Tips From Our Team

After another summer spent with learners across the state of Rhode Island, our team has some tips and take aways to share with you. From our work with camps doing the “Read to 100 Challenge,” connections with families at meal sites and park based programs this summer, our team walked away with some great reading advice to share with you. Our Outreach Coordinator Ali, has compiled them here to share!

Which books are “hot” right now for kids of different ages?

The increasingly popular graphic novel series Dogman and its spinoff of sidekick Catkid by Dav Pilkey probably tops the list. In fact, graphic novels as a whole are a hit at the moment. Books such as Smile by Raina Telgemeier and Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson keep kids engaged in their vivid comic-like illustrations and humorous, often relatable stories. Even beloved book series from my childhood, like The Babysitters Club have been revamped and republished as graphic novels and as a result, gained a whole new generation of eager readers. Of course, youth favorites of the recent past like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants are still in demand and keeping kids entertained and engaged in reading.

For younger children, especially early readers, Pete the Cat by James Dean and Eric Litwin and the new edition of Amelia Bedelia Peggy Parish and Herman Parish come in “I Can Read” levels.

For emerging independent readers, the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne, and the Junie B Jones series by Barbara Park have been in high demand at our events.

What entices kids to read?

Any time a child has an obsession with a topic: trucks, magic, science, etc., they’re more inclined to choose a book about it. I especially noticed books or magazines like National Geographic Kids or books about or based on exciting events in history (I Survived is one here). Silly humor books and series with funny illustrations like Dork Diaries and Big Nate. And of course, books based on video games like Minecraft or movies/TV shows like superheroes, Pokemon, Lego, and Disney. You name it, there’s a book for that.