Melissa Taylor

3 weeks ago | imaginationsoup.net | Melissa Taylor

Ready for what’s new in early readers and chapter books. You’ll find some not-to-be-missed sequels, including books in the the Pumpkin & Beetle, Orris and Timble, Lone Wolf and Sky & Ty series!Lone Wolf Goes to the Library written by Kiah Thomas, illustrated by K-Fai SteeleFUNNY EARLY READERLone Wolf loves his library books but when he must return his book or be banned from every checking out one again. To his horror, he must brave the busy library filled with noisy and snotty children.

1 month ago | imaginationsoup.net | Melissa Taylor

Recently, Flying Start Books sent me a box of 96 Red Rocket Readers, their Decodable Explorers reading program for new readers that has a scaffold approach aligned with The Science of Reading and Letters & Sounds. If you’re teaching someone to read, whether you’re a parent, teacher, or tutor, you’ll want to know about these readers!I consulted with my reading expert friend Dr. Marnie Ginsberg of Reading Simplified about the Red Rocket Readers since not all decodable books are created equal.

1 month ago | imaginationsoup.net | Melissa Taylor

I’m thrilled to tell you that the most recent batch of nonfiction children’s books are AMAZING! After my discouragement with the recent fictional picture books, I needed to see some great books. Which these are– and you will love sharing them with your readers. The Secret Power of Animals written by Soledad Romero Marino, illustrated by Sonia PulidaANIMALSIn this rhyming board book for preschoolers, you’ll read about animals with secrets powers.

1 month ago | imaginationsoup.net | Melissa Taylor

The summer camp experience can be a positive (or negative) coming-of-age experience with opportunities to become independent and grow by doing new things and make new friends. I went to band camp and church camp and dance camp…So many camps! While sleepaway camp wasn’t my favorite for a variety of reasons — homesickness and mean kids, to name a few, many kids look forward to their summer camps all year long.

1 month ago | imaginationsoup.net | Melissa Taylor

Some months have so many new and incredible new middle grade books. Like this month, May 2025! Get ready for heartwarming realistic stories, adventures in fantasy and magic, and graphic novels you won’t be able to put down. I love all these books but starred my absolute favorites. Also, I have more May books to read so if I like any of those, they will be on my June review roundup.