Play With Me: Children's Books Ages 6-9 [Part 1]

By: Shannon Mallery, Program Assistant Sr. - Mature Adults

This week we will start the Play With Me ages six to nine book review series. In it we will review books that you can read to or along with the special children in your life over your device. We have chosen books that are fun to read and explore the magic of childhood, friendship and family.

Each week's "review" will be of two books suitable for children six to nine years of age. Children 6 and 7 years old will enjoyed you reading to them and children 8 and 9 years old will enjoy discussing the books that you both read independently.

Tips:

• Some of the books are not currently in print but can be found on used booksellers' websites.
• When reading to your child make sure you are in a well lit area and that your child can hear you clearly.
• All of the books are chapter books and will not have a lot, if any pictures so it will help when reading them aloud to remind your child who each character is.
• Read sections of the book out loud to yourself before reading it to your child so that you can practice adding emphasis as you read and maybe even develop different voices for each character.
• Jot down anything you enjoy about the book and any questions you may want to ask your child that relate to the story as you are reading. This way you will have some ideas for what to talk about with your child once you are both done reading the book.

Dragons in a Bag
By: Zetta Elliot
Cover illustration as pictured: Geneva B
Scholastic Inc./Random House Children's Books
Theme: Magic & Adventure
Main Character: Boy
Series: Yes - Next book available January 2021

Dragons in a Bag is the story of a little boy who gets pulled into a world of magic, adventure and dragons while his mom is away trying to save them from being evicted from their home. His "Grandma" is the one who starts him on this fantastic journey. The setting for the story is in a city and references city themes. It is an original tale that will appeal to boys and girls both. I appreciate that the story is both very real and very mystical. Making the reader feel that this adventure could happen to them. The author of the book has written several other children's books that take place in urban settings. The illustrator for the cover is from North Carolina and has illustrated several children's books. The main character of the sequel is a girl that is introduced in Dragons in a Bag and having read Dragons in a Bag I am glad we will see more of this feisty character. If your child's school works with scholastic Dragons in a Bag is available on line through them.

Zoey & Sassafras
Story By: Asia Citro
Pictures By: Marion Lindsay
Scholastic Inc./The Innovation Press
Theme: Science & Magic
Main Character: Girl
Series: Yes - 8 currently

Zoey is a little girl who like her Mom loves science. Sassafras is her beloved kitty companion. Together they find ways using science, to help out a lot of magical creatures. This series will get your child hooked and luckily has eight stories in the series. What makes these books a winner for me is that they highlight the combination of determination, love for science, magic and animals. It is a powerhouse of themes popular with the pre-pre teen crowd. Zoey and Sassafras are early chapter books and sometimes a fast read. They are great for reading aloud in just a couple of sittings but might be read through quickly by an eager independent reader ready to find out what happens next. There are some internet sites that offer learning materials (fairly inexpensively) made by teachers for the Zoey and Sassafras series that will allow you and your child to explore and talk about this book series more thoroughly and help build reading comprehension.

As early Winter turns the air frosty with some lower temperatures and early snow, inside activities will become the norm. So grab a hot cocoa, "ring" your child up on your favorite video platform and read a good book together. I hope this week's segment of Play With Me has provided you with some books you are excited to share with the children in your life. Next week continues the Play With Me: Children's books series. Until then Stay warm, Read a good book and remember to Play More with DPR!