Chrissie Writes, Vol. 40
Hello, readers!
Happy summer break if you’re out of school.
Alternatively, happy zombie-shamble season if you, like me, are still somewhere between last checkout and last day of school. Inventory, hunting down overdue books, (still) teaching classes… We’ll get there — shambling.
The Read-Aloud Test
Picture books that pass the read-aloud test are the ones you can look forward to reading over and over — we’re talking hundreds of kids, across dozens of classes. These books wow the crowd time and again (and are a good time for the grown-up reading, too). Here’s a trio that passed the test this month:
Is This a Plum? by Dan and Finn Ojari: from the second you crack the cover, kids are in. (The cover asks, “Is this a plum?” and the very first page retorts, “No, it’s a bum.”) The rest of the book unfolds as a visual and phonemic guessing game of sorts. Alternate pages pose a question then give its answer, and kids rely on a combination of visual details and rhyming sounds to make their predictions. Sometimes, the page turn rewards the reader’s expectations. Other times, it thwarts them entirely. I read this book with 2nd-3rd grade; after reading, I recommend it as a read-aloud for any grade K-5.
Night Light by Michael Emberley: Sometimes, I am charmed by a book, but am not quite sure what kids will make of it. Enter the read-aloud test! And in this case? Magic! The book treads familiar territory — a bedtime story and a power outage — but turns it into a fantastical star-filled adventure, dad and kid against the world. My readers were mesmerized. An early reader that elicits both gasps and giggles, then earns an immediate, “Can I check that book out?” Yes! I read this book with K-1st; after reading, I’d stick with K-1 as the sweet spot.
To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here by Antoinette Portis: I love a picture book that disrupts preconceptions and makes kids say, “Wait — a book can do that!?” Here, in what first appears to be a story about aliens, kids soon realize that they’re the aliens. I also love picture books that give kids a high degree of agency, and this book does double duty: kids construct the full meaning of the story only by combining what the characters say with the medium through which they say it (there’s a layer of book as translation device that you have to see to believe). Tip: for maximum effect, get your best alien voices ready before reading. Bonus: five-star back cover design that made one second grader literally jump for joy. I read this book with 2nd-3rd grades; after reading, I’m eager to take it for a spin with K-1 and 4th-5th to see how different age groups respond.
Three More Recs
Jake Spooky and the Wolves Within Him by Michael Grover (graphic novel): This book is so specifically bizarre, and I loved it. Protagonist Jake must look deep within himself… because he keeps puking up literal wolves. (You can’t make this stuff up, but apparently Michael Grover can.) This will be a grand slam for your Catwad fans. Grover is also the author of Deeply Dave, one of my favorite graphic novels of 2025.
Life on the Moon by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr (illustrated middle grade): Hello, favorite middle grade of the year so far! If The Phantom Tollbooth were a space opera, you’d have Life on the Moon. In the wake of Artemis and Project Hail Mary, I’ve seen all kinds of space book recommendations floating around the internet, but I’d argue that this is the true comp you’ve been hunting for. It weaves together philosophy and adventure, delivering big ideas with whimsy and a plot that moves (and yes, a human/alien duo that gives Grace and Rocky a run for their money). Just when you think you have this one’s number, it morphs, culminating in a jaw-dropping ending. Bonus: highly illustrated on every spread. Double bonus: this would make a phenomenal read-aloud, both for family and classroom settings. Also note: Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr are also co-creators of the Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom series, a fan favorite in my library.
One Mad Cat by Vicky Fang (early reader, out 7/7): cozy cat mystery, but make it an early reader! It’s rare to find so much plot in this format, and I can’t wait to get this into my readers’ hands. It’s earnest and charming and will be a fun way into the genre for future fans of The Great Puptective and Detective Beans.
This Month on Chrissie Writes
Here are my top posts this month. Feel free to upgrade to a paid subscription to access these posts and my full archive:
Bits & Pieces
Crudgate left me with a major internet hangover. In its wake, I spent a week with my phone bricked, and it was lovely. While bricked (and really, ever since I read the piece in January), I often thought of this piece by Brandon Taylor. Read it if you haven’t (or read it again).
I remain in my short story era, and I am currently loving this collection. Apocalyptic sci-fi micro-fiction — three words I wouldn’t know to put together, but wow, what a result! It’s literary and philosophical, plotty and surprising — all in stories that are 2-4 pages. This is my first Yuri Herrera. Any recommendations of where I should go next?
Happy reading,
Chrissie
