- Published on
Time Cat
The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth
by Lloyd Alexander
Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
Lexile measure: 660L
by Lloyd Alexander
Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
Lexile measure: 660L
Time Cat is a delightful, imaginative short novel by American fantasy writer Lloyd Alexander. It tells the story of a young boy and his cat who are transported across historical eras and places, from Ancient Rome to the Incas in Peru. With a range of vivid characters, constant action and back-and-forth dialogue, Time Cat is fantastic at capturing young readers’ attention; at the same time, it engages them in a fresh retelling of significant eras in history. As the action moves from Roman Britain to Heian-era Japan to various other snapshots in time, readers not only learn a wide range of historical facts, but are also immersed in the atmosphere and subtleties of each culture.
And here are the reasons why we recommend this book, and what kids, at different ages, are expected to get from their journeys with Jason and Gareth.
And here are the reasons why we recommend this book, and what kids, at different ages, are expected to get from their journeys with Jason and Gareth.
- Published on
The Giver
The Giver is an engaging and meaningful novel within the young adult fiction genre by American writer Lois Lowry. It follows the young boy Jonas as he grows up in a superficially perfect but actually repressive society. As Jonas begins to push the boundaries of this society and discover the dangerous freedom of the real world for himself, readers are presented with a fascinating discussion of blissful ignorance versus painful truth.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
Movie trailer
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
Movie trailer
- Published on
A Bear Called Paddington
A children’s classic, A Bear Called Paddington has recently been made into a popular film — but the original book, written by British author Michael Bond, is very much still worth a read. The story follows the playful bear Paddington as he travels to London from Peru and is welcomed into a typical British family. Children will immediately fall in love with the character of Paddington who always means well, but whose clumsy ways lead to funny mishaps and relatable mistakes as he attempts to adjust to human life. Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
The movie trailer
The movie trailer
- Published on
The Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl comprises the real writings of Anne Frank, a teenager hiding with her family from the horrors of the Holocaust during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The book is a touching, raw introduction to the tragedy of the Holocaust and is an important historical text.
Since its publication, many schools across the world have included Anne Frank’s diary in their curricula as required reading, making the book an essential read for every young adult.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
Since its publication, many schools across the world have included Anne Frank’s diary in their curricula as required reading, making the book an essential read for every young adult.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
- Published on
Frog and Toad are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
Recommended reading ages: 4-8 years
Lexile measure: 400L
Recommended reading ages: 4-8 years
Lexile measure: 400L
A classic picture book by American children’s author Arnold Lobel, Frog and Toad are Friends follows the whimsical life of two animal friends. It is a collection of five easy-to-follow short stories that will keep young readers easily engaged. This is a highly accessible novel as Lobel uses simple vocabulary which is repeated throughout each story, alongside frequent accompanying pictures. The readability and fun storylines of this book makes it a great choice for a range of reading abilities: Frog and Toad can be read out loud to young children, read together with those who have just started learning, or read independently by those a few years older.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
- Published on
The Number Devil
A mathematical adventure
by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Recommended reading age: 10-13 years
Lexile measure: 580
by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Recommended reading age: 10-13 years
Lexile measure: 580
An imaginative, quick-paced novel, The Number Devil follows the dreams of twelve-year-old Robert as he encounters the “number devil” — a fictional creature determined to infuse the young boy with a passion for maths. Robert is teleported in his dreams to various landscapes that visualize a range of mathematical concepts from prime numbers to perfect squares, accompanied by the enthusiastic yet short-tempered devil. In this way, German writer Hans Magnus Enzensberger conveys the fundamentals of algebra and numerical thinking through an engaging storyline and vivid characters that children will immediately laugh at and love.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
- Published on
Hercule Poirot Mysteries
by Agatha Christie
Recommended reading age: 12-14 years
Lexile measure: 650L ~ 800L
Recommended reading age: 12-14 years
Lexile measure: 650L ~ 800L
English writer Agatha Christie, known as “The Queen of Crime”, has published tens of detective mysteries both thrilling and thought-provoking. Her most famous series follows Hercule Poirot, an eccentric Belgian detective, as he methodically solves cases all over the world. Though the plot of Christie’s novels often revolves around a mystery murder, the focus is on the detective’s reasoning and the facts of the case. Thus, the content of the books is appropriate for younger readers, engaging them intellectually rather than shocking them with gory details.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.
Below are the reasons why we recommended it and some post-reading questions and activities.