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Book Recommendations Independent Reading Bundle

This Book Recommendations Independent Reading Bundle has three different resources to help teachers and students foster a reading community in their middle school ELA classrooms. 

EDITABLE BOOK RECOMMENDATION LISTS 

Included in this resource are 65+ editable pages and 25+ editable reading genres and categories of book recommendations for middle and high school students. If students are always asking you for book recommendations based on their interests, this is the perfect resource.

There is a page or two of genre or category recommendations. Then there is a blank page for each of these same categories. The file is 100% EDITABLE so that you can add your own book recommendations and/or categories.

The following categories and genres (with 26-60 different titles and authors already listed) are included in this resource.

  1. Funny Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  2. Fantasy Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  3. Short, but Great Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  4. Realistic Fiction Book Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  5. Historical Fiction Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  6. Award Winning Author Book Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  7. Science Fiction or Dystopian Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  8. Inspirational Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  9. Books About Acceptance Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  10. Books with Animals Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  11. Books About Sports Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  12. Books that are a Little Dark Recommendations
  13. Books with Action Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  14. Books Written in Verse Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  15. Poetry Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  16. Books that Girls Tend to Love Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  17. Mystery Book Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  18. Books in a Series or Trilogy Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  19. Young Adult Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  20. Young Love and Romance Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  21. LGBTQ Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  22. Books that Address Mental Illness/Mental Health Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  23. Classic Novel Book Recommendations (1 PAGE)
  24. Non-Fiction Book Recommendations (2 PAGES)
  25. Graphic Novel Book Recommendations (1 PAGE) 

TO EDIT:

  • Simply type in the rows that have been left blank for you.
  • If you need another page, after you have filled one out, simply copy and paste the entire slide in your slide view on the left-hand side, and begin filling out your new page.
  • You could also just print the blank ones, and you and/or your students can write them in, as you all have book recommendations to add.

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES

  • *YA*. Next to some books, you will see the *YA* label after the title.
  • This means it is a young adult novel that may contain topics some middle schoolers aren’t ready for. Again, I haven't read every book, but I tried to label it according to websites like Scholastic, Goodreads, or my knowledge of the content.

BOOKSHELF RECOMMENDATION CARDS

ORGANIZED ALPHABETICALLY BY BOOK TITLE. All the lists I created are labeled alphabetically by the book title. If you want to continue, simply click in the row below or above where you need a new one, right-click, and then select “Insert below” or ” Insert above”. Then type the name of your new book title and author.

These bookshelf recommendation cards are great for building a reading community in your classroom and school.

Get other teachers, administrators, parents, and your students involved in the book recommendation process.

I just print the cards on colorful card stock paper.

The following categories of cards are included in this resource:

  1. Book recommendations
  2. ________’ Book recommendation
  3. Teacher recommendation
  4. Principal recommendation
  5. Counselor recommendation
  6. Great book if you like __________ books
  7. Great new young adult novel
  8. Great new historical fiction novel
  9. Great new Realistic fiction Novel
  10. Great New Science Fiction novel
  11. Great New Dystopian Novel
  12. Great new fantasy Novel
  13. Great new autobiography
  14. Great new biography
  15. Great new Mystery novel
  16. Great new book series
  17. Great new funny book
  18. Great new book about love
  19. Great new book that will break your heart
  20. Great new book written in verse
  21. Great new non-fiction Book
  22. Great young adult novel
  23. Great historical fiction Novel
  24. Great Realistic fiction Novel
  25. Great Science Fiction Novel
  26. Great Dystopian Novel
  27. Great fantasy Novel
  28. Great autobiography
  29. Great biography
  30. Great Mystery novel
  31. Great book series
  32. Great funny book
  33. Great book about love
  34. Great book that will break your heart
  35. Great book written in verse
  36. Great Non-Fiction Book
  37. Classic Novel recommendation
  38. If you like books that are a little dark
  39. If you like books that are a little edgy
  40. If you like books told from different points of View
  41. If you like books from award-winning authors
  42. If you want to read an inspirational book
  43. If you want to read a book about sports
  44. If you want to read a book your teacher loves
  45. If you want to read a book your classmates love
  46. If you want to read a book made into a movie
  47. If you want to read a book that is coming to the big screen

STARBOOKS BOOK TASTING

Get your middle school ELA students excited about reading and exploring new genres with this engaging Starbooks Book Tasting Activity! Designed to introduce students to book clubs and literature circles, this resource brings a unique twist to the traditional book introduction process by combining a fun "book tasting" experience with the theme of a cozy café.
 
This resource is perfect for your verse novel and poetry unitsor adaptable for any genre study. It includes everything you need to create an authentic and immersive classroom experience.
 
Here’s what’s included:
  • Book Tasting Menus: Printable menus featuring a selection of genres and verse novels, designed to help students explore and "sample" different books. Perfect for guiding them toward their next great read.
  • Starbooks Letters: Customizable letters to set the stage for your book-tasting event. These letters invite students to a "Starbooks Café," where they can discover the best books for their reading journey.
  • Starbooks Table Display Images: Eye-catching visuals that set the scene for your book tasting, creating a café-inspired atmosphere. These images are perfect for decorating your classroom and helping students feel like they’re really at a literary café.
  • Novel Book Recommendations: Curated list of highly recommended novels, perfect for middle school readers looking to dive into any type of reading unit. 
  • Set-Up Explanations and Images: Step-by-step guidance on how to organize and set up the book-tasting event. Includes images to illustrate how to display books, create engaging stations, and engage students in the fun.
 
Why you'll love this resource:
  • Engagement through hands-on learning: Students get to "taste" different books before committing to one for their book clubs or literature circles, making them feel like true literary explorers.
  • Encourages independent reading: By presenting students with various genres and verse novels, you encourage them to broaden their reading interests and find books they'll love.
  • Easy prep: Set up is a breeze with ready-to-go menus, recommendations, and table displays. You’ll spend minimal time prepping and maximum time engaging students.
  • Flexible for any genre or unit: While perfect for verse novels and poetry, this activity can be easily adapted to fit any genre you’re teaching, from fiction to nonfiction, fantasy to historical fiction.
 
This Starbook Book Tasting Activity is more than just an introduction to books—it’s an invitation to get your students excited about books, help them discover new genres, and watch them dive into meaningful book club discussions!
 
TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Karen O. says, "I love this clever "grown up" Starbooks theme for my middle school students. This resource helped create the perfect vibe for book tasting. Thank you!"
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cardigans in Kindergarten says, "I used this resource with my grad students! They loved going to Starbooks to choose a book for their literature circle project. They are excited to use something like this in their own classrooms!"
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sassy Chasy says, "This was a great alternative to the popular book tasting because the coffee shop vibe was more suited for my students in middle school. I made them hot chocolate with marshmallows and served it on a tray dressed like a server. This was a wonderful way to organize my literature circles/book clubs; it focused on genuine student interest rather than friends picking the same book."