Not-So-Basic Beginner and Transitional Readers 

These fun and funky reads will surely get your hesitant reader ready to roll! 

Stop! Bot! 

 

Yang, James. Stop! Bot! Viking, 2019.$15.05. 40 pages. ISBN 0425288811. 

This bot is ready to roll! And if you’re at a real early stage in the independent reading age this one is great for you! With great sight words, fun illustrations and bright colors, your early reader is sure to enjoy this one! 

Safari Pug 

James, Laura. Illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. Safari Pug: The Dog who Walked on the Wild Side. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2017. $6.99. 112 pages. ISBN 1681198835.

Lady Miranda has her mind set on Pug seeing a lion so that must be accomplished immediately! As the two arrive at the safari many twists and turns take place when some little tricks take place. Although always weary of everything in life, Pug was up for the challenge. With a green and yellow illustration scattered throughout the pages, the light-heartedness of the story shines through. Will Pug be ready fro whatever Lady Miranda has planned next? 

The Princess in Black 

Hale, Shannon and Hale, Dean. Illustrated by Leuyen Pham. The Princess in Black. Candlewick Press, 2014. $6.18. 96 pages. ISBN 0763678880. 

Primm and proper? Forget tha! This princess is way more than what meets the eye. Princesses never wear black, but with her slick outfit and mask, Princess Magnolia is off to the woods to stop the big blue monster to stop him from eating all the goats. With a few words to each page and big bright illustrations, children will find this one a pleasant surprise!

Rez Dogs 

Bruchac, Joseph. Rez Dogs. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021. $6.99. 192 pages. ISBN 0593326229

Living through the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for many. For Malian, it was spent on the reservation with her grandparents, far away from her home in Boston. When a strong but friendly dog appears at her window, Malian finds a true friend. Not only does this book give us a look into pandemic life, but most importantly into the Native American life on the reservation. Grandmother and Grampa share the wealth of knowledge they have learned from all their years and guide Malian through her own journey of self discovery. The lyrical poetry is a beautiful backdrop for the important themes and messages sent in the novel in verse. We see more than just the day, but a peak into character's histories. In this extremely moving novel that is a great place to begin for mid to older readers, we learn more about one another and gain a sense of empathy looking through the windows of others’ lives.