Tag Archives: Early Chapter Book

Elem. – Welcome to the Woofmore

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Gephart, Donna, and Lori Haskins Houran. Welcome to the Woofmore. Illustrated by Josh Cleland. Amulet Books, 2024. 978-1-419-76762-3. 71 p. $14.99. Grades K-3.

The first in what will become a favorite series, Welcome to the Woofmore introduces readers to hotel worker Rufus and his chihuahua boss Ms. Coco as they welcome VIP (Very Important Pooch) celebrity movie star Greta Garbark to the grand opening of the hotel. Greta wishes not to be bothered, and hijinks ensue as Rufus must disguise her and keep the “pupparazzi” away.

THOUGHTS: This pun-filled first installment will surely hook in readers to the series. A great option for students who are looking for humor as they venture into early chapter books. 

Early Chapter Book

Elem. – Seashell Key

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Heuer, Lourdes. Seashell Key. Illustrated by Lynnor Bontiago. Amulet Books, 2024. 978-1-419-76741-8. 73 p. $14.99. Grades 1-3.

This new series about the locals who live in a seashore town is perfect for grades 1-3.  Broken up into four short stories, readers meet Mateo, who makes unique kites; Sasha and Sophia, sisters who love finding all the special treasures the beach offers; Eli, Ezra, and Elana, siblings who give tours of their home which is a lighthouse; and a fourth short story that brings all the friends together at a favorite local fruit stand.

THOUGHTS: This adorable book of connected short stories is perfect for those who vacation “down the shore.” This is a great way to introduce the concept of short stories to the littlest readers.

Early Chapter Book
Fiction

Elem. – Rohan Murthy Has a Plan

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LaRocca, Rajani. The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Rohan Murthy Has a Plan. Illustrated by Kat Fajardo. Algonquin Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-523-52658-1. 109 p. $15.99. Grades 2-4.

The second book in the new series (The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class) coordinated by Kate Messner features student Rohan Murthy.  Mrs. Z announces that they need to raise money for their new school garden, and Rohan’s mom visits the class to talk about starting her own business. Rohan wants to start his own business, in pet care, but there is just one very big problem.  Rohan is afraid of animals! With his class helping him make posters and advertising his new business to help raise money for the new school garden, will he be able to tell everyone that his new plan isn’t going to work? Can he come up with a new idea in time for the Peppermint Falls Autumn Festival?

THOUGHTS: This new series is perfect for students stepping it up to chapter books on the easier side. Also perfect for those who love a series.  I love how each book features recurring characters, but focuses on one student in the class.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out

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Messner, Kate. The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out. Illustrated by Kat Fajardo. Algonquin Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-523-52571-3. 106 p. $15.99. Grades 2-4.

Welcome to Mrs. Z’s third grade class at a new school, Curiosity Academy. In this new series, each book shares the story of a different student. In the first book, we meet Emma McKenna. Excited to start over at a new school and meet new friends from across her town, Peppermint Falls, she is relieved to put last year’s talent show fiasco behind her. But then Lucy, her former best friend, walks into her class! Can Emma and Lucy become friends again, or at least be civil towards one another? Join Mrs. Z’s class as they navigate choosing a school mascot for their school and learn how to communicate and get along.

THOUGHTS: This new series is perfect for students stepping it up to chapter books on the easier side. Also perfect for those who love a series. It’s looking like there will be 18 books in this series featuring diverse kids from the class.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Bunny & Clyde

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McDonald, Megan. Bunny & Clyde. Illustrated by Scott Nash. Candlewick Press, 2024. 978-1-536-22873-1. $14.99. 122 p. Grades 2-4.

Best friends Bunny Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Wheelbarrow always have been good. Now that seems a bit boring, so they’re determined to earn a bad reputation for themselves! First they need experience, so they head for the library and ask for ‘bad books.’ The librarian refers them to the natural disasters section, but Bunny and Clyde stumble upon a stack of better choices: Interrupting Chicken, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, and Bad Kitty. Their first task is to make a mess of Bunny’s ‘neat as a pin’ room, knocking over stuffed animals, pulling a poster from the wall, and (gasp!) putting books on the shelf un-alphabetically. Maw-Maw makes them fix it again. They set up their own top-secret hideout complete with penny candy, and set to work on ‘bad’ plans.  But their attempts are all strangely foiled. Pulling up flowers from Darby the squirrel’s beautiful yard results in thank yous from Darby for weeding the lawn of dandelions! Toilet papering Thornton the possum’s prize roses earns them thanks for sheltering them from an unexpected frost! Similar attempts turn out…beautifully. Final hijinks leave them full of penny candy and still-untarnished reputations. The book ends as the pair wonders, “what can we get up to tomorrow?” and “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Yes, Bunny and Clyde, we just might be thinking what you’re thinking!

THOUGHTS: A clever and endearing pair of friends, complete with 1930s-style vocabulary that’s worth noting, this chapter book will bring laughs from readers. Here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of Bunny and Clyde.

Early Chapter Book

Elem. – Bog Myrtle

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Sharp, Sid. Bog Myrtle. Annick Press, 2024. 978-1-773-21892-2. 156 p. $18.99. Grades 2-5.

This modern folktale is much like classic stories we have read before addressing good vs. evil; however, there is a bit of a twist. Sisters Beatrice and Magnolia live together in an older house in the village. Beatrice is seen as kind, befriending everyone she meets from the wary villagers to the family of spiders who’ve taken up residence in their home. Magnolia, on the other hand, is not so nice while treating her sister pretty horribly. Beatrice decides to help alleviate her sister’s crankiness by knitting her a sweater to keep her warm, so she ventures into the woods to gather treasures where she meets Bog Myrtle, a spidery forest creature, who most would think would be the villain. Unlike the classics, this folktale touches themes beyond good vs. evil addressing environmentalism, capitalism, and labor rights while weaving in humor throughout the story and illustrations. 

THOUGHTS: Bog Myrtle was such a fast and delightful read. Sharp once again smarty uses beautiful illustrations, lush vocabulary, and comedic timing to tell quite an entertaining tale. Fans of fractured fairytales and similar stories will enjoy this one as well. 

Fantasy (Folktales)

Elem. – Emily’s Cupcake Magic!

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Simon, Coco. Emily’s Cupcake Magic! (Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch). Illustrator: Manuela Lopez. Simon Spotlight, 2024. 978-1-665-94911-8. 91 p. $17.99. 2-4.

Cupcake alert!  This new “junior fiction” chapter series from the creator of the original Cupcake Diaries series will be a hit with younger readers. Emily, Natalie, Ren, and Alana meet up when their schools merge unexpectedly. Emily shares her time between her mom’s house and her dad’s house. Katie, from the original series, is Emily’s step-sister. She helps Emily adjust to her new school by packing her lunch and giving her a cupcake to share at lunch to help make new friends. When her principal announces a baking contest, Emily and her new friends team up to bake the best cupcake ever, with some help from Katie and the original Cupcake Club.

THOUGHTS: This new series should be a big hit in my library. My students love the newer CD graphic novels. I plan on pulling out and showcasing the good old CD books along with new series for the younger set.

Realistic Fiction
Junior Fiction

Elem. – Orris and Timble: the Beginning

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DiCamillo, Kate. Orris and Timble: the Beginning. Candlewick, 2024. 978-1-684-46903-1. 72 p. $16.99. Grades K-3.

Orris the rat lives a solitary life in a barn with his prized possessions – a red velvet slipper, a yellow marble, and a sardine can with the logo “Make the good and noble choice!” He is very content with his quiet, safe existence. Then one evening he hears someone crying for help, and he comes face to face with Timble the owl whose talons are stuck in a mouse trap. Recalling The Lion and the Mouse fable, a tale Orris knows well, Orris wrestles with the decision to leave poor Timble to fend for himself, or to “make the good and noble choice” of risking his own safety to free Timble.

THOUGHTS: Kate DiCamillo has done it again and created a heartwarming and engaging early chapter book. This story could be paired with Aesop’s fables or read independently. The great news is that this is the first of three books that will feature these new-found friends who share a fondness for storytelling.

Fantasy
Early Chapter Book

Elem. – Trim Saves the Day

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Hopkinson, Deborah. Trim Saves the Day.  Peachtree, 2024. 978-1-682-63293-2. 45 p. $14.99.  Grades K-2.

Trim is a seafaring cat who lives on a sailing ship with his owner, who happens to be the captain. One day he hears the captain discussing how the entire crew must pitch in and do their jobs. The feline decides to help his friends with their chores. Penny the dog is swabbing the deck, and Trim tries to assist by using his tail as a mop and meowing as he works. This is too much for the dog, because Trim is too noisy and has gotten his hair all over the deck. Next he meets Jack the parrot who helps the captain steer the ship. When Trim jumps on the captain’s shoulders, the rolling sea causes him to lose his balance and block out the captain’s view, while loudly meowing in his ear. The little cat has no luck in helping the ship’s artist or the cook. Down in the hold, Trim wants to patrol the area like Princess Bea, but it’s the rat’s naptime. The cat is sad that he was not able to help any of his friends and decides to take a bath under a cask of water. Suddenly, the feline feels a plop of water and the cask begins to leak even more. If this continues, the ship will be in trouble. Can Trim use his vocal talent to raise the alarm and call “all hands on deck” before it is too late? This is the third book in the Trim series, which is based on a real cat from the early 18th century who sailed with the British explorer, Captain Flinders. The back matter provides more information and a photograph of a statue of the pair. There are charming illustrations of the animal characters, but interestingly the captain’s face is never seen.

THOUGHTS: This easy chapter book series will appeal to animal loving novice readers, who will eagerly await the sailor cat’s next adventure.   Elementary librarians definitely will want to add this easy reader series to their collections.

Historical Fiction

Elem. – One Cool Duck: King of Cool

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Petrik, Mike. One Cool Duck: King of Cool. Hippo Park, 2023.  978-1-662-64018-6. unpaged. $11.89. Grades 1-3.

King of Cool is the first book in the One Cool Duck graphic novel series written for developing readers. The series also includes The Far Out Fort and Summer Games. The first chapter centers on Duck interacting with his family and friends, showing how Duck is the best at everything from skateboarding, to the arcade, to biking. That is, until Cat Zooms down the hill and into Duck’s friends at lightning speed. In Chapter 2, Duck and his friends invite Cat to hang out with them…but over time, realize that Cat is just a show-off who doesn’t treat friends well. The story reaches its climax when Duck has to rescue Cat whose showing-off has gotten him stuck in a tree. The book ends with an apology from Cat for his behavior and the friends heading off to new adventures.  

THOUGHTS: I tested this book out on my first and second grade students, and they LOVED it! The illustrations are saturated with color and work with the author’s dialog to create a unique animal world that engages the reader in the story.  The dialog is snappy and cool and delivers its message about being a good friend without being heavy-handed. Recommended for ANY library looking to grab the attention of developing readers with a book that has just the right balance of fun and social messaging for young readers!

Graphic Novel