Beverly Cleary- Introduction into Chapter Books.

My second graders are ready to move on to more complicated chapter books. We want to begin reading books that are harder than Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House Books. My cooperating teacher suggested Beverly Cleary books. I suggest not using them. After reading the beginning of a number of her books we realized they were very dull because they were written in the 50's. I have decided to finish the Beverly Cleary author study with some Beverly Cleary games on her website and a booktalk about the Ramona books. I still want these books to circulate after all! The book talk will involve viewing the trailer for Ramona and Beezus movie. I will talk about the Ramona books and read a short section to them. After this, I will introduce the students to the Laura Ingalls books. I might do a book talk like the Ramona books, or  I may just begin reading the books to them. I need to look the books over before I decide. I think the Little House books will work out nicely because there are also easy Laura Ingalls books which I can put in their book baskets, and there is an online extension for computer lab time.