Remember when you were a young person and you read books that just wrecked you or made you think deeply? For me, as a child, it was “Bridge to Terabithia,” by Katherine Paterson (who is an emeritus CLiF presenter!). More recently, I added a new book to my list: “The Vanderbeekers Ever After.” It’s one of those that unexpectedly shakes you awake to the power of a really good book.
General / Book Recommendations
At the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), we’re big believers in encouraging kids to choose their own books, but we also recognize that a little guidance can be helpful. With that in mind, we asked some bookish pals to recommend some of their favorite books for readers aged 8 to 12. Here’s what they said.
General / Book Recommendations
Two weeks ago, my 9-year-old daughter watched our beloved hometown of Montpelier, VT go from an idyllic downtown to a mess of ruined homes, businesses, apartments, and office buildings. We’ve witnessed a lot of destruction as well as people coming together to support each other, fundraise, and rebuild. I cannot emphasize these messages of resilience enough as we think and talk about the flood. And yet, I must say it’s a very, very sad scene.
General / Literacy Activities / Book Recommendations
Start practicing your character voices and expressive intonations because World Read Aloud Day is coming up on February 1, 2023!
This bookworm-friendly celebration was founded by LitWorld in 2010, and honors the power of reading aloud, while advocating for literacy as a fundamental human right.
General / Book Recommendations
In honor of Halloween, we’ve conjured up a list of our favorite spooky books for young readers who appreciate a a few tingles down their spines. No tricks, all treats.
General / Book Recommendations
At CLiF, we love to read. That’s probably why we spend our time helping kids discover that love for themselves and embark on a lifelong journey of enjoying literature. Summer offers some much-needed time to dig into your To Be Read pile and relax with a good book (or 3. Or 4.). Here’s what the … Continued
Research / Literacy Activities / Book Recommendations / Education
Yahoo! Congratulations to all – students, teachers, administrators, parents, librarians, program providers, early educators – for navigating through the school year. While this list barely scratches the surface of those contributing to keeping our children healthy and learning, CLiF recognizes that the shift to summer comes with new challenges and opportunities for the same network … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
This weird school year is almost over, which means one thing…summer reading! Sure, school-required reading lists can seem like just another thing to do, but make sure to take time to read what you enjoy – and let your kids do the same! One of my favorite things about summer is posting up in a … Continued
It should come as no surprise that the CLiF team loves to read. After all, we spend our days sharing that love with low-income, at-risk, and rural kids in the region. Here were our favorite books we read in 2020: Duncan I’m a big fan of the Master and Commander series by Patrick O’Brien. When he heard … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
While 2020 seems to be intensely engaged in an active round of “Up Your Game,” there is some relatively good news coming out of the book publishing industry (Cue the bullhorns! Good news!). Namely, gatekeepers at publishing houses and those who are writing book reviews are starting to step aside and give voice to those … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
At any given time, the CLiF library is filled with thousands of beautiful new books waiting to find eager young readers. We give away high-quality books for every reader’s level and interests. We do our best to offer a wide variety of diverse titles, both classics and new books and series. Here are some of … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
It should come as no surprise that the CLiF staff loves to read! After all, our mission is to share that love with all kids in New Hampshire and Vermont. And there’s no better time to read than summer, especially as so many social events and programs are either cancelled or online, giving us more … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
For us book-lovers, books are more than just a pastime; they’re part of us. The books we read in our early years in particular had an impact on our ways of thinking and viewing the world. They taught us what we know, gave us an escape from whatever was happening in our young lives, and … Continued
You and your family are spending more time at home, which begs the all-important question of what to read. Here are some recent award-winning children’s and middle grade books to check out. New Kid by Jerry Craft: This graphic novel about being the new kid and a person of color in a mostly-white private school … Continued
Book Recommendations / If you're a parent and...
Mid-February: Halfway through sixth grade feels like three roller coaster rides – friend relationships, interests, and school – all at different highs and lows, and changing every day! One big change in our household has been a noticeable decline in reading for pleasure; reading time replaced with more resting and relaxing on top of at … Continued
At CLiF’s recent Rural Library Conference, attending librarians submitted their “hottest” book for kids and middle readers. Kids, picture books The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems (6 librarians picked this book as the hottest): “everyone loves pigeon!” and Elephant and Piggie: “Always popular, fun to read!” We Don’t Eat Our Classmates … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
Getting your kid tucked into bed without any fuss can be an uphill battle some nights, and getting them to stay asleep can be even more of a struggle. If you want to make bedtime run a little smoother, try incorporating a nighttime routine into your regular evening schedule to help your child wind down … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
One of my favorite things about lazy summer days is lounging in the sun with a good book. When I was in school summer was the perfect time to catch up on my eternally-long reading list. Now reading is one of my favorite things about a relaxing vacation. My husband and I recently returned from … Continued
CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.