1. The Importance of Reading “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his needs, is good for him.” —Maya Angelou

2. Be a role model for learning In the early years, parents are their children’s first teachers. Children need parents to be their reading role models with daily practice in order to navigate successfully through beginning literacy skills.

3. Set aside time to read together If your child is a reluctant reader, reading aloud will expose him/her to the structure and vocabulary of good literature and get her interested in reading more. You can read the first two chapters of a book then pass it to your child to read. Or you could alternate: you read one chapter aloud, he/she reads another.

4. Read what they love Find out what interests your child loves, and explore it. So if they love Ninja Turtles or Pinkalicious, go with it! If they love learning about Pandas or Dinosaurs, go with it! At an early age we really want to instill a LOVE of reading and the more they read, the better they become.

5. Encourage them to pick out just right books from the library. Your child comes to the library once a cycle. – Grades K-2 select one book – Grades 3-5 select two books You can also visit The White Plains Public Library—The Trove! They have an amazing collection and programs for our students!

6. Online Resources Page For when you can’t read a story…they can watch stories online! – Tumblebooks [Tumblebook Library] – BookFlix (Grolier) – RAZ Kids Username: pr Password: wppr

7. Kindergarten/First Grade Book Suggestions Chicka Chicka Boom Boom By Bill Martin Jr. Owen By Kevin Henkes Crysanthemum By Kevin Henkes The Dark By Lemony Snicket Pinkalicious Series By Victoria Kann David Series By David Shannon Elephant and Piggie Series By Mo Willems Pete the Cat Series By Eric Litwin Biscuit book Series By Alyssa Capucilli ABCs, The Cat in the Hat, Fox in Sox (Any “Easy Reader”) By Dr. Seuss Henry and Mudge Series By Cynthia Rylant Poppleton Series By Cynthia Rylant *Any nonfiction topic that interests them- National Geographic has great series about animals, gems and crystals, weather, etc. I suggest any nonfiction books for whatever their interested in: art, music, sports, poetry, etc.

8. Second Grade/Third Grade Book Suggestions Nate the Great/ Olivia Sharp By Marjorie W. Sharmat Cam Jansen By David Adler Ivy + Bean By Annie Barrows Horrible Harry By Suzy Kline Bessledorf Hotel Mysteries By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor The Bailey School Kids By Marcia T. Jones and Debbie Dadey My Weird School Series By Dan Gutman Wayside School Series By Louis Sachar The Zack Files Series By Dan Greenburg Frindle By Andrew Clements *Any nonfiction topic that interests them- National Geographic has great series about animals, gems and crystals, weather, etc. I suggest any nonfiction books for whatever their interested in: art, music, sports, poetry, etc.

9. Fourth Grade/ Fifth Grade Book Suggestions Harry Potter Series By JK Rowling Emily Windsnap Series By Liz Kessler Percy Jackson Series By Rick Riordan Bone Comic Series By Jeff Smith Amulet Comic Series By Kazu Kibuishi Mr. Popper’s Penguins By Richard and Florence Atwater The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc. By Roland Dahl Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo *Any nonfiction topic that interests them- National Geographic has great series about animals, gems and crystals, weather, etc. I suggest any nonfiction books for whatever their interested in: art, music, sports, poetry, etc.