Not Your Typical Princess Books {Kid Lit Book List}

Every little girl wants to be a princess, or so it seems at least.  I have nothing against being a princess, but I just hope that my girls will want to be smart, courageous, witty, humorous, strong-willed, persistent, kind, ambitious, and more.  I want it all for my girls.  

When thinking about Christmas or gifts in general and all of the princess items one can buy I felt some fantastic Not Your Typical Princess Books were needing mentioning.

These princess books are all great reads you and your little princess will enjoy.  Go check some of them out. 

Not Your Typical Princess Books

Princess in Black by Shannon Hale

This early reader aka beginning chapter book series is a fun action filled book about a princess AND a superhero b/c sometimes you have to be both and should feel you CAN be both .  My kids loved reading this book with me!

Best for Kindergarten through 3^rd grade.

Pirate Princess by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Princess doesn’t just have to be a boring princess that rides horses and spends her time in the castle.  Princesses can be pirates too. 

Best for Preschool through 2nd grade.

The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton

Not even princesses get everything they ask for, and sometimes you are like this princess who has to make do with what she was given.  A definite fun read. 

Best for Toddler through 2nd grade.

The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett

This book is almost a fairytale remix of the Prince and the Pauper, but this princess soon learns being a princess is not all it is cracked up to be.

Best for Toddler through 2nd grade.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

This smart and courageous princess quickly learns that sometimes you have to do things yourself, and you are actually pretty awesome at it.  I love this fabulous princess book that has been around for a bit.

Best for Toddler through 3rd grade.  

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer

I have a daughter named Olivia so we are big fans of Falconer’s Olivia books.  However, this one is a favorite b/c Olivia isn’t keen on being like everyone else.  In a world where everyone wants to be a princess Olivia strives to be different.  I hope my Olivia will feel the same way.  Plus, the ending of this story just makes me laugh.

Best for Toddler through 3rd grade.

Do you have a favorite Not Your Typical Princess book book? 

Happy Strong, Smart, Creative, Princess Book reading!

Books for Kindergartners Learning to Read Using Sight Words/High Frequency Words

My eldest is in preschool this year.  However, before the school year even started I began to think that in a year she would be in kindergarten, and that kind of freaked me out.  I started worrying about the other kids that would be in the classroom, how they would treat her, what they would say, and a myriad of other things.  Basically, I began stressing and worrying even though Kindergarten is a year away.  I'm ridiculous!   Though seriously, I'm worried.  Ahhhh! 

I may be ridiculous when it comes my kids and school, but at least I have normal friends.  I have loads of friends with kids in school already, and all of my friends know about my book addiction.  Many of my friends use my addiction, aka education and passion, to their advantage and ask me all sorts of questions.  I love it!  I get asked often for a good book for a child for a project, or books their kids might like and read, or most recently a book list using kindergarten sight words.

Speaking of Sight Words this webpage is great; it has Sight Words broken down by age/level.  Check it out if you are wanting to do a little homeschool action. 

I realize that I may take for granted knowing what books are great for my kids at their current age and level.  I guess it goes with the teacher and librarian in me; it's easy for me to know what is a good book for them.  However,  we all have different strengths and education interests..

Since not everyone constantly thinks about books or baking like I do I figured I'd give you my 10 Best Books for Kindergartners Learning to Read aka the 10 Books with Sight Words/High Frequency Words so you would have a reasonable, useful, and handy list to help your child.  My favorite part of this book list is almost all of these books should be found at your local library.

Happy and fun reading for you and your kid!

  Books for Kindergartners Learning to Read:

Books Full of Sight Words/High Frequency Words

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

This concept book of colors and animals has great repetition which is perfect for early readers.  This book is great for babies, toddlers, and kindergartners.

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Rhyming words and repetition is what beginning readers need, and this book has it all!

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

There are a lot of sight words in this classic Seuss book.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Another classic Seuss book with a high number of sight words.

Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

Fun one with a lot of sight words that kids of all ages love.

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

This classic is perfect for babies and up.  There is repetition in text, simple pictures, and a fun story all kids will enjoy over and over again.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

Beginning readers, teachers, and parents love Dr. Seuss books b/c of the simple fun stories using tons of sight words.

Yes by Jez Alborough

There may only be 5 words in this book.  Your kindergartner/preschooler will be reading it by himself/herself in no time which will definitely be boosting their self confidence.  Hug and Tall are other good options by the same author with the same simple sight words.

Who Says That, Cat the Cat? By Mo Willems

This series for beginning  readers has many sight words, and it’s a series of books your kids will love.  Mo Willems is a fantastic author, and now your kid can enjoy reading his books even earlier. 

I Want to Be Somebody New! by Robert Lopshire

This book may be a little harder to find, but it has a TON of kindergarten sight words.

Learning to read is one of the greatest things for anyone.  These 10 books will help your kindergartner learn his or her sight words, and you both will love to read these fun books together. 

Happy handy Book List for Learning to Read Using Sight Words and High Frequency Words using/referencing!  

Fly Guy Series gets 5 Stars {Beginning Readers}

The Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold are absolutely fantastic early readers aka beginning chapter books aka books that are thin easy and fast to read but look like chapter books.

These books are funny with great pictures and they have a good and simple story; there are even a few non-fiction books in the series.

I give the Fly Guy series 5 out of 5 stars in this book review.  No matter if the book is fiction or non-fiction the books are usually between 30-35 pages.  The pictures are colorful fun and engaging; the text is large, the sentences are simple, and the stories are interesting and funny for boys and girls alike.

I do love that this early reader/beginning reader book series gives the appearance of a "chapter book" with chapters and everything.  However, they are simple reads which can be read quickly by a child that is just learning how to read.  These books are perfect for boosting a child's self confidence with reading. 

These books make for a fun read aloud to toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners.  1st and 2nd graders will want to read this book alone like an older kid, and then they will want to read it to others to show off.  Basically, no matter the age, kids will want to read these books over and over again in a matter of days. 

                                                       

I love that the Fly Guy series doesn't have to be read in any particular order, though I would start with Hi! Fly Guy just to get a basis for the relationship between Fly Guy and Buzz. 

My 4 and 3 year old love to read aka be read to, and they LOVE the thought of reading a "chapter book" b/c that is what big kids read.  We have almost all of these Fly Guy books, and both my boy and girl read them over and over again.

Younger kids love the pictures in this series, and the big kids will love the puns and silly sense of humor.  This series is great for kids of many ages, and parents will enjoy it as well.  

Actually, there is a big part of the book series that adults will probably not like.  The whole fact that Fly Guy is a fly aka a gross insect/bug that we all know enjoys touching and eating gross and nasty things.  However, that's just a silly thing that only adults will cringe at.  At least, I've never known a child to worry or fret over that thought.  

Overall, Fly Guy is an absolutely fantastic book series for young boys and girls alike that are beginning to read on their own, want to build their confidence as a reader, and just want to read a big kid "chapter book."  Parents should definitely consider this book as a good "summer reading" book, or any time of year book. 

Happy humorous, silly, and fun early readers but still a chapter book reading! 

  

Summer Read Book List for Kids Who Don't Like to Read in 2nd and 3rd Grade

The past few weeks I've been talking about reluctant readers aka kids that don't like to read.  

If you have a reluctant reader check out these 7 Ways to Turn a BOOK HATER into a BOOK READER!  

With those steps and the Book List for Reluctant Readers in Kindergarten and First Grade, and the book lists I'm giving you today and on future Fridays will help you find the perfect and best book, the right book, for any reluctant reader you may know.

There are a lot of kids who don't like to read.  I was one of them.  All of those reluctant readers are missing out on a ton of awesome and entertaining books, but more importantly those individuals are missing out on the benefits readers experience.   

Readers...

• Are Less Stressed
• Have a Larger Vocabulary
• Have Stronger Thinking Skills
• Have Better Focus and Concentration
• Have Better Speaking Skills
• Appreciate Other Places and Cultures
• Keep Brain Stimulated
• Have Better Memory 
• Improves Creativity
• Are Better Writers

There are many reasons to be or become a reader, and I know every one, no matter the age, can become a reader.  

Over the next several weeks I will be sharing with you book lists for reluctant readers aka people that don't like to read.  I have broken the lists down by age.  Today, you get...

Books for Reluctant Readers in

Second and Third Grade

Second

Boys:

 Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey 

This illustrated/comic like chapter book is full of potty humor, but it does get kids reading,

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin 

This humorous picture book is a great read aloud and fun read with a parent.  Plus, there are other Diary of a... books. 

Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat 

This short and sweet mystery chapter book has a likeable character that you'll want to follow through the entire series.

Girls:

  Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee 

This well written early chapter book and series, has two fun loving girls going on great adventures.  The great pictures add to the lovability this book has. It's a fun series for girls!

Queen of the World! Babymouse series by Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm 

This pink graphic novel is perfect for a girl reluctant reader.  This comic like book is a fast fun read. This is the first book in the series that girls will be flying through them. 

        

        

Both:

Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye by Geronimo Stilton 

This book is the first in a series of books full of colored pictures.  All of the books are fast reads and fun and humorous stories boys and girls love.

Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne 

The first book in the Magic Tree House series is great for reluctant readers b/c the books are all very similar.  Therefore, they are comfortable and confidence building for reluctant readers.

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

This is the first of a series of Tacky picture books which are fun to read, and they make great read alouds. PIcture books can be great for reluctant readers at this age b/c a picture book is less intimidating for a struggling reluctant reader and they are still reading!

Third

Boys:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney 

This illustrated novel is more comic like and a quick read.  This is the first in the series, and there are even a couple movies based on these books which is great for reluctant readers.

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein

Fun to read poetry, with tongue twisters (alliterations) and loads of silliness, which is great for reluctant readers.

                Girls:
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald  
A great well written chapter book is the first in a series.  Even boys enjoy this book. 

Cinderella (As if You Didn’t Already Know the Story) by Barbara Ensor

           This fast read with illustrations is based on a story reluctant readers already know (which makes it great and confidence building for a struggling reader).

    
Both:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 
A fabulous classic book that has several, and even a semi-recent, movie based on this book.  Books with movies are great for reluctant readers. A great summer goal would be to read the book first and then watch the movie.

Danny: The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

This may be the quickest Dahl book with a great story boys and girls alike love.  I loved reading this book aloud to my classes. 

Bonus Book: 
A friend's son is a reluctant reader and requested a farting book. :)
Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle 
It's a picture book and the first in a series of Walter the Farting Dog books.  These books are funny read alouds as well.

If you know a reluctant reader in the second or third grade or at those reading levels give these books a try this summer. 

Happy Reading even for Reluctant Readers aka Kids who don't like to read!

Summer Reading Book List for Reluctant Readers in Kindergarten and 1st Grade

Last week I gave you 7 Ways to Turn a BOOK HATER into a BOOK READER!  

If you know a reluctant reader use those steps and these book lists to help you find the right book. 

I know there are far too many reluctant readers out there that are missing out on not only a ton of awesome and entertaining books, but they are also missing out on the benefits for being a reader.  

Readers...

• Are Less Stressed
• Have a Larger Vocabulary
• Have Stronger Thinking Skills
• Have Better Focus and Concentration
• Have Better Speaking Skills
• Appreciate Other Places and Cultures
• Keep Brain Stimulated
• Have Better Memory 
• Improves Creativity
• Are Better Writers

There are many reasons to be or become a reader, and I know every one, no matter the age, can become a reader.  

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you book lists for reluctant readers aka people that don't like to read.  I have broken the lists down by age.  Today, you get...

Books for Reluctant Readers in 

Kindergarten and First Grade

Kindergarten

Boys:

SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod

Read this book over and over again.

Girls:

Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann

This is the first in a series of picture books.  Start with Pinkalicious and go from there when she falls in love with this one. 

Everyone:

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Mo Willems has a series of Pigeon books.  These appeal to everyone and fun to read aloud. 

First Grade

Boys:

Fly Guy series by Tedd Arnold

This series has both fiction and non-fiction books that are great.

Girls:

Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

A great series with pictures in a "early chapter book" format. Very well written. 

Everyone:

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

This is the first book of many great picture books and early chapter books.  

Almost all of these books are the first of a series.  Getting kids reading and enjoying a series is a way to get them reading all summer long. 

Happy Summer Reading even for Reluctant Readers!