Imagination Soup shares curated book reviews, book lists, and learning resources for parents, teachers, and librarians. As a former teacher, former literacy trainer, and a mother of two, you can trust my expertise in children's books, reading levels, developmental appropriateness, and education. Join my community of 35,000 subscribers by signing up for my weekly newsletter!
Fake Reading I Best Book of 2025 (So Far) I New Picture Books
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One of my daughter's nannying charges has been "fake reading" and lying about what she's read. So what can you do with a reader like this? (After you've determined there is not a reading disability interfering-- which often is why a child is more reading avoidant.) Reading helps readers improve. Therefore, our goal for kids is reading. Here are some ideas for positive motivation to encourage any or more reading:
The update on our "fake reader" is that the dad decided she will get a plushie after reading five books. My daughter says the kiddo is motivated and reading. Hooray! Best Middle Grade Books of 2025 (So Far) (Ages 9 - 12)If you're wondering what books to add to your home, classroom, or library shelves from the first half of 2025, here are my top picks. Best Picture Books of 2025 (So Far) (Ages 4 - 8)From humorous to poignant, here are my favorite picture books of 2025 so far. (Both fiction and nonfiction.) 5 Picture Books to Transport You to New Places (Ages 4 - 10)Picture book author Nell Cross Beckerman shares five sensory, virtual field trip picture books that will transport readers into their settings. New Picture Books, July 2025 (Ages 4 - 8)These are my favorite eleven picture books this month. I think you’ll find some good read alouds to share with children. In the next newsletter, I will share the newly published back-to-school books. There are a lot of good ones this year! Happy end of July! Love, Melissa Melissa Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | LinkedIn | Amazon | Blue Sky –> If you know someone who would like this newsletter, they can subscribe here. P.S. For tips on book marketing, school visits, and author branding, you can subscribe to my Imagination Soup Consulting newsletter here. |
Hi! I'm a Melissa Taylor of Imagination Soup.
Imagination Soup shares curated book reviews, book lists, and learning resources for parents, teachers, and librarians. As a former teacher, former literacy trainer, and a mother of two, you can trust my expertise in children's books, reading levels, developmental appropriateness, and education. Join my community of 35,000 subscribers by signing up for my weekly newsletter!
This summer, I started volunteering at a horse therapy (hippotherapy) barn. When I walk into the barn, the sounds and smells immediately make me feel more relaxed, joyful, and energized.Yes, I’m volunteering to give to others, but really, the experience is giving so much more to me. Do you have any experiences like this in your life? Melissa with Blondie at The Right Step New Nonfiction Books, August 2025 (Ages 4 - 12) Are you ready to see what’s new and wonderful in nonfiction kidlit that...
If your kids or students need a little bibliotherapy for back-to-school, today I'm sharing new and classic picture book recommendations about big feelings, making friends, the first day, and being themselves. Also, I want to thank you for choosing to read my reviews and not the AI snippets stolen from my blog and others. Unlike AI, I am real and taught elementary grades, trained teachers in literacy best practices, have a Master's in Education, and am the parent of two children. (One of my...
Last week, I zipped through a middle grade graphic novel. It took me about 40 minutes. It made me think about the difference in time spent reading and the number of words I was reading compared to a prose novel. Compared to most prose novels, graphic novels have fewer words and they're quicker in terms of sustained reading time. Both matter for growing readers. Ultimately, the more words a child reads, the better their vocabulary and reading comprehension will be. Don't misunderstand. I will...