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Summer's here and the days are lazy. But that doesn't mean that your child's mind needs to turn off. Here are some great tales that will ignite their imagination and fire their sense of adventure, from the classic story of the Mohicans to the epic adventure of Lewis and Clark. Your young reader will travel by book to wonderful places - King Arthur's court, the forest of John James Audubon - places they'll never see at summer camp, but of which they can read while huddled around the campfire. For ages 6 and older Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream Written by Robert Burleigh; illustrated by Wendell Minor (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $16.95, hardcover, 32 pages) John James Audubon had a choice to make as a young man: follow what his father wanted for him, which was to be a shopkeeper, or follow his own dreams of illustrating birds. In this nicely conceived book, author Robert Burleigh intersperses quotations taken from Audubon's journals with an imaginary correspondence between Audubon and his father, in which the younger man explains why he has decided to devote his life to chronicling the birds and animals he finds in nature. The watercolor illustrations by Wendell Minor are beautiful and the pages are interspersed with Audubon's own timeless drawings. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Retold by Emma Gelders Sterne and Barbara Lindsay; illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren (Random House, $19.95, hardcover, 144 pages) The legend of Camelot lives on in this beautiful volume of King Arthur tales, retold by mother-daughter team Emma Gelders Sterne and Barbara Lindsay. From Merlin to Lancelot, from the sword in the stone to the quest for the grail, all the familiar adventures are here in language that is eloquent but easily comprehensible. The illustrations, by renowned children's artist Gustaf Tenggren, are stunning. This would be a great gift for those who are newcomers to these tales, as well as to old hands. For ages 8-13 The Last of the Mohicans Written by James Fenimore Cooper; illustrated by N.C. Wyeth (Simon & Schuster, $18.95, hardcover, 52 pages) As Far As the Eye Can Reach: Lewis and Clark's Westward Quest Written by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel (Random House, $14.95, hardcover, 128 pages) Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory in 1803. The true-life tale of how the men made their way through the uncharted American West is one of the most thrilling this nation has produced. And it's all true. The author does a nice job of humanizing the people in the story. The book is filled with maps, portraits, photocopies of Lewis's journals and drawings, and a bibliography to make it accessible to older elementary students. This is a worthy volume, particularly fitting during this bicentennial year of the expedition. Hold Up the Sky Retold by Jane Louise Curry; illustrated by James Watts (Simon & Schuster, $17.95, hardcover, 150 pages) The stories retold here have been part of generations of Native American tribes, drawing from those in Texas and the Southern Plains. Many of the tribes, of course, were destroyed by disease or war. But the tales survived, first by word of mouth, then in written records from the latter part of the 19th century. There is a tale from the Kiowa-Apache tribe about how the coyote makes the sun; a story from the Caddo tribe about how the rabbit stole the mountain lion's teeth. Particularly useful is the "About the Storytellers" section in the back which describes the background of the different tribes. Call of the Wild Written by Jack London (Aladdin Paperbacks, $3.99, paperback, 139 pages) First published in 1903, "Call of the Wild" is considered Jack London's masterpiece. The setting is the Klondike gold rush in the Canadian wilderness. For the men who work there, dogs were invaluable helpers in hauling things through the frigid winters. The story centers on one dog, Buck, and how he is transformed once he is sold to labor in the brutal climate. This book is probably best for older elementary students or middle-schoolers. The reading guide in the back is useful for comprehension. Robinson Crusoe Written by Daniel Defoe, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth (Simon & Schuster, $18.95, hardcover, 52 pages) The reissue of these two classic tales, with breathtaking oil painting illustrations by N.C. Wyeth, are a great way to introduce literature to young readers. James Fenimore Cooper's story of loyalty, bravery and love during the French and Indian War and Daniel Defoe's great adventure of endurance and faith for his shipwrecked hero still have the power to thrill young readers today. The stories are carefully condensed and retold; nothing is lost in the translation. Wyeth's work is a wonder in and of itself. |
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