Tan Family Reads

As you can see, we love to read! Hubbs and I have always loved reading from when we were young. So we know we want to cultivate readers in all the kidzes. As such, we started reading to them from the time they were born, and in the case of Isaac - even when he was in my womb! 

Here are some blog posts which I have written about growing readers, encouraging kids to read:

• Start Reading Young
• Tips for Reading to a Toddler
• How to Get Your Bookworm Kids to Stop Reading After Lights Off?

The kids have been reading voraciously, and I have been keeping a list of the books they read on my phone for my easy reference at the National Library so that I can borrow the ones they haven't read. In addition to that list, we have a list of book series that the kids rank in order of preference when they have read books in the series. 

So how do we have so much time to read? We don't watch TV at home! Read about Our "No TV at Home" Rule and give it a try yourselves! You'd be amazed at how much "more time" you have to do the things you really love to do! :)

Tan Family Reads! 

Here below lies the ranking of the books according to each person, of how they liked the books they have read. Mind you, these are the ones they liked enough to make it to the list. We, Isaac in particular, have sometimes read books which we did not like enough to add to the lists below. For books that we did not enjoy, we sometimes do not even finish the series, or worse - the book itself. 

We shall aim to eventually do a mini review of each series. However, for now, here are the rankings. All books listed are either easily available from all popular bookstores (Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series) or otherwise available for borrowing from our fantastic National Library of Singapore. 

• The lists are all ranked by the kids themselves, in order of each child's preference. 
• Number in brackets refers to the number of books in the series.
• Call number is the three letters in caps at the end of each entry. 

BOOK SERIES for AGES 9 to 12 and above!

- Found in the National Libraries of Singapore, in the junior lending section marked Ages 10 to 12. 

ISAAC's Favourite Books Series (NLB Junior Lending Ages 10 - 12), ranked - last updated on 18 April 2018

1. Percy Jackson (5) & PJ & The Olympians (5) by Rick Riordan RIO
2. Harry Potter (7) by JK Rowling ROW
3. The Five Kingdoms (4 of 5) by Brandon Mull MUL
4. Shapeshifter (5) & Unleashed (5) by Ali Sparkes SPA
5. Keepers of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (5) MES
6. Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (4) STE
7. Above World (3) by Jenn Reese REE
8. Underland Chronicles (5) by Suzanne Collins COL
9. The Keepers (2 of 4) by Ted Sanders SAN
10. Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (5) SAN
11. Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein.
12. The Ether Trilogy (3) by Laurice E.  Molinari (MOL) 
13. The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman (3) KOR
14. The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott (6) SCO
15. Fablehaven (5) by Brandon Mull MUL
16. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (3)
17. Mark of the Thief (3) byJennifer A. Nielsen NIE (added on 8 June 2017)
18. The Very Nearly Honourable League of Pirates by Caroline Carlson (3) CAR
19. School of Fear (3) by Gitty Daneshvari DAN
20. The Menagerie (3) by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland SUT
21. The Luck Uglies by Paul Durham (3) DUR
22. Otherworld Chronicles by Nils Johnson-Shelton (3) JOH
23. Beyonders (3) by Brandon Mull MUL
24. The Land of Stories (3 out of 5?) by Chris Colfer
25. The Hidden World of Changers (5) by H. K. Varian VAR
26. Samurai Kids (4 out of 6) by Sandy Fussell FUS
27. Kane Chronicles (3) by Rick Riordan RIO
28. Spirit Animals (7) by Various. First book MUL
29. Unwanteds (7) by Lisa McMann MAC
30. Joshua Dread (3) Lee Bacon BAC
31. Almost Super by Marion Jensen (3) JEN
32. Janitors (5) by Tyler Whitesides WHI
33. Cloak Society (3) by Jeramey Kraatz KRA
34. Heroes in Training by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams (10) HOL
35. Jack Blank (3) by Matt Myklusch MYK
36. Candyshop Wars (2) by Brandon Mull MUL
37. Wings of Fire (?) By Tui T. Sutherland SUT
38. Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur (10) by Luke Sharpe SHA
39. Way Too Real Aliens Trilogy (3) by Pamela F. Service SER
40. The Spiderwick Chronicles (6) by Tony DiTerlitzzi DIT
41. The Three Doors Trilogy (3) by Emily Rodda ROD
42. The Books of Beginning Trilogy (3) by John Stephens STE
43. Ascendance Trilogy (The False Prince) (3) by Jennifer Nielsen NIE
44. Monsterrific Tales series (6?) by David Lubar LUB
45. The Truth Sayer (3) by Sally Prue PRU

ASHER's Favourite Books Series (NLB Junior Lending Ages 10 - 12), ranked - last updated on 18 April 2018

1. The Zodiac Legacy (3) by Stan Lee LEE
2. Jack Blank (3) by Matt Myklusch (3) MYK added Jan 2018
3. Thrones and Bones (3) by Lou Anders AND 
4. The Blackwell Pages (3) by K.L. Armstrong
5. Magisterium (4) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare BLA
6. The Blood Guard by Carter Roy (3) ROY
7. Shapeshifter (5) & Unleashed (5) by Ali Sparkes SPA
8. Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (3) RIO
9. Five Ancestors (10) by Jeff Stone (7) STO
10. Changers by H.K. Varian (7) VAR - added April 2017
11. Heroes in Training (10+) by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams (10) HOL
12. Samurai Kids (6) by Sandy Fussell FUS - added 2017
13. Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe (10+) SHA - added March 2017
14. How to Train a Dragon (12) series by Cressida Colwell COL
15. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (5) RIO - added August 2017
16. Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon (3) BAC - added April 2017
17. Almost Super by Marion Jensen (2) JEN - added Dec 2017

PAMELA's Favourite Books Series (NLB Junior Lending Ages 10 - 12), ranked - last updated on 8 November 2016

1. Harry Potter (7) by JK Rowling ROW
2. Shapeshifter (5) & Unleashed (5) by Ali Sparkes SPA
3. The Keepers (2 of 4) by Ted Sanders SAN
4. The Five Kingdoms (4 of 5) by Brandon Mull MUL
5. The Psi Chronicles (3) by Lana Krumwiede KRU
6. The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott (6) SCO
7. Percy Jackson (5) & PJ & The Olympians (5) by Rick Riordan RIO
8. Beyonders (3) by Brandon Mull MUL
9. The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman (3) KOR
10. Skulduggery Pleasant (9) by Derek Landy LAN
11. Jack Blank (3) by Matt Myklusch MYK
12. Samurai Kids (4 out of 6) by Sandy Fussell FUS
13. Wondla (3) by Tony DiTerlizzi DIT
14. Inkheart (3) by Cornelia Funke FUN
15. Masterminds (2 of 3) by Gordon Korman KOR
16. Aliens on Vacation (3) by Clete Barrett Smith SMI
17. Ascendance Trilogy (The False Prince) (3) by Jennifer Nielsen NIE
18. The Spiderwick Chronicles (6) by Tony DiTerlitzzi DIT

Notable Individual Books, ranked by Pamela

1. Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes
2. Car-Jacked by Ali Sparkes
3. You'll Like it Here (Everybody Does) by Ruth White WHI
4. Blitzed by Robert Swindells SWI
5. Timesnatch by Robert Swindells SWI
6. Invisible! by Robert Swindells SWI
7. Abomination by Robert Swindells SWI

BOOK SERIES for AGES 6 to 9 and above!

- Found in the National Libraries of Singapore, in the junior section marked Ages 7 to 9. 

SHAWNA's Favourite Books Series (NLB Junior Lending Ages 6 - 9), ranked, last updated on 11 October 2016

1. Greetings From Somewhere by Harper Paris (10) PAR
2. Monster Boy by Shoo Rayner (8) RAY
3. Jeremy and the Enchanted Theater by Becky Citra (4) CIT
4. Ready Freddy by Abby Klein (20+) KLE
5. Jack Stalwart by Elizabeth Singer Hunt (14) HUN
6. Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures by Josh Greenhut (GRE) and (PEN)
7. Animal Cracker books by Rose Impey (16) IMP

ASHER's Favourite Books Series (NLB Junior Lending Ages 6 - 9), ranked, last updated on 18 April 2018

1. Battle Bugs by Jack Patton (9) PAT
2. Quest of the Gods (10) by Dan Hunter  
3. Beast Quest by Adam Blade (many!) BLA
4. Monster Boy by Shoo Rayner (8) RAY
5. Monster Makers by Ali Sparkes (6) SPA
6. Viking Vik by Shoo Rayners (8) RAY
7. Melvin Beederman by Greg Trine (8) TRI 
8. Ninja Meerkats 
9. Adventures at Hound Hotel by Shelley Swanson Sateren (7?)
10. Rider Woofson by Walker Styles (5) STY 
11. Greetings From Somewhere by Harper Paris (10) PAR
12. Olympia (8) by Shoo Rayner RAY
13. Bug Buddies by Joe Miller (6) MIL
14. Dinosaur Cove (24) by Rex Stone STO
15. Captain Awesome (10+) by Stan Kirby KIR
16. Ready Freddy by Abby Klein (20+) KLE
17. Axel Storm (8) by Shoo Rayner RAY
18. Animal Crackers by Rose Impey (16) IMP

ISAAC's Favourite Books Series (NLB Junior Lending Ages 6 - 9), ranked, last updated on 18 April 2018

Isaac read many books for this age range in the past. But as we did not keep a running ranking list like that, he'd been unable to rank them all. So now, he is ranking them from memory, and re-reading them when the twins read them. Thus, his ranking below may change as he rereads the series again. 

1. Dinosaur Cove (24) by Rex Stone STO
2. Dragons Slayers Academy (20) by Kate McMullan MAC
3. Zac Power (26) by H.I. Larry LAR
4. Monster Makers (6) by Ali Sparkes 
5. Monster Boy (8) by Shoo Rayner RAY
6. Greetings From Somewhere (10) by Harper Paris HAR
7. The Whodunit's Detective Agency (8) by Martin Widmark WID
8. Battle Bugs by Jack Patton (9) PAT
9. Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures by Josh Greenhut (GRE) and (PEN)
10. S.W.I.T.C.H (12) by Ali Sparkes SPA
11. Gladiator Boy by David Grimstone 
12. The D.A.T.A. Set (Danger! Action! Trouble! Adventure!) by Ada Hopper (3 of?) HOP
13. Ready Freddy (20+) by Abby Klein KLE
14. Alfie the Werewolf (6) by Paul van Loon LOO
15. Axel Storm (8) by Shoo Rayner RAY
16. Field Trip Mysteries by Steve Brezenoff  (10?) BRE
17. Jeremy and the Enchanted Theater (4) by Becky Citra CIT
18. Jack Stalwart by Elizabeth Singer Hunt (14) HUN
19. Alfie Green by Joe O'Brien (9) OBR
20. Olympia (8) by Shoo Rayner RAY