Chapter Books v. Middle Grade, Toys Go Out, Lety Out Loud

The Magic Book House No. 1

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In this first installment, I’ll explain the difference between chapter books and middle grade books, and then recommend two of my favorites.  In the future, we’ll dive straight into the books!

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The line between chapter books and middle grade is often blurred or even missing.  While some of the differences can be subtle, chapter books and middle grade novels are two distinct categories that serve different purposes.  Understanding some of the characteristics of each category will help you (and your reader) choose the right books at the right time.

Chapter Books at a Glance

Chapter books are not simply any book that contains chapters. With their larger type and wider line spacing, chapter books look inviting to young readers. 

• chapter books are generally aimed at readers ages 7-10 

• chapters are purposely short, catering to a younger child’s attention span

• chapter books usually run about 4,000-15,000 words

• often contain illustrations, but illustrations are additive—meaning, they don’t help the reader decode the text

• longer and more complex than “easy readers” with more character and plot development

• often a series centering on a child or animal protagonist with childlike qualities

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Middle Grade Books at a Glance

Middle Grade is not synonymous with “middle school,” although many middle school readers do read middle grade fiction .  The Middle Grade category can be tricky because it covers a broad range of reading levels, interests, and maturity levels. 

• middle grade is generally aimed at children aged 8-12

• more mature in format and content than chapter books

• sometimes divided into “early” middle grade and “upper” middle grade, depending on content and complexity

• contains few, if any, illustrations

• middle grade books are usually 30,000-50,000 words

• protagonists are usually 10-13 years old.  Kids like to read about kids older than them!

• middle grade characters focus on their friends and family, and react to situations in their immediate world

• minimal self reflection (You’ll find lots of self reflection in Young Adult literature, which is geared toward teens)

• no profanity, sexuality, or graphic violence (Again, YA books deal with these issues, but they aren’t generally present in MG)

Scholastic associate publisher Abby McAden puts it this way: “Middle grade fiction is for truly independent, confident readers, whereas chapter books are all about building that confidence.”

Now, let’s get to the books!

Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic (Toys Series #1), by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky (2006)

“Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo

Stingray is a stuffed stingray

Plastic is a…well, Plastic isn’t sure what she is.”

The story begins with these three quirky toys stuffed into a backpack, unsure of their destination.  Stingray is certain they’re headed to the vet, or the zoo, or the dump.  Plastic is nervous too, but hopes for the best.  And Lumphy is just afraid he’s going to be sick.  

As it turns out, their Little Girl has brought them to school for show and tell.  

This book is the first in an award-winning trilogy that follows the adventures of three toys as they navigate friendships and explore their own small world.  Lumphy, Stingray, and Plastic have the same sort of fears, conflicts, and misunderstandings as children, and this makes them so relatable.  

The Toys books are laugh-out-loud funny and beg to be read aloud, as each character (including a towel named Tuk-Tuk and a washing machine called Frank) has a distinct voice and vernacular.  I read the trilogy to my kids when my son was 6 years old and my daughter 4, and just recently again to my daughter at 8 years old.  

While the magic is in sharing these stories aloud, they are also great independent reads for kids in 2nd-4th grade.  After I finished reading them for the second time, my daughter took all three books upstairs to read AGAIN on her own.  

I think your family will love Jenkins’ unique take on the enduring question:  

What do my toys do while I’m away?

Recommended for ages 5-10

(Note: I’m not usually going to attempt to rate the “appropriateness” of a book, as I know this is a matter of opinion.  I will say that there are two instances of “shut up” which I easily changed to “be quiet,” and one fleeting mention of possible axe murderers in the basement, which I completely skipped over.  Know that I am extremely cautious about what my children read-probably too much so-and didn’t find this content problematic.)  

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Lety Out Loud, by Angela Cervantes (2019)

“All of the kids raised their hands, but Lety hesitated. She had to collect the words just right in her head before she spoke them…she hoped no one took her answer before she could put the words together.”

After finishing 5th grade, Lety Munoz volunteers at an animal shelter as part of a summer program.  Spanish is Lety’s first language, and she’s worked hard at developing her English skills since moving to Kansas from Mexico a few years before.

Lety badly wants to be “shelter scribe,” the volunteer who writes adoption profiles for the available dogs and cats.  However, she gets drawn into a secret competition for the job with Hunter, an intimidating boy with a bad attitude.  Lety is afraid that if the shelter finds out about their contest, she won’t get to adopt Spike, a dog who badly needs a home.

Middle grade readers will relate to Lety as she struggles to find her place in the world and develops the confidence to speak up for the people (and animals) who need her.

Through Lety’s eyes, Cervantes gives readers a peek into the immigrant experience in America.  She writes about tough topics gracefully, keeping her young audience in mind.  

This book is such a gift.  My kids and I read it together, and it inspired great conversation.  We talked about how it might feel to move to a new place and not speak the dominant language.  We talked about how people aren’t always what they seem (“mean” Hunter has a reason for all that attitude!)   It opened our hearts to the challenges families like Lety’s face, and I’m so grateful for books that help build genuine empathy.  Because of this, Lety Out Loud is one of my favorite middle grade selections.  

Barely 200 pages, this book is also an excellent choice for readers who want an uplifting and engaging middle grade story but are intimidated by longer novels.  

Recommended for ages 8-12