I’ve got great news!
No, really, it is great – my kind of great.
Ivy is reading books!
While Ivy has been reading all sorts for the last months, it wasn’t until very recently that she realized that if it was the right kind of book she could read the whole thing, by herself, the first time, with only a little help on the extra tricky words.
It’s awesome! Ivy’s reading confidence has grown exponentially in the last two weeks as she picks up book after book and reads them out loud to us.
All of course providing that the reading happens in a proper setting. A proper setting according to Ivy is one where nothing is too hot, or cold, or soft, or hard, or there are too many sisters, or dogs, or box elder bugs, or she is too tired, or too awake, or too bored, or too interested in something else… If any of that is the case, all bets are off and she will forget how to read the word “the” and everything else she has learned. At that point it’s better to smile and put away the books until another day before you end up contemplating selling her to the gypsies.
But that’s not my problem.
My problem is that my girl is too smart.
(It’s a pretty good problem, I admit.)
Ivy reads a book once.
All further “readings” are just memorized recitations using the pictures and occasionally, checking out a word for a beginning sound.
While this is impressive it’s causing us to go through a lot of early reader books. A LOT of early reader books.
We need more books.
This is where you come in.
For almost three years now I’ve been letting you know what my book recommendations are, now it’s your turn. I need help!
For all the talk I’ve heard about having a hard time finding books for boys there are a seriously lack of girly early reader books at our library. As you may or may not know, Ivy is girly. We need books with cute things, girls, princesses, silly stuff and fuzzy animals!
Right now Ivy has been reading the early reader Dr. Seuss books, Puppy Mudge, Biscuit, and a smattering of random things involving bugs and trains that she doesn’t enjoy near so much. So, my wonderful readers can you help?
What’s your best early reader recommendation? 
-Also, I’d like to note before anyone see’s fit to unnecessarily reprimand me that she rereads the books, practicing and gaining confidence many times before they head back to the library. I’m not a book reading, slave master that won’t let her succeed we just need some new material to mix in!
Behind the Willows 
Waiting for the reply from the best librarian in the world! The one that remembers what kinds of books her patrons love and when a new one is released she notifies the parent so they can put it on hold. The librarian that sends books to her nephews because she KNOWS they will love them.
I will look through my stash of early readers to see if we have any ideas. The Fancy Nancy books aren’t early reader books or are they?
Fancy Nancy has some that are early readers but they are still a little advanced from where he is at. I think she needs awhile longer gaining the confidence that she CAN read before I start bringing home extra challenging stuff.
And yes I am also waiting to hear from the librarian you speak of. Happens I had her in mind when I wrote the post and everything, no pressure now, worlds best librarian,we’re just all waiting…..
Going forward what could you do to support Ivy’s love of reading…. and Visualising….and imagining…. and becoming a creative individual?
Shakti
Hey, I thought I was the one giving the quizzes here! 🙂 But since you asked… I make sure she’s got lots of books around her, good reading role models and that she attempts to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast!
(Kidding on the last last one… she does that all on her own…)
Here I am! (Ha, ha, ha!)
Congratulations Ivy! Congratulations is a big word, but you should learn it because you may hear it again.
Look out Jessie! This may be “great news” now, but what about when your daughter starts censoring your blog? Those will be sticky years indeed.
The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems is one of my easy reader favorites. “Pigs Make Me Sneeze” has Elephant proclaiming “Great news!”
A blog that I follow is wakingbraincells.com. Tasha has fabulous reviews of children’s books and always has something new. I now NEED to read “Brief Thief” by Michael Escoffier and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo.
An award-winning-easy-reader-booklist can be found at the (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award website. “Hi Fly Guy” by Tedd Arnold is included in these award winners. If that is a success, check out the other Fly Guy books.
Another one of my picks is the Max Spaniel series by David Catrow, which includes “Best in Show.”
Kay Thompson’s character Eloise is featured in a Ready-to-Read series. Eloise is a little easier to read than Fancy Nancy, but does feature Godiva and Saks Fifth Avenue in “Eloise’s Mother’s Day Surprise.”
The Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet is a stretch for Ivy now, but don’t forget about these cows who wish for thumbs in “Minnie and Moo Go Dancing.”
One thing librarians can suffer from is “lack of knowing when to stop answering.”
The CCBC, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, at UW Madison has great reviews and book lists. Look for the list “MORE Books for Beginning Readers” on their website.
Read “Stop, Drop, and Flop in the Slop” by Brian P. Cleary and his other easy reader books.
Don’t forget the Bob Books by Bobby Lynn Maslen.
I love being on the receiving end of “lack of knowing when to stop answering” syndrome – when it comes to books anyways!
Thanks for all the great ideas! I’m going to have to write them all down before we head to the library or I”ll never remember!
Don’t forget any books by Syd Hoff– like Sammy the Seal and Danny and the Dinosaur! 🙂 I think most of his characters are male, but it’s not a “boys” book. 🙂