Hi!
I’m currently working in a primary school in Spain as a language assistant. The English teacher has come to me with this problem: she needs books for the upper age groups (8, 9, 10 y/o) that are meaningful and, well, good! The issue is that because the pupils are learning English as a second language the ability and content don’t match up. She ends up giving them texts that condescend.
So, are there any books you can recommend for this age group, where the language is simple but the content is not for 5 year olds?
Edit: illustrations are a big plus!
by Stupitweeidiot
6 Comments
Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck. The language is simple. The content should be challenging, possibly too much, meaning a lot may go over their heads.
I study Japanese as an adult, and frequently read books primarily intended for younger readers, and do so happily
I think the key is to pick something that is well written and just ignore the age group. If you go looking for “age appropriate” material at a lower reading level, you’re going to end up with workbooks, which is fine if that’s what you want, but it isn’t going to be as fun or interesting as a well written book for a younger audience
This is just an idea that helped me. I am an American than moved to Argentina in my youth. I was trying to read books in Spanish to improve my Spanish. I began reading comic books call “Malfalda”. The comic strips were funny and sometimes profound and the pictures helped me understand the words.
I later began to use other illustrated stories. Same idea. The pictures help keep you engaged as you acquire more vocabulary. Because the pages are not dense with words you can make more progress. Many famous stories have illustrated versions designed for kids. The stories are great. The vocabulary is adequately challenging, but practical and useful.
I enjoyed “Riki Tiki Tavi” and “Robinson Crusoe”. The illustrations were so exciting I was determined to read the story.
The Hobbit, a wrinkle in time, charlottes web, and other great books are available as graphic novels. The illustrations motivate the reading.
Usbourne have a Young Reading selection which has appropriate books. They take known stories and make them appropriate for younger ages.
Take their [Series 3](https://usborne.com/gb/books/series/young-reading-series-3) books for an example. They are aimed at 7+ and 9+ books and have children reading his good quality adaptations of everything from Pride and Prejudice, to War of the Worlds to The Count of Monte Cristo.
They might be a little too difficult (I don’t know the ability of your children) but there’s obviously two levels below that one.
Anne of Green Gables. It’s often used to teach English in Japan, and it’s a quaint story that won’t upset anyone.
Any Roald Dahl books would probably work.
My favourite was George’s marvellous medicine as a child.