When you have found a series that your elementary school reader enjoys, you’ve struck gold! Here are two of our favorite chapter book series for elementary school age children. With 12 books each, both series nurture excitement and accomplishment, and keep your budding bookworm reading. We also love that these chapter book series are great to be read by your child or shared aloud.
Chapter Book Series: According to Humphrey
Why mom approves: A pawsitively fun adventure with an ever curious, adventure-seeking hamster
The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney is a wonderful book for both girls and boys. It is book number one of a chapter book series (12 books in all, around $4-$6 each), and tells the story about a mischievous hamster (from his perspective!) who is a classroom pet. My children laughed a lot while reading this series. Humphrey meets a lot of interesting characters along the way and uses problem-solving skills to persevere. How could you not love a hamster who teaches himself how to read and write?
List of According to Humphrey, Chapter Book Series
The World According to Humprey
Friendship According to Humphrey
Trouble According to Humphrey
Surprises According to Humphrey
Adventure According to Humphrey
Summer According to Humphrey
School Days According to Humphrey
Mysteries According to Humphrey
Winter According to Humphrey
Secrets According to Humphrey
Imagination According to Humphrey
Spring According to Humphrey
Why mom approves: stories about a loveable, quirky girl who perseveres.
Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper features a female as a main character. But with her antics and adventures, we are sure Grace will be loved by both girls and boys alike. There are 12 books (around $6 each) in this series that feature Grace and her best friend Mimi. Grace is a quirky girl who faces problems that seem overwhelming. However, with a little fortitude and problem-solving skills, she overcomes her obstacles.
This is a great series for children just starting to tackle chapter books. Both my seven-year-old twins read the entire series in record time. Each book is a new fun, new and unexpected adventure. For instance, Just Grace Goes Green is about recycling.
When parents hear my husband is in a band, they assume we are a very musical family. Which we are, but I would say it’s more musically-inclined. While there is lots of singing, banging and guitar strumming with our stockpile of musical instruments and toys, most of it is in the enjoyment of hearing oneself make a joyful noise than anything organized. Even though I would love to recreate a Von Trapp family sing-a-long, too many of us want to be the glory hound (thank you to our friend for providing that image).
But, one thing we try to do is expose our kids to music, and music that my husband and I enjoy. A big event we have done as a family for the past four out of five years (from 1 child, to 2, and now 3 kids in tow) that seems to leave a lasting warm-and-fuzzy feeling about music is the Newport Folk Festival.
Newport Folk Festival: #FolkFamily
The Newport Folk Festival, held at the Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI, is in its 59th year of providing a magical music environment for festival goers. It’s mostly a no-fuss environment (no big theatrical stage productions) except for the stunning view of Newport Harbor.
And, this is a great festival to experience music with your kids. You can bounce from stage-to-stage (which have big screens, food trucks nearby, easy water bottle refill stations, usually a yummy snack bar to sample, and space to pop up a shade tent), and when you are ready for a longer break, park yourself under the Late July Family Tent.
Thanks to the sponsorship from Late July Snacks (and the incredibly yummy chips you can enjoy inside the tent all weekend long, plus the awesome arts and crafts tables provided by them that keep little hands busy), your family can see musicians up close on the Late July Family Tent stage. Like, you are eating a picnic and a bard happens to pass by your blanket – that close. Some musicians take this as an opportunity to sing old children’s songs (with crowd participation floating in the air). Others sing from their songbook. No matter what’s sung, hearing musicians in such a close, joyful, intimate, crowd-rousing setting, is sure to get little eyes opened wide to the amazing noises of music.
But you definitely don’t have to haul your family to a major music festival to enjoy live music as a family. Check out public school performances, performances by a local community orchestra or family concerts in a park. Kids can feel the enjoyment of music played, no matter the size of the stage.
Nurturing a Musical Environment at Home
At home, we try to nurture an enjoyment of music by creating a music-friendly environment. The main one is enjoying it ourselves – whether it’s my husband strumming a guitar, dancing to songs, or making up silly songs to made up beats. We also keep a big bin of musical instruments and toys in our family room, so little hands can explore and play whenever it strikes their fancy. Their friends know this music bin fondly, and when a big group gets together, you can hear muffled tooting and honking from the closed door.
For toddlers, preschoolers, and even early elementary-aged children, hear are our recommended toys and musical instruments and toys to kick off a musical environment:
Starter Kit for Musical Toddlers
Why mom approves: a perfect starter kit with lots of instruments to bang and shake
For toddlers and preschoolers, this bright-colored musical instruments kit from Ehome ($33.99) is a great starter kit. It features 15 different types of musical wooden percussion instruments that little ones can shake, beat, blow and tap. This kit is great for play dates, as there are 22 pieces, more than enough to share. And, the backpack makes for easy storage or for taking the toys on the go for a traveling, pint-sized musician.
A Guitar that Mimics the Real Thing
Why mom approves: little ones will love this mini version
Having a musical instrument and toy that looks just like the “mom or dad” version is a thrill for little ones. The child will want adults to play theirs while he or she strums away on the mini version. We like this Hape guitar (around $27) because it’s made of durable wood, and features strings than can be easily strummed and knobs that can be easily tuned.
Sometimes, just buy the real thing
Why mom approves: when it comes to a keyboard, buy one that grows with them
We adore those mini toy grand pianos for toddlers, they are too cute! But, if you want something with more staying power in your home (but not as big of a commitment as an upright or grand piano), look to an electronic keyboard. I know, as a piano purist in a previous life, I can’t believe I just typed that sentence. However, electronic keyboards have come a long way since I was a child in the ’80s. The weighted keys, especially those found on the Casio Privia PX160 ($499), feature a touch response and feel similar to traditional pianos. It will win you over. This piano will grow with a child – from banging on it as a toddler, to making up songs as a preschooler, to starting lessons as a early elementary school student.
Skeet, Skat – a Mini Jazz Band
Why mom approves: these wind and brass instruments are a riot
The mini clarinet, trumpet and saxophone ($35.99) are sure to be a big musical instrument hit, especially for preschoolers. Little ones are familiar with drums, pianos, even guitars, but it’s the novelty of these instruments (that maybe a favorite book or television show character plays) that will make these one of the most selected instruments from the music bin. When it comes to play brass and wind instruments, the sounds from these are less tinny and more of a honk. These musical instruments do have colored keys so little ones could technically learn one of the songs provided in the box. Whether a song is learned or not, they will look ever the part of a jazz musician with these.
Bluetooth Microphone
Why mom approves: the child will love singing along to favorite songs
If you know a 4 to 6 (or even older) year old who loves to sing, this Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone ($30.99) will be a hit. You can easily synch your phone through Bluetooth, and soon, Imagine Dragon’s ‘Thunder’ or Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ is being belted. Don’t be surprised if mom and dad will want a turn.
Cajon
Why mom approves: an all-in one percussion instrument
We first saw this percussion instrument at a singer/songwriter night. The stage was small at the coffee house/wine bar; however one of the musicians was playing this “box” which I found out later was called a cajon. It plays bass and snare sounds, depending where you hit. The Meinl Cajon ($99.99) is more compact than a drum set, and gives the child the chance to make the fun drum sounds they hear in songs. But, let’s be honest, they will just have fun slapping it.
Other instruments to consider? Egg shakers. Any music class you attend with a child has these, and children always go crazy for them. Harmonicas are also a pretty indestructible and inexpensive instrument, sound rather pleasant, and are easy and fun for a child to play. You also can’t go wrong with a tambourine.
Dinosaurs, they are cool! And if you know a boy or girl who is into dinosaurs, they likely don’t just know one or two, they can name every dinosaur in the book. And what they looked like. And what they ate. And where they lived. All of this is pretty outstanding, considering most adults can barely name beyond the tyrannosaurs rex. If you know a child who has an obsession for dinosaurs, science calls this deep knowledge “sustained intense interests.” According to this article in The Cut, sustained intense interests “help children develop increased knowledge and persistence, a better attention span, and deeper information-processing skills. In short, they make better learners and smarter kids.” To keep the love of learning going, here are our 7 super fun dinosaur gifts for kids ages 3 to 6. And, at under $25, they won’t break the bank.
Dinosaur Fingerlings
Why mom approves:we love a good trend
Move over, monkeys! (Who, yes, we had every relative scavenging their local retail stores to ensure those moveable, slightly creepy creatures showed up on Christmas day). Fierce or friendly? Only the child can decide. The WowWee Untamed Raptor Fingerlings (around $14) comes in two modes: tamed and untamed. Tamed, the velociraptor dinosaur nuzzles and purrs. Untamed, the dinosaur will roar, hiss and chomp. The interactive dinosaurs react to touch, motion and sound and have over 40 different sounds and animations. Kids can collect all four: Blaze, Stealth, Fury and Razor.
Jurassic Taco Tuesday
Why mom approves: anytime you can make mealtime more fun? winning!
Know a child and family who loves taco Tuesday? The KidsFunwares TriceraTACO Holder (around $12) is such a fun gift! It can hold up to 2 hardshell tacos. But, oh, there are endless other food possibilities. PB&J, grilled cheese, panini, waffle, puff pastry… And, let’s be honest, probably anything the child puts in here will taste better (and be devoured).
We Dig It – Dinosaur Eggs
Why mom approves: anything a child has to find in an egg is a winner
The Dig it Up! Dinosaur Eggs ($24.95) are a great gift for a dinosaur fanatic who has busy hands. There are 12 eggs and chisels, and each egg contains a different dinosaur that the child has to “excavate” by chiseling. We know that any surprises in eggs are winners (other people’s children obsessed with those YouTube egg videos?). What is also great about this gift is that it will take the child a little bit to go through 12 eggs, keeping the mini archaeologist exploring and chiseling away. Because it comes with 12 eggs and chisels, it’s perfect to do at play dates, or give this as a stocking stuffer. This gift is not for a child who gets frustrated easily, as it will take a little bit to unearth the dinosaur.
Hatch and Grow Dinosaur Eggs
Why mom approves: see above!
If the child does not have the patience to excavate a dinosaur, then check out the Animal Planet Super Grow Eggs ($11.99). Each of the three eggs grows a different, very colorful dinosaur. And, each dinosaur comes with its own fact card (although, the child likely knows the information already). Put the egg in water, and within 24 hours it will start to crack (pro tip: have some of this waiting time be overnight when the child is sleeping – will reduce repetitive questioning when is the dinosaur going to hatch). Once hatched, the child can play with it, or keep tossing it back into the (starting to look cloudy) water and have it grow. You can grow the dinosaur for up to several weeks, but we bet the child may be done growing their dino pet well before then.
3-in-1 Dinosaur LEGO Set
Why mom approves: if the child is into dinosaurs and legos, this is a must gift
If you know a 5 to 7 year old child who is very into dinosaurs and who could also sit with a lego bucket all day, then the LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs Set ($11.99) is for them. This 3-in-1 LEGO set allows the child to build and rebuild three popular dinosaurs: tyrannosaurs rex, triceratops and pterodactyl. We love the sharp claws, teeth and horn pieces (seriously LEGO, so cool!). What’s more, the T.Rex mouth can open and close so the child can pretend to ferociously attack the helpless people of LEGO city.
Kick Start the Dinosaur Collection
Why mom approves: this realistic dinosaur collection is a great starter kit
For little ones who may have just started expressing an interest in dinosaurs, this Boley 12 pack of Education Dinosaurs (on sale for $15.99) is a great starter kit. You get 12 unique, realistic-looking, 9-inch dinosaurs made out of bpa-free plastic. They feel solid and are durable enough to be toted from the backseat of the car, to the sandbox and end the day in the bathtub (for years to come). Because of their realistic-looking features and natural colors, they are a perfect introduction to helping kids explore the Jurassic period. Get ready for hours of imaginative play. And, even though there are 12, don’t be surprised if your child loses one and is asking you to find the something-something-saurus (No, playing with that other something-named saurus won’t work).
Wooden Dinosaur A to Z Puzzle
Why mom approves: adorable puzzle that also helps kids learn the alphabet
We love this adorable BeginAgain Wooden Dinosaur A to Z Puzzle ($22.49). We love that the brightly wooden pieces feel solid, and that building upright instead of flat gets little minds spatial reasoning and exploring. And as a bonus, the pieces come together by following the alphabet from A to Z. The puzzle is handcrafted from plantation-grown, sustainable rubberwood, and stained with child-safe, non-toxic dyes.
