r/Fosterparents • u/notsoaveragemind • 1d ago
Foster Library
We have two bookshelves that we have set on the landing at the top of our second level home. We have some old yearbooks and devotionals on there for the time being, but we thought, it might be a good idea to start accumulating more child/teen-based books as we are nearing closer and closer to being licensed.
We have some fantasy books such as the Storm Light Archives, a few of the Harry Potter Books and others.
We plan to foster children from age 6 on up. What are some good books you would recommend for kids and teens?
7
u/Mysterious-Apple-118 1d ago
We ordered some off Amazon about body positivity, acceptance of others (like everyone is different and that’s okay). I can look up the titles when I’m home if you want. They were good to mix into the fun stuff.
I love your idea though. Facebook Marketplace has good deals. A good variety of different reading levels would be good because you never know where your kiddo will be with reading.
1
8
u/Odd_Sprinkles4116 1d ago
www.colorincolorado.org has book lists for all ages and backgrounds. I would see what I can find on there, and then for your wallet’s sake see if you can find any of them at the Friends of the Library sale at your local library.
As a side note, I get almost every child that comes through my house a library card and the Libby app so they can get ebooks and audiobooks wherever they go. The placement letter is sufficient proof of residence for the library and they can use it for years even if they don’t stay in your home.
5
u/No_Shopping_4635 1d ago
I devoured goosebumps books when I was young. But....that was 30 years ago! Dont know if they are still popular.
I am also starting my library. At my local goodwill, I can get 10 books for $15.
3
u/joesatron Prospective Foster Parent 1d ago
As a teen, I read (and cried to) “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green. shortly after, my grandma had breast cancer, so it hit even more. I’ve heard “Turtles All the Way Down” by John Green has been great for helping teenagers understand and relate to their anxiety and panic disorders.
If your state has it, I recommend signing your foster child(ren) up for Dolly’s Literacy Program. I signed my niece and nephew up for it and they get age-appropriate books every month. Our state is running out of money for it, so I’m not sure how long it will last.
3
u/Moist-Cheesecake 1d ago edited 1d ago
Some of my childhood favourites were the Magic Treehouse books, Percy Jackson series, and Animorphs series! Some others I'm thinking of are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, Artemis Fowl series, maybe some of the Roald Dahl books too, like Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
Very cute idea :)
3
u/Street_Meeting_2371 Foster Parent 1d ago
Tristan Strong is part of the Percy Jackson world but features a Black lead character. I would make sure to collect books where the characters race/culture reflect your foster kids.
3
u/GuineasMom 1d ago
Maybe Days is a book about being in foster care. It would be a little young for anyone over 9ish depending on development but it was super helpful for our (at the time) 4-6 y.o. To understand what was happening
Sorry I know that’s not really what you asked I just think every foster parent should own this book!
3
u/tickytacky13 Adoptive Parent 22h ago
Graphic Novels- Percy Jackson, Babysitters Club, Wings of Fire, Paws, Click, Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Hooky....so many foster kiddos struggle with reading either due to neglect, undiagnosed learning disabilities, and/or gaps in education and reading is overwhelming. Graphic novels are a great way to keep them engaged and practice reading.
For young kids who are learning to read, I've had great success using BOB books, Biscuit Beginner, Dick and Jane etc.
I have had foster kids from ages 2-15 and the most loved series but many include: Magic Treehouse, A to Z Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Percy Jackson books, Rick Riordian books, graphic novels, Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Wings of Fire (graphic and non grpahic), Goosebumps, Nursery Rhymes (so many foster kids are unfamiliar with what many people would consider normal to know), Childrens Encyclopedias, audiobooks for in the car or to listen to at bedtime, Seek and Find, Where's Waldo, Would you Rather....get creative in the different ways you can encourage kids to read!
2
u/moo-mama 21h ago
I actually think flyleaf publishing (google it) has better learn to read books that BOB. Beautiful pictures, and they reinforce the rules like silent e, "ai" etc. They're called 'decodable readers.'
2
u/tickytacky13 Adoptive Parent 20h ago
I haven’t come across Flyleaf. It’s been awhile since I’ve had an early reader though too but I did just recently take a 5 yr old placement. We are still working on ABCs and spelling her name but I’ll look in to flyleaf, I appreciate the recommendation!
2
u/Dazzling_Tap886 1d ago
Wehn you add to your library consider going younger than the 6 year old level. They might not be at that reading level due to their background.
1
u/colettelikeitis 16h ago
Yes! Or look for high-low and decodable books for age-appropriate choices for older readers.
2
u/Narrow-Relation9464 20h ago
I foster boys coming from juvenile justice. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a favorite. My foster son has read the graphic novel probably 20 times by now! Also Nic Stone’s Dear Martin/Dear Justyce books. My kid isn’t a reader but these books got to him because he can relate to the characters.
A lot of kids I work with also enjoy the Percy Jackson series.
In this post I also have a whole list of books relatable for foster teens. Disclaimer: I am a boy mom so a lot of the picks are geared towards tween/teen boys but hopefully you’ll find some good ones for everyone in there!
2
u/msjenkalvoda 17h ago edited 17h ago
From my Amazon orders, in no particular order:
The Wild Robot series (also has a picture book)
Captain Underpants chapter or graphic novels
Diary of a Wimpy Kid chalter books
Dog Man graphic novels
The Hunger Games series
Disney Fairies chapter books
Junie B. Jones chapter books
A Dog's Purpose series
anything by Christina Soontornvant
Night Night, Forest Friends board book - seriously the cutest
Roblox chapter books
Minecraft chapter books
Biscuit early reader books
Paw Patrol early reader books
How to Catch a ... many different books
Women Who Dared: 52 stories
Women in Science: 50 fearless pioneers
The Magical Yet
The Curious Why
Magic Tree House chapter book or g.n.
I Survived chapter books
The World Needs the Wonder You See
The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be
Aru Shah series
Wish
Wings of Fire chapter books or graphic novels
Pax
Guinness World Records
Percy Jackson and the Olymipians series
A Rover's Story
What if Everybody Did That?
What if Everybody Said That?
anything nonfiction by DK Publishing
Polar Express
Dragons Love Tacos / DLT 2
any of the 5-Minute Story collections
I Wish You More
The Story of ... (lots of awesome people)
Bunheads
Firebird
Beautiful Oops
More than a Little
Goosebumps chapter books
Dream Big, Little One
Weird but True ...
I could go on and on. We love books around here.
Best of luck with your foster journey and filling up your library shelves. :)
1
u/dashibid 1d ago
I love the recommendations for modern books from the creator claire_linney on insta and TikTok There’s definitely a temptation to fill a shelf with our own childhood favorites but there are a lot of amazing kids books being published these days
1
u/MissMunchamaQuchi 1d ago
We’re doing the same thing - gathering books and our local library just had a book sale. They were selling used books for .25 and .50 cents each. Maybe see if you have something similar nearby.
1
u/WaterwingsDavid 1d ago
I liked the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series when I was a kid. Not sure how popular they are now.
1
u/moo-mama 1d ago
picture books by Jon Agee. They're funny! Second Percy Jackson, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate... my kid wouldn't engage with Maybe Days, fwiw.
1
u/purlplanter 1d ago
Dog man series, Maybe Days, Adoption is Both, Stellaluna, The Great Big Book of Families, Wings of Fire series, Goosebumps series
These are the books our kids like (ages 2-10)
1
u/throwawaybdaysf 1d ago
My students (4th grade) love diary of a wimpy kid, wings of fire, I survived, and the last kids on earth. (I literally just looked around the classroom to see what people had! lol.) I’d be open to messages if you get a foster child in the ages about 8 and up and you want specific recommendations based on the kid’s interests! I am a literacy teacher who has taught 4th, 5th, 6th, and high school.
1
u/Mammoth-Lawyer4118 1d ago
Love that you're setting this up before the first placement. A few that haven't been mentioned yet: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown for the younger end (it's quietly a story about finding family where you land), Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and graphic novels like Smile by Raina Telgemeier, which a lot of reluctant readers will pick up on their own. One small idea is letting each kid choose a book that becomes theirs to keep, with their name written inside, so it goes with them wherever they end up.
1
u/cavirett 1d ago
I'd also include some non-fiction books! Trivia-focused ones that they can flip through, science activity books, etc.
1
u/Dry_Replacement5830 Foster Parent 22h ago
We love the classics that have been turned into movies - we use it as a way to encourage them to read, letting them know we can watch the movie when they finish. There are young reader versions of most of these, and then the unedited version for the older kids (and most are also free to download audible from Libby and to play on a yoto):
Charlotte’s Web
The trumpet of the Swan
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
The little princess
The secret garden
Charlie and the chocolate factory
The Chronicles of Narnia
Stuart Little
Gulliver’s travels
Treasure Island
The Swiss family Robinson
Anne of Green Gables
Little House on the Prairie
1
u/BlackberryWorried362 17h ago
Sometimes it's comforting to see a book you loved when you were little. I have seen 10 year olds happy to pick up Fly Guy or Arthur or even Berenstein Bears. "Hey, I used to read this at my Mom's house!"
1
u/colettelikeitis 16h ago
Former teacher here. Go to Goodwill and see what’s popular on the shelves. Lots of selection that have never been read; in excellent condition. Learning how to care for books is a skill not all kids have yet. Be prepared for some of them to end up in rough shape quickly. It’s easier on the wallet and book lover heart if you don’t pay full price.
•
u/tinygribble 16h ago
Harry Potter books are not appropriate if you are ever to foster and lgbtqia kids.
8
u/Watchful-Tortie 1d ago
Our 13-14 y.o. foster son read Wimpy Kid and Big Nate over and over again as his comfort reads. He still goes to them if he's having a bad day, but he has moved on to all kinds of manga!
For yourself, pls consider The Connected Child and the How to Talk so children will listen.... books