We are always on the lookout for Middle Grade reading level books that my kids will enjoy. The Middle Grade genre is focused on young readers in elementary school between the ages of eight and twelve years old. The content of these stories are void of profanity, graphic violence and sexual situations with a focus on being age appropriate for this audience and normally features main characters about the same age as their readers who are dealing with life situations, solving mysteries or taking part in a fantastic adventure.
So my daughter was excited when we received an unexpected delivery at our doorstep promoting a brand new Middle Grade reading books series written with girls her age in mind by its author. Sourcebooks sent us the first book in Jen Calonita's Royal Academy Rebels series, MISFITS, along with some princess themed goodies for her to enjoy. This Middle Grade book series transports readers to the fantasyland of Enchantasia where all the princesses and princes of the kingdoms that make up this magical place are sent to a boarding school called the Royal Academy that serves as a training ground for the fairytale leaders of tomorrow.
MISFITS introduces Devin a young princess who is more interested in being a caretaker of injured woodland animals than one day becoming a queen. She is a reluctant student as her parents send the girl off the Royal Academy to prepare her for living the life of royalty. Things seem odd when the school's headmistress, a fairy godmother named Olivia, displays an obsession with preparing students to defend themselves against attacks from evil villains. When Devin asks if the students are going to learn how to actually rule a kingdom, Olivina becomes enraged. This sets Devin on the path to an unexpected adventure.
My daughter became hooked on this book right away when she first began flipping through its pages. She has taken the book to school to read everyday during her class's independent reading period and gives us progress reports on the story each night at dinner time. Based upon her enthusiasm for reading this story, MISFITS: ROYAL ACADEMY REBELS, BOOK 1 gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.
Click here to read an excerpt from MISFITS for yourself. For more information about author Jen Calonita and her Royal Academy Rebels books, head over to jencalonitaonline.com. MISFITS: ROYAL ACADEMY REBELS, BOOK 1 is available to purchase from Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Target, and Walmart as well as other places books are sold.
In Chinese astrology, each year is related to the zodiac sign of of one of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog or Pig. 2018 marks the 11th year in the current zodiac cycle making it the Year of the Dog. We received a mystery package in the mail that turned out to be from W. Bruce Cameron, author of the novel A Dog's Purpose which was also made into a motion picture, filled with goodies to help my family celebrate the Year of the Dog. It included treats for our puppy along with his two newest books → A Dog's Way Home and Max's Story. This was a paw-some surprise!
Our Boxer puppy was infatuated with the doggy snacks packaged inside a fortune cookie container that were included in our Year of the Dog Celebration Package from W. Bruce Cameron. She just couldn't get enough of those. The box also included a portable water bowl and a leash for our dog.
My twins are at Middle Grade Reading Level right now so they were really interested in reading Max's Story. This story about a little dog in the big city was written specifically for young readers like them in mind. One of four middle grade readers adapted from Cameron's New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey it is an enjoyable read for elementary school aged children filled with adorable illustrations by Richard Cowdrey. Max's Story also has reading and discussion guide at the end of the book providing some extra educational value for kids reading the book.
The kids also enjoyed seeing the movie A Dogs Purpose so they were really interested in the A Dog's Way Home novel we received. This book is also being adapted into a feature film heading to movie theaters. It is the story of Bella a dog that is picked up by Animal Control because pit bulls are banned in Denver which causes her owner Lucas to send her to a far away foster home until he can figure out what to do. But Bella, distraught at the separation, doesn’t plan to wait. With four hundred miles of dangerous Colorado wilderness between her and her person, Bella sets off on a seemingly impossible and completely unforgettable adventure home. This book is just a little bit above my son and daughter's reading level so we've been reading it out loud together. That has made for some nice family time together with even our puppy sitting in on our huddle as we read through A Dog's Way Home.
It has truly been the Year of the Dog at our home with us bringing home our first family pet a few months ago. Enjoying this package from W. Bruce Cameron was a nice way for our family to commemorate the Year of the Dog with our new puppy. For more information about this author and the canine adventures he has had published, head over to brucecameron.com. Also keep an eye out for the movie A Dog's Way Home scheduled to be released by Sony Pictures on January 11, 2019 starring Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Ashley Judd, Jonah Hauer-King and Wes Studi.
Reading comic books was a favorite activity of mine as a child. Unfortunately, as a parent I've found that many of the comic books being published today have content that is too mature or text that is above the reading level for my kids. So I was excited when Marvel entered into a partnership with IDW Publishing to create a middle grade reading level Star Wars comic book series that was age appropriate for elementary school aged children. I've been picking up IDW's STAR WARS ADVENTURES for my son and daughter and they've really been enjoying reading these comic books.
Based upon the success of Star Wars Adventures, IDW has now been given the go ahead to create middle grade reading level comic books featuring some of Marvel's most popular superheroes. Middle Grade publications are aimed at an audience between 8 to 12 years old (3rd - 7th grade) and tend to tone down violence plus exclude foul language and sexual content from their stories. The first series of this expanded Marvel and IDW collaboration will kick off with Spider-Man. This middle grade Spider-Man comic book series will debut in November of this year.
Following Spider-Man, IDW will begin publishing an Avengers comic book in December and a Black Panther series in January 2019. These middle grade comic books published by IDW will be release as monthly issues and trade paperback collections. They will be available at local comic book shops and book retailers across the United States. Will you be keeping an eye out for them? I know my kids will be!
A Geek Daddy's kids are at an age where they aren't old enough for Young Adult novels but have grown up too much for children's picture books. So as a parent, I'm always on the look out for Middle Grade books that will capture their attention and imagination. I wanted to share with you a great one my family discovered called THE SUPER LIFE OF BEN BRAVER.
Books categorized as Middle Grade are primarily meant for boys and girls between the ages of eight and twelve in third through sixth grade. Middle Grade books tend to be the literary equivalent of a PG movie where sexual content and swearing is limited but there is plenty of action scenes and silly humor to make the reading especially entertaining to its core audience. These books tend to have main characters that are around the same age as their targeted readers, incorporate illustrations throughout the story, and utilize sentence structures and vocabulary that are suitable for independent reading by elementary school aged children. These are the type of books my nine year old twins are reading right now.
My son has been engrossed by reading THE SUPER LIFE OF BEN BRAVER ever since Macmillan Children's Publishing Group sent the book our way to check out. The story which is both written and illustrated by Marcus Emerson has really drawn him into it. Every time I look around for the boy when he is home from school, I find him with his face buried in the book. Instead of flipping on the television or picking up his tablet to screw around with when he has had some free time, my son has been enthusiastic about reading THE SUPER LIFE OF BEN BRAVER instead. Any book that can get a kid to voluntarily want to read without being prodded to do it like this one has absolutely earns A Geek Daddy nod of approval.
The story follows the adventures of Ben Braver who is essentially an ordinary kid probably a lot like the children reading this book. All he wants to do is enjoy summer vacation watching television, playing video games and eating his favorite candy. Then one day, Ben hears someone screaming for help and like his favorite comic book heroes he tries to save the day.
Unfortunately, his leaping into action to put it simply ends badly. But it does lead him to a secret school where kids with super abilities learn to control their powers. Though Ben apparently doesn't have any special powers he is still offered a spot at the school based upon his bravery. Now he has the chance to become the superhero he's always dreamed of being.
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has kindly provided a book for my family to enjoy and another one that A Geek Daddy can giveaway. Just complete the entries in the form below before 11:59 pm ET on Monday, March 12, 2018. One lucky randomly selected winner will be sent THE SUPER LIFE OF BEN BRAVER from the publisher. Must be a United State or Canadian resident over 18 years old to be eligible for the giveaway.
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Full of goofy humor, wacky characters and zany situations this 320 page hardcover book is sure to delight any elementary school aged reader who has dreamed of being a super hero. Filled with eye-catching sketches and comic strips that compliment the story's text, Emerson transports readers to a fantastic place full of adventures and high jinks. Its bravo and humor make THE SUPER LIFE OF BEN BRAVER an entertaining tale which instills a subtle inspirational message that a person doesn't need to have fantastic abilities to be a hero.
My family loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies that are based upon Jeff Kinney's popular middle grade reading books. So you know we're excited that a new installment to the film franchise - The Long Haul - will be arriving at movie theaters on May 19, 2017! To share my family's enthusiasm for the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, I'm co-hosting a NOT-SO-WIMPY Prize Pack Giveaway. It is worth nearly $70 and includes:
$25 Fandango Gift Card
10 Second Challenge Wimpy Kid Game
Wimpy Kid Mad Libs
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Hardcover Book
Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
Wimpy Kid Practical Joke Kit
Synopsis:
In “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul,” a Heffley family road trip to attend Meemaw’s 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course thanks to Greg’s newest scheme to get to a video gaming convention. Based on one of the best-selling book series of all time, this family cross-country adventure turns into an experience the Heffleys will never forget.
** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review **
My eight year old twins are at an age where they've moved beyond early reader books but aren't yet ready for adult novels yet. They are reading at what is called the Middle-Grade level. These books are aimed at children 8 - 12 years old (Grades 2 - 5), often referred to as tweens, and include lots of illustrations to enhance the reading experience plus the subject matter is specifically written to cater to this age group. Middle-Grade publications tend to be shorter than normal books, no more than 50,000 words (compared to 75,000+) and are not permitted to contain profanity, graphic violence or sexual situations. Our family is always on the look out for Middle-Grade Reads that will capture my kids attention.
HarperCollins kindly sent my kids complimentary editions of two recently published Middle-Grade books, OLGA AND THE SMELLY THING FROM NOWHERE by Elise Gravel and STICK CAT: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES by Tom Watson, to check out. My daughter and son haven't put these books down since we got them in the mail. At the age when parents start get some friction from children about spending time reading, it has been great to see my kids immersing themselves in these middle-grade reads.
To share my kids enthusiasm for these books, A Geek Daddy has an OODLES OF DOODLES prize pack courtesy of HarperCollins to giveaway. It includes copies of Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties and Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere, art prints from each of these book's creators, a notebook to doodle in, and a colored pencil set.
To be eligible to win complete the entries below before May 12, 2017 at 11:59pm. Must be a U.S. resident over 18 years old to participate in this giveaway. One winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.
My daughter LOVES this book! She says it is hilarious. I am excited as a parent by this book because its been awhile since I've seen her as enamored with reading as she has been since getting her hands on OLGA AND THE SMELLY THINGS FROM NOWHERE.
In the story, Olga finds a creature in her garbage can one day and all it says is "MEH!" It won't eat, it won't sleep, it snores, it stinks and Olga studies it like mad. She adores it and eventually names it after herself --> an OLGAMUS. A trip to the library reveals little, while a trip to the local grocery store proves successful when Olga discovers Meh's favorite food is olives!
Her adventures with Meh take place over a few days and during that time Olga's life is never dull. Readers progress through Olga's journal as she reveals a great deal of information not only about herself, but also concerning everything from the scientific method to Jane Goodall. She also documents her favorite odd creatures along with things like the ins and outs of friendships with entries that seem to have my daughter constantly chuckling.
The author, Elise Gravel, is an award winning author/illustrator from Quebec who is well known in Canada for her wacky picture books. Having studied graphic design in college, Gravel has carried over a tendency to incorporate text here and there within her drawings in her career as a literary illustrator. She is inspired by social causes and you should be prepared to find a good dose of eccentricity within her work.
My son gravitated to STICK CAT: A TALE OF TWO KITTIES when these books arrived in the mail from HarperCollins. He loves to draw and has been tirelessly working on sketches that replicate the artwork found in the book. This book is heavily illustrated with young readers in mind making it a perfect fit for him.
In this story it's a big day in the big city for Stick Cat and his best friend Edith. There are treasures to hunt, songs to sing, pigeons to catch, and naps to take. But way up on the 23rd floor, danger lurks just around the corner. Terrible noises and violent crashes trap a desperate man in the building across the alley. Stick Cat will need to navigate his way across the alley -- an around Edith's peculiar ways -- to attempt a rescue.
The author,Tom Watson, lives in Chicago with his wife, daughter, and son. He is the
author of the Stick Dog series and now is starting a Stick Cat series. This is the first
book in that series. Tom does not have a cat. So his ideas for the Stick Cat
series come from a whole different place. He’s not sure where that place is
exactly, but he knows it’s kind of strange there. While he has your
attention, Tom would like to make one thing perfectly clear: There are not
going to be any other stick animal books. There won’t be a Stick Monkey, for
instance. Or Stick Chicken (even though that’s fun to say) or even Stick
Giraffe (even though that would be fun to draw). He’s having plenty of fun
just with dogs and cats.
OLGA AND THE SMELLY THINGS FROM NOWHERE and STICK CAT: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES are available to purchase at retailers now. For additional suggestions of Middle-Grade reading selections available from HarperCollins, please CLICK HERE.
HarperCollins Publishers is the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Headquartered in New York City, it has publishing operations in
18 countries. This two hundred year old company publishes approximately
10,000 new books every year in 17 languages, and has a print and
digital catalog of more than 200,000 titles.
Disclaimer & Contest Rules: A Geek Daddy has not been
financially compensated for this endorsement or hosting the giveaway but
was provided the same items being provided as a prize for personal use.
The prize is provided by HarperCollins and A Geek
Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to our readers. Must be a US
resident over the age of 18 to participate. One entry per mailing
address and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.
If you have already won this prize through another blog participating
in this promotion, your entry will be disqualified if that prize has
already been awarded by HarperCollins. By
participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind
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reply to notification email within 48 hours by providing requested
contact information or else the prize will be forfeited and a new winner
randomly selected. HarperCollins will be responsible
for shipping the prize to the selected winner.
My family loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies that are based upon Jeff Kinney's popular middle grade reading books. So you know we're excited that a new installment to the film franchise - The Long Haul - will be arriving at movie theaters on May 19, 2017! To share my family's enthusiasm for the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, I'm co-hosting a NOT-SO-WIMPY Prize Pack Giveaway. It is worth nearly $70 and includes:
