave myself a crash course in manga and manga books, and I’m ready to share what I learned with you! The post 10 Popular Manga Books for Middl… Read More

Chapter books are illustrated narrative books with chapters written for beginning readers ages 7 to 10. These chapter books are my favorites from 2023, with excellent storytelling and writin… Read More

Today, I’m reviewing November picture books and catching up on books that I missed from other months. I know you find lots of great new... The post 15 New Picture Books, November 2023… Read More

I've said it before, and I'll say it again--kids MUST read nonfiction! So why not start with these best nonfiction books of 2023? The post 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids appeared… Read More

What are the best children's books to get them excited and informed about the sports in the Winter Olympics? Share these books about winter sports that will be featured in this winter Olympi… Read More

Are you ready for my favorite best middle grade books of 2023? After reading over two hundred books, I've chosen my top middle grade picks from this year in the genres of fantasy, historical… Read More

Every month of 2023, I've read around 250 newly published picture books, adding up to three thousand books. Of those three thousand, these are my picture book picks for the best books of 202… Read More