Staff Favorites: Easy Readers

These easy readers are the tried and true; beloved by generations and still enjoyed by children today. Admittedly, they all could be counted in the series category, but favorites only went into the series section if the person specifically mentioned the set of books (like "the Ramona books" or something like that).



Amelia Bedelia

Oh, Amelia. The literal-minded maid who is forever getting into trouble. I loved Amelia Bedelia growing up, and so did many others (except for this one person who told me that she disliked Amelia Bedelia because she taught children to laugh at doing the wrong things....this was at another library). Upon its initial release, The New York Times Book Review enthused that "no child can resist Amelia and her literal trips through the minefield of the English language-and no adult can fail to notice that she's usually right when she's wrong."



Nate the Great

Another classic in the easy reader canon. While Frog and Toad and Henry and Mudge have their fans, they can seem a bit babyish to some children, especially boys. Thank goodness for Nate the Great. I can't say it any better than Booklist: "...Sharmat's tongue-in-cheek style is well-designed for laughter and easy reading."

Wiley and the Hairy Man

The sole title that isn't part of a series. This one is a complete unknown to me, although I'm definitely a fan of the author, Molly Bang. Kirkus Reviews gave it a good review when it was first published, noting the "touch of humor in [the] monster even though he's as ferocious a creature as you'd want to see."

Butbutbut....where are Frog and Toad? Henry and Mudge? Not to fear-they were named. You'll see them in the series section.