I Survived #24, The Black Death, 1348 by Lauren Tarshis*

 Years ago when I tutored reluctant and struggling readers, I used these books with my upper elementary boy readers to build stamina and confidence. At that time the main characters were boys. Now the series also features female characters. 

Elsie and her best friend Humphrey discover that Sheriff Grimwood is working with the band of outlaws, stealing the town's treasures. Unfortunately, Grimwood spies the two children fleeing from their hiding place and sets out to find them. Meanwhile, members in their town are dying from the plague. Elsie is soon bedridden with it and wonders if she will survive . . .

A fast-paced book that introduces readers to the way of life during the medieval era and allows them to experience the agony (only through words!) of the bubonic plague. Many additional pages about this time period and the plague are included after the story.

*Highly recommend for reluctant readers.

Discuss: plague/death, views about Covid (Ms. Tarshis compares some aspects of the plague with Covid.)

-Borrowed from the library.

Tales from Maple Ridge #1 Logan Pryce Makes a Mess by Grace Gilmore illustrated by Petra Brown*

 I read the first book in this series last! (because of its availability via the library) I like this one the best.

Because their family farm is failing, Logan's father is searching for work. Before he interviews in the city of Sherman, he agrees to help the Mayberrys at their general store. To Logan's delight, his father & Mrs. Mayberry agree to allow him to help unpack orders. He will earn a dollar! When he shelves someone's order by accident, he fears he will cause his father to lose his job.

I love how Logan has a "Fix-It" shop where he invents and also love how the family is supportive of each other.

Perfect for beginning/transitional readers who are building stamina in their reading---short chapters with lots of picture support.

Consideration: Logan's friend Anthony says "Gosh".

*Highly recommend (I don't "highly recommend" all the books in the series. But even those are good books-just up to parent about some topics I mention).

Tales from Maple Ridge #6 The New Kid by Grace Gilmore illustrated by Petra Brown

 Oswald Robbins, who wants to be called Wally, is a new kid in the Maple Ridge one room schoolhouse, making the total number of students an odd 21. Judging him from his looks and mannerisms, the students label him as odd and suspicious. When a coveted book goes missing from the brand new school library, Wally is the number one suspect. Fortunately, Logan wants to investigate and makes a new a friend.

I liked this story the best out of the five I have read in this series.

Discuss: judging others, welcoming new & different people to a group, jumping to conclusions

-Borrowed from the library.

Tales from Maple Ridge #5 Lost in the Blizzard by Grace Gilmore illustrated by Petra Brown

 Even though it is still fall, the Pryce family begins to "winterize", preparing for winter. Tess observes how frantically the squirrels have been gathering and storing nuts lately and predicts winter is coming soon. The oldest brother Drew scoffs at her conclusion. A blizzard does blast into their town while Drew is in the forest finding firewood. Logan utilizes his newfound knowledge of a homemade compass to find him.

I like how in each book Logan is working on something in his Fix-It Shop. This hobby reinforces the importance of being innovative and being creative and also being a problem-solver. 

Consideration/discuss: When Logan's mom asks where Drew is, Logan lies because he doesn't want to ruin Drew's surprise of bringing in a lot of fireword. Drew's job is to find trees, chop them for firewood, and haul the wood back to the house. He had found a huge tree and was excited to surprise the parents with a huge load of firewood. He had told Logan not to tell because he wanted to surprise the family. So once again, lying seems to be almost justified. Good topic to discuss with children-is this wrong? What could Logan had done differently? Logan does not get into trouble for lying in the previous book nor in this book.

-Borrowed from the library.

Tales from Maple Ridge #4 The Ghost of Juniper Creek by Grace Gilmore illustrated by Petra Brown

 After skipping stones across Juniper Creek with his sister Tess and best friend Anthony, Logan calls his dog Skeeter to come home as the sun sets. Skeeter, however, remains in the dark woods. The three children enter it to convince Skeeter to obey. He is sitting at the base of a tree and peering upwards. A flash of white at the treetops causes the leaves to shake. Instantly, whatever it was disappears. The children think it is a ghost. Over the next couple of days the children hear about the ghost legend of Juniper Creek. Logan decides to create and to set a ghost trap. 

A second storyline is included. An astute thinker will perceive quickly how these two storylines mesh.

I think the illustrations in this series are adorable. This book's ending is humorous.

Considerations/discuss: ghosts  The conclusion is that they are not real. When Logan's little sister, Annie, asks what he is making, he lies. He doesn't want her to know it is a ghost trap and be scared. The author calls it a "fib", almost making it seem benign. Good discussion-is it ok to lie like this?

-Borrowed from the library.

Tales from Maple Ridge #3 The Big City

 When Logan's father travels to the city of Sherman, Logan is chosen to come along and spend the day with his cousins. Initially, he is enamoured with the city's energy and sights. However, as the day progresses, he realizes the rural life might be better.

A great chapter book for transitional readers who are developing stamina for chapter books

Consideration: one of the characters says "gosh"

-Borrowed from the library.

Tales from Maple Ridge No. 2 The Lucky Wheel by Grace Gilmore illustrated by Petra Brown

 Logan's teacher of Maple Ridge's one-room schoolhouse asks each student to contribute to the building fund so they can repair many issues that are popping up. Unfortunately, Logan lies to his family by saying he is going to contribute from the money he has saved in his piggy bank. He has no money. So when he finds a broken wheel along the road, he decides to repair it to sell it and give the money to the school. Eventually he confesses to his father that he had lied.

This book is perfect for new readers who are transitioning into chapter books & building stamina. Plenty of illustrations per page. I like that it features a boy main character within the historical fiction genre. So many historical fiction books for kids feature girls.

Considerations: Logan lies. But his father reprimands him. Lying is not condoned. Readers see the consequences of this sin through Logan. Throughout the book the word "lucky" is mentioned. "lucky wheel", "lucky day". Logan seems to think luck is what brings good events into his life.

Part of a series-more reviews of the other books forthcoming.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ready-to -Read Level 2 Mouse & Spoon series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Janna Mattia*

 An adorable series by a beloved author!

Ginger, Piper, & Tom are mice who run a bakery in a little town on Littleton St. Whenever customers request specific orders, the three siblings oblige. At a moment's notice they accomplish incredible feats- baking for 216 rabbit children, pound cakes for an elephant's birthday party, sticky buns for a porcupine's wedding and tarts for owlets who won't sleep. 

Perfect length and repetition for beginning readers who are building fluency, stamina, and confidence.

*Highly recommend.

Coming on May 5,2026-Picnic for Giraffes!

Earl & Worm Snow Problem and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli**

 I love this series for beginning readers. These entertaining and relatable stories will appeal to even the most reluctant readers.

This book takes place over one day-Earl's birthday. Worm attempts to create a special day for Earl but, of course, encounters hinderances and frustrations. All ends well, though. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli*

 Susan, the duck, is not having a good day. After each incident, she exclaims how she is unlucky. Then a wolf rings a doorbell and tells her she has won a soup pot. Throughout the day, he continues to drop in with more items that she has "won". The reader will be cringing at the duck's naivety! Just when the reader thinks he has predicted Susan's fate, the day really does transform into her lucky day!

Pair with My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza (I like My Lucky Day better.)

*Highly recommend.

Perfect for beginning/transitional readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Earl & Worm series by Greg Pizzoli**

 I love this series! They are perfect for beginning &/or transitional readers (fluency, stamina, building confidence). 

Even though Earl & Worm are great friends, when they first met, Worm did not like Earl's disposition. Grumpy Worm eventually softens to Earl's friendliness. Together they navigate writing poetry, house cleaning, the affect of an unlucky penny, and watching a sunrise.

I am waiting for #3 to be published (Nov. 11, 2025). 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Viking Adventure by Clyde Robert Bulla illustrated by Douglas Gorsline*

 Sigurd sometimes wonders why he must train hard each day, all day. His father, Olaf the Strong, designs challenging activities for Sigurd. Eventually, Sigurd utilizes the training when he sails to view the mysterious Wineland. When he and the ship's owner begin to argue on a routine basis, Sigurd realizes he must escape. Fleeing the ship actually saves his life, giving him the opportunity to return home, to share his story, and to learn to read & write so he can record his adventures for future generations.

Very exciting story that kids in first through fourth grade will find enthralling. This book would be great for reluctant readers and also for  children building stamina in reading chapter books.

I found the illustrations not very crisp nor appealing. 

Considerations: violence, some cruel characters

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book (republished recently by Purple House Press).

Bad Badger: A Love Story by Maryrose Wood illustrated by Giulia Ghigini*

 The opening lines made me groan and almost not want to read it (reminds me of our current culture-"Septimus was a badger.  Or was he? This was the heart of the matter.") But I continued reading because Sarah Mackenzie recommended it as one of her books of the week on RAR.

It is a delightful story about a Badger who is atypical and his friendship with a seagull, Gully. Despite their differences, they learn that being a friend requires sacrifice and unselfishness. I loved the chapter subheadings-One-'A Visit from a Friend--Septimus was not terribly used to company.'

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ready to Read-Tails from History-A Racoon at the White House by Rachel Dougherty illustrated by Rachel Sanson*

 Ready to Read Level Two

With words and sentence structures perfect for beginning and/or transitional readers, Ms. Dougherty relates how a raccoon named Rebecca lived at the White House with President Coolidge and First Lady Grace. Additonal facts about raccoons and the White House are included (for parents to read aloud to their beginning reader).

*Highly recommend for stimulating historical interest, for fluency, and for building stamina.

-Borrowed from the library.

Bat, Cat & Rat #1-The Cozy Home by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Mark Teague*

 Bat, Cat, & Rat move into a home. As they settled into sharing life together, they enjoy teasing each other and, of course, reading together.

A perfect series for beginning readers.

It looks like book #3, The Beach Day, will be published on April 29, 2025, and #4, A Great Fall, will be published on July 15, 2025.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Vacation by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Mark Teague*

 The 2025 winner for Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book

Bat, Cat, & Rat love living together. One day Cat announces that a vacation would be nice. Realizing their vacation savings jar is empty, they pursue various jobs. When the jar is full, however, they cannot agree where to vacation. Rat has an idea!

*Highly recommend for beginning readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Fox versus Fox by Corey R. Tabor*

A Geisel Honor Book-selected by the American Library Association for a distinguished beginning reader book for 2025. 

Fox thinks he is the one and only fox. Then he meets Fox. Can two foxes exist together as friends?

Sweet.

*Highly recommend. Perfect for beginning readers.

Part of a series.

Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan*

 American Library Association's Geisel Honor Book (distinguished beginning reader book)-2025

Toad is on the go, towing critters all over town. Pop persistently offers him food throughout the day, but Toad can't stop. Then Toad needs help. Who will help him?

The illustrations reminded me of Richard Scarry's books. I loved the internal rhyme in most lines.

*Highly recommend for beginning readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows illustrated by Sophie Blackall

 Short chapters about two sisters- Stella, who is seven and Marigold, who is four. Each mini story celebrates sisterhood, imagination, and typical frustrations experienced at that those ages. I laughed out loud while reading a few chapters. Each of the endings were a bit abrupt.

I love how this book portrays the loyalty, love, and friendship between sisters.💓

A great book for transitional readers who need to build stamina

Considerations: lying (in different chapters), their dad swears-no swear words are printed-just "he said a lot of bad things about drains" & the illustrations show swear word symbols.

-Borrowed from the library.

Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke illustrated by Emily Hughes

 Four seasonal stories featuring Beti, her parents, and her baby brother Jac, who live in a round house They choose to live off the land and make everything they need to survive.

 At times I felt disoriented because they are a modern family who is choosing to live without modern conveniences. Beti is fiesty and places herself into predicaments!

-Borrowed from the library.