Are you looking for a fun way to connect with your child over books? Start a parent/child book club!
As a school librarian, I helped host a 4th and 5th grade parent/child book club and was always so moved by the conversations and insights shared at these events. Books can be a wonderful way for kids to open up about problems they are facing or feelings they are having, that they may not have shared otherwise. It is also valuable for kids to see their peers as well as adults reading and chatting about books in a meaningful way.
I think upper elementary school is a great time to begin this sort of book club. Invite some of your child’s friends and their parents to join. You could meet monthly or bimonthly, taking turns hosting. Food always makes a book club more enjoyable. Keep it simple and order some pizzas or do a pot-luck.
Use these middle grade book suggestions to help get your parent/child book club started. As time goes on, you could have the kids bring ideas and vote for what they want to read next.
Reading Suggestions for Your Parent/Child Book Club
1. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
2. Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
3. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
4. You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly
5. Wonderby R.J. Palacio
6. Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
7. It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
8. Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
9. Front Deskby Kelly Yang
10. The Losers Club by Andrew Clements
11. The Benefits of Being An Octopus by Ann Braden
12. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
What middle-grade books have you enjoyed reading with the kids in your life? I’d love to hear. Leave me a note in the comments or let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @ABookishHome.
Happy Reading!
Laura Szaro Kopinski
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This is a great idea. I have been wanting to do this for awhile. The school year can get busy, but summer is a nice time to try this. I have a 5th and 6th grader so I really appreciate your book suggestions! (and all suggestions for books they may like).
I’ve been doing this one-on-one with my 5th grader. He became an independent reader very early, so it’s nice to be reading with him again. We trade off suggesting the books, so we have a nice balance of books about dragons and Shakespeare/Newberry award winners!
We’ve read some of the books on this list, but I’m definitely going to keep this list for my next turn. 🙂