Week 8: Beginning & Transitional Readers!

 Hello again, readers! This week, I am reviewing books for beginning and transitional readers! Let's begin!

    Hale, Shannon, et al. The Princess in Black. 

    Candlewick Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0-7636-6510-4

    For my first selection, I have chosen The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, published in 2014 through Candlewick Press. In this first book of a series, the Hales introduce readers to the protagonist, the Princess Magnolia, who on the surface appears to be your typical prim and proper princess who loves sparkly, pink dresses, but in reality, Magnolia is the titular Princess in Black, a vigilante who protects her kingdom from danger, enjoys fighting monsters and loves the color black instead of pink. In this Magnolia must balance her responsibilities as a princess to have tea with a member of her court, Duchess Wigtower, while protecting the farmers’ goat population from a goat-eating monster, all while making sure Duchess Wigtower doesn’t discover her double-life as the kingdom’s protector!

    After reading The Princess in Black, I place that this book is at level three. It is an early chapter book, with under ninety-page numbers and longer sentences, not quite reaching a full transitional book, but certainly more complex than level two and below books, being a fun, witty story for early elementary aged children from kindergarten to third grade who have begun to read independently from their parents and teachers. There are typically six-to-eight lines on each page, not extending over fifteen in a more natural sounding language, with the pages alternating between full, colorful illustrations complement the story as decoration, whereas text is on primarily white pages with margins taking more space than the illustrations.

  Elliot, Zetta, and Geneva B. Dragons in a Bag.

     Random House Children’s Books, 2018.

    ISBN 978-1-5247-7045-7

    For my second selection, I have chosen Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Eliott, illustrations by Geneva B., and published in 2018 through Random House Children’s Books. Eliott’s Dragons in a Bag follow the protagonist, nine-year-old Jaxon, who discovers his grandmother, Ma, is actually a witch and becomes her apprentice, helping her on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a hidden realm. After reading this book, I place it under transitional books. At a hundred and fifty-four pages, with fairly large typeface, minimal black and white illustrations which alternate every few pages, primarily white pages of alternating long and short sentences, and lines which typically go over eight words, I categorize this early chapter book as fitting of a transitional book for elementary school-aged readers.

 Keller, Laurie, and Mo Willems. 

    We Are Growing! An Elephant and Piggie Like Reading! Book.

    Hyperion Books for Children, an Imprint of Disney Book Group, 2016. ISBN 978-148472635-8

    For my third selection, I have chosen We Are Growing! An Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book by Laurie Keller and Mow Willems, published in 2016 through Hyperion Books for Children. A children’s book about a talking blade of glass named Walt who struggles with his self-esteem after watching his friends growing and seemingly becoming more impressive plants.  After reading this book, I place it at level one. My reasoning is that the book, just under fifty pages, is composed of sentences that are typically six words or less of two to three lines per pages. Additionally, words within the book seem primarily for the purpose of sight vocabulary, lacking the complexity and wit of higher-level books I have reviewed such as The Princess in Black and Dragons in a Bag.  

    Fenske, Jonathan. A Pig, a Fox, and a Box. 

    Penguin Young Readers, 2015. ISBN 978-1-480-67973-3

    For my fourth and final selection for this week’s readings, I have chosen A Pig, a Fox, and a Box by Jonathan Fenske, published in 2015 through Penguin Young Readers. A children’s picture book about two best friends, the titular Pig and Fox, in which Fox attempts to play pranks and hide-and-seek games with a box in order to tease Pig. Although the book itself classifies itself as a level two book, but based on my reading of the book, I would place it as level one instead. The book has simple sentence structures, with five to six words on average per page, and two-to-three lines on each page, with single syllable words which focuses on sight vocabulary. Each page is fill with simple lines and fun illustrations of eye-catching greens, blue and oranges which take up most space within the book, with little white space alternating between pages. It is an entertaining story for young readers, but one that does not have the complex writing and sentence structures, sparsely utilized illustrations or the direct dialogue of early chapter books for older children.