|
 Reprinted with permission of “The Horn Book,” the nation’s oldest journal about children’s literature.
www.hbook.com/resources/books/summer.asp
Laid-back summer days and a good book go hand-in-hand. Last month, we gave you a list of captivating books for children to read during the school hiatus. And this month, because there’s no such thing as kids reading TOO much, we’re giving you more of the same.
The books recommended this time were chosen by The Horn Book (hbook.com), which has been reviewing children’s books for more than 80 years.
Reprinted with permission of The Horn Book, the nation’s oldest journal about children’s literature.
Dog and Bear: Two’s Company [Grades K-3]
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Porter/Roaring Brook, $12.95, 32 pages)
The three stories, told mostly in dialogue, lend themselves to independent reading and group sharing; readers may also enjoy acting them out. Seeger demonstrates the power of the small brushstroke as Bear’s eyebrows tell the whole story of what it means to be Dog’s friend. A stark white background highlights the action – the rest is dark ink outlines, with deep colors within.
Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole [Grades 1-3]
By Wong Herbert Yee (Houghton, $15, 48 pages)
After Mole (Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole) is disappointed to learn that magic tricks are more trick than magic, Mouse tries to show him the “real” magic that takes place all around them in nature. Plentiful charcoal-pencil and gouache illustrations help readers to follow the story with ease, and imbue the moonlit nighttime scenes with mystery and wonder.
Being Bee [Grades 4-6]
By Catherine Bateson (Holiday, $16.96, 126 pages)
Resentful of her dad’s new live-in girlfriend, Jazzi, Bee vents her frustration in letters to her guinea pigs. She takes solace in their sympathetic replies, which are really written by kind-hearted Jazzi. Though narrated in Bee’s voice, the book also manages to convey Jazzi’s point of view. By the novel’s end, Bee sees that Jazzi is a worthy addition to the family.
Hero [Grades 7 and up]
By Perry Moore (Hyperion, $16.99, 428 pages)
More than he dreads coming out to his father, Thom fears revealing his superhuman healing powers. As Thom trains for hero duty, he uncovers family secrets. Readers will appreciate the satire that provides moments of relief in an often dark narrative. Filled with inexorable villains and disillusioned heroes, the book spans isolation and romance for a larger-than-life coming of age.
OC Family Books Online
[FOR AGES 5-8]
“Henry’s Amazing Imagination!”
By Nancy Carlson (Viking Children’s Books, softcover, $15.99, 32 pages)
A good thing about Henry the mouse: He has a really well-developed imagination. He tells his class about his fishing prowess…and the snowman…and the alien. It makes you, and your children, wonder aloud: What if it is all true?
[For ages 4-8]
“17 Things I’m Not Allowed To Do Anymore”
By Jenny Offill; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Schwartz & Wade Book, hardcover, $15.95, 32 pages)
As parents, we might ask, “There are only 17?” But these banishments are wonderfully told and illustrated, starting with the hilarious, “I had an idea to staple my brother’s hair to the pillow.” There went the use of a stapler. A lot of humor and a quick read make this a winner.
[For ages 4-9]
“Little Brother Moose”
By James Kasperson; illustrated by Karlyn Holman (Dawn Publications, softcover, $7.95, 32 pages)
This 13-year-old story is still well worth the read. It is a parable about Moss, a curious moose, who decides to wander onto civilized land and see what the humans are up to. Moss is curious, and he soon gets his fill. In the end, he knows exactly where home is, and why.
[For ages 4-8]
“Little Boy”
By Alison McGhee; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, softcover, $15.99, 40 pages)
There is a reason why boys are so active: They simply never stop. This quick read shows some of the elements of an action-packed day, as a little boy wakes up and never slows down until he falls asleep in his cardboard box.
|
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
