Parents may head straight to the "Chapter Book" section when looking for a good read for their child. There are plenty of terrific authors of chapter books and, certainly a ton of great books. A few wonderful authors of books for fourth grade girls include: Andrew Clements, Judy Blume, Annie Barrows, Barbara O'Connor and Beverly Cleary.
Girls Like to Read Books, Comics and Magazines
But some kids will say that they don't like to read and may resist a parent or teacher who urges her to do so. She may even think that every book is stuffy or boring or uninteresting.
Young readers are luckier than ever. There are many options for nine-year-old girls, and plenty that will satisfy their parents too. Kids who develop of love of reading at a young age, do it in many ways: by reading magazines, comic books and graphic novels that are all age-appropriate. Once a child realizes that reading can take you to another place and time, it is likely that she will want to read just about anything created for her age group.
Some Great Magazines for Girls (and Boys)
Cricket Magazine Group ("Cricket") publishes a variety of magazines for children of all ages and interests. Visit their website where parents and kids can find games and information about all of the products they offer.
One of the nice things about Cricket is that is publishes a separate magazine for kids in each age group, from six months to 14 years-old. There are two choices for fourth grade girls: "Spider" and "Cricket." Spider is created for kids ages six to nine, while Cricket is designed for those children ages nine to 14. When deciding which one is appropriate for their child, parents would have to determine whether their nine-year-old is ready for content written also for a 13-year-old.
Another wonderful feature is that these magazines are all available by subscription, which can be a smart gift for the fourth grader on your holiday list. What child doesn't get excited when there is something special in the mail box waiting for them, with their name on it?
Graphic Novels, Comics, Can be Okay
Anyone with a child under the age of 10 who has not heard of Jeff Kinney and the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series must take a minute to visit their local bookstore or public library. Kinney is sweeping the nation with his fourth novel, just released today, October 12, 2009: Diary of a Wiimpy Kid: Dog Days. His books are appealing to nine-year-olds, they deal with issues a child can relate to, and many adults agree that they are actually funny and clever.
Parents may also consider giving their child the "funny pages" or the "comics" from the newspaper. The colors of the comics as well as the light humor may entice a child to consider reading other items as well.
Girls Have Many Reading Alternatives
It is perfectly fine to insist that a kid read only those books that are on the school library's reading list. Many parents take that route and it works fine for them and their child. But if a kid is resisting the pressure to read at all, parents will find that there are many alternatives to the traditional chapter book.
Reading should be a fun and relaxing activity. Young girls will find that they can discuss with their friends the books, magazines and comics that they love. And, they can even share their materials. It is an enriching activity and one that will benefit them throughout their lives. So have an open mind and encourage a love of reading when your daughter is young, by providing many reading choices, not just the stuffy required reads.
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