“It’s essential to keep kids enchanted with reading, especially at this transitional age,” says Joanne Schwartz, children’s librarian at Toronto’s renowned Lillian H. Smith Library. Luckily, kids in this age group have an amazing capacity to stretch their imaginations while challenging their brains, making chapter books a natural leap forward for those who are ready, and intelligent picture books comfortable favourites for all. Here are some sure bets.

HUMOUR

Clementine (Hyperion) by Sara Pennypacker; illustrated by Marla Frazee

Clementine is like an updated Ramona Quimby ““ imaginative, with a knack for mischief. This is the tale of her bad week: she’s in the principal’s office, her mom is mad at her, and though she makes it to the gifted math class ““ “so far, no gifts.”

Mouse Noses on Toast (Faber and Faber) by Daren King

This more challenging book follows the adventures of Paul, a mouse allergic to cheese, and his friends, who (mis)hear that humans are eating mouse noses on toast, and vow to stop them.

PICTURE BOOKS

The Farm Team (Kids Can Press) by Linda Bailey; illustrated by Bill Slavin

Vivid characters charm in this hockey tale. The Farm Team competes for the Stolski Cup against the villainous Bush League Bandits: a nasty grizzly, Needles the porcupine and, in net, a skunk.

Peg and the Yeti (Harper Collins) by Kenneth Oppel; Plasticine illustration by Barbara Reid

This spirited story from a kid’s-lit dream duo charts plucky Peg’s trek to the top of Mount Everest, where she faces freezing storms, avalanches and ““ most dangerous of all? ““ a real live yeti.

POP-UP BOOKS

One Red Dot (Little Simon) by David A. Carter

Kids will have a ball trying to find the elusive dot on marvellously intricate “wiggle-wobble widgets” and “flip-flop flaps.”

The Perfect Pop-Up Punctuation Book (Dutton Children’s Books) by Kate Petty and Jennie Maizels
This fun and useful book teaches the basics of commas, colons and semicolons, with lots to pull on, pop up, spread and slide.

ADVENTURE/MYSTERY

The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean (Knopf Canada) by Alexander McCall Smith; illustrated by Laura Rankin
This intelligent, absorbing mystery series by McCall Smith, known for novels such as The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, follows nine-year-old detective Harriet Bean and her six extraordinary aunts.

Dragon of the Red Dawn: The Merlin Missions (Random House Books for Young Readers) by Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Sal Murdocca

Jack and Annie, from Osborne’s popular Magic Tree House series, return in these fast-paced, funny books about their escapades with Merlin the magician.

DRAMA

Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point (Douglas & McIntyre/FSG Kids) by Mary Quattlebaum; illustrated by Leonid Gore
This folk tale about the dangers of arrogance pits Colonel Lightfoot against the devil in a suspenseful dancing competition. Vividly rendered illustrations and rhythmic language make this a unique telling of an important lesson.

Laura deCarufel is a Toronto writer and editor who loves children’s books.

TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR YOUNG READER GET THE MOST FROM BOOKS

1. Keep reading to your kids
   Hearing a book read aloud allows children to take in more sophisticated stories than the ones they’re able to read themselves. Try classics such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit or Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
2. Create special times for reading,

   which kids can look forward to. Before bedtime is great, because it’s cozy and quiet.

3. Visit the library often

   Browsing the shelves promotes a kid’s sense of independence. Plus libraries offer author readings and other events, which help bring the page to life.

4. Introduce kids to their librarian
   ““ the perfect person to recommend, and talk about, books.
5. Use books for talking points

   When you’re familiar with what your child is reading, you can use the situations and characters in the book to broach topics you might not otherwise find easy to bring up.

6. Encourage kids to branch out from a favourite series
   Reading about new characters in new settings helps spark the imagination and stimulate the mind.
7. But let kids read what they enjoy

   If a reluctant reader only likes graphic novels or Archie comics right now, don’t sweat it. Reading for pleasure means feeling comfortable around books ““ a great step toward becoming a lifelong reader.