Book Delight with Chrissie Wright

In this booklist episode, Chrissie shares 13 chapter books that are especially fabulous as read alouds.

FEATURED TITLES

Sweet & Cozy

• OUR FRIEND HEDGEHOG: THE STORY OF US by Lauren Castillo
• CORNBREAD AND POPPY by Matthew Cordell
• THE APARTMENT HOUSE ON POPPY HILL by Nina LaCour

Silly Animal Stories

• RABBIT AND BEAR: RABBIT'S BAD HABITS by Julian Gough
• MEGABAT by Anna Humphrey
• FRANK AND THE BAD SURPRISE by Martha Brockenbrough

Magical Adventures

• FABLED STABLES: WILLA THE WISP by Jonathan Auxier
• THE STORY OF GUMLUCK THE WIZARD by Adam Rex
• FORTUNATELY, THE MILK by Neil Gaiman

Bigtime Belly Laughs

• DORY FANTASMAGORY by Abby Hanlon
• JO JO MAKOONS: THE USED-TO-BE BEST FRIEND by Dawn Quigley
• PETS RULE! MY KINGDOM OF DARKNESS by Susan Tan

Hopeful Horror

• THE SKULL by Jon Klassen

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this bite-size Deep Dive episode, Chrissie answers the question: what is a chapter book?

In this episode, she defines chapter books as books that are:

• highly illustrated 
• one big story told across several chapters 
• ranging in word count from 2,000 to 10,000 words 
• 150 pages or fewer
• written with readers ages 4-9 in mind

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Word Count Dracula blog post by Jennifer Laughran
• Literaticast podcast with Jennifer Laughran
• AR Book Finder for looking up word count of published kidlit

Books mentioned in this episode:

• MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE by Kate DiCamillo
• THE PRINCESS IN BLACK by Shannon Hale
• THE FABLED STABLES: WILLA THE WISP by Jonathan Auxier
• STARLA JEAN by Elana K. Arnold
• THE SKULL by Jon Klassen

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this episode, Chrissie shares her favorite reads from the month of September.

Articles mentioned in the episode:

• "Let the Kids Get Weird" on LitHub
• The Undies Case Cover Awards 2022 by Travis Jonker

FEATURED BOOKS
Picture Books

• BITSY BAT, SCHOOL STAR by Kaz Windness
• STICKLER LOVES THE WORLD by Lane Smith
• MY DOG JUST SPEAKS SPANISH by Andrea Caceres
• DUCKWORTH THE DIFFICULT CHILD by Michael Sussman
• 100 MIGHTY DRAGONS ALL NAMED BROCCOLI by David LaRochelle
• JUST ONE FLAKE by Travis Jonker

Graphic Novels

• THINGS IN THE BASEMENT by Ben Hatke
• CROSS MY HEART AND NEVER LIE by Nora Dasnes
• WASHINGTON'S GAY GENERAL by Josh Trujillo (adult nonfiction)

Audiobooks

• LUNCH LADY series by Jarrett Krosozka
• BEN YOKOYAMA AND THE COOKIE OF DOOM by Matthew Swanson

Middle Grade

• THE LOST LIBRARY by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

Current Reads

• SOMETHING LIKE HOME by Andrea Beatriz Arango
• CONGRATULATIONS, THE BEST IS OVER by R. Eric Thomas
• DOPPELGANGER by Naomi Klein
• ACCOUNTABLE by Dashka Slater
• THE ENSEMBLE by Aja Gable
• HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN LIVES NEXT DOOR by Cary Fagan

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this episode, Chrissie responds to 5 listener request for audiobook recommendations.

Books discussed in the episode:

Dragon Stories for a WINGS OF FIRE fan:

• THE LOST RYU by Emi Watanabe Cohen
• WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Grace Lin
• WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter

Fantasy Adventures for a HARRY POTTER fan:

• WINTERHOUSE trilogy by Ben Guterson
• EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH by Julie Abe
• ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS by Julie Abe
• TESSA MIYATA IS NO HERO by Julie Abe

LOL stories for an early chapter book reader:

• LUNCH LADY series by Jarrett Krosoczka
• STUNTBOY, IN THE MEANTIME by Jason Reynolds
• STUNTBOY, IN BETWEEN TIME by Jason Reynolds

Survival Adventures for an I SURVIVED fan:

• ALL THIRTEEN by Christina Soontornvat
• TWO DEGREES by Alan Gratz
• REFUGEE by Alan Gratz
• GROUND ZERO by Alan Gratz

Stories for 6th grade lunchtime listening:

• ALONE by Megan E. Freeman
• SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF by A.F. Stedman
• THE LAST BEEKEEPER by Pablo Cartaya
• SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE by Carlos Hernandez

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this deep dive episode, Chrissie shares 7 reasons why audiobooks are awesome, especially for kids!

7 reasons why audiobooks are awesome:

1. Audiobooks are inclusive.
2. Audiobooks are the same for your brain as reading on the page.
3. Audiobooks provide a model of fluency, expression, and prosody.
4. Audiobooks build background knowledge.
5. Audiobooks build vocabulary.
6. Audiobooks are fun.
7. All reading matters.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Shifting the Balance
• Learning Ally infographic - "Here's why audiobooks work"
• Daniel Willingham blog post - "Is listening to an audiobook cheating?"
• Daniel Willingham NYT article - "Is listening to a book the same thing  as reading it?"
• Sora
• Learning Ally
• Playaway audiobooks
• VOX books audiobooks

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

This month, we're exploring all things audiobooks.

In this booklist episode, Chrissie shares recommendations of 6 middle grade adventure stories that are especially awesome on audio.

Featured titles:

• MY READING ADVENTURES by Anne Bogel
• THE LAST BEEKEEPER by Pablo Cartaya
• COG by Greg Van Eekhout
• FENRIS AND MOTT by Greg Van Eekhout
• THE ADVENTURES OF A GIRL CALLED BICYCLE by Christina Uss
• A FEW BICYCLES MORE by Christina Uss
• SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF by A. F. Steadman
• SKANDAR AND THE PHANTOM RIDER by A. F. Steadman
• ALONE by Megan E. Freeman
• THE SILVER ARROW by Lev Grossman

Come back next week for a deep dive episode exploring facts and research that help us know that audiobooks are awesome.

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this episode, Chrissie shares 9 books she read and loved in the month of August.

Books discussed in the episode:

Middle Grade

• WHEN SEA BECOMES SKY by Gillian McDunn
• REMEMBER US by Jacqueline Woodson (out 10/10)
• THE CLACKITY and THE NIGHTHOUSE KEEPER (out 10/17) by Lora Senf

Graphic Novels

• SAVING CHUPIE by Amparo Ortiz
• EERIE TALES FROM THE SCHOOL OF SCREAMS by Graham Annable
• MISFIT MANSION by Kay Davault

Audiobooks

• ELF DOG AND OWL HEAD by M. T. Anderson
• MONSTER AND BOY series Hannah Barnaby
• CECE RIOS AND THE DESERT OF SOULS by Kaela Rivera

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this episode, Chrissie responds to 5 listener request for graphic novel recommendations.

Books discussed in the episode:

Comics for a First Grader

• REGGIE: KID PENGUIN by Jen de Oliveira
• SIR LADYBUG series by Corey Tabor
• THE WOLF SUIT by Sid Sharp

Comics for a Second Grade Class

• MR. WOLF's CLASS by Aron Nels Steinke
• GNOME AND RAT by Lauren Stohler
• DONUT FEED THE SQUIRRELS series by Mika Song

Graphic Novels for a 9-year old ready for a challenge

• JUNIOR HIGH by Tegan and Sara Quin and Tillie Walden
• MEASURING UP by Lily LaMotte
• THE LEAK by Kate Reed Petty

Middle Grade Sports Comics

• HOOPS by Matt Tavares
• SWIM TEAM by Johnnie Christmas
• DUEL by Jessixa and Aaron Bagley

Queer YA Graphic Novels

• THE PRINCESS AND THE GRILLED CHEESE by Deya Muniz
• STARS IN THEIR EYES by Jessica Walton and Aska

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this deep dive episode, Chrissie shares her journey to falling in love with middle grade graphic novels and gives six reasons why graphics are great.

Graphic novels build…

1. Robust vocabulary.
2. Empathy.
3. Reading stamina.
4. Comprehension.
5. A sense of accomplishment.
6. FUN!

Resources  mentioned in the show:

• Jarrett Lerner poster about vocabulary in graphic novels
• “Let Your Child Read Graphic Novels” by Nidhi Chanani in Parents
• "How does just ten minutes of free choice reading help readers?" by Pernille Rip on Instagram

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's monthly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. 

In this booklist episode, hear about middle grade graphic novels that are big on humor and bring a chaotic plot that keeps kids coming back for more.

FEATURED TITLES:

• GERONIMO STILTON graphic novels by Tom Angleberger (4 books)
• TWO-HEADED CHICKEN by Tom Angleberger (2 books)
• THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE ATE PIZZA by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris (2 books)
• OTTO: A PALINDRAMA by Jon Agee
• THE HUNGER HEROES by Jarrett Lerner (2 books)
• HAM HELSING by Rich Moyer (3 books)
• TRUBBLE TOWN by Stephan Pastis (2 books)
• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT choose your own adventure graphics by Jess Smart Smiley (2 books)
• YOUR PAL FRED by Michael Rex (2 books)
• SNOT GOBLINS AND OTHER TASTELESS TALES by Rob Kutner 
• EERIE TALES FROM THE SCHOOL OF SCREAMS by Graham Annable

Be sure to follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's montly kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.