Part of finding good books for advanced readers is finding books that engage their brains. This isn’t just about complex vocabulary or richly turned phrases – it’s about books that make you think.
Non-Fiction is a fabulous way to get little brains chugging, and I think this is part of why so many kids who are advanced readers are drawn to non-fiction. It’s raw material to help them understand how the world works, and what cool stuff is out there. Really good fiction can also make you think, and I believe kids crave those kinds of reads – especially when they reach the 10-12 year old range where they’re catching glimpses of the wider world and want to know not just how it works, but why.
Why.
My most favorite question.
As a young reader, thinking books were the ones I loved the most, and as I writer I hope to create books that make kids think, as well as spin a good story. Ink Spells will be scouting for thinking books and reviewing them as we go along.
In the meantime, a great resource for non-fiction books can be found at Ink Think Tank (love that name!). They’ve compiled a searchable database, so that you can find books by grade level and subject area. Fantastic for kids doing research projects, teachers providing materials for said students, and parents who want to get more raw material for Junior’s latest obsession with sea-creatures that have tentacles.
Because you can never know enough about tentacles.
Enjoy the weekend! Ink Spells returns on Monday.