Beginning Readers are just starting to read independently. They still enjoy picture books, but want to move on to more grown-up fare. Simple sentences, lively illustrations, and chapter breaks help ease kids into the reading process. This category contains chapter books and short novels that cover a broad range of reading skills.

See if you agree with our selections. See if you don't. Share your opinions with us at: talkback@kidsreads.com. Your very own favorites may just end up on future versions of this list.

NEW FAVES

A Kids Reads new fave is a recently published book that has already proved a hit with kids, parents and booksellers. These books have the potential to become classics.

1. MONKEY TROUBLE 
by David Martin
illustrated by Scott Nash
Candlewick, 2000
ISBN: 0763607711

A slip-covered collection of four small paperbacks feature short, patterned sentences, clear illustrations and appealing characters --- all elements that help brand new readers succeed from the start.

2. THE MISSING MUMMY (A to Z Mysteries #13) 
by Rony Roy
illustrated by John Steven Gurney
Random House, 2001
ISBN: 0375802681

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose can't wait to see the new Egyptian exhibit at the museum on Mummy Monday. But when the mummy and tomb treasures are stolend from the museum, the kids miss their day of fun --- and their sleuthing skills kick into high gear.

3. GEORGE AND DIGGETY 
by Maggie Stern
illustrated by Blanche Sims
Orchard, 2000
ISBN: 0531071723

George and his large, rambunctious dog, Diggety, manage to get themselves into lots of hilarious situations. See Diggety beocome a "sled dog" and struggle through a dog I.Q. test in this fun-to-read title.

4. MEET TROUBLE (First Friends, First Readers) 
by Susan Hood
illustrated by Kristina Stephenson
Grosset & Dunlap, 2001
ISBN: 044842455X

What's cute, cuddly, furry --- and big trouble? Why it's Trouble the kitten. Meet him in the two short and wacky adventures in this book for brand-new readers.

5. IRIS AND WALTER 
by Elissa Haden Guest
illustrated by Christine Davenier
Harcourt, 2000
ISBN: 0152021221

Iris is not happy about her family's move from the bustling city to the quiet (read boring) country. But all that changes when Iris meets Walter, a boy with a treehouse who becomes her first friend in her new neighborhood. IRIS AND WALTER, TRUE FRIENDS is the sequel.

6. THE CASE OF THE MISSING MONKEY (The High-Rise Private Eyes Book 1) 
by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Greenwillow, 2000
ISBN: 0688163068

Bunny Brown (a rabbit) and Jack Jones (a raccoon) are best friends. They also happen to be pretty sharp detectives, gathering clues and solving cases in and around their big-city apartment building. Snappy dialogue and some silly situations make this series great fun.

7. JUNIE B. JONES AND A LITTLE MONKEY BUSINESS
(First Stepping Stone Book)
by Barbara Park
Random House, 1993
ISBN: 0679838864

Come along for the funny adventures of spunky kindergartner Junie B. Jones. Titles include JUNIE B. JONES HAS A PEEP IN HER POCKET.

8. DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK
(The Magic Treehouse Series, Book 1)
by Mary Pope Osborne
Random House, 1992
ISBN: 0679824111

Jack and Annie's magic tree house sends them traveling through time. In GHOST TOWN AT SUNDOWN they visit the Old West, in NIGHT OF THE NINJAS they see Ancient Japan.

9. AMBER BROWN IS NOT A CRAYON
by Paula Danziger
Putnam, 1994
ISBN: 0590300180

With sensitivity and laugh-out-loud humor, Danziger chronicles the adventures of spunky fourth-grader Amber Brown as she deals with school friends and her parents' divorce. Titles include AMBER BROWN GOES FOURTH and YOU CAN’T EAT YOUR CHICKEN POX, AMBER BROWN.

10. THE NOT-SO-JOLLY ROGER (The Time Warp Trio)
by Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking, 1991, Paperback, 1993
ISBN: 0140346848

The three boys in these short chapter books discover the true power of reading. A magic book enables them to travel through time to have all sorts of adventures. Titles include YOUR MOTHER WAS A NEANDERTHAL and KNIGHTS OF THE KITCHEN TABLE.

11. D'AULAIRES BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS
by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Doubleday, 1962, Paperback, 1992
ISBN: 0440406943

This well-respected volume makes the stories of Zeuz, Hera, Hercules and the other figures of Greek mythology easy for children to understand and enjoy.

12. CATWINGS
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Orchard, 1988, Scholastic Paperback, 1990
ISBN: 0590428330

Kittens with wings? It could happen, especially in this enchanting fantasy story. Mrs. Tabby worries about raising her babies in their tough city neighborhood, so she sends them to safety in the country.

13. THE GIVING TREE
by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins, 1964
ISBN: 0060256656

A cherished old tree unselfishly provides a boy with everything he needs-shade, a place to climb, fruit-as he grows to a man.

14. SCHOOL DAYS: A Little House Chapter Book
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
HarperTrophy, 1996
ISBN: 0064420493

A series of short adaptations, which includes this title, is a great introduction to the classic LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE books about life on the Western frontier by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

15. MR. PUTTER AND TABBY FLY THE PLANE
(Mr. Putter and Tabby Easy Reader Series)
by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by Arthur Howard
Harcourt Brace, 1993
ISBN: 0152562532

Mr. Putter is lonely in his big house and yard until he meets Tabby, a purrr-fectly friendly cat.

16. HORRIBLE HARRY IN ROOM 2B
by Suzy Kline
illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Puffin, 1990
ISBN: 0140385525

Young readers will have a good laugh meeting Harry, the terror of the second grade, who likes all things loud, slimy and disruptive.

17. THE MAGIC LOCKET
by Elizabeth Koda-Callan
Workman, 1988
ISBN: 0894806025

Koda-Callan's sweet book of dreams and friendship would be a winner even without the gold-toned locket which comes packaged with it. But for little girls, the chain and bauble help bring the magic home.

18. READY...SET...READ-AND LAUGH
Compiled by Joanna Cole
Doubleday, 1990
ISBN: 0385414161

Collection of fun-to-read short stories by some of the best children's writers in the business.

19. FALLING UP
by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins, 1996
ISBN: 0060248025

Kids love Shel Silverstein's balance of the bizarre and the familiar. And while some catagorize Falling Up as nonfiction, the imagination behind the text defies simple definition. Fact or fiction, FALLING UP is fun.

20. THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS
by Dav Pilkey
Little Apple, 1997
ISBN: 0590846280

Captain Underpants, George and Harold's comic book creation, makes the other kids laugh, but makes their principal, Mr. Krupp, a little cranky.

21. GEORGE AND MARTHA: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends
by James Marshal
Houghton Mifflin, 1997
ISBN: 0395851580

All seven GEORGE AND MARTHA books, about the sweet and funny friendship between two hippos, are bound together here.

22. ARTHUR’S MYSTERY ENVELOPE
by Marc Brown
Little, Brown, 1998
ISBN: 0316115479

Arthur the aardvark (now seen on PBS) stars in a new series of chapter books. When the principal asks Arthur to bring home an envelope marked "Confidential," his imagination goes wild wondering what’s inside.

23. OWEN FOOTE, SOCCER STAR
by Stephanie Greene
illustrated by Martha Weston
Clarion, 1998
ISBN: 0395861438

Owen and his friend Joseph can’t wait to join the town soccer league. But they end up facing lots of challenges both on and off the field.

24. THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES
by Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking, 1993
ISBN: 067084487X

The team that brought you The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (the familiar tale from the wolf's point of view) gives a collection of traditional fairy tales a wacky twist.

25. RATS ON THE ROOF: And Other Stories
by James Marshall
Puffin, 1998
ISBN: 0140386467

Sly humor and vibrant artwork combine to make this a laugh-out-loud good time.

26. POPPLETON EVERDAY
by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by Mark Teague
Scholastic, 1998
ISBN: 0590847880

Three easy-to-read tales about the well-dressed Poppleton the pig and his pals.

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