Books for advanced kindergarten readers
Age Appropriate Series Books for Advanced Readers in Kindergarten -1st Grade
It’s a good challenge to have…How do you find age-appropriate books for advanced readers? Sometimes that decoding puzzle gets solved early and some children just take off through books. We want to keep the reading momentum going so we need to fuel it with great books.
But, we have to mindful that these new readers are young and we want the content to match their maturity. So, I’ve gathered a list of books that we can hand over to children and trust that they’ll be able to handle the content.
Considerations When Moving Children Along Into Lengthier Books
Age/Maturity
Most middle-grade chapter books are written for children in the 8-12 or 9-12 age bracket. So, a 5 or 6-year-old isn’t necessarily ready to jump into every middle-grade chapter book. Keep in mind what is developmentally appropriate and the sensitivity of your young readers.
Story Complexity
Just because a child is a decoding whiz doesn’t mean that he/she has all the tools required to navigate more difficult text. As children move into chapter books we start to have subplots, more character nuances, and more mature themes. Most children will need help navigating these new features.
Series Books for Advanced Readers in K-1
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Early Reader Chapter Books
Early reader chapter books are a great place to start. They still provide picture support. The content can be trusted. The length of the books are manageable with shorter chapters. And many of them are part of a series so if children find one they like, they can plow through the whole series. Many libraries even keep these early chapter books in a separate section of the library to make finding them even easier.
The early chapter book series I recommend the most often is Zoey & Sassafras by Asia Citro. A young girl and her mother have the ability to talk and help creatures who ring their barn doorbell for help. Zoey, her mom, and cat, Sassafras, use science to help solve issues.
It’s a top-notch series.
Another out of the box thinker and problem solver is Yasmin in the Meet Yasmin! series by Saadia Faruqi. This spirited 2nd grader makes for a fun read and I love that the series has colored illustrations.
The Nikki & Deja series by Karen English lets us tag along with two best 3rd grade friends experiencing being kids together. They experience cliques, birthdays, starting a newsletter and more.
Animal lovers will enjoy the My Furry Foster Family series by Debbie Michiko Florence. An 8-year-old girl and her family foster animals in their home. Each story features different foster animals from cats to dogs to birds. If the student likes this series he/she can move on to the Animal Inn series by Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender.
My son plowed through the Freddie Ramos series by Jacqueline Jules first listening to them on audiobook and then reading them. A young boy discovers a gift of zapato power shoes from a mystery sender.
They are just the gift he needs.
For even more early chapter books see our lists below.
Early Reader Chapter Books
Beginning Chapter Book Series by Level
Chapter Book Series
Here are some more book series that are a step above early reader chapter books. I actually like to read the first book in a series with the child either as a read-aloud or side by side reading. Then, discuss it, learn about the characters, etc. before letting them plow through the rest of the books in the series.
There is a new neighbor in town and her name is Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. She has wild red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous that seems to lead to one adventure after another!
Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George is the story of a little mouse who stumbles upon an animal hotel inside a tree in the forest during a storm. She ends up staying and helping the hotel in a big way.
If your reader loved the movie, Toy Story, try the Toys Go Out trio of books by Emily Jenkins. Three toys (a stuffed stingray, a stuffed buffalo, and a red plastic ball) become friends and their days are full of discovery and adventure.
I recently read More Than Marmalade by Rosanne Tolin about Michael Bond the author of the Paddington series. It’s always fascinating to hear the story behind the story. New readers to the classic Paddington books will be interested in knowing that the author actually got the idea for the stories from a stuffed bear that sat in his house.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner is the story of four orphaned siblings who find an old boxcar to live in for a short time. The kids are extremely resourceful and do well taking care of themselves. Eventually, they are reunited with their kind grandfather who brings them to his house to live. But, he also has the boxcar moved to the backyard so the kids can play in it whenever they want.
The series is now written by other authors and there are over 100 books to read.
Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke are a true delight. Annna Hibiscus lives in Africa with her immediate family and lots of extended family. Family and love of family is at the heart of this series.
Adventure lovers will enjoy the Ranger in Timeseries by Kate Messner. Readers will head to the South Pole, the Titanic, the Oregon Trail, and more interesting locations with a pretty special dog. Readers may also enjoy the Time Jumpers series by Wendy Mass too.
Another timeless classic are The Mouse and the Motorcycle books by Beverly Cleary. I mean who wouldn’t love reading about a mouse who cruises around an inn on a little motorcycle.
For another animal series, check out the Humphrey series by Betty G. Birney. Humphrey is the class pet hamster and in book one he travels home with different students on the weekends and holidays. He’s in for some big adventures. Also, check out the Og the Frog series.
Beatrice Zinker series by Shelley Johannes is all about a young 3rd grader girl who does her best thinking upside down.
As a child, I loved books about things that were miniature sizes like The Littles and the Borrowers. They always reminded me of the little world that lived inside Ernie’s windowbox on Seasame Street. Well, check out The Doll Peopleseries by Ann M. Martin for some pint-size mystery and adventure as two dollhouse families join together to solve a mystery.
The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall is a modern series with a classic feel. We meet the Penderwicks as they arrive at their summer vacation home and they meet an interesting boy to adventure with in Massachusetts.
Printable Advanced Reader Series Book List
Grab a printable list of the books above. Just click the download purple button link below.
What other book series would you add to the list? Leave a comment below.
Keep inspiring young readers.
Books for Advanced Young Readers
It can be quite the challenge to find appropriate, books for very young readers who are capable of reading books well above their grade level.
What makes it more difficult is that the specific requirements for an "advanced reader" is different for every child! This list of books for advanced young readers is designed for children in kindergarten through 2nd grade who have not just advanced beyond Frog and Toad, they have already breezed through early chapter books like Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones.
Just because a child can read a book, doesn't mean that book is appropriate for them! Remember, reading comprehension is not the same as the ability to decode written language.
As well as letting a child read all the "easy" books they want. (Never tell a child they shouldn't read a book because it is "too easy!!"), this list contains age appropriate books for kids 5 and up who can handle books with more challenging vocabulary, sentence structure and themes than the average reader their age. I would have been happy for my son, who was reading chapter books by age 4, to have read any of these titles.
Personally, I don't find reading level tools useful outside of the classroom. However, if you simply must know a book's reading level, you can use the Lexile Book Finder tool.
Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.
We support public libraries and local, independent bookstores. If you purchase books online consider Bookshop, which supports independent booksellers. You can find my list of books for advanced young readers here on Bookshop.
THE YEAR OF BILLY MILLER (series) by Kevin Henkes
Find it: Amazon | Bookshop
The Year of Billy Miller is a pitch-perfect account of the year in the life of a second grader. Billy has a stay-at-home dad, school projects that present problems, sibling rivalry–in short, all the typical family and social situations that children must learn to navigate as they grow up. Henkes (and Billy) handle it all with aplomb and good humor. There's something very gentle and "old-fashioned," but timeless about this book and I think your kids will enjoy it.
MORE: Gentle chapter books to read aloud
(ALMOST) ANYTHING BY BEVERLY CLEARY
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Beverly Cleary's ouvre is an excellent resource for advanced readers. The kids on Klickitat Street are charming, relatable, and have humorous adventures. The text is relatively large and peppered with illustrations. There's no need to stick to Cleary's most famous heroine, Ramona, either. My personal favorite is Henry Huggins, but Otis Spofford, Ellen Tebbits, and Socks are just as wonderful.
MORE: Books for kids who like Beverly Cleary
REVVER THE SPEEDWAY SQUIRREL (series) by Sherri Duskey Rinker
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The author of Good Night, Good Night Construction Site has expanded into chapter books. Revver is a curious and ambitious squirrel who would be great friends with Beverly Cleary's Ralph S. Mouse. The Revver series is very funny, with lots of accidental chaos and action.
STICK DOG (series) by Tom Watson
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The millions of books in the Stick Dog series are highly engaging, quite hilarious and easy to read. The books are in the vein of Diary of a Wimpy Kid in that the text is accompanied by numerous illustrations. However, whereas Diary deals with middle school life, Stick Dog is more suitable for elementary school aged children.
EMIL'S CLEVER PIG (series) by Astrid Lindgren
Find it: Amazon
Here's a rascal your kids will love. The author of Pippi Longstocking also wrote several books about Emil, a young boy who lives on a farm with his parents, baby sister, a farm hand and housemaid. Much to the delight of my then-6 year old, who loves books about well-meaning troublemakers, Emil's grand sense of adventure and his natural goodwill gets him into all sorts of scrapes, but it is impossible to think badly of a boy who wants to help others so much.
MORE: Early Chapter Book Series with Boy Protagonists
THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS (series) by Yona Zeldis McDonough
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Three sisters in early 20th century New York City live above their parent's doll repair shop. This is a wonderful pair of books with an old-fashioned feel and charming illustrations. Author Yona Zeldis McDonough skillfully works in historical details about the effects of WWI on the family business and Jewish life in NYC's Lower East Side.
WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE by Renée Watson, illustrated by Nina Mata
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Heroine Ryan Hart is absolutely delightful. She is the first one to see the silver lining in any situation, and she always tries to see the best in people. But that doesn't mean everything always goes according to plan. Dad loses his job at the post office and the family has to make some big changes, not to mention her sometimes bossy older brother! A great choice for kids who love contemporary realism.
THE WATER HORSE by Dick King-Smith
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Set in 1930's Scotland, a girl finds a strange egg on the beach and takes it home. She keeps it in her bathtub, where it hatches into a kelpie, a mythical water horse. The family raises it but when it gets too big they must release it into the loch.
BROWN by Håkon Øvreås, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter
Find it: Bookshop |Amazon
Rusty is the target of three bullies. He decides it's time to take matters into his own hands so he creates an alter ego, a superhero named "Brown." Brown wears (you guessed it) brown clothes and enacts revenge with brown paint. Two of his friends become "Black" and "Blue" and together they roam at night, leaving their colored calling cards around the town. Full of tongue in cheek, laugh-out-loud humor. Oh, and don't worry, the bullies get their comeuppance.
MORE: Chapter books in translation
DRAGONS IN A BAG (series) by Zetta Elliott
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One day, Jaxon's mom leaves him in the care of Ma, a woman whom he thinks is his grandmother but is actually a witch on a baby dragon delivery mission.
Ma takes him on as her apprentice and they travel to a magical world. When they are set to return to Brooklyn, Ma is accidentally left behind and Jaxon enlists the help of his friends to take care of the baby dragons and rescue Ma.
MORE: Books for kids not yet read for Harry Potter
THE ADVENTURES OF CATVINKLE by Elliot Perlman, illustrated by Laura Stitzel
Find it: Amazon
Set in Amsterdam, Perlman's story begins when Mr. Sabatini brings home Ula the Dalmatian to live with him and his flying cat, Catvinkle. Catvinkle is at first wary, but then falls in love with Ula's smell (!) and the two begin their adventures, meeting up with other interesting pets in the city. This is a lovely, gentle chapter book for kids who love animals. Perlman's entertaining narration is humorous, incorporating word play, some slapstick and the themes of friendship and kindness. Readers will also love Stitzel's illustrations.
SKUNK AND BADGER (series) by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Find it: Amazon | Bookshop
Badger lives alone in his aunt's brownstone.
He spends his days doing Important Rock Work. But one day, his peace is disturbed when Skunk shows up, informing him that he is Badger's new roommate. Badger is none too happy about this and is determined to rid himself of Skunk. Hilarity ensues and lots and lots of chickens make an appearance. Will Badger and Skunk eventually become friends?
THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH by Dan Bar-El, illustrated by Kelly Pousette
Find it: Bookshop | Amazon
Duane the polar bear has a curiosity and sense of adventure that leads him to a shipwreck where he meets C.C. the Owl. He then encounters even more new friends like Handsome the musk ox, Magic the arctic fox, and Major Puffin. Together, they explore the wonders of the northern landscape. The cast of animals is as diverse in their personalities as they are in species and the thread of the story focuses on learning to appreciate one's friends.
PUGS OF THE FROZEN NORTH (A Not-So-Impossible Tale series) by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
Find it: Amazon | Bookshop
Here's a great choice for kids who love quirky humor.
A shipping accident leaves a gaggle of pugs stranded in the snowy, frozen north. They are saved and adopted by a pair of kids, Sika and Shen. Sika and Shen harness the pugs in attempt to win the Great Northern Race, which ends at the home of a mythical man called Snowfather. There are many shenanigans along the race, including a bizarre encounter with noodle-loving creatures!
DETECTIVE GORDON: THE FIRST CASE (series) by Ulf Nilsson
Buy: Bookshop |Amazon
Detective Gordon, the local crime stopper, has more of a penchant for tea and cakes than he does for police work, and don't even think about asking him to use the gun. He gets a small but enthusiastic assistant when he meets up with a young mouse, whom he mistakes for the criminal in a case he has to solve. Together they concoct a plan to discover the real thief, who has stolen all of Squirrel's nuts. The lovely, colorful illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment.
DETECTIVE NOSEGOODE AND THE MUSIC BOX MYSTERY (series) Mystery by Marian Orłoń
Find it: Bookshop |Amazon
Mr Ambrosius Nosegoode is a retired famous detective living with his talking dog.
But retired doesn't mean much when in his new home in a small town he sets out to investigate a missing music box. This isn't a rip-roaring funny book but there is a lot of subtle humor for discerning readers and is a great mystery for kids who don't like scary stories.
DOMINIC by William Steig
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Dominic is a dog who sets out to find adventure. Along the way he meets the Doomsday Gang, a band of ne’er-do-wells who are spreading havoc among the local population. Dominic easily foils the greedy gang and earns everyone’s awe and respect. His kindness towards towards others earns him a reward, which he spreads around to the less fortunate as he continues on his journey. Dominic has such a positive attitude towards life, your kids will be smiling from ear to ear while reading.
BLESS THIS MOUSE by Lois Lowry
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A group of mice lives in Saint Bartholemew's church. Mouse Mistress Hildegarde looks after her community of furry friends, making sure they stay out of sight.
When one of the mice is spotted by humans, the mice must come up with a clever plan to thwart an extermination on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis.
RA THE MIGHTY: CAT DETECTIVE (series) by A. B. Greenfield, illustrated by Sarah Horne
Find it: Amazon | Bookshop
Quirky characters abound in this mystery set in Ancient Egypt. Ra, the Pharaoh's cat, has an outsized opinion of himself. He's quite spoiled after all and, like all good cats, enjoys napping and snacking. However, when he and Khepri, a scarab beetle, team up to solve the mystery of missing jewels, he discovers he also enjoys sleuthing. Young readers will love the fun illustrations and humor.
STELLA DÍAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY by Angela Dominguez
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Stella Díaz is as charming a heroine as ever you'll find. In the first book of the series, Stella gears up to give a presentation at school. Spanish words throughout don't interfere with the understanding or enjoyment by readers with no previous exposure to the language.
MORE: Early chapter books with diverse characters
10 books that will help every educator
Illustration: Julia Zamzhitskaya
Why does a child cry sobbing, although you just washed his hands? Why is he doing what you just banned? How to teach kids to distinguish anger from disappointment and cope with emotions? The Pedagogical Council has compiled a selection of books that will help educators better understand children and find an approach to each.
Classics of literature on parenting
1. How to Love a Child - Janusz Korczak
About the book: This is a true bible for parents and educators and one of the few books on child psychology that has not lost its relevance in more than 100 years since its publication . Polish teacher and doctor Janusz Korczak devoted his life to working with orphans. Over the years of practice, he came to the conclusion that it is more important to love, respect and give him freedom to a child, and not to lecture and build a system of prohibitions.
The observations of the scientist and the literary talent of the lyric writer add up to a spiritual text full of invaluable experience. nine0006
What is the use: The book gives a charge of love for children and teaches a philosophy that supports the educator in the most difficult professional moments. Korczak teaches to understand and accept children from infancy to the end of adolescence, without changing or making them "comfortable". Learn to live with these "foreigners", who still do not know the language and laws well.
2. "Everything-everything-everything about raising children" - Lyudmila Petranovskaya
About the book: The book contains three bestsellers by psychologist Lyudmila Petranovskaya: "If it's difficult with a child", "Secret support Self Mom: Life Hacks for the Working Mom. Petranovskaya analyzes the most common problems and crises in relations with children, gives practical advice for each case.
For example, it explains why children suddenly become hysterical and how to stop it. nine0006
What is the use: The author tells how to help a child get out of a conflict or a difficult situation, grow harmoniously and not waste time fighting and competing. The book teaches adults to become significant in the lives of children and understand what is really behind "bad manners". Readers will learn why modern psychologists beg not to make children obedient.
3. "Big book of communication with a child" - Julia Gippenreiter
About the book: Revised edition of Julia Gippenreiter's bestsellers “Communicate with a child. How?”, “We continue to communicate with the child. So?" and chapters from the book “We have different characters. How to be? Books have been republished since the 1990s, and teachers often refer to the works of the author, who is a professor at Moscow State University and a doctor of psychological sciences.
Answers to the eternal questions of several generations of parents are collected here in a collection. The book is built on the principle of small lessons.
What is the use: The author teaches the correct behavior with children "on the contrary": an analysis of the wrong parenting strategies and ways to change them, ways to solve emotional difficulties and create warm, trusting relationships is given. nine0006
How a child's brain works
4. "How to talk so children will listen and how to listen so children will talk" - Elaine Mazlish and Adele Faber
About the book: communicate with children from two psychologists who are mothers of many children. Contains recommendations for building communication with children of different ages: a lot of practice, a minimum of theory.
What is the use: Author's methods help to conduct a dialogue with children so that they hear requests and respond to them without shouting and punishing.
There are also tips on how to position the child so that he shares his thoughts and feelings with adults. nine0006
5. "Thirty Million Words" by Dana Suskind
About the book: Chicago-based pediatric cochlear implant surgeon Dana Suskind talks about a study of children with congenital hearing loss and their post-implant rehabilitation. It turned out that children with the same initial data who underwent surgery at the same age recovered differently only because of the way their parents communicate with them.
What is the benefit: Provides data on the impact of adult speech on children under four years of age, which helps to learn what words to use and how to build sentences, why it is better to call a child a "helper" rather than asking for his help directly, and how many words a day necessary for the development of the child's brain.
6. "The Emotional Intelligence of the Child" - John Gottman
About: Family psychologist John Gottman believes that in the last couple of decades, just loving a child and sticking to certain parenting tactics is not enough, and one of the first skills, which is worth teaching children is the ability to recognize their own emotions.
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What is the use: Adults who read the book will be able to explain their emotions to children and thus influence their behavior, correct it. There are recommendations for building emotional education, which is aimed at eliminating nervousness and irritability in relations between children and adults, reducing the level of anxiety and insecurity in children.
7. "How to stop taking it out on children" - Carla Naumburg
About: The author, a sociologist and mother of two daughters, admits that she also had breakdowns and tantrums in her life. And most of the advice from the Internet was only about how to deal with these outbreaks. But jumping or screaming alone to get rid of negative emotions is not a solution to the problem: sometimes being a parent 24/7 is too difficult. Karla offers her own ways of avoiding irritability and guilt in parenting. nine0006
What is the use: The book is written for parents, but kindergarten teachers have similar problems.
How can one not break loose and scream if 25 three-year-olds do not hear requests to calm down? The author tells what becomes triggers for anxiety and the trigger for rage and screaming. This allows you to extinguish negative emotions in the "rudiment", because the breakdown itself cannot be controlled and you will not get off with willpower alone.
Group practice
8. Smile, Little Red Riding Hood - Richard Marnier and Aude Morel
About the book: The book with colorful illustrations was created to make it easier for adults to study emotions with children. In the pictures, Little Red Riding Hood shows them in different ways, depending on the situation. A well-known story is told for the first time with an emphasis on the feelings of the character.
What is the use: Neuropsychologist's recommendations contain scenarios for working with the book. Looking at pictures and guessing emotions, reading a fairy tale and explaining how Little Red Riding Hood felt is a simple and enjoyable exercise in developing emotional intelligence.
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9. Sleepy Rabbit by Carl-Johan Forssen Erlin
About the book: A fairy tale written by a Swedish behavioral psychologist became a bestseller because it's just a lifesaver for adults who need to solve a problem baby sleep. This is because the book is written in a special way: for example, words in bold or italics should be read slowly, as if yawning. And the story itself works like a lullaby, because it's about a hare that mom puts to bed. nine0006
What is the use: If the "quiet hour" in the group is completely different from quiet, the book will help the teacher quickly put the kids to bed. Children fall asleep as if by magic, if you apply the author's advice.
10. “Good manners. One day in pictures and 20 lessons” — Natalya Krylova
About the book: The book with magnificent illustrations tells about one day in the life of a child: he doesn’t want to get up in the morning, but he takes a bath, walks for too long and jumps into a puddle, forgets to say hello to a friend.
This long day is divided into 20 lessons with morals and practical advice. nine0006
What is the use: In an unobtrusive way, using the scripts offered in the book, educators explain to children how to behave in a given situation, teach the rules of hygiene and etiquette, but boring instructions are canceled.
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7 books about kindergarten: for children and even for parents
Will you take your child to kindergarten for the first time? There is still more than a month until September - a lot of time to prepare (for both him and you). And these books will help - understandable, funny and extremely useful. nine0006
"Little Theo Goes to Kindergarten" by Susanna Gölich
A cute picture book that will do a great job of preparing your child for the first trip to kindergarten.
Koala Theo also goes there for the first time and is very worried, so much so that even his favorite teddy bear gets sick - but everything will be fine. And funny stories from the life of kindergarteners will inspire anyone to quickly go in search of new friends.
"No way!", Beatrice Alemagna
Pascalina the bat doesn't want to go to kindergarten for anything - and she tells everyone so. And it turns out that this one has her "no way!" magical effect: parents get smaller and smaller and... go to the garden with their naughty daughter. What will come of this? It's better for you to find out for yourself. But there is a small spoiler: by the end of the first day, Pascalina will realize that without parents, kindergarten would be much more interesting. nine0006
“How Papa Became Small”, Lars Mähle
A similar plot: Tina has to go to kindergarten with her father, and not with an adult and serious, but with a small and mischievous one. That's more entertainment! Well, what to do: dad thought so, the wish came true, and Tina has to put up with it.
An instructive story for children and parents - situations familiar to everyone, but not through the eyes of an adult, but through the eyes of a child. Believe me, you will have something to discuss with the future kindergartener.
Kindergarten on Wheels. Middle group, Zulya Stadnik
The second book in the Kindergarten on Wheels series. In fact, the author wrote stories for her daughter Solka - she has already grown up, but she asks for continuation. The excavator Klusha and the engine Shpunchik have grown up and now go to the middle group. They still listen to instructive tales that the strict but caring nanny Kerosin Benzinovich reads to them, draw fruits, play a lot and, of course, cannot resist pranks. Not exactly an instruction for survival in kindergarten, but an introduction to the topic - for sure. nine0006
“The Kindergarten of My Dreams”,
Kseniya Valakhanovych
A collection of poems by the famous children's poetess Kseniya Valakhanovych, dedicated to kindergarten everyday life.
