Teachers' Picks: Books

18 for reluctant readers. One of these new page-turners may be just the thing to prompt a
reluctant reader to say, "Hey! I love this book!"

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Aliens Are Coming!
By Meghan McCarthy. $16.95.
This hilarious picture-book incarnation of the 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast is out in paperback for Halloween. Readers will flip for the wacky sense of humor and the fact that it’s a true story.

There's No Such Thing as a Dragon
By Jack Kent. $6.99.
It’s the fantastic premise of this reissued classic that will grab kids’ attention—what would happen if you woke up to find a dragon sitting on your bed?

The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow
By Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton. $14.99.
Funnyman Griffiths knows how to reach reluctant readers. We loved the easily digestible tales in The Cat on the Mat Is Flat, and he’s back with more stories that send up the usual easy-reader fare.

The Marshmallow Incident
By Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett. $16.99.
From the duo that brought us Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs comes a face-off between the Town of Left and the Town of Right—two villages both convinced that their way is “right.” The clever puns and illustrations will keep kids turning pages.

Never Smile at a Monkey
By Steve Jenkins. $16.00.
Kids can’t help but gravitate toward Jenkins’s brightly colored, cut-paper illustration style, also found in his award-winning Actual Size. Here, the other draw is the surprising things not to do around wild animals, including, yes, smiling at a monkey. Who knew?

Ghost in the Machine
By Patrick Carman. $14.99.
Carman tells his mysterious Skeleton Creek series in two voices—Ryan’s story is in the text, and Sarah delivers her take on things via web video (links and passwords are provided in the books). The compelling story line will not only interest visual learners, but also get kids thinking about the writing process.

A Really Short History of Nearly Everything
By Bill Bryson. $19.99.
If you’ve read any of Bryson’s works for adults, you know it’s hard to get through one without snorting with laughter. Here he adapts his encyclopedic A Short History of Nearly Everything for young readers. With snippets on scientific topics ranging from atoms to dinosaurs, there’s something for every reader.

Al Capone Shines My Shoes
By Gennifer Choldenko. $17.99.
Finally! A follow-up to the Newbery Honor–winning Al Capone Does My Shirts that teachers and kids will agree is as good as the first. Moose Flanagan and his family, who live on the famous prison island Alcatraz, are back—and Al Capone has sent a cryptic new note. Kids will stay glued to find out what “Your turn” could possibly mean.

Luv Ya Bunches
By Lauren Myracle. $15.95.
Told in a mix of blog posts, instant messages, and other media, Luv Ya Bunches is the first in a brand-new series from the author of Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen. Like the flowers they’re named after, Katie-Rose, Yasaman, Milla, and Violet are the kind of memorable characters you’ll want to gather close.

School of Fear
By Gitty Daneshvari. $15.99.
What if there was a school that could cure your worst fear? That’s the highly entertaining premise here. But the four main characters may discover that there’s something even scarier than bugs, death, or deep water: their headmistress.

The Magician’s Elephant
By Kate DiCamillo. $16.99.
Teachers have told us again and again that DiCamillo’s books work for readers at various levels, especially when read aloud. You won’t want to miss her latest, in which orphan Peter Augustus Duchene embarks on a search to find a magical elephant—and his long-lost sister. You may need to pass out tissues when you reach the end!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
By Jeff Kinney. $13.95.
This hugely popular series appeals to reluctant readers for several reasons, among them a relatable main character, a terrific sense of humor, and a mix of text and line drawings to tell the story. The fourth installment hits shelves in October, and a Wimpy Kid movie is due out next year.

Catching Fire
By Suzanne Collins. $17.99. Everyone we know who read last year’s The Hunger Games has been drooling for the release of the sequel. Now, Collins welcomes us back to the dystopian future in which kids fight to the death on national television, following Katniss and Peeta on their so-called victory tour and ratcheting up the tension as rebellion brews in the Districts. This is a gripping sequel that has us begging for the next book.

The Maze Runner
By James Dashner. $16.99.
In this page-turner reminiscent of Greek mythology, Thomas wakes up to find himself in a kid-run society surrounded by a beast-patrolled maze. No one else knows how they got there—or how to escape—but Thomas seems to be the key to finding out. Fans may also want to check out Dashner’s 13th Reality series.

Mysterious Messages
By Gary Blackwood. $16.99.
Readers burned out on weepy award-winners and dry-as-dust nonfiction may want to check out this history of secret codes and ciphers. It’s packed with cool facts about codes going back to ancient Greece, as well as hints on figuring out even the trickiest of hidden messages.

A Family Secret
By Eric Heuvel, translated by Lorraine T. Miller. $18.99.
Heuvel makes a Holocaust story immediate and relatable in this graphic novel about a boy who learns his grandmother was detained in a prison camp when he finds an old photo album. He then discovers, however, that not even his grandmother knows the entire truth about the family’s involvement in the war.

Spellbinder
By Helen Stringer. $17.99.
Just in time for Halloween, a spooky story about a 12-year-old girl named Belladonna who can talk to ghosts—including those of her parents, who passed away in an accident. But then the ghosts disappear, and Belladonna must figure out what happened to them.

Choosing Books for Reluctant Readers
Choose books that will interest your reluctant reader. Select reading materials that are reading level and age appropriate. Includes tips on engaging the advanced reader.

Integrating Reading into Everyday Life for Reluctant Readers: Quick Click
Motivate reluctant readers. Make reading and language learning a part of everyday life. Fun language arts activities like story hour and learning Pig Latin.

17 Ways to Encourage Middle School At-Home Reading: Quick Click
Prevent your pre-teen from losing her love of reading. Try these tips for keeping her interest and skills on track. Suggests activities like visiting the library or playing games that involve reading.

LESSON PLAN	A Log's Life I teach A Log's Life to help my students understand how woodland animals depend on the different stages of a tree's life cycle for survival....
ONLINE ACTIVITY	Story Starters Ready to write? This Story Starter machine generates creative writing prompts. You never know how your story will start.