There is no hand to catch time. Despite all our desires, our precious little ones start to outgrow the children’s books of their primary years. The sing-song rhymes and picture books are replaced with early readers and decodables. As they begin this transition into more independent reading and beyond, we can help them once again.
As lovers of the written word, parents dream that their kids will love books as much as we do. Besides the joy of opening fantastical worlds, the developmental and emotional advantages don’t stop with building vocabulary and comprehension skills. Advanced reading also fosters critical thinking and empathy. But the journey can be daunting and even discouraging. As we help our children through this transitional phase, we will need a new set of tools, practical strategies, and, of course, plenty of books.
The Five Stages of Reading
To incorporate new reading material for our children, we need to assess where they are in their reading journey. One of the standardized ways is to refer to the five stages of reading. This includes:
- Emergent Pre-readers (ages 0-5)
At this level, our children learn the very basics of reading. Print awareness, letter recognition, and early writing are all explored in fun, easy ways. - Early Readers (ages 5-7)
We’ve got the basics down, so we can move on to sight words, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension. - Transitional Readers (ages 7-9)
This is the stage where we expand our vocabulary, read a variety of genres, and work on comprehension strategies. - Intermediate Readers (ages 9-12)
This is the step where text analysis and critical thinking come into play while we work on reading stamina. - Advanced Readers (ages 12+)
The final step of reading takes us through adulthood. We can read for various reasons, have advanced vocabulary, and have deep comprehension.
Perhaps the most significant leap they make within these reading stages is between the intermediate and advanced reading levels. The importance of text analysis, critical thinking, and reading comprehension carries over into more advanced reading, which includes nuanced texts, the ability to absorb information from educational sources, and deciphering whether those sources are trustworthy.
New Tools for Our Parenting Toolbox
Some parenting tools are tried and true, and that can be said of our first tip. Reading with your child is one of the easiest ways to help bridge the gap between their reading levels. Regardless of your child’s current reading level, reading books aloud can help foster reading comprehension. For more advanced readers, consider taking turns reading passages or pages to engage them more fully in the process. This also helps with their read-aloud skills and confidence, which they will need in other areas of life as well.
Utilizing audiobooks for a variety of reading tones is a great tool to add to our toolbox. The world of audiobooks is vast, and we would be remiss not to take advantage of the technology at our disposal. If you’re a busy family, having some audiobooks playing in the car while you cart back and forth between sports practice or running errands can be a fun way for the whole family to get involved. You can also pair it with toys at home for calming playtime, such as Play-Doh or Legos.
In the same vein, don’t be afraid of graphic novels. With their busy text backgrounds and inconsistent page formatting, they are just as valid a book as text-only novels. Combined with their accessibility for readers who are trepidatious, graphic novels are a wonderful choice to enhance your library. You can take a look at the Tuttle Twins graphic novels and books for kids to find options that will engage your child while encouraging dinner table conversations and critical thinking.
Reading challenges are another great way to encourage children to read more. Whether it’s a summer reading program or themed at-home reading challenges, there are endless options to discover. By challenging our intermediate readers, they can discover new genres, expanding their analytical skills and reading comprehension.
We are all familiar with book clubs for adults, but did you know that there are also book clubs for other age groups? Joining in with others is a great way to make new friends and initiate peer discussions about books. Checking your local bookstores or your library is a great place to start your search for book clubs. In the digital age, there are even online clubs if you can’t find any near you. Children can also be encouraged to explore more in-depth themes within the book club, which promotes a deeper appreciation for books and reading.
Getting kids genuinely excited about reading can be a challenge, and one way to ignite their passion is through author meet-ups. Keep your eye out for local events, book launches, and literature festivals where authors tend to be. Children love real, tactile examples whenever possible, and another way to reinforce a love of reading is through these experiences.
Reading Strategies That Work
The books you choose are imperative to your child’s advanced reading journey. Allowing your child to lead is a great way to get them involved and to learn more about the subjects they find most interesting. If you haven’t already established a library routine, now is a great time to start. Browsing the shelves together is a great way to flip through the pages, check length, and do a sample read when necessary. I let my children pick the books they want while occasionally adding the first book of a new series I think they will enjoy to test the waters.
Then there’s the tried and true KISS (keep it short, silly) method. Going from 30-page transitional readers to a 500-page chapter book is way too big of a jump to make. Selecting developmentally appropriate materials that align with your goals is the goal. If you’re aiming for more comprehension, you might choose a story that they’re already familiar with, whereas if you’re practicing reading stamina, you might want a longer book. At the same time, don’t stray away from chapter books that may have a few pictures here and there.
Another important tip is to continue reading picture books. It can be hard enough for us as parents to realize that our babies are growing up, but it is equally challenging for our kids, too. Even though my oldest is an independent reader, they will still join me if I’m reading a picture book to my youngest. The beauty is that now, some of the more complex picture books can be understood at a more nuanced level and enjoyed all over again.
To help bridge the gap from intermediate to advanced reading, it helps to choose a variety of materials to read. Consider getting them a kid-centered magazine subscription or taking some time during your library trip to check their magazine racks. There are so many to choose from it’s easy to find a subject your kid finds interesting. Sharing other forms of reading, such as your local newspaper, helps get them acquainted with current events while expanding their vocabulary.
Talk about what they’re reading with them. Asking questions about their books prompts our children to think more about what they are reading beyond the page. By reinforcing their critical thinking skills, they can move forward in advanced reading by asking themselves those questions. Talking to our children also allows for a check-in point if you happen to notice they aren’t enjoying the book as much as others. There’s nothing worse than trying to keep reading a book you aren’t interested in.
One of my favorite ways to enhance reading skills is by incorporating vocabulary into family game nights. Classics such as Scrabble are great for enhanced reading, spelling, and, most importantly, fun. With so many new games coming to shelves, you’re sure to find one that aligns with your reader’s goals.
While this does not work for single-child families, one of my favorite sneaky tricks is to get siblings to read to each other. This can work in a variety of ways, such as an older child reading to a younger child, and depending on age gaps, you can switch roles with the younger child reading to the older one. Again, this reinforces some of those skills needed in life when reading aloud is mandatory while also solidifying the intonation of the text.
Book-to-movie adaptation challenges are a great way to encourage diverse reading. This complements a few of my other tips but can be a great motivator for children who love a good movie night. Many of the childhood movies we love have a book to accompany them. So, whether you’ve already watched the movie or not, it can be enjoyable to revisit the text. Reading adaptations opens up discussions about how they differ, how they are the same, and which version we like best.
The most important thing to remember is to keep trying! If it seems to fail at first, don’t worry too much and try these tips with the reading level your child is currently at. Once more confident, your reader can try again with fresh eyes.
Book Recommendations To Make the Transition Smoother
To make the move to middle-grade readers easier, having the right stories on hand can help. I’ve compiled a range of transitional book series to get you started, but there are many lists available at our disposal. When in doubt, I highly recommend going to your local library and asking a Librarian. They always seem to know what our hearts want.
The Unicorn Rescue Society by Adam Gidwitz, Illustrated by Hatem Aly
A mash-up of real-world animal species and mythical creatures is sure to pique your child’s attention to the world of the Unicorn Rescue Society. The humor was a strong point in the continued family enjoyment of this adventure-filled book. Thankfully, there are two more books in this series because I am hooked.
The Creature of the Pines introduces us to Elliot, who doesn’t like school very much. On a class field trip, he teams up with Uchenna to undergo a secret mission to protect and defend the world’s mythical creatures. When a Jersey Devil proves to be too much for the team to handle, they turn to Professor Fauna, who turns out not to be as scary as they first thought!
The Story Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths, Illustrated by Terry Denton
The Story Treehouse Series is a great set of books that my child has read front to back, back to front, and all over again many times. They love reading these books aloud while we all sit on the couch and laugh at all the silly antics that Andy and Terry get up to. There are 13 books in this series, which can last a while if your child is anything like mine.
The 13-Story Treehouse is the first book in the series that follows friends Andy and Terry as they receive a call from their publisher, who is upset that the two are behind schedule. As the dynamic duo starts thinking of ideas, they end up in a drawing competition and are completely distracted. As the book continues, Andy and Terry engage in numerous wild and eccentric antics, none of which involve writing a book for their publisher. Silly and engaging, this series of books can draw readers in and keep them laughing at the ridiculous things that Andy and Terry get up to in their lives.
The Guardians of Ga’ Hoole by Kathryn Lasky
The Guardians of Ga’ Hoole series is near and dear to my heart, as it was the first chapter book series I read aloud to my oldest. We had seen the movie and wanted to know what the books were like. Before bed, I would read a chapter – sometimes two or three – and as the story progressed, they would ask questions about why characters did certain things. There was also plenty of material in the series to keep us going; there are 31 total books, including spin-offs and companion books.
The Capture is the first in the series about a band of owls fighting for justice in their world. A barn owl of the Kingdom of Tyto, Soren, is captured as a fledgling and taken to “St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls,” where the leaders believe Tyto owls to be purer than other owls. As the story progresses, Soren finds some friends, and they help each other escape. Once free, the newly formed band has to find the Guardians of Ga’Hoole to inform them of this evil that exists in the world. I love that the characters are distinct in their behavioral traits, as well as the quirks related to their specific owl type, which can help you envision them as real.
The So Done Series by Paula Chase
Although different in theme and character, the So Done series is a great addition to help transition from children’s books to middle-grade stories. Universal themes of friendship and complex issues that affect many young teens will help foster nuanced reading skills, as well as empower young readers to find their voice in speaking up to their friends. If you’ve finished the three in the So Done series and find yourself loving her work, Paula Chase also has several series that explore various issues.
So Done follows Tai and Mila, two best friends who have lived in Pirates Cove, a low-income housing project, together since they were toddlers. After a month with her aunt in the suburbs, Mila has upcoming dance auditions to focus on rather than hanging out with Tai. I love that this was written from both perspectives, giving younger readers a chance to experience differing voices within the same narrative.
The Peasprout Chen Series by Henry Lien
Our highest transitional recommendation, Henry Lien, takes readers from light and funny to profound in the span of one novel. Young readers will come for the female protagonist and stay for the martial arts and figure skating while also becoming acquainted with some of the politics involved at the Academy of Skate and Sword.
Future Legend of Skate and Sword takes us through Peasprout Chen’s journey to becoming a legend of wu liu, the art of martial arts figure skating. Incredibly driven and competitive, Peasprout finds herself in a skating competition with her brother to secure the top ranking. Eccentric characters, boarding school drama, and epic battles are sure to put this unique book at the top of your young reader’s list.
Guiding your child through children’s books into middle-grade isn’t just about the books we choose to read. It’s also about nurturing curiosity along the way to enhance independence and confidence as they grow. You’re not only building reading skills, but also cultivating a lifelong love of stories. With the right tools, strategies, and books, your support is the final key to raising a reader who is ready for every new chapter.
For more books like these, check out Bookstr’s Young Readers Recommendations.
To find the book series in this article and more, check out our Young Reader’s Escape into Fantasy and Sci-Fi bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
