Level M Books!

My earlier panic over not having any good Level M books to recommend to you has subsided. For ten years one of my strengths as an educator was matching readers with books they could read and enjoy, so I’m going to trust my intuition and not worry too much if I don’t have the level verified by some type of official leveling source.  And when I look at it that way,  as it turns out, I have a lot of books to tell you about that a Level M reader might enjoy.  Some are highly recommended, some are a bit disappointing, plenty are diverse, many are funny, in short there’s really a good mix.  So take a look below.  For the amazon link, should you wish to purchase the book, click on the image of the book. For my prior write-up including all possibly questionable content, click on the title of the book.

Highly recommended plus some personal favorites :
Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han

I’ve seen this listed as Level L but believe me, it’s got so much going for it your Level M reader won’t complain for one minute.  Han’s great writing, filled with figurative language, brings this young Korean girl and her dream of being Miss Apple Pie to life.

 

Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker by Megan McDonald

Stink is the younger brother of the famous Judy Moody.  In my experience, Judy Moody books skewed a bit harder than M, and also a bit harder than Stink.  I wasn’t expecting to like Stink as much as I did.  It was funny, had idioms galore and almost none of the gross out humor that I try to avoid.  I’ve heard that the Stink series varies quite a bit in terms of reading level, so if your reader feels overwhelmed by one of them, seek out another.

Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen

Frequently taught in schools, Molly’s Pilgrim shows the difficulties Molly faces in her new town.  In the end, her mother’s love and creativity end up showing her classmates a value lesson above their country.  This is a high quality book featuring a Jewish heroine.

 

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie DePaola

This actually a Level N, and I believe that, because I taught it for years.  But if your M reader wants a bit of a stretch, it’s a great choice.  The first two books  in the series detail Tomie’s life (this and Here We All Are) at ages 5-6 and are at times, hilariously funny.  They’d be an especially good fit for younger readers who are reading well above grade level.

My Father’s Dragon trilogy by Ruth Stiles Gannett

For students with a yen for a fantastical adventure, this trilogy will suit nicely. It has humor and an adorable dragon, how can you lose? I’ve seen it listed as Level M or N, so assume it’s on the slightly harder side of the spectrum.

 

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look

Ruby Lu is listed as a Level N by most services, but I think it would be manageable to a Level M reader.  Sure, the cover shows her in the middle of a pretty standard magic trick, but the one you really want to hear about is when she steals her parents’ car to drive herself and her brother to Chinese school.  Now that’s a magic trick.

 

The Snow Day from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

Funny, boasting tons of illustrations and a nice smattering of figurative writing, it’s just the thing to lure reluctant readers.  I think the series would appeal to readers of My Weird School or even Captain Underpants.

Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill

I can’t find a reading level on Jenny, but I’m pretty sure she’d work out just fine for Level M readers.  These have been a big hit with animal loving readers.

 

 

I can’t find reading levels online for them, but I strongly suspect Level M readers who love magic would enjoy books by Ruth Chew.  Many of them are being reissued now, so they shouldn’t be as hard to find as they once were.  The two pictured above (plus a few others) are reviewed on this blog.

 

Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes

Dyamonde Daniel is a quick study.  It doesn’t take her long at all to realize that there’s someone at the school who is way lonelier than she is.  It’s a nice picture of a boy/girl friendship.  Plus, you get to introduce your child to Nikki Grimes!

 

The Happy Little Family by Rebecca Caudill

There’s no way to find a reading level on anything as old-fashioned as the Happy Little Family, but it is the perfect transition series for parents who love books that bring on the sweetness and nostalgia.  Much easier than Little House or Betsy-Tacy or All-of-a-Kind family (and admittedly, more saccharine too), Rebecca Caudill’s Happy Little Family books are as wholesome as they come.

Ivy & Bean by Annie Barrows

Ivy & Bean is well loved by children and with good reason.  This team of friends gets up to all sorts of mischief.

 

 

All About Ellie by Callie Barkley

I was honestly surprised at how much I liked this book.  I expected it to be sort of your typical random series treacle, but the friendship issues that Ellie had with her friends rang really true and I think it would be a great choice for many readers.

 

Recommended:

Hey L’il D #1 It’s All in the Name by Bob Lanier and Heather Goodyear

I’m actually a pretty big fan of the Hey L’il D series.  There’s a lot of interest in them from sports loving kids and they work very will with struggling readers since they are not babyish in the least.

 

Hey L’il D #2 Take the Court by Bob Lanier and Heather Goodyear While I’ve only reviewed the first two, there are 4 books in the set.

 

 

 

Mr. Bear Gets Alarmed (After Happily Ever After) by Tony Bradman

A thoroughly modern take on what happens after Goldilocks leaves the three bears.  Provides some variation of genre for readers at this level.

 

 

Jigsaw Jones #4 The Case of the Spooky Sleepover by James Preller

 

If your child is the kind that becomes attached to and devours series books, this is a great choice.  The series is all mysteries, a great genre for excitement.

 

Freddie Ramos Takes Off by Jacqueline Jules

This is the first book in the Zapato Power series, in which Freddie Ramos receives some extraordinary sneakers and performs feats of everyday heroics.

 

 

Magic Treehouse #1 – Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

Okay, so the whole point of this month was to provide Level M choices that are not Magic Tree House, since they are so well-known, well read and well-loved.  BUT.  They are well-known and well-loved for a reason.  Much of the series provides a fun look at historical times, this first one is one of the weaker offerings, but lots of purists like to begin at the beginning.
Magic Treehouse #2 – The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne

The second in the series picks up where the first left off.  In all honesty though, readers can pick up any books they like in any order, it shouldn’t affect their reading of this series.

 

 

The Case of the April Fools’ Frogs by Nancy Star

Another safe but sweet mystery series that readers may enjoy.

 

 

 

All-Star Fever is part of Matt Christopher’s

Peach Street Mudder’s series which is a Level M (although on the easier side, for readers familiar with baseball). The Dog that Called the Pitch is a bit easier at a Level L, and is also part of a series, this one, featuring a dog who uses ESP to help him be successful at sports.  While these two series of Matt Christopher’s will be great for Level M readers, don’t trust sites that tell you the main bulk of his work is that this level.  Most of his sports writing is actually much harder, something I learned from years of discussing the books with readers.

 

It’s the right reading level, even if it’s nothing to write home about…

Fiona the Flute Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Scholastic has the reading levels of this series all over the map. This one was definitely on the M side of things.  I can’t say I have any personal interest in the series, but they are always popular with students.

 

Happy Go Lucky by Kristin Earhart  – A simple story for horse lovers. This will fall on the easier side of the spectrum and don’t expect any earth shattering plot points, but for an animal lover looking for a safe pick, this will do.

 

Stanley, Flat Again by Jeff Brown

There are quite a few Stanley books available.  There was nothing particularly special about this one.

 

 

June B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

I can’t say as I’m a Junie B. fan at all but many kids are.

 

 

 

Dan Gutman’s My Weird School series is listed by Scholastic as a Level O, but I’ve always seen them as an L, and the first four of the series are definitely something a Level M reader would breeze right through. I can’t say as I endorse them as they feature a deep abiding hatred of school and almost no positive female characters.

 

 

Pirate School #1 The Curse of Snake Island by Brian James

Ahoy matey! This is just the thing for your little pirate!