Great Kid Books blog - Mary Ann Scheuer

Do you know a kid who bounces from book to book, never really settling into a story? Several of my students struggle with picking books. They can't find ones that interest them that are at their reading level. One of my 5th graders, Carl, has tried out a new series and loves it: Return to the Library of Doom. He's sharing it with his friends, and it's spreading through his class. Return to the Library of Doom, by Michael Dahl, is a series designed for older students who still struggle with reading. The sentences are short, direct and clear. The action moves at a fast pace, with little distracting descriptions. There is plenty of spacing between lines, so kids can track the words easily. Best of all, from their point of view, the stories are creepy and exciting, filled with bold illustrations that remind them of the comic books they love. My favorite in the series is Killer App. When Carl first read this, he said to his teacher that it's the best book he's ever read. That's saying a whole lot from Carl, a whole lot. . . .This series will hook readers, it will keep them glued to the pages. . . .Watching my 5th graders pass them from friend to friend makes this Librarian smile.