Reading and the Joy of Reading in Modern Times
Today, Plaza Patatta has proven to be a children’s book series that brings joy to everyone: boys and girls, strong and struggling readers, teachers and students, librarians, as well as the author and illustrator. The series embraces a lifestyle of curiosity and welcomes new developments.
For that reason, Plaza Patatta offers e-books, audiobooks, and videos. There are special dyslexia-friendly editions for children with dyslexia and a unique Plaza Patatta version of ‘Hardop’ for visually impaired children. Children who don’t enjoy reading often love hands-on activities. That’s why Plaza Patatta provides kid-friendly cooking recipes, craft templates, and—upon request—science experiments. These can be completed after reading the instructions.
The more you read, the better you can develop the skills needed to fulfill your dreams. We love seeing dreams come true, and it all starts with creating a love for reading.
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These books are available for you as an audiobook, e-book of even as a paper copy.
The Origin of Plaza Patatta Children’s Books
In 2002, young author Nanda Roep embarked on a new, ambitious project: a children’s book series designed for as many children as possible. Her goal was for the series to reach the same scale as classic children’s books from her own childhood. From the beginning, she knew this would be a long-term endeavor.
The books were meant for both boys and girls. For the author, this wasn’t unusual—she fondly remembered devouring comics with her brother. However, from a marketing perspective, it was challenging: Were these books for boys or girls? The author simply shrugged and said, “They’re adventure books.”
Over time, it became clear that these books were perfect for reading education in classrooms. After all, both boys and girls loved them. The books are not too long, making them accessible for struggling readers, while also offering enough depth to challenge avid readers, who can enjoy multiple books within a school term. Additionally, all children can further develop their skills with the fun activities that accompany the books.
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The Many Themes of Plaza Patatta Children’s Books
To ensure that readers don’t always have to start with the first book in the series, the author chose to write standalone stories. Each book tells a complete story in approximately 100 pages and includes many illustrations. The genre: detective adventure mysteries.
The Plaza Patatta book series encourages children to embrace and explore new things. This theme is reflected in the storylines, such as with Daddy Howard, who opens a children’s restaurant even though he can’t cook. The same philosophy applies to the creators themselves, who actively use social media—you can find Plaza Patatta on YouTube!
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Using Plaza Patatta for classroom reading projects
From the beginning, the series has been designed to accommodate all reading levels within a classroom, ensuring success experiences, competence, digital reading, and shared reading:
- Struggling readers – Short chapters and extra activities
- Dyslexic readers – Special editions
- Digital readers – E-books and audiobooks
- Proficient readers – A series format to enjoy multiple books
- Gifted readers – A series format with additional activities
Additionally, Plaza Patatta books cover a broad range of interests to support autonomy and engagement:
Topics include kids’ cooking, music idols, circus, Paris, birthdays, theater, zombies, moving, family (grandparents), school parties, school camp, and horseback riding. Upcoming themes include soccer and vlogging.
The author is deeply committed to promoting the joy of reading. Since its inception, the series has aimed to offer plenty of materials on modern platforms where children spend their time. To support playful reading and additional learning, Plaza Patatta provides videos, songs, and educational (craft) materials via YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, digital libraries, and the official website.
The reading project for grades 3–6 is fun for everyone and follows the most widely recommended methods to encourage reading enjoyment:
- Interest: Books should align with students’ interests.
- Reading together: Reading as a group, including the teacher.
- Competence: Children should feel confident in their ability to complete reading tasks successfully.
- Autonomy: Students should have the freedom to read independently, with teacher support.
- Connectedness: Parents, teachers, and friends play a crucial role in motivating children to read.
- Digital reading: Encourage students to read on e-readers.
- Success experiences: Many children, especially in middle and upper elementary grades, struggle to stay motivated due to a lack of positive reading experiences.
