17 Books That Kids Say Have Helped Them Find Their Own Voice
Reading is important for so many reasons. It’s linked to academic success, it builds empathy, it’s fun, it’s relaxing, it teaches us things. One of my favorite reasons to read is that it can help...
View Article12 Kid-Approved Middle Grade Books That Tackle Mental Health
“Mental health” is a weighty phrase that is loaded with different meanings for different people. On one end of the spectrum, it could suggest a call for taking deep breaths or reducing stress and, on...
View Article14 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced Fifth and Sixth Grade Readers
Does your reader love books full of complex characters and thought-provoking themes? Do they get excited when they discover a “really thick” book they haven’t read yet? Do they want to be challenged...
View Article14 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced First and Second Grade Readers
Finding books for young readers who are capable of reading beyond their grade level can often be a challenge — especially for first and second graders whose reading level assessments show they can read...
View ArticleWhy Kids Say They Love Fairy Tales
Almost any young person can tell you the basic plot of Cinderella or Hansel & Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood. What is it about this genre of stories that make them so memorable and so loved by...
View ArticleBrightly’s Book Club for Kids: The Night Diary
Welcome to the latest installment of Brightly’s Book Club for Kids, where we provide you with engaging books and book-inspired activities young readers can enjoy together. This month’s pick, The Night...
View Article10 Bingeable Series That Middle Grade Readers Love
If you want your child to read more, a tried and true strategy is to get them hooked on a great series. This can lead to endless hours of binge-reading and page-turning joy. The only downside of this...
View Article10 Female-Led Novels That Tween Boys (and Girls) Love
As I considered which books to use this year in my afterschool book club program for third, fourth, and fifth graders, I told a colleague that I wanted to make sure I included enough “boy books” in the...
View Article10 Books About Friendship for Tween Readers
What does it mean to be a good friend? Who do I want to be friends with and who wants to be my friend? What do you do when you get in a fight with a friend? These are universal questions that tweens...
View ArticleFitting In, Sticking Out, and Finding Yourself: 16 Books for Middle Schoolers
“You said that you didn’t even know why they had middle school, that there ought to be some government program where, as soon as kids graduated elementary school, they got scooped up and sent to a lab...
View Article12 Middle Grade Books That Celebrate Bravery
Bravery can take many forms in literature and in life. We witness it in everyday heroes who stand up to the local bully, secret spies that save innocent lives, and those who fight for causes bigger...
View Article12 Nonfiction Books Kids Will Actually Read
Over the past couple of years, you may have noticed your child’s teachers placing greater emphasis on reading nonfiction. With the adoption of Common Core standards in many states, elementary-school...
View Article13 Books With Resilient Role Models for Tweens
As a parent, I want to raise kids who are resilient and handle whatever life throws their way with courage and kindness. Research shows that having the skills to cope with hard things is essential for...
View Article20 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced Second and Third Grade Readers
Kids become independent readers at their own pace. There can be a variety of reading levels in a second or third-grade classroom, ranging from kids who are sounding out words to those flying through...
View Article12 Must-Read Fantasy Adventure Tales for Tweens
My 14-year-old son has devoured fantasy adventure novels since reading Harry Potter in elementary school. When asked why he keeps coming back to this story genre, he explained they are a great way to...
View Article8 Middle Grade Books for Animal Lovers
Kids light up when they talk about animals. Whether they’re raving about how adorable their pet cat is or why dolphins are incredible creatures, many young people show deep tenderness and care through...
View Article10 Buzz-Worthy Chapter Book Series for 6- to 8-Year-Olds
When you ask a kid what kind of books they read, you can see the beam of pride when they answer “chapter books.” They’ve graduated from “leveled readers” and now have a whole new world of mystery,...
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Holiday Book Gifts for Tweens Ages 9 – 12
I’m a big believer in the “4 Gift Rule” for holiday giving: 1) Something they want, 2) Something they need, 3) Something to wear, and 4) Something to read. As the founder of Bookopolis.com, you can...
View Article9 Middle Grade Books Sure To Change Kids’ Worldview
I love books that provide me with a window into another world. Whether it’s a story set in a country or time different from the ones I’ve lived in, characters dealing with tragedies and challenges I’ve...
View Article14 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced Fifth and Sixth-Grade Readers
Does your reader love books full of complex characters and thought-provoking themes? Do they get excited when they discover a “really thick” book they haven’t read yet? Do they want to be challenged...
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