By Guest Blogger Ellen Lloyd

It’s that time of year again — back to school! Excitement, with an added touch of apprehension, accompanies children as they meet new teachers and classmates, and learn the “lay of the land” for the new school year. Start the school year off with a visit to the library or book store and bring home a new selection of books for your children to enjoy, and help instill a love of reading for this school year and beyond!

Preschool —The Watermelon Seed (board book) by Greg Pizzoli

This adorable book, winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel award, features a crocodile with an imagination many children can easily relate to. This funny character loves watermelon, but is fearful of swallowing a seed and having a watermelon grow in his stomach. So, of course, the inevitable happens — he swallows a seed! Not to worry, though, all ends well and the crocodile continues to enjoy his favorite — watermelon! This title is sure to be a favorite on bookshelves.

Early Elementary — Click, Clack, Quack to School! by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Another winner from this author/illustrator duo! Farmer Brown is going to be a guest at the local elementary school’s Farm Day and the animals are ready to go to school with him. They prepare for the big day by practicing all their best behaviors. However, the animals are forced into creative thinking when they realize farm animals aren’t allowed in school. Farmer Brown thinks his trip is solo, but he is wrong! Children will love this new title and laugh out loud when they see the farm animals’ antics in this story.

Elementary/Middle School — Warriors Into the Wild by Erin Hunter 

This title, as well as the entire Warriors series, came highly recommended by Teagan, a young friend who is a big fan of reading. Teagan, a fourth grader, loves the series and was hooked after reading the first one. The series begins with four clans of wild cats that have lived in the forest guided by laws passed down by their ancestors. After the warrior code is threatened, one clan is in danger while another clan grows stronger, and other cats seem to be dying mysterious deaths. Added to the mix is a house cat named Rusty, a surprisingly brave warrior. This book, as well as all others in the series, captivates readers and takes them on one exciting adventure and experience after another. Older elementary and early middle school students will enjoy venturing into this fantasy world and traveling alongside the cats as they live out epic adventures.

High School — To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

The description of this selection on the Barnes & Noble website sums up the story perfectly:  “What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.”

This popular title has become even more so since the book was made into a Netflix original movie and recently released. This lighthearted, teen romance addresses the topics of being true to yourself, the challenges of fitting in and peer pressure.

Moms — The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

Downton Abbey fans will love this book by debut novelist, Daisy Goodwin. This story features Cora Cash, a young, beautiful woman who travels abroad with her mother at the beginning of the twentieth century with the intention of finding a well-suited husband. Cora ends up marrying and becoming the Duchess of Wareham, but nothing is exactly as it seems on the surface. The storytelling is wonderful and the story is engaging and entertaining. A perfect end of summer read!

Win a book of your choice from today’s blog! 
Remember to share your thoughts and comments, and you could be selected to win a copy of one of the books, compliments of Barnes & Noble, Friendly Shopping Center, Greensboro. The staff of Triad Moms on Main will choose a random winner one week after the blog runs. (Please be sure to enter your email address when you fill out your comment so they have a way to contact you.)
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Ellen Bryant Lloyd is the author of FRECKLES and FRECKLES and The Great Beach Rescue. Please visit www.funwithfreckles.com and www.facebook.com/funwithfreckles to learn more about Freckles. Ellen writes a blog about her perspectives on life and parenting at www.mindfulmom.wordpress.com and tweets at @EllenBLloyd. She lives in Greensboro with her husband and two children.