Early Chapter Books (and a chance to pitch your manuscript to a Scholastic Editor!)

If chapter books bridge the gap between early readers and middle grade, what exactly is an “early” chapter book?  It’s hard to say exactly, because every person, publishing company, teacher, parent, reader, and so on has his or her own opinion.  


But I would say that early chapter books provide even more of a scaffold than chapter books do. It’s almost like they are early readers with more chapters. 

In General- Early Chapter Books Contain:

·      Larger fonts than chapter books

·      Pictures on nearly every page (sometimes in color)

·      Shorter chapters

·      Less chapters

·      Lower word count

·      Even simpler plot

·      Most often a series

·      Reading level and interest level could be between 4-6, 5-7, 6-8.

Scholastic recently came out with a new line called Branches.

Branches is perfect for newly independent readers ages 5-7 and kids who are ready to “cross over” from beginning readers but are not quite ready for traditional chapter books.

Some of the components of Branches books that encourage ongoing independence as readers are:

• Accessible language and vocabulary

• High-interest storyline

• Relatable characters and situations

• Readable sentence structure

• Engaging format

• Broadens reading strategies and improves comprehension

Motivating Readers

A number of series will be published in the Branches line. Series books provide an added incentive because children love to read about characters they already know. The stories provide readers with a sense of satisfaction and familiarity, and readers’ comprehension skills improve as they revisit popular characters in each book.

As a teacher, these books are perfect for both types of readers. If you have kindergarteners or first graders they may be ready for something more challenging.  If you have a third grader that is a reluctant or lower reader, they could read a chapter book and feel successful and not feel like they are reading something too babyish like a leveled reader.

Check out these new early chapter books in the Scholastic Branches division.

Boris on the Move! by Andrew Joyner Meet Boris! He lives with his mom and dad in Hogg Bay. Their home is a van that once traveled all over the world. Then one morning, Boris feels a jolt. Could it be? Is the van really moving? Is Boris on an adventure at last?

May 2013I80 pages (full color)IWord Count 727

• LEXILE230L
• GUIDED READING LEVELM
• AGES5-7

Kung Pow Chicken #1: Let's Get Cracking! by Cyndi MarkoGordon Blue was just an ordinary second grader—until he became the SUPERHERO known as Kung Pow Chicken. Now Gordon must put his SUPERPOWERS to the test…. He is having a blast at the Fowl Festival, but then POOF! Feathers fill the air and naked chickens fill the streets. Is the EVIL Granny Goosebumps up to no good? Kung Pow Chicken is ABOUT TO FIND OUT!

January 2014I80 pages (full color)IWord Count 2362

• LEXILE490L
• GUIDED READING LEVELM
• AGES5-7

Looniverse: Stranger Things by David Lubar 
Ed is a normal kid. But when he finds a strange coin, his oife goes from beyond boring to beyond wacky. Brothers become pool floats, bedtime stories turn into real-life headaches, and ice-cream pops zoom into the sky! What can Ed do to stop the strangeness?

May 2013I96 pages (black-and-white)IWord Count 5735

• LEXILE520L
• GUIDED READING LEVELO
• AGES6-8

Lotus Lane Girls Club: Kiki: My Stylish Life by Kyla MayMeet Kiki! 
She LOVES creating outfits, hanging out with her best friends, and collecting facts. Here are some facts from Kiki's super true diary. 

Fact: I am a member of the Lotus Lane Girls Club.
Fact: I will one day be a VERY famous fashion designer. 
Fact: My new neighbor Mika is trouble--triple trouble! 
Fact: Even chickens must look their best. 

May 2013I96 pages (black-and-white)IWord Count 5487

• LEXILE640L
• GUIDED READING LEVELN
• AGES6-8

Missy's Super Duper Royal Deluxe: Picture Day! by Susan Nees
It's almost picture day, and Missy has her outfit all picked out. It will have ruffles, rainbows, ribbons, and sparkles! But Mom has a different outfit in mind. Will Missy's picture day turn into her worst day EVER?

May 2013I80 pages (full color)IWord Count 1599

• LEXILE500L
• GUIDED READING LEVELL
• AGES5-7

Monkey Me #1: Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey by Timothy Roland
Clyde is a kid who gets excited about everything. After eating a banana that has been zapped by lasers on his class field trip to the science museum, Clyde starts to feel weird. Now every time he gets excited, he transforms into a monkey! Only with the help of his twin sister, Claudia, can Monkey Clyde stay out of trouble.

February 2014I96 pages (black-and-white)IWord Count 4423

• LEXILE260L
• GUIDED READING LEVELO
• AGES6-8

The Notebook of Doom:
Rise of the Balloon Goons
by Troy Cummings 

Alexander Bopp has just moved to Stermont, and already, he thinks it is one creepy town. First, he finds a notebook filled with monster drawings. Then he starts seeing balloon goons—those arm-waving balloon men—all over town. Are they after him? And what's really in that notebook? Alexander is about to find out!

July 2013I96 pages (black-and-white)IWord Count 5649

• LEXILE490L
• GUIDED READING LEVELN
• AGES6-8

For more information about these early chapter books, check out their website: http://www.scholastic.com/branches/

Do you have what it takes to write one?  I know you do! And here is an extra special opportunity to pitch your manuscript to a Scholastic Editor!!!


We've got BIG NEWS! 
A senior editor from Scholastic who specializes in chapter books will not only serve as a guest expert contributor for the Chapter Book Alchemist course, but will also be accepting submissions from FIVE winners of a pitching contest amongst Chapter Book Alchemist course registrants! 


This contest is only open to those who register for the course by today!!!


Register now! http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/the-chapter-book-alchemist.html

Mandy Yates is currently an elementary reading specialist and children's book writer. She has an MFA in creative writing from Spalding University and has been published multiple times in Highlights Magazine. 

She is also assisting Mira in teaching The Craft and Business of Writing Children's Books. http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-childrens-picture-books.html, as well as The Chapter Book Alchemist  http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/the-chapter-book-alchemist.html .

Find some of her teacher resources over at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Yates.

And you can follow her on Pinterest, Twitter,and Facebook.