Book Budds Monthly Book Picks are chosen to offer a
variety of stories. These books are not always the newest or most popular books;
instead they are hand-picked to expose girls to a variety of genres, authors, characters,
topics, and series.
Books are typically upbeat and easy to discuss. Usually
this means books will be easy to relate to; with a main character or theme that girls can
identify with in some way.
Books lend themselves to fun related activities. This may include
snacks, games, role-playing, crafts, etc., which can be shared at book club meetings.
Book Budds Monthly Book Picks are still in print at the time they are chosen.
This makes it much easier to get enough copies of the book for everyone to read in time
for the monthly discussion.
Q:
How is reading grade-level
determined for Monthly Book Picks?
A:
We average a cross-section of suggested reading levels
provided by publishers and various educational and literary book reviews for each Monthly
Book Pick. We also get input from girls and sometimes make adjustments if the content
seems advanced.
Q:
My daughter does not read at
her actual grade-level. How do I determine which grade-level program to place her in?
A:
Many students do not read at their actual grade-level. There
are two criteria to consider when choosing your daughter’s grade-level program:
Social
comfort level: Remember, Book Budds is, above all else, about having fun! Your
daughter should feel at ease sharing with the other girls in her group. We have had
members join a grade-level younger or older because she had friends in that group. This
will normally work best if your daughter stays within one year of her actual grade-level.
Reading comfort level: Your daughter should feel comfortable with the
reading difficulty level of books her group will be sharing - if she is frustrated, this
will not be a positive experience for her. This can be tested by taking a few of the
selected books at the grade-level program she is considering and having her apply the Five
Finger Test (see below). If the test shows these books are too difficult, your daughter
may want to choose an easier grade-level program. If she would prefer to stay in her
grade-level group, you might consider reading the books to her or reading them together at
home. After a month or two, she may be reading them comfortably on her own.
Q:
What is the Five Finger Test?
A:
1. Find a page of text (words) somewhere in the middle of the
book; one with lots of text and few or no pictures.
2. Read the page unassisted (aloud
or in a whisper, if possible).
3. Hold one finger up for every word you do not know or cannot pronounce.
Book Budds Finger Guide:
0 - 1 Finger: This book may be easy for you. You can still have fun reading it, but
also read books that are a little more challenging.
2 - 3 Fingers: This book is probably a good book for you. It may offer a challenge to
make you grow as a reader.
4 - 5 Fingers: Consider another book or read along with an adult.
Q:
How much can young girls get
out of the Book Budds program?
A:
Book Budds is about fun! We believe that
children learn to love reading when they enjoy their experiences connected to reading.
Younger grade-level programs spend more time on crafting and games with less time spent on
book discussion. As girls get older, the emphasis switches towards longer and more
in-depth discussions and activities.
Q:
For Mother/Daughter events,
should my daughter and I read the selected book together or separately?
A:
This is completely up to the two of you. If you both
have the time and want to read the book together, GO FOR IT! This can make the
whole experience even more enjoyable for both of you. It can also help if the reading
level is at all challenging for your daughter.
Q:
Do you
recommend any other fun book websites for children?
A:
Yes, we do! Try these:
www.bookadventure.com - This site gives a wonderful listing of
recommended reading for children by reading grade level. It also
offers quizzes which children can take after reading books to earn
points for prizes!
www.booknutsreadingclub.com - This is a site created by a mother of
one of the girls who
run their own book club. It includes book recommendations,
reviews, homework help, and much more!
