I know, you’re probably thinking, “What in the world are these Who Was books she’s going on about, and why is she addicted to them?” Welllllll, the collection also includes What Was and Where Is and What is the Story Of books too. It is a series of over 250 books dedicated to the most important people, events and places in world history and culture, right up to present times.

What kinds of topics are there?

Some examples include “Who Was Cleopatra,” “What Was The Boston Tea Party,” and “Where Is Easter Island.” Plus a WHOLE lot more ranging in topics from scientists to artists to athletes to wonders of the world–all significant in understanding the world.

I’ve added several to our shelves this year, but I started my collection several years ago. I love them because they teach important things about the world in a way that’s easy for kids to understand.

Each book is solely focused on the topic at hand–though they do include extra information that is relevant to the time and place that helps explain the person or thing or place. For example, “What is the Constitution,” gives a brief history of what was happening at the time, and what led up to the creation of the Constitution. Then it talks about some of the men who wrote it and how it was ratified and became the law of the United States of America.

Who are they for?

Whenever there is a person or a topic I think my kids should know about, I have them read one of these books. Written at about a 2nd or 3rd grade level, depending on the child, they’re great to read together or alone. The print is pretty large, and there are lots of pictures. Each book is broken up into chapters and runs about 70-90 pages depending on the topic. And adult can read one in about an hour, maybe two.

As we study each home school unit, I gather all of the books pertaining to our unit and include them in our reading. For example, right now we’re studying space, so I’ve added these to our reading list:
Where is Our Solar System
Who is Neil Armstrong
Who is Sally Ride
Who is Galileo
What is NASA

When we did our American Government Unit, I included
What Was the Boston Tea Party
What Was the Declaration of Independence
What Was the Constitution
Who Was Thomas Jefferson
Who Was Alexander Hamilton
Who Was Benjamin Franklin
What is a Presidential Election
Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.
Who Was Rosa Parks
Who Was Harriet Tubman
What Was the Underground Railroad
What Was the March on Washington

Whew…that was A LOT!
The kids (and I) learned soooooo much! They really made the things we were learning in our lessons stand out, while giving all of our topics even more context.
I am not going to list all of the books we’re going to be reading during our Europe Unit, or the ones we read for North America, because that would be even longer, but you can check out the full list at the Who HQ.

And, like I said before, they aren’t just history books. They cover popular bands like The Rolling Stones, authors like J.K. Rowling and artists like Dr. Seuss.

If you want easy to read chapter books that cover important subjects in pop culture, history and geography, I can not recommend these books enough!

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I love to gather my kids up on the couch with blankets and hot cocoa and dive into a good story; well, at least I did when they were younger. But, once kids age past picture books, but aren’t yet old enough for teen or adult fare, it seems there aren’t a whole lot of options unless you’re into Goosebumps…which my 7 year old is not.

That’s why I was super excited to stumble upon the Witches of Orkney series by Alane Adams. This is a prequel series for fans of Legends of Orkney. It’s about witches, obviously, can get you into the spirit of the season, and is perfect for middle-grade kids between 7-12. Younger kids will probably need to be read to, but older kids could tackle it on their own.

Ok, so what’s it about? Well, I’m glad you asked.

The first book is The Blue Witch. It introduces us to Abigail, an orphaned witchling, (young witch) who is starting her first year at Tarkana Witch Academy.

She wants to be a great witch, but she faces bullies and struggles to find friends. An even bigger problem–she’s going to fail out of school if her magic powers don’t show up soon.

In her quest to fit in, things don’t always go as planned, and she isn’t immune to influences that do not have her best interests at heart.

You can listen to/watch the author read the entire book, chapter by chapter, on her YouTube channel. It’s a fun way for kids to listen and each video auto plays into the next.

Book 2, The Rubicus Prophecy picks up where the first book leaves off.

Abigail is starting her 2nd year at Tarkana academy, taking her classes, trying to resist an evil spell book that wants her to use it, and learning about the famed Rubicus Prophecy–about the chosen one who will break the God Odin’s curse over the witches–as it becomes the talk of the school.

Once a mysterious ship arrives, she and her friend Hugo are swept up in a mystery quest searching for a missing object with a by from the ship. Then she learns she must stop the Rubicus Prophecy or everyone she cares about could be destroyed.

Book 3 is Witch Wars, and it’s brand new!

Since the end of the Rubicus Prophecy things have not been going well for Abigail. After throwing off the balance of powers between the witches, Gods and regular humans, she is determined to fix it before war erupts and destroys them all.

With the help of friends, she’ll have to outwit foes who are trying to stop her. But, the outcome is far from certain. Will Abigail and Hugo be able to turn things around and bring peace?

What I like about this series it that it’s a pretty easy and quick read for middle-grade readers. It’s a fun one to read aloud too. The books are full of suspense that isn’t too scary, but lends enough sorcery, witches and magic to make it fit right in with October fun.

Abigail is a nice girl who struggles following her heart when witches are “supposed” to be mean and hard hearted. It’s great for lessons on friendship, being yourself, overcoming challenges and learning a bit about Norse mythology too.

My daughter and I really enjoyed the Witches of Orkney series. The stories are a bit simple and not very in depth; and the world isn’t fleshed out fully, but they’re fun and there is always something happening.

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There’s just something about middle grade fiction that speaks to so many emotions. To the challenges and the process of growing up that make them essential reading.

I’ve also found that the character and plot development is often superior to many young adult and adult fiction books. Maybe it’s because they have to catch and keep a young person’s attention and so there has to be a real plot and interesting characters right away. Or maybe because they have to write more simply and straightforwardly than books for older people. Whatever the reason, I come away from my middle grade reads feeling satisfied. Like I learned something, gained valuable insights, or just had fun reading in a way that I often don’t with “grown up” books.

What makes must read middle grade book?

Obviously taste is subjective, and what one person loves another person could really, um, not. But, when books win awards for outstanding children’s literature, there’s usually a pretty good reason! Now, not all of these fall into that category, but many do.

A book is a must read if it has important life lessons that can help you grow and become a better person. The characters develop and change as the story goes along; and you as the reader grow and change along with them. The story often helps you as the reader look at the world from a different perspective.

All of these books are on this list because I feel they have these qualities. So, here are some of my must read middle grade books, in no particular order:

Witch of Blackbird Pond

Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, is one of my all-time favorite books. Speare is known for her historical fiction, and this one won the Newbery Medal in 1959.

It begins in 1687 and tells the story of Kit Tyler, an English girl born and raised in Barbados. She is the wealthy granddaughter of a prominent plantation owner. Kit travels to Puritan Connecticut to live with an aunt she’s never met and finds she doesn’t fit in with the very different way of life. She ends up meeting an old woman, who also doesn’t fit in, and they become friends. Will Kit learn to be more like her cousins, will she ever fit in? Prejudices and superstitions threaten from all sides.

I love it because it shows the strength of character Kit has. And that even though your beliefs may differ from someone else, judgments, prejudices and treating people badly just because they’re different is not ok.

Wrinkle in Time

Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle is the first book in a fantasy/sci-fi series that won the Newbery Medal in 1963.

It tells the story of Meg Murray and how she travels through space and time along with her little brother and friend to save her dad, who is a scientist, and has disappeared. They are helped by a neighbor who turns out to be a supernatural being. They travel to other planets and meet fantastic creatures on their journey.

It a fun story, full of challenges, surprises and requires a lot of emotional growth from Meg.

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli has been one of my favorites since I was about 12. It won the Newbery Medal in 1991.

This book covers themes of racism, inequality and how we have the power to come together as a community. It tells the story of Jeffrey, “Maniac” Magee who is an orphan boy looking for home when he stumbles upon the town of Two Mills, which is racially segregated east and west. He has a special talent for athleticism and being helpful to people, and becomes a local legend.

I love this book because instead of the main character really changing and growing a lot, its the others around him that he has a positive affect on. By being himself, and being ignorant of the tensions that divide his adopted town, he draws others together.

Wonder

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio is about a 10 year old boy with severe facial deformities who is entering school for the first time in 5th grade because his parents want him to experience the world and find a place in it outside his loving home. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell real friends from fake, to stand up for others in the face of bullies and to see people for who they are on the inside.

I love this book because it changed my heart and couldn’t wait for my kids to read it. It is filled with wit, wisdom and character-building precepts courtesy of English teacher Mr. Browne, that I think is a beautiful way for children–and adults–to find compassion for others.

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1978 and is a beautiful tribute to friendship and growing up.

It’s about 2 unlikely friends who create a secret magical–to them–place in the woods near their homes. Here they can play and rule in their land of Terabithia. Some of the book deals with bullying and understanding that people have stories that we often don’t know about, but should treat them kindly anyway.

SPOILER ALERT FOR PARENTS: Near the end of the book, one of the children dies in an accident and the other characters deal with their grief and guilt.

I love this book and recommend my children to read it because of the themes that it deals with and life lessons that the characters learn. From dealing with class differences, having compassion for others, and friendship, this story stays with you for a long time.

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt is consistently on lists of the top chapter books for children and has won several awards.

It tells the story of a wealthy girl in a small town at the turn of the 20th century. She is bored with her life, stuck behind the fence of her house and always made to act like a lady. One day she sneaks out to the woods across the road and sees a teenage boy drinking from a spring. She wants some water, but he insists she not drink it, and she isn’t happy about it. Finally he has to tell her why not–because it will give her eternal life.

The story is about immortality and how it may not be as great as it seems. It’s also about friendship and doing the right thing and what it means to be alive.

I love this book because of the simple, yet complex theme that it tackles and does so in such a concise and interesting way. It’s a short book, with prose that is easy to follow, but the story is engrossing and well done.

The Little Prince

Originally written in French by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince is a very short story with profound meaning about living life in the best way possible.

The story is told by a narrator, an aviator crash landed in the Sahara Desert. He’s trying to repair his plane when he meets “the little prince.”

The little prince has come from a tiny little planet where he lived alone with a beautiful rose. He decided to visit other planets to see if there was somewhere he might like better because he felt the rose wasn’t treating him well.

The book then describes the other planets and what he finds there, finally arriving on Earth and meeting the narrator. It’s largely a commentary on childhood versus adulthood and what makes life beautiful.

I love it because it’s simple, yet vague and can seem complicated at times. There’s symbolism and great life lessons to be taken from it.

The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry rivals Witch of Blackbird Pond in my favorites. Winner of the Newbery Medal in 1994 and is often read in middle school English classes.

It tells the story of a boy named Jonas as he approaches his 12th birthday in his Utopian community. Everything is planned out and organized to give citizens the best outcome.

After Jonas is given a unique job and learns from The Giver he begins to see his community isn’t all he thought.

I love this book because it is both exciting trying to discover what’s really wrong in this society. It’s also terrifying once you discover what is happening. It also shows you what can happen when one person is willing to stand up for what he believes in.

There are 3 other books in the series, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and The Son that follow the characters that Lowry wrote several years later that I highly recommend.

This list is by no means complete, but these must read middle grade books are a great place to start! What are your favorite middle-grade reads? Tell me in the comments below!

The post 8 Must Read Middle Grade Books appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

Also, I don’t like committing to subscriptions unless it’s for a gift or something, because with 3 kids, the monthly cost really adds up.

But, the more I looked into it, I saw how different it was from others and that I needed it in my life…I mean, my kids’ lives.

What is the Literati Book Club Box?

Well, it’s a box full of books that arrives on your doorstep every month. Pretty cool, huh?! Especially right now since most libraries are closed and heading to the book store isn’t quite a thing. There are online book stores, including our own Vibrant Mom Books, but, what’s cool about this one is that all of the books are curated and chosen by professionals who know all about the best, most recent, most loved books. Yes please! (For more on how they do that, click here.)

Each month, a bright and happy blue box shows up at your door with five books in it. When you sign up, you select the age range of books you want your child to have. There are five different levels ranging from newborn up to 12.

What are the age ranges?

Each level, or age range has a cute name to go with it.

1. Neo is for newborn to age 3, and includes board books with bright colors and fun characters
2. Sprout is for ages 3-5, and includes picture books with fun, simple stories
3. Nova is for ages 5-7 and includes more advanced picture books with more complex stories and beginning readers.
4. Sage is for ages 7-9 has early chapter book series, graphic novels, nonfiction and activity books.
5. Phoenix is for ages 9-12. It has more advanced chapter books, new and classic middle grade novels plus some nonfiction and activity books.

Because my daughters are 7 and 9, we got both the Sage box and the Phoenix box.

What are the books like?

Honestly, I hadn’t heard of almost all of the books in the two boxes we received. It doesn’t mean they’re obscure or weird, just that I wasn’t familiar with many of them. I liked that because it exposed us to new authors and stories we may not have otherwise seen.

Let’s break it down.

The Sage box–for kids ages 7-9 contained a mixture of hardcover and soft cover books of varying degrees of difficulty. A couple of the books were too easy or not my daughter’s taste.

But, she was very excited about The Secret Rescuers and Henry Whiskers.

When it came to the Phoenix box, I was curious what kind of books they’d be and if they’d appeal to both my 9 year old and my 12 year old–and they did!

There were both fiction and nonfiction, hard cover and soft cover, and one book that I couldn’t wait to dive into myself. I felt like the books were just right for this age range. And, a mixture of a more popular book–Spy School, with lesser known books, like The Collectors.

What if I don’t like the books?

This may be my favorite feature of this book box and why I chose it over other options. The subscription is only $9.95 a month. Plus the cost of the books you choose to keep.

If you don’t like a book, or you’ve read it before, or already own it, just send them back within a week in the box it came in with the enclosed prepaid return label and you’re not charged for them. You only get charged for the ones you keep!

There is a price breakdown of each book on the included packing list so you know how much each one will cost.

The prices are always the same or lower than the list price on Amazon, so you don’t have to comparison shop.

Even better? You can skip a month or cancel any time. Being able to skip months is especially nice if you’re going to be traveling, or get a back up of books that you want the kids to read first. The flexibility the Literati book club box offers is my second most favorite feature after the price.

Cons

The one problem that I have with it is that I may end up spending more money on books than usual because I just want them all and don’t want to send any back!

In this case I’m really listening to my kids and their interests because they’re for them.

Final thoughts on the Literati Book Box

I am a fan. My kids are fans. There wasn’t anything about this experience that I didn’t like. I did have one question, that came up because I had two boxes. My interaction with customer service was a great experience as well.

My question was about if I should/could put the books that we were returning in the same box, or if they needed to be returned in the box they came in. The answer was that it’s easier for them to process if they return in the same box because the return label is associated with a specific box. If you do need to put them together, just write a nice little note letting them know which child’s books are which and it’ll be fine too.

You can also buy one time gift boxes with based on a theme if you want to give it as a gift. More info about that here: Literati Gift Box

I can’t wait for our next box, and I know my girls can’t either.

If you try it out using this link, right now you’ll get a $20 book credit on your account too!

Check out the unboxing video for each one below:

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Why is it better to read before watching?

Well, for one thing movies are pretty short, so they usually have to cut things out. Usually they aren’t things that are critical to the story–otherwise it wouldn’t make sense. But, they are often smaller parts of a story that are still good and important. Or they’re characters that you love that are removed or changed.

Another reason to read the book first is because it forces you to use your imagination so much more. You have to think everything up on your own. What does that character look like? How do you imagine the setting? What do you think that expression means? It uses way more creativity when you haven’t seen someone else’s interpretation first.

Once you’ve seen a certain actor in a role, especially an iconic one, it’s impossible to unsee them in your brain as you read–even if the actor or the setting have a different look than what is described in the book.

It can also help encourage some kids to read that might be a little reluctant–the promise of a movie reward can make it extra fun.

The Books:

1. Stuart Little

This book is about a little mouse who is raised by the human Little family. Being so small, it can be tricky navigating such a big world sometimes, but he does it with quite a bit of courage. His biggest adventure happens when he sets out to find his bird friend Margalo who has gone missing. This little mouse will have you cheering him on and believing in yourself.

The movie follows the book pretty well, but adds in extra things that aren’t in the book too.

2. Because of Winn-Dixie

This is one of our new favorites. Winn-Dixie won over all of our hearts just like he did the people in small-town Naomi, Florida where this story takes place. Ten year old India Opal is new to town and has no friends. When she meets a stray dog wrecking havoc in the local Winn-Dixie supermarket, she claims him as her own. Together they begin meeting people in town and making some desperately needed friends. This book deals with loneliness, friendship, loss, making choices and how we all need each other.

The movie follows the book pretty faithfully. There are a few extra characters, and the actors don’t look quite like the characters are described, but it does a good job. The girls rated this book here.

3. Mr. Popper’s Penguins

This book wasn’t on my radar (other than I’d heard of the movie with Jim Carrey a few years ago) until my first grader said they read it as a class at school. She convinced me and her sister to read it so she could watch the movie and we all loved it.
This is the story of Mr. Popper who loves reading about adventures and far off places–especially Antarctica, but has never been anywhere. Then he gets a penguin as an unexpected gift, and his family’s life is never the same. From the one penguin they eventually have several more and the whole family has a great adventure. It was written in the 1930s, so some of the details may be unfamiliar to children, but I found them as a nice way to talk to my kids about the past and how things use to be.

I recommend this as one of the kids books to read before watching the movie because the movie is VASTLY different than the book. Set in a different time period, events happen very differently. Mostly the basic premise is the only thing that is the same. The girls rated this book here.

4. Indian in the Cupboard

This book was written in the mid 1990s, so many of the cultural aspects regarding cowboys and Indians (Native Americans) are different than the way we’d speak about them today. I used this as an opportunity to talk to my girls about Native Americans and their culture, how we should be respective of other people’s cultures and how stereotypes can be damaging.

The story starts with a 12 year old boy Omri who gets a plastic Indian from his friend for his birthday, and the old cupboard and key he gets from his brother and mom. After putting his toy in the cupboard over night and locking it with the key, in the morning Omri discovered that the Indian had come to life.

The remainder of the story follows Omri as he learns what it means to treat others with respect–no matter their size, and how sometimes you have to stand up to your friends to do the right thing. There are additional books in this series too.

The movie follows the book pretty well, but rearranges things, leaves some scenes out and makes others a bit different. But, overall it’s a pretty good adaptation. The girls rated this book here.

5. Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web is a classic and Newbery Award winner for a reason. This tale of a beloved pig saved from being sold and killed (as many pigs on a farm are meant to be) by his friend Charlotte is sweet and heartwarming. We meet Wilbur as a baby piglet who is the runt of the litter and not expected to live. But, he’s taken care of by Fern, the farmer’s daughter, before he’s sold to her uncle when he gets bigger. On the new farm he longs for a friend, and finds ones in Charlotte, the spider in the rafters.

There are a few different movie adaptations. One is a cartoon, and the other live action. Both of them are pretty good at staying close to the book and make a great watch after reading the book.

6. Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

The C.S. Lewis classic is part of the Chronicles of Narnia, a seven book series all about, well, Narnia, a fantasy land just beyond the Wardrobe. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is actually the 2nd book in the series, but probably the most well known.

It tells the story of 4 siblings who are sent to a large mansion in the English countryside during World War II to escape the dangers of London. While there the youngest sister discovers a secret/hidden land called Narnia through the wardrobe in a forgotten room. She tells her siblings, but they don’t believe her until they find themselves there too. There is adventure, betrayal, tests of bravery, loyalty and treachery that make this book a classic and a series worth reading.

The movie follows the book pretty faithfully, only leaving out or changing a few things.

7. The Tale of Despereaux

I’m not one to like mice…at all! But, this little mouse Despereaux just makes you love him. His heart, his bravery and his determination make you want him to succeed no matter what. It’s the story of a tiny mouse who is unlike all of the other mice in the castle. His doesn’t cower and creep. He is curious and likes humans. But, by falling in love with the Princess Pea, and refusing to be like other mice forces a series of events that change the kingdom forever.

If you’re going to pick one of these kids books to read before watching the movie, this should be it. The movie is very different than the book. I actually happened to see the movie first and was so confused what was happening when I read the book because so much has changed. If you saw the movie, but haven’t read the book definitely do. I wasn’t a fan of the movie when I saw it, which made me not want to read the book. But, my girls picked it, and we read it and I just love it!

So, if you’re trying to get your kids to read more but they need some motivation, give these a try. They’re great kids books to read aloud for younger kids, and perfect chapter books for kids who are a bit older.

Have you read any of the books on this list? What was your favorite?

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Which is why it’s recommended to read aloud to your kids even after they can read for themselves. In our house we use the Read Aloud Handbook for suggestions based on age appropriateness and level.

But, sometimes having someone else read aloud to your child is really helpful too! Which is why we have Books with Britton. A series of picture books read by my 12 year old son who loves books and reading aloud to kids.

Below is the story One More Acorn by Don Freeman, author of Corduroy, and his son Roy. It’s about a squirrel who is in search of acorns for his family in Washington DC.

We hope you enjoyed this story!

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