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!
New Picture Books, New Chapter Books, & Magical Realism Middle Grade
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In my new business, Imaginarium Author Solutions, Ellen and I do a lot of school visit consulting for authors and illustrators. Last week, I observed several pretty famous authors/illustrators at their school visits. Not only did it confirm what Ellen and I are recommending, but I got a few new ideas, too. I love learning! But I had to share with you one thing I learned from Loren Long that BLEW MY MIND (because how did I not know this after being a book reviewer for 15 years!?). Maybe everyone already knows, and I'm just late for reasons... Are you ready? Picture book illustrators often put their illustration mediums on the copyright page! Yes, that's right. I never paid attention to the copyright page, but now I WILL FOREVER. If you didn't know, now you do! (Thank you, Loren.) New Picture Books, March 2025 (Ages 4 - 8)March brings us SO MANY funny read alouds, plus picture books about words, hair, and weather, just to name a few. You’re going to love this list of new books. Spring Read Alouds (Ages 3 - 8)Introduce your children to the wonder of the spring season with good spring read alouds. After you read, try the fun spring scavenger hunt! 10 New Chapter Books, March 2025 (Ages 6 - 10)Ready for new 2025 chapter books? I have some good choices for your readers, from fantasy to realistic, adventure to mystery. This newsletter is sponsored by Kids Yoga Stories The School Yoga Program is a 6-week, step-by-step training designed to help educators, counselors, and school leaders confidently bring yoga and mindfulness into schools. You'll get a clear roadmap, proven strategies, and hands-on support to overcome challenges like funding, buy-in, and implementation. By the end, you'll have a customized plan and the confidence to make it happen in your school or community. Register Today! Magical Realism Middle Grade (Ages 9 - 12)Since magical realism is one of my favorite genres, I'm excited to share my favorite magical realism books for middle grade readers ages 9 to 12. A Teen's Guide to the Best YA Mysteries (Ages 13+)My 14-year-old (going on 30) writing intern, Beatrix Marchall, from a local school called Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning, wrote a fantastic article about her favorite YA murder mysteries. I love it and hope you do, too. Mother-Daughter Book Club Discussions to Foster Empathy & More (Ages 6 - 12)Stefanie Hohl and Meghan Voss share how a mother-daughter book club isn’t just about sharing a love of literature—it’s about building empathy, resilience, and deeper connections. Happy reading! Love, Melissa Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | LinkedIn | Amazon | Blue Sky –> If you know someone who would like the Imagination Soup newsletter, they can subscribe here. --> If you're a children's book author or illustrator who does school visits, this FREE quiet signals download will help you with your crowd management. |
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!
One of the most important thing you can do over the summer is ensure your readers are reading DAILY. Why? Because regression is real. To that end, here are several ideas to keep up the reading motivation this summer. Start a book club! Read a book with a movie or show. Grab my fun-filled Reading Journal. (Shown above. Interior pages here.) Make a cozy reading nook. Get a headlamp or book light and read under the covers. Read to a new (stuffed) reading buddy. Let your kids spend $20 at the...
Happy June! Have you tried to gamify your reading before? Yesterday, my twenty-year-old daughter explained to me that she and her best friend love playing a bookstore game. They look for the weirdest manga book titles. Here are some examples:Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?Because I, the True Saint, was Banished, that Country is Done For! Fun, right? You can do this, too! Think about what fun bookish games you could play with your readers. Maybe at the library they...
I'm thrilled to share a sneak peek at my first picture book, TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION, which will be published on April 21, 2026 by Red Comet Press! How cute is this artwork from illustrator Aurélie Lise-Anne? TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION is a heartfelt and deliciously sweet story about food allergies, creativity, resilience, and the magic of family.Bursting with playful language, cozy charm, and a dash of culinary creativity, this story celebrates perseverance, problem-solving, and the loving support...