Attention new readers - and parents!   Here's my annual list of the newest and most entertaining books written with you in mind.   A word of caution, however.   The levels of abilities vary from publisher to publisher.   So, it's up to the parent to make sure that the words inside of each book aren't too difficult or that there are too many words.   You don't want to frustrate your child by having the book be too difficult.   Remember, the ultimate goal of reading is for your child to discover the enjoyment of books that they can actually read .  

Let's first begin with the very newest reader. This is the emergent level which means that the books have a few repetitive words and the print is large. One of the main goals of emergent readers is to give the new reader a grasp of words, spacing, left to right tracking and the fact that they can read.

The "Miss Spider" series has a new 12-book reading set just out called "Read With Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends" .   David Kirk is the author/illustrator and children love his "Miss Spider" books making this a natural for new readers to be excited to read these bright and colorful books.

The "Viking Easy-to-Read" series has two new books, "My Pony Jack at the Horse Show" and "Tiny Goes Camping" , both by Cari Meister, are leveled at 1.   The first book is illustrated by Amy Young and "Tiny Goes Camping" is illustrated by Rich Davis.

An interesting non-fiction series that has fantastic photography is "Time For Kids Science Scoops" , by the Editors of Time for Kids and Brenda Iasevoli.    This newest edition, "Plants" , is leveled at 1, but should be between 1 and 2 and with help.  

The next 5 books are all leveled at 2.   The "I Can Read!" series, has a new non-fiction:   "After the Dinosaurs:   Mammoths and Fossil Mammals", by Charlotte Lewis Brown and wonderfully illustrated by Phil Wilson.   The reader will need some help with this.   The newest edition of the "Ready-to-Read Henry and Mudge" series is "Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip" , by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Sucie Stevenson.   The Viking series, " Easy-to-Read", has another favorite: " Young Cam Jansen and the Spotted Cat Mystery" , by David A. Adler and illustrations by Susanna Natti.   The "All Aboard Science Reader" has a non-fiction: "Do Dolphins Really Smile?" by Laura Driscoll and illustrated by Christina Wald.   The "Easy to Read" series with Oliver Pig has a new book:   "Oliver Pig and the Best Fort Ever" , by Jean Van Leeuwen and Illustrated by Ann Schweniger.

The next 5 books are leveled at 3.   The "I Can Read" books have another new "Minnie and Moo:   The Case of the Missing Jelly Donut" , by Denys Cazet.   " Viking Easy-to-Read" has a very funny "Way Out West with Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe" , by A.E. Cannon and illustrated by Elwood H. Smith.   Andy Shane's back with "Andy Shane and the Pumpkin Trick" , by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and illustrated by Abby Carter.   "From Slave to Soldier:   Based on a True Civil War Story" , by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Brian Floca, is an outstanding non-fiction.   Another "Time For Kids Science Scoops" is "Volcanoes!" by the Editors of Time for Kids and Jeremy Caplan.

The concluding books are chapter books which means they have mostly words and fewer pictures.   I'll begin the list with the easier chapter books and end with more difficult books that have more pages, smaller text and fewer pictures.   The following have colorful stories and wonderful pictures:   "Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways" by Laura McGee Kvasnosky, "Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole" by Wong Herbert Yee, "Houndsley and Catina" by James Howe and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay, and "Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride" by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.

The next 7 still have many pictures, but the emphasis is on the story, as the illustrations aren't in color.   As in nearly all chapter books at this level, all of these newest editions are a continuation in a series.   "Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker" by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, Eoin Colfer's "Legend of Spud Murphy" illustrated by Glenn McCoy, "Cal and the Amazing Anti-Gravity Machine", by Richard Hamilton and illustrated by Sam Hearn are all humorous stories.   "Andrew Lost with the Bats" by J. C. Greenburg, "Moongobble and Me:   The Evil Elves" by Bruce Coville and illustrated by Katherine Coville, "Fira and the Full Moon" by Gail Herman and illustrated by The Disney Storybook Artists and "Digory the Dragon Slayer" , by Angela McAllister are all fantasies.   Adventure and mystery will conclude the rest of the chapter books:   "The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean" and "Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats", are by Alexander McCall Smith and illustrated by Laura Rankin.   And here's the last, but not least, chapter book: " Akimbo and the Snakes" , also by Alexander McCall Smith and illustrated by LeUyen Pham.