Chapter Book Genres: Realistic Fiction

So, last month I focused on highlighting genres for our picture book readers, this month I’ll be focusing on newly independent readers and offering up some genre suggestions in the chapter book arena. Let’s start with what is a chapter book. While the term gets thrown around for any book with chapters in it for kids, it’s actually a bit more nuanced than that. Chapter books are actually a group of books that are written typically for the 6-8 year old crowd who have graduated beyond the easy readers and are looking to move up to the next step in their reading skills.

They are typically under 100 pages, have a larger font, lots of white space (think 1.5 or double spaced between lines), and often include a number of illustrations to help readers decode the text. And of course, they have chapters. What many people call chapter books are actually middle grade novels geared toward an older audience (ages 8-12) that are longer, have a lot more text, and may have fewer illustrations.

So, when I talk about chapter books on the blog, these books are what I mean – short, controlled vocabulary, and heavy on the illustrative support. Today’s book list highlights fantasy titles for chapter book readers. Realistic fiction titles are all about real-life settings and situations that can help kids navigate their own life at school, home, and with friends. Most of these titles, like many chapter books are part of a series, encouraging kids to get to know the characters and feel familiar with story. Kids that are reading at this stage often enjoy this level of comfort when reading longer stories with less reliance on illustrations and longer text. Check out these suggestions below and even more titles that I’ve talked about before!

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Chapter Book Genres: Fantasy

Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson

Keena Ford doesn’t mean to be a troublemaker, but sometimes things get out of hand. Lucky for her, it’s the beginning of the second grade and Keena’s got a clean slate. So when her new second-grade teacher, Ms. Campbell, mistakenly thinks it’s her birthday and brings in a huge chocolate cake, Keena realizes that she’s gotten herself into a sticky situation. She knows she has to tell the truth, but it’s not easy to turn down her very own birthday cake and a chance to wear a sparkly crown. How will Keena get out of this mess?

The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out by Kate Messner, illustrated by Kat Fajardo

Emma McKenna can’t wait for third grade at the brand-new Curiosity Academy. She’ll have a cool teacher who wears high-tops and science earrings. She’ll meet interesting classmates from all over Peppermint Falls. Best of all, she’ll get a fresh start after last year’s talent-show disaster left her with that awful nickname. It’s going to be the best year ever!

Then Lucy walks into Mrs. Z’s room.
Lucy, Emma’s best-friend-turned-enemy.
Lucy, who gave Emma that nickname and spread it all over school!
Emma’s fresh start is doomed . . . unless she can make friends before Lucy ruins everything.

So Emma sets out to be pals with everyone, just like her favorite animal, the capybara. As her classmates argue over the choice of a new school mascot, Emma stays quiet and doesn’t pick sides. (The last thing she needs is another enemy.) But maybe speaking up could be the thing that helps her really connect with her class―and saves her at last from third-grade doom.

Miles Lewis: King of the Ice by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Wayne Spencer

Miles Lewis loves science and sports. But when his teacher announces a class field trip to an ice skating rink to learn about physics, he isn’t so excited. He’s never ice skated before, and his friend RJ won’t let him forget it. RJ even challenges him to a bet: If Miles skates without falling, RJ will put a “Miles is the man” sign on his backpack. But if Miles falls, he has to put one on his that says the same about RJ. Miles can barely focus on the bet, though, because he suspects his beloved Nana has plans to move out of his family’s house—and that’s just too much to bear. Can he keep his cool with all the pressure from RJ while finding a way to make his grandma stay?

My Furry Foster Family: Truman the Dog by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Melanie Demmer

“T” is for Truman, tricks, and TROUBLE! Truman the black lab might be an older rescue dog, but he’s still got enough mischief beneath his collar to keep eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal-fostering family on their toes from morning till night. Chewed through and through, the playfully illustrated, Kaita-narrated chapter book promises plenty of canine fun.

Nina Soni, Former Best Friend by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Nina tried as hard as she could but still somehow forgot about her school project. Fortunately, a class lesson about Alexander Fleming suggests how she might make a great discovery—and thus a great project! But with little sister Kavita’s birthday party right around the corner, and her longtime friendship with Jay on the rocks, Nina has a lot to keep track of.

Ruby and the Booker Boys: Brand New School, Brave New Ruby by Derrick D. Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Brought to you by Newbery Honor author Derrick Barnes, eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), Roosevelt (10), and Tyner (9), the most popular boys on Chill Brook Ave. When Ruby isn’t hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she’s finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She’s sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings. She sings like nobody’s business; she has a pet iguana named Lady Love; her favorite color is grape-jelly purple; and when she grows up, she’s going to be the most famous woman animal doctor on the planet. She’s the fabulous, oh-so-spectacular Ruby Marigold Booker!

Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar

When Sadiq’s father leaves on a business trip, he worries he’ll miss his baba too much. But Baba has a story for Sadiq: the story of the Desert Star. Learning about Baba’s passion for the stars sparks Sadiq’s interest in outer space. But can Sadiq find others who are willing to help him start the space club of his dreams?

Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely.

When a new boy arrives in Stella’s class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Díaz has something to say!

Sumaya Solves the Woodpecker Problem by Aisha Ahmed

When Sumaya discovers a busy woodpecker in her backyard, she worries the bird could be hurting its head and neck. She sets out to create some inventions to help protect the bird. How will Sumaya solve the woodpecker problem?