“Masterpiece” by Elise Broach is one of the Reading Kingdom’s recommended award winning children’s books. Melissa Gaynor explains why:
What You Need to Know:
• Masterpiece is an ALA (American Library Association) Notable Book and the winner of the Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year award.
• The importance of family and the beauty of a solid friendship are key elements that run throughout this story.
• Although this story about an 11 year old boy and a “talking beetle” will appeal to younger readers, the vocabulary (i.e. assemblage, sequester, chortling, arduous) and writing style are sophisticated and geared toward kids with a
comprehensive knowledge and use of vocabulary.
• Keep a dictionary close by to help those readers not familiar with some of the tougher words.
• Divorce is a subtle but meaningful subplot that will help some children deal with the issue.
• The mystery, although not scary at all, will intrigue young readers.
• I was a little hesitant to read about a bug, but Marvin turned out to be quite cute! Kids will enjoy hearing about his miniature world and the adventures that go along with being so small.
Summary:
James is a lonely 11 year-old boy living with his mother, step-father and new baby brother in an apartment in New York City. His mother pays little attention to James and when she does it is mostly for the wrong reasons. His dad is an artist who visits occasionally. For his birthday, his Dad gives him a pen-and-ink set and his life takes a surprising turn… James, his dad and Marvin become involved in a plot to set up and capture an art thief. Along the way, James learns a bit of art history, makes new friends, witnesses a real theft and helps solve the crime. As the story continues, James and Marvin’s friendship grows, and somehow they find ways to communicate despite the fact that Marvin never actually “speaks” to James. They learn to trust each other and work together to solve a problem. Broach delivers subtle messages about honesty, integrity and relationships that will leave the reader with an understanding they will find helpful in the future when they are faced with their own situations requiring good judgment. I read this book aloud with my own kids and am sure that the story and these characters will stay with them for years to come.”
Have your children read Masterpiece? What did they think of the book?
Do you know children who would to play interactive reading games? Then check out the Reading Kingdom. It’s our fun, easy-to-use, game-like online program that teaches children 4-10 years old how to read and write to a third grade level. You can sign up for a 30 day free trial, risk free!
Melissa Gaynor and Melissa Young live in a small town outside of New York City and have five children between their two families. Their children and a shared passion for children’s books brought them together as friends and business partners. Voracious readers with dreams of opening a children’s bookstore, they parlayed their passions into creating Sweet on Books and establishing themselves as two of the leading children’s book reviewers on the web.
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For young children who are not yet reading, there are a number of learning games for preschoolers that develop the skills required for reading.
Recommended learning game for preschoolers – Dioramas
Building dioramas with children is fabulous for developing their capacity for engagement in an activity, attention, family bonding and learning about different subjects.
This site teaches you how to make a diorama and this one gives you ideas for what kinds of diorama to create.
Requirements: Undistracted time with your child, simple art supplies, a place (like a kitchen table) to create your diorama.
Skills developed: Good family interaction, development of motors skills, attention
Visit our kids reading games page for more fun-filled learning games for preschoolers and older kids.
Try the reading program that’s disguised as a game! One of the best reading games for kids, the Reading Kingdom is an award-winning online reading program and game that teaches kids to read and write to a third grade level.
“My son adores the sessions through Reading Kingdom. Every night since his sign up he asks “When do my sessions start?” He doesn’t even realize he is learning, he thinks it’s an interactive game. Of course, I’m not going to tell him any different. The program speaks for itself when I say, sign your child up. They will WANT to do it.” — Hattie Ramos Bruner
Sign up for a 30 day free trial today.
I’m Lingo, the owl. You can find me in my favorite game of all time – the Reading Kingdom! Come play with me in the online reading program that’s disguised as a game.
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Do you have children fascinated by machines and objects? Then you’ll love the Reading Kingdom recommended learning activities for kids.
Explore Simple Machines! 25 Projects, Activities, Experiments by Anita Yasuda is an activity book for young readers ages 6 – 9. The book features 25 hands-on projects, activities, and experiments that introduce kids to the concept of “mechanical advantage,” and harnesses kid-power by inviting them to build machines of their own design.
Click here to download this excellent learning activity for kids: How to make your own movable pulley
Here’s what author Anita Yasuda has to say about this activity:
“Try this activity to pick magnets off the floor with help from a movable pulley. Have an adult help with the scissors.”
Are there learning activities for kids that you recommend? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for reading activities for kids online? The Reading Kingdom online reading program and game is great for teaching kindergarten reading, 1st grade reading, 2nd grade reading, and 3rd grade reading. Sign up today for our 30 day free trial. It’s risk-free!
Anita Yasuda is a qualified Montessori and ECE teacher who has lived and worked in many countries. A member of SCBWI, she completed her Honors degree at the University of Toronto. Anita writes nonfiction for both adults and children. Her work has been featured in Kahani-A South Asian Literary Magazine, and Highlights for Children.
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If children are reading the words, but not understanding what they’re reading, then they’re not really reading. Educators call this “word calling” and it is a significant issues. Reading comprehension is an essential component of literacy, and until children have mastered this component, they are not fully literate.
The good news is that with reading comprehension practice, this essential component is easily developed.
Ways to improve your child’s reading comprehension
• Read a story aloud to your child without asking questions
• Then, at regular points, start a short summary of what you have just read.
• Have your child complete (“fill in”) the summary
For example, “so the boy was hoping to get to the cave but he …”
• Then have your child say the complete (short) summary
For example, “so the boy was hoping to get to the cave but he could not find it.”
This gives children the opportunity to speak in long, sophisticated sentences and that does wonders for verbal skills.
For more reading comprehension practice, visit our reading comprehension activities page to download free worksheets.
And, sign up for our online reading program and game which teaches all six skills needed for reading & writing success, including reading comprehension! You can sign up for a 30 day free trial and the program will test your child and let you know exactly what he or she needs to do in order to achieve full reading comprehension.
One of the great things about Reading Kingdom online reading program and game is that you and your child can see results after just a few weeks of regular practice. We’ve found that the better children do in the program, the more they want to practice, and the more regularly they practice, the better they do. So how do you set up this “virtuous circle”?
3 Tips for Reading Success in the Reading Kingdom
ScheduleThe more regularly your child practices, the faster he or she will become a star reader. So make sure to set up a Reading Kingdom schedule that works for both you and your child. Pick a time of day when your child is alert and one that is available for practice 4-5 days/week.
Use a CalendarPut a calendar on the wall by the computer where your child practices the Reading Kingdom. Teach your child how to mark off each day when they have practiced. Kids love calendars and seeing how many sessions they’ve accomplished is a wonderful reward.
Missed SessionsIf your child misses a session or two (or more due to a vacation or other interruption), get back onto your regular Reading Kingdom schedule as soon as possible.
If your children are already experiencing the joys of playing the Reading Kingdom game, why not spread the love and recommend the program to a friend?
Jonathan Blank is the CEO of Reading Kingdom. He believes that reading is the most important skill a child will ever learn and he dreams of a world where 100% of children master that skill.
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