Drumroll, please!
Scholastic Reading Club and Book Fairs just released its “Give the Gift of Reading” 2013 holiday guide.
One of my favorite memories as a kid was getting the latest Goosebumps books for Christmas. As a child of the '90s I was spoiled with such great books including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The Magic School Bus and more. Hopefully, this guide will give your kids the same joy I had opening up a new book during the holidays.
The Scholastic Give the Gift of Reading Guide 2013 (go to www.scholastic.com/holidaygifts)
#1: Read Aloud Traditional Stories With a Twist
AGE RANGE: (Toddler – 2nd Graders)
Reading aloud is an ideal way to have some quality family time during the season and all year long – and it comes with great benefits for children. Fairy tales are the perfect read-aloud genre. Pick these attention-grabbing books that turn your favorite classics upside-down - guaranteed to be a family favorite.
Holiday Picks:
- Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett (Putnam)
- The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague (Orchard Books/Scholastic)
- Santa Claus and the Three Bears by Maria Modugno, illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer (HarperCollins) [Holiday Specific Read]
- Pete the Cat Saves Christmas created and illustrated by James Dean, story by Eric Litwin (HarperCollins) [Holiday Specific Read]
#2: Get Funny to Foster Independent Reading
AGE RANGE: Kindergarteners – 2nd Graders
Pick books that will make kids erupt with laughter. Books that showcase humor help first-time readers equate reading with fun and enjoyment. Try these soon-to-be classics.
Holiday Picks:
- Elephant and Piggy: I’m a Frog by Mo Willems (Hyperion)
- Fly Guy Presents: Sharks by Tedd Arnold (Scholastic)
- Splat the Cat: Blow, Snow, Blow by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins)
# 3: Introduce Fantasy
AGE RANGE: 3rd - 6thGraders
Fantasy ignites the imagination in all of us. Select books that transport a child into another world. This genre will boost reading confidence and stamina through fast-paced and compelling tales.
Holiday Picks:
- Notebook of Doom: Day of the Night Crawlers by Troy Cummings (Scholastic)
- Geronimo Stilton: Kingdom of Fantasy: The Volcano Fire by Geronimo Stilton (Scholastic)
- The Special Edition Harry Potter Box Set by J.K. Rowlingwith artwork by Kazu Kibuishi (Scholastic)
#4: Choose Inspiring Underdog Stories for Tweens and Teens
AGE RANGE: Middle School and up
Wherever you turn, these characters are everywhere! From a fun story of a middle-school aged boy facing hard-knocks, to a group of teenage gods on earth fighting evil, to a young woman living in a dystopian world, these books will be hard for your tween and teen to put down this holiday.
Holiday Picks:
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney(Abrams)
- The Heroes of Olympus: House of Hades by Rick Riordan (Hyperion)
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic) - for mature teen readers (ages 12 and up),
Happy holidays from Scholastic Reading Club and Scholastic Book Fairs.
