Post Tagged with: "reading profiles"

When you’re trying to choose books for your own child, it’s really useful to ask kids with similar interests what they like. Chances are, there’ll be some cross-over. But it’s kind of hard to find just the right kid. So we’ve got a series of Profiles (click on Reading Profiles in the Categories for more) to help you with some great book suggestions.

Here’s a spunky, imaginative and extremely interesting seven-year-old girl with some great book choices.

PROFILE
Girl, almost seven, Canadian, reading above grade level.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Kooky, brave, tomboy

LIKES
Pokemon, animals, nature, computer games

FIVE FAVOURITE BOOKS
1) The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (the original, not the Disney version)

2) Unicorn Wishes and entire World of Wishes series by Carol Barton

3) Wild Paws series by Susan Hughes

4) The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

5) Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

6) The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Quite a charmer.

Here is a girl I know quite well. She’s a fun-loving, easygoing girl who has a twin brother (with a very different, albeit nonetheless charming disposition). If you know a girl like her, check out this girl’s favourite books and maybe your girl would like them, too.

PROFILE
Girl, 8, Canadian, in French immersion at school. Enjoys reading and being read to.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF/LIKES
Eight-year-old girl who likes playing with her friends, books, skiing and horses. And is charming.

FIVE FAVOURITE BOOKS
1. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy, by Jeanne Birdsall
Birdsall has also written a sequel (which this girl enjoyed), The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, and is writing a third book in the series. There will be five Penderwicks books in all.

This is President Obama and his daughter putting the book into backpacks for kids whose families are in the military. (The book for the boy-backpacks is The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan.)
Here’s a link to the Obama article.

2. Felicity Wishes: Secrets and Surprises, by Emma Thomson

3. Princess Lillifee, by Monika Finsterbusch

4. Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney

This very popular book follows the life of Miss Rumphius from childhood to old age. As a child, she decides what she wants to do with her life when and then achieves her goals – which includes searching for ways in which to make the world more beautiful.

5. Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, by Leslie Connor and Mary Azarian

The story centres around a young woman leaving the “old country.” The text begins, “She could have picked a chiming clock or a porcelain figure, but Miss Bridie chose a shovel back in 1856.”

“Oh, and why stop at five favourite books? I also like the Junie B. series, Clarice Bean, and the Ramona books.”

Playing in the snow.

Here’s a girl who’s 7, and likes art, ballet and spaghetti. She also loves books. Maybe you know someone similar, who would like the same books she does.

PROFILE
Female, age 7, Canadian, loves reading

DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Smart, creative

LIKES
Art, Disney World, spaghetti, ballet, soccer, horses and playing in the snow and on the beach

FIVE FAVOURITE BOOKS
1) Camping Out: A Shadow Story, by Lisa Allen and Julie Sharp

2) The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch

3) Eloise’s Guide to Life: or, How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave and Stay Six Forever, by Kay Thompson

4) Thomas’s Snowsuit, by Robert Munsch

5) Santa Knows, by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith

Want to know more about this post and the profiles we’re writing about? Click here.

Pippi meets Wednesday.

Some great teen fantasy reads

Do you know a teenaged boy who’s into movies, skiing and video games? Maybe he’ll like the same books as this young man.

PROFILE
Male, 14, enjoys reading

DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Funny, tall, smart, athletic

LIKES
Video games, books, movies, skiing

TOP FIVE FAVOURITE BOOKS
1) Percy Jackson and the Olympians (all 5 books in series)

Parents are always asking each other for book suggestions.
It’s a good idea, because what one child likes will often appeal to other kids of the same age and interests.

I’ve decided to profile some very different kids and ask them to share their top five books. When kids are forced to only list their top five, you get the absolute cream of the crop.

GKR readers will be able to compare their child’s interests to those of the profiled kids and they might find a new book that child would like, based on their top-five list.

I am sending out a request for profiles to my friends and neighbours. I’ve started with my son, getting him (rather than me) to describe himself. I think that his description is pretty accurate.

Interviewing him was really fun for both of us, and revealed some things about him that I didn’t know. For instance, he thinks he’s “a little lazy,” and “likes to show off.” I mean, I knew that but I didn’t realize he did.

I encourage you to interview your child(ren) using the categories below. Send us your results and we’ll post them on GKR. Not only will you find out what your child’s top five books are – a list that may surprise you – but you’ll likely learn some other things about your child in the process.

So here’s the first profile and his top five books.

PROFILE
Boy, 8 – reading level: above average/enjoys reading; Canadian

DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Athletic, energetic, a little lazy, I like to watch TV and play video games, I like to show off, I like to dance, I like eating, gracious, brave (ie, can perform in front of people).

LIKES
Physical activities, music (rock, pop and metal), TV and video games

TOP FIVE FAVOURITE BOOKS
1) Harry Potter
2) Mysterious Benedict Society (there are three)
3) Hamish X
4) My Weird School (series)
5) Archie comics

If you know a child you’d like to profile, please send me an e-mail (joycegrant (at) sympatico (dot) ca) and I will send you the questionnaire. Interviews take about five minutes, and are really fun. I’d love to have kids from all over the world profiled – we’ll all get some great book suggestions from each other!

It’s not your imagination – I’ve changed this post slightly. I’ve added links to the books, above. A couple of the websites have related games and activities, so they’re worth a look. -JG

Kids love to talk about themselves. Can you imagine how special a child feels when you sit down and ask him to describe himself – without interrupting or questioning his description of himself. And you’ll learn more than you thought about your kid and about yourself.
Photo: iStock photos.