Today I am going to share with you four novels perfect for your first through third graders. The first two are part of the Circle C Stepping Stone Series by Susan K. Marlow and published by Kregel Publications. These are books 3 and 4. This series takes place in the Wild West during the late 1800s. (There are Circle C books for different age groups as well.) The first book is Andi Lassos Trouble.
In this tale the Carter family joins with some neighboring ranches to hold a rodeo. Nine-year-old Andi is very excited until she realizes they are talking about the cowboys competing and not the kids. Then when they add kid competition there is only talk of boys competing. She however is determined to train her horse, Taffy, to be the work horse and perfect her lassoing skills. However she runs into trouble and has many twists and turns. There are lessons about friendship, obeying elders and more. The books in this series share family love and Christian values as well as look at history. The book starts with a vocabulary list and ends with historical notes about rodeos. This is perfect for the horse lovers or history lovers in your life.
Our next book is Andi to the Rescue. In this book Andi's school teacher, Miss Hall, becomes injured and her mother is the substitute. Andi is not sure what to expect when her classmates see her mother as the teacher, but the first day goes well until the end of the day. As Andi and Mrs. Carter leave the school they are kidnapped by two outlaws. Andi struggles with why Mrs. Carter is letting the outlaws believe she is Miss Hall. The rough kidnappers take them to a small cabin where there is a notorious outlaw who is very polite and kind. He wanted the school teacher to teach him how to read so he can read the letters his estranged daughter is sending him. Will they be rescued or able to get away?
This story has more action and more religion than the other one. I actually found it a little more exciting to read. The book begins again with a vocabulary list and at the end has a bit about the real-life polite outlaw the character was based upon. Overall these stories are fun and perfect for young girls looking for adventure and ready to explore the Wild West.
Our next book is from Candlewick Press. It is They Didn't Teach This in Worm School by Simone Lia. This book is about a worm who befriends a chicken who thinks he is a flamingo. They are off on an adventure to Kenya because the bird wants to be with other flamingos. There is one problem--neither of them are very good at directions.
This book is hilarious!! I can see even reluctant readers enjoying it. I was laughing almost immediately as I read it. First there is the entire idea that a bird who looks like a chicken could think he is a flamingo or the fact that he befriends the worm he was going to eat for breakfast. Then the fact that they decide to travel and that the worm can read the map. It just keeps going from there. There are guaranteed laughs in this story!! I absolutely love it!!
Our final book is part of the Lumberjanes Series by Mariko Tamaki and published by Abrams Books. It is Lumberjanes Unicorn Power! It is illustrated by Brooke Allen. This story follows a group of summer campers at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types. The campers here are called Lumberjanes. Lumberjanes are dedicated to friendship, learning, caring and more. And the Roanoke cabin girls have quite the adventures including helping a unicorn find its herd. Of course nothing ever goes as they plan.
This book has it all--adventure, humor, unicorns and lots of girl power. This book shares plenty of strong leading girls. They work as a team and each has her own strengths. It deals with all sorts of issues with friendship, nature and more. It is a perfect summer read for girls!! It entertains and is so fun and humorous.
So I hope you and your lower elementary kids will check out these fun books! They are perfect summer reads or really any time!!
