#IMWAYR 🚗More Summer Reading☀️

Our Reading Adventures

Long road trip ahead, perhaps a rainy day is in your forecast, or summer vacation is winding down and "there's nothing to do" now? No worries! National Geographic Kids has just the thing to help fill in those long stretches of time with three books full of all kinds of information  - some useful, some interesting, some enlightening, all entertaining. These books are perfect for quiet moments alone, or to share with the whole family and with friends. 

More Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff

by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

National Geographic Kids, 2021, 256 pages

There are often funny, surprising or just plain interesting stories behind familiar everything items and  isn't that just the sort of trivia we all love to know? The book is divided into 10 chapters, each with its own category, such as Playthings, Traditions, Health & Medicine, Fabulous Food and Devices & Doodads, to name just a few. For example, did you know that the Yo-Yo is an ancient Greek toy? Or that buttons were around in 2000 BC, but it took 3000 more years for the buttonhole to be invented? And who doesn't like a nice slice of pizza? Apparently the ancient Greeks did. Sure, it has evolved since then  but it's basically to same idea. I've loved a nice cherry-flavored popsicle ever since I was a kid, and I'm kind of not surprised, but definitely pleased to discover popsicles were invented by an 11-year-old kid named Frank Epperson in 1905. This book is so filled with bytes of information and ideal for a long car ride - not only will it entertain kids, but they will soon be reading their discoveries out loud for the benefit of everyone in to car/train/plane, making it good reading practice, too. 

101 Life Hacks: Genius Ways to Simplify Your World

by Aubre Andrus

National Geographic Kids, 2021, 208 pages

This is really a lot of fun to read and think about. It is chockablock with simple, time-saving, useful ideas, most using common household objects, as well as suggestions for making life better. There are simple breathing exercises for relaxing, waking up and even curing hiccups. Going on a trip? Find useful hacks for packing more efficiently with just a few folding techniques. My personal favorite packing idea - reusable shower caps for keeping dirty shoes away from clothing. I also liked the idea of wrapping my lunch-to-go in a bandana instead of plastic wrap - environmentally kind and the bandana serves as a convenient napkin. My other favorite - I do a lot of photocopying at Staples and always forget a folder to put it in. I've used this hack since I read about it in this book - take a plastic bag, put in a piece of card the same size and keep it in your backpack or tote bag so you always have a neat way to carry papers, including school reports or teacher handouts. These are just some of the handy dandy hacks you'll find in this book. This is kind of an inspiring book so don't be surprised to find yourself thinking up other useful hacks.      

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2022

National Geographic Kids, 2021, 352 pages

When I was a kid, I used to love to read the Information Please Almanac (which became The Time Almanac in 1998. So it isn't surprised that I give all kids in my family who are 8 and older the National Geographic Kids Almanac every year. There is a broad range of topics in this year's book. As usual, it is divided into eleven chapters beginning with Your World 2022 covering things that happened in 2021 and things that will happen in 2022 (yikes! Harry Potter will be 22 years old), lots of pets found forever home when Covid-19 hit and the Olympics were postponed. There is now a chapter on Kid vs. Plastic, an important topic for the world of tomorrow. There's also information on Science and Technology, Culture, Animals, Space, Wonders of Nature and History Happens, and so much more. On of the things the Almanac always does so well is connecting the past with the present. Just take a look at page 247 to see what I mean. Beginning with the Civil Rights Movement, right up to the death of John Lewis in 2020 and his "Good Trouble" legacy. There is a chapter on Fun & Games which has proven very popular among my young readers. Each chapter ends with a short quiz and some homework help on each topic. 

All three of these books is entertaining and informative, filled with facts, serious and fun, history, current events, and some short biographies of people who have impacted our world. They are all compact in design and ideal for tossing in a backpack and taking along on short or long trips, waits at the dentist/doctor's office and just hanging around the house.   

Last week, I also read 

Arctic Star by Tom Palmer

Long Distance by Whitney Gardner

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natash Farrant

It's Monday! What are you reading? is the original weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.  It's Monday! What are you reading? - from Picture Books to YA is a kidlit focused meme just like the original and is hosted weekly by Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. The purpose is the same: to recap what you have read and/or reviewed and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week.

# IMWAYR Summer Reading: A Picture Book Roundup 📚

Reading is Fun

Last week was a busy week for me, but I still had time to share some summer books with my young readers, even though we are not officially together until September. 

Sweet Pea Summer

written and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell

Candlewick Press, 2021, 40 pages

A young girl goes to stay with her grandparents during summer vacation while her mom is in the hospital. A few days after her arrival, her Grandpa asks if she would like to help out in his garden, which was full of flowers and vegetables, including his prized sweet peas and would she like to care for them and then enter them into the flower show at the end of the summer. But, as she learns about caring for the plants, all kinds of things go wrong so that the plants don't bud. The girl studies her Grandpa's gardening books looking for solutions, while she and Grandpa also work hard to solve the problems. Meanwhile, the girl keeps in touch with her Mom and Dad, to see how Mom is doing. Finally, she figures out what is going wrong and sure enough, new buds begin to appear. This is a gentle intergenerational summer story that shows the valuable of patience and nurturing - for both child and plant. The graphite and watercolor illustrations are done in an array of summertime colors, and kids will enjoy seeing the little marmalade kitty by the girl's side in most images. It's a happy ending story, with Mom and Dad both coming just in time for the flower show and to bring their daughter home.  

Free

written and illustrated by Sam Usher

Templar Books, 2021, 40 pages

I thought we had seen the last of Boy and his Granddad after the final book in the Seasons with Granddad series, but, I am happy to say, they are back. Free is the first book of a quartet in which Boy and Granddad explore the wonders of nature. One morning Boy wakes up to find a sick bird outside his window. He and Granddad care for it, and when the bird is better, put it outside. But the bird comes back in, and again they put it outside. This goes on all day. Boy of course wants to keep bird, but Granddad says it will be happier outside and free. They read that this particular bird needs a particular kind of tree to call home, so they gather up their expedition equipment and head off to find the right tree. And what an expedition it is - full of happiness and birdsong. The ink and watercolor illustrations are done in the same style as the previous Boy and Granddad books so it feels like visiting old friends. There's always an element of learning in these book, and here there is an charming element of the fantastic when the pair reach the tree at the top of a mountain that kids will surely think is fun. I just love the wonderful intergenerational relationship between Boy and Granddad, and how easy they are in each other's company.

One Summer Up North

written and illustrated by Sam Usher

University of Minnesota Press, 2020, 32 pages

A family of three set off on a summer vacation, canoeing and camping in the wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) in northern Minnesota in this lushly illustrated wordless picture book. At first, the child is bored and uninterested, trailing slumped shouldered and not looking around.By the first night, even in the pouring raid, the glimmering of enjoying the trip begins show on the child face and demeanor. Pretty soon, the child is totally onboard with the trip and readers can focus on the wonderfully detailed and accurate illustrations. When I shared this with my young readers, one the child begin enjoying the trip, we had to go back to the beginning of the book and comb through the illustrations. They loved spotting the different insects, animals, and birds throughout. We talked about the abundant lily pads, trees and blueberry picking, the kinds of food people eat while camping, and then we came to the two-page spread of the milky way - WOW! I love a book that gets my kids talking and this was perfect. We did have some debate about whether the child was a boy or girl, but decided it didn't matter. My young readers also noticed that the father is white, the mother is brown, so the child is biracial. The illustrations are colorful and nicely textured, done in a palette of greens, browns, and blues. Owens has really captured the wonder of nature and there is nothing to match the peaceful feeling of floating quietly though water in a canoe. This book has a special place in our small library of books my young readers love. 

Ferry Boat

written and illustrated by Michael Garland

Holiday House, 2021, 32 pages

This isn't really a summer story, but I include it here because of my own personal memory of all the times my friends and I took the ferry on hot summer Sundays  because it was such a cool ride - in more ways than one. In this book with minimal text, Garland gives a blow by blow account of taking a ferry ride from lower Manhattan to Staten Island. Once on the ferry, riders can look out the window, watch as Manhattan recedes and sights come into view - Ellis Island, Castle Fort, the Verrazano Bridge, and of course, the Statue of Liberty. The ferry also sells food and souvenirs. Once it arrives in Staten Island, some people get off, new people get on and the ferry sails back to Manhattan. What makes this book so special are the detailed illustrations created with pencil and charcoal, scanned and digitally colored in digi-woodcut and the level reading text for beginning readers. The ferry can get crowded and I love that the diversity of New York and its visitors are captured in these images. And yes, NYC's ferry boats are just that orange.

William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream

retold by Georghia Ellinas, illustrated by Jane Ray

Candlewick Press, 2021, 32 pages

Introducing kids to Shakespeare can be difficult, but thanks to Georghia Ellinas it has become easier and this retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream is a perfect summertime read. Full of mischief making, love, mistaken identities, this comedy of errors is narrated by Robin Goodfellow and called Puck, a sprite who likes to play tricks on fairies. Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the fairies, are fighting over a young boy Titania has adopted and Oberon wants as a page. At the same time, Lysander and Hermia have run away from Athens to Puck's enchanted forest in order to get married. But Hermia is supposed to marry Demetrius, whom she doesn't love and who has followed Lysander and Hermia into the forest. Helena, who is in love with Demetrius and who does not lover her back, followed him into the forest. Meanwhile, Oberon has sent Puck to fetch a magical flower that will cause a person to fall in love with the first person they see, intending it to be used on Titania. Returning with the flower, Oberon tells Puck to use it on Demetrius so he will fall in love with Helena. But a case of mistaken identity happens and, well, mayhem ensures. Not surprisingly, none of the original flavor or humor of the story is lost in this retelling. Georghia Ellinas really knows her Shakespeare, after all, she is Head of Learning at the Globe Theater in London. The text of this picture book for older readers is perfectly matched with the colorful watercolor illustrations, done in a palette of blues, with plenty of details on each page for exploration and conversation. And to really add to the flavor, and introduce young readers to Shakespeare's writing itself,  there are plenty quotes from the actual play interspersed throughout. 

I also read

The Hollywood Spy (A Maggie Hope Mystery #10) by Susan Elia MacNeal

The Seventh Raven by David Elliott

Bartali's Bicycle by Megan Holt

It's Monday! What are you reading? is the original weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.  It's Monday! What are you reading? - from Picture Books to YA is a kidlit focused meme just like the original and is hosted weekly by Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. The purpose is the same: to recap what you have read and/or reviewed and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week.

Three Picture Books for Some Summer Fun

2020 Summer Reading

Who knew that sheltering in place could end up being such a bounty of good books. But it has been, and I've reading and reading and now it's time to start reviewing some of the wonderful books I've read. To start, here are three of my new favorite summertime picture books, perfect for sharing with your young readers.

The Camping Trip 

written and illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann

Candlewick Press, 2020, 56 pages

Ernestine is beyond excited when she is invited to go camping with her Aunt Jackie and cousin Samantha. She's never been camping before but luckily Aunt Jackie has given her a list of things she will need to bring with her. Then she and her dad make some trail mix to take. It's a long drive to the campground, but Ernestine and Samantha find things to do in the car to make the trip go faster. Setting up camp isn't exactly like the blanket tents Ernestine builds at home, it's hard work. Everyone is hot and sweaty afterwards, so they decide to take a swim. But lake swimming isn't like pool swimming, and Ernestine isn't comfortable sharing the lake with all those fish and decides to sit the swim out. Later, it's off for a hike, but hiking in nature isn't exactly what Ernestine thought is would be - it's much harder than "hiking" to school everyday. But there's lots to explore and the downhill trip is much easier. Back at camp, Tofu hot dogs for dinner aren't a hit with Ernestine, but the s'mores sure are. And when night comes, Aunt Jackie and Samantha fall right asleep, but not Ernestine - homesickness and missing dad make her want to go home. What to do? Wise Aunt Jackie takes the girls stargazing until she hears some yawns. The next day, a very different Ernestine wakes up, one who can't wait to go camping again next year. Narrated by Ernestine, this is a wonderful book about some of the realities of camping for the first time. But Mann wisely shows readers Ernestine's growth as she faces and overcomes her fears and learns to enjoy these new experiences. All this is wrapped in the warm family love of her single father, her aunt and her cousin. The humorous pencil illustrations are digitally collaged and painted, really capture what camping is all about from the individual items packed to the night sky full of stars. I can't wait to share this book with my young readers when we are able to be together again. I know they will love Ernestine.

Sandcastle

written and illustrated by Einat Tsarfati

Candlewick Press, 2020, 48 pages

It's a hot, busy day at the beach and it seems like just about everyone has found a bit of sand for themselves, including some real surprises. One young red-headed girl heads to the shoreline with her pail and shovel, and begins to build a sandcastle. But not just any ordinary sandcastle. No, indeed. It is a sandcastle fit for royalty, and that's exactly who shows up to enjoy the many spacious rooms, to dance the night away in the grand ballroom, to feast, and especially to enjoy the ice cream available round the clock. It's all wonderful until the next morning, when sand is found in the royal almond strudel and in the knight's armor just before a tournament, and the rare plants in the glorious greenhouse have wilted. Everyone is angry at the red-headed castle builder, until suddenly along comes the one thing that washes all sandcastles away -a big wave as the tide comes in. I wouldn't exactly call this book a fantasy, but I would call it far-fetched fun, from the moment the red-headed girl arrives at the beach to the moment the ocean washes away her castle. Tsarfati's colorful digital images are diverse and whimsical and simply a delight to explore, from the crowded beach that includes an elephant and a seal sunbathing among the humans, to the multiple turrets representing a wide variety of cultures, to the knights playing Twister, to the two-page spread of all the rooms in the sandcastle. This is another book I am excited to share with my young readers when we can be together again. There is so much for kids to explore on each page, much of which will provide a real laugh. This is imagination at its best.

Hike

written and illustrated by Pete Oswald

Candlewick Press, 2020, 40 pages

In this lavishly illustrated wordless picture book, a father and his child (could be a girl, could be a boy) get up early one morning, climb into their car, head out of the city where they live and head for a a day of hiking through a nearby forest. The forest is a busy place, filled with creatures and critters, birds and insects. The child has come prepared, bringing along a compass, binoculars, a magnifying glass, a camera, and book for identifying tracks, some trail mix, and even helmets for climbing high places, all meant to see and enjoy nature without disturbing it. Together, father and child spot deer, eagles, bear tracks and more. When the pair come to a river near a waterfall, it takes some encouragement on dad's part to convince his child to walk across the water on a fallen log and lots of happy hugs when the child makes it across. But the real purpose of their trip, besides a wonderful day spent together, is planting a tree seedling that perhaps the child had started and nourished from a pinecone, a nice example on giving back to nature instead of taking from it. Back home, readers will discover, this father and child outing was more than just a perfect day of enjoying each other and nature, it was actually a family tradition, as the photos in the family album show. There are so many things to love about this book. First, the relationship between parent and child is so loving and respectful. And I love the way is connects them to their past. The illustrations are done in a forest palette of greens and browns, and the blue sky is like a breath of fresh air. Plus, there are lots of different creatures for young readers to find and name on almost every page. I said it was wordless, but that's not exactly true - you will find some sound word throughout, adding to the nuance of the story. I was lucky enough to be able to briefly share this book with my young readers and I am excited to do it again when we are back together. We talked about collecting pinecones in the park and beginning our own seedlings to replant, and making a leaf book in the fall. I suspect this is a book we will go back to again and again.

Thank you to Candlewick Press, these books were gratefully received by me.

☀️Kid Tested Summer Reading: Activity and Information Books

Wondering how to make summer learning fun? Here are a few suggestions:

Summer Brain Quest: Between Grades Pre-K & K by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Edison Yan and Maris Wicks
Workman Publishing, 2018, 160 pages, 4+

Before you know it, school will be back in session and your little ones will be off to Pre-K and Kindergarten.  And while I don't advocate overwhelming kids with preparatory material before they begin, a little playing school doesn't hurt, especially if there are older siblings around to play with them, and Summer Brain Quest is just the right book for that - a workbook of a different kind. The book is designed as a quest to get as many achievement stickers as possible on the corresponding pullout map until they reach the finish line.
Kids will learn the alphabet, and how to write each letter, counting and numbers, shapes, reading maps and signs, recognizing patterns, and a bit about the weather among, other things, and all of it is age appropriate. There is plenty of interactive fun and learning to keep curious kids busy, while also feeling accomplished. There is even a Summer Brainiac Award once the quest have been completed. I especially liked that there are suggestions for a number of outdoor quests young kids can enjoy and even a section on reading with book suggestions and questions to think about for discussing a book with another person. Kids don't even have to know how to read yet, if someone can read to them (like those helpful older siblings). And I have to say, the stickers at each completed level really helps to keep kids motivated. My kids aren't young enough for Summer Brain Quest, but my neighbor's kids have been doing the quest and are loving it, and that's how I know the stickers work.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Let's Discover Bugs written and illustrated by Andrea Cascardi
Candlewick Press, 2018, 32 pages, 5+

We're Going on a Bear Hunt has been around a long time, and I know that because I remember reading it to my no-longer-a-kid Kiddo. Now, there are activity books based on that story for kids who would like to go on a hunt but for not bears. Let's Discover Bugs is full of suggestions for finding the most common types of indoor and outdoor bugs, basic information about each kind and a corresponding experiment and/or activity. The book begins with suggestions for how to stay safe and how to plan a bug hunt, including what to wear and what to bring, followed by a good definition of a bug. Did you know that all bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs? There is also a short description and a detailed illustration of each kind of bug, plus a fun fact, an activity, and other interesting items (jokes, recipes, grow a windowsill herb garden, etc). We actually made the suggested mini pond and insect home to put in a friend's garden when we visited. We've gone back and checked and both are thriving. My kiddos are very curious to see what will happen. Of course, this is a book with stickers and a there is a two-page spread called the Spotter's List, where kids an put a matching sticker on any insects they find on their adventure. Our plan is to head across the street to Carl Schulz Park and start our big outdoor buggy adventure this week.

The Kids Awesome Activity Book: Games! Puzzles! Mazes! And More! 
written and illustrated by by Mike Lowery
Workman Publishing, 2018, 112 pages, 6+

The operative words for this book are imagination and creativity. Kids can make a flip book, finish a comic, make some finger puppets, solve some puzzles, make a mask, play a game, do words searches, and these are only some of the things that can be done in this truly awesome activity book. In his intro, author Mike Lowery encourages kids to draw, color, and doodle all they want in this book, they can start where they want, end where they want, that is, do they want. There are some many things to do, and lots of room for inventing their own activities using what they find here. There's only one rule - to have fun! One of the great things about this book is that there is enough in it to keep kids busy on long car trips with just a pencil and some crayons, and enough to keep them from getting bored on hot summer days at home. And yes, this is also a book with stickers - lots of them, in fact, there are 400 fun stickers to meet every sticker need  sticker-loving kid could have. My kid's are chomping at the bit to color the large pull-out doodle poster, which they get to do now that I have written this. This book is sure to encourage your youngsters to have some plain old silly fun - just what summer calls for.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2019
National Geographic Society, 2018, 352 pages, age 8+

When I gave my young readers the Kids Almanac 2018 last year, I was really pleased to see how well it was received. And they are now excited to see that there is a new almanac just like it, but with new information. Following the same familiar format, Kids Almanac 2019 is divided into 11 sections, each one focusing on a particular subject with the latest information about things like animals, science and technology, going green, nature, history, and even geography for kids to learn about. Filled with beautiful full color photos, detailed maps, games to play, and fun facts to learn, like how to say the word friend 12 ways, interesting statistics about the earth's mountains, oceans, and deserts as well as fun stats (e.g. if a 6th grader reads 1 hour every day, they will have read 3, 285,000 in a year). Not surprisingly, my kids always like the section called Fun and Games the best, but that's OK. There is still lots to learn in it and it provides a nice break. Each year the Almanac has a challenge for an endangered animal. Last year, it was sharks, and this year it is lions. Design an Lions Forever poster with a message about lion conservation and one of your kids just might win $500. to host a party with their friends celebrating lions. Click here for more information and an entry form: Almanac 2019

Turn This Book Into a Beehive! And 19 Other Experiments and Activities That Explore the Amazing World of Bees
by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Anna-Maria Jung
Workman Publishing, 2018, 288 pages, 8+

We were very excited to receive this book once we realized what we could do with it. Not only does it teach kids all about bees, from what is a bee, to the different kinds of bees, how to tell a bee from a wasp, and what to do if you get stung, but it also explains why bees are so important to humans and in helping to maintain the health of the earth's ecology. All that plus experiments you can do to understand what it is like to be a bee - how they see, how they smell, how they collect pollen, etc. My kids loved this book. They were already aware of hive collapse, so when we reached the section on the solitary mason bee, who does not sting, and learned how they could help, the kids jumped at the chance to turn this book into a beehive. The book comes with a removable cover and a good supply of colorful pages that can be torn out. The cover can be folded to create a hive, than filled with the torn out pages that have been rolled into different sized tubes:

We put our hive together and placed it in my friend's garden. It's still there and we check it every once in a while. We'll let you know how things progress. There are also instructions for making a hive from plastic bottles and paper straws that we are planning on making and giving as Christmas gifts this year. Anna-Maria Jung's colorful illustrations add just the right amount to whimsy to appeal to kids without trivializing any of the important information about bees kids today need to know about.

Ocean: A Visual Miscellany by Ricardo Henriques, illustrated by André Letria
Chronicle Books, 2018, 48 pages, 8+

Whether you are taking kids to the beach or remaining landlocked, this is the ocean book that perfect for summer reading. This slightly over-sized book is big on facts and even some fictions about the world's oceans. Readers will discover what the major oceans are, which is the largest, find out why all boats are watercraft, but not all watercraft are boats. They can learn the parts of a ship, how sailors navigate by the stars, how life on a ship is ordered, some of the known schools of fish among the estimated 22,000 species in the ocean. There is a nice section all about waves which should appeal to kids who like to ride them on a boogie board at the beach a section on explorers, and even icebergs. My kids loved this book and the simple activities and experiments that are included, some of which we have already done like how to make a iceberg in the kitchen, tying nautical knots, and finding out how ships sail on the ocean's surface and why submarines can dive dive and run under water. This book was translated from the Portuguese and adult readers might want to try the Caldeirada (Portuguese Fish Stew) recipe and if you haven't had this kind of fish stew yet, you are in for a real treat. There are lots of illustrations done in white, blues and blacks that give the reader the feeling of being at the ocean. This book is coming with us next trip to the shore this summer.

The Ultimate Guide to Gardening: Grow Your Own Indoor, Vegetable, Fairy, and Other Great Gardens
by Lisa J. Amstutz
Capstone Young Readers, 2016, 112 pages, 9+  

I received this book quite a while ago, but it was caught in the water damage from the fire in an apartment four floors above mine and it took a while to dry and separate the pages. It's a little wrinkled, but still works. Not everyone has a house with a yard but that doesn't mean they can't have a garden. This book has more than 40 projects including instructions that range from edible gardening, to indoor gardening and even enchanted gardening. The instructions are basic and kids can use their imaginations about the kinds of containers to use, and what to put in them. Amstutz turns old tea cups, muffin tins, even tin cans into fun, decorative planters. All of the projects are kid-friendly, though an adult is needed for some help and supervision. I tried to get my kids into doing an herb garden, but ended up doing that myself. If your kids are like mine, they might be interested in growing beets and spinach from seed. These do need to be in a garden, but the ultimate goal isn't to have healthy vegetables. Turn the page and learn how to make natural dyes for tie-dying (we plan on doing this at the beach this summer, but with store bought veg). This is a fun, informative book that is sure to give kids a real appreciation for growing things.

Startalk Young Readers Editon: Everything You Ever Need to Know About Space Travel, Sci-Fi, the Human Race, the Universe, and Beyond by Neil deGrasse Tyson 
National Geographic Society, 2018, 224 pages, 10+

Neil deGrasse Tyson is my newest hero. He's knowledgeable, he's got a great sense of humor, and he knows exactly how to get people, including kids, interested in the universe. This young readers edition of Startalk is based on deGrasse Tyson's popular podcast and TV show on the National Geographic channel. The book is divided into four sections: Space, Planet Earth, Being Human, and Futures Imagined. The topics covered in each section aren't in-depth studies, but rather small information bytes that are designed to whet the readers appetite for seeking out more information about what interests them. If your young readers has ever wondered what to pack for a visit to mars, where storms come from, where creativity come from, or most important of all, could Superman survive a black hole, this is the book that will answer these questions for them. I love the way deGrasse Tyson mixes real science with science fiction and pop culture. One of my favorite information bytes: I used to love watching Star Trek reruns, but I never knew that Nichelle Nichols who played Lieutenant Uhura helped to diversify NASA, did you? There are plenty of illustrations and glorious photographs to support the information here. My only complaint is that the intro to each chapter is a very light gray on white paper and hard to read, even for my kids. And I should mention that in the Being Human section there is a two page spread that features chef Anthony Boudain, whom your readers may know about from recent news reports. This didn't take away from the books enjoyment for my readers, one of whom was so taken with this book he asked to borrow it and I think he may have appropriated it. If that isn't an endorsement, I don't know what is. I think I'll just give it to him - better read and loved than sitting on a shelf.

Happy Summer Reading, everyone!

2018 Picture Book Summer Reading Roundup

It's summertime and the living is easy, especially for kids. And what could be more fun that days at the beach even if they are only in a storybook. Here are a few new books for summer reading pleasure.

Saffron Ice Cream written and illustrated by Rashin Kheirtyeh
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018, 40 pages

Rashin and her family are heading to the beach at Coney Island for the first time since moving from Iran to Brooklyn, NY. On the subway ride, Rashin reminisces about what a day of swimming in the Caspian Sea was like for her family, from the halim her mother made for breakfast, to driving in her father's old car and listening to Persian music. In Iran, the beach was divided by a large curtain - men and boys on one side, women and girls on the other, and the beach was patrolled by burka-clad women to make sure everyone obey's the rules. Rashin's favorite part of the day was the wonderful saffron ice cream she and her best friend Azadeh would always enjoy. And Coney Island? Well, there may not be saffron ice cream, but there is chocolate crunch and a new friend named Aijah. This is a wonderful summertime story, that not only entertains, but gives insight into some of the ways living in an Islamic country differs from living in the US without pitting one against the other, which was totally refreshing. The oil and acrylic illustrations are done on handmade paper giving each one some lovely texture. Using a palette of bright pastels, the whimsical style reminds us of fun summer days (and took me right back to my own Coney Island summer days).

Sun written and illustrated by Sun
Templar Books, 2018, 40 pages

It's the hottest day of the year, a real scorcher, and a boy and his granddad decide to go on a picnic adventure. After packing their provisions, navigator granddad and lookout grandson set off to find the perfect spot for their picnic. As they walk and rest, walk and rest, and walk and rest some more, the hot sun beats down on them and the terrain they traverse becomes more and more imaginative while they look for a spot that is picturesque, in the shade, and has a cool breeze. Each time they stop, the story takes on more fantastic elements. When they finally come to a cave, they discover that someone else has discovered the same spot - the perfect picnic spot. Provisions are gathered and shared with a family and a bunch of pirates on a pirate ship that becomes increasingly more opulent. How much of this story is real and how much is pure imagination? Let your little ones be the judge. There are hints to be found throughout the story. This is such a delightfully playful book that nicely highlights the intergenerational relationship between grandson and granddad, and who really know how to make the most of unpleasant weather conditions. And the ink and watercolor illustrations capture not only the heat of the hottest day of the year but also the coolness of the cave and the house. This is a jolly companion to Usher's other grandson/granddad adventure stories (Rain, Snow, and the soon to be published Storm).

Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, illustrated by Jason Chin
Roaring Brook Press, 2018, 32 pages

A family of four gets on their bikes to join a diverse group friends and neighbors gathering at a riverside park. It's the Fourth of July, and the perfect day for a picnic. Each family brings something special, contributing food to share with each other in the best spirit of pot luck. And while fun is definitely on the menu, so is the concept of sharing. Kids learn that not only is a yummy pie for sharing, cut into almost as many pieces as you may wish, but books, balls, trees, jump ropes, a jump rope rhyme and so much more are also for sharing. An ideal day of sharing fun and games, of eating, swimming, singing, even sharing a faithful dog culminates in an evening of sharing a blanket to watch fireworks. While the idea of sharing runs through each page, this gentle story never gets preachy or overbearing in making its point. And Jason Chins subtle but powerful watercolor and gouache illustrations only add the enjoyment of seeing how pleasurable life can be. What else is for sharing? This beautiful picture book is definitely one you will want to share with your young readers.

Saturday is Swimming Day written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum
Candlewick Press, 2018, 40 pages

A young girl has been signed up by her mother for Saturday morning swimming lessons and she isn't very happy about it. The first Saturday, she says she has a stomachache, but with no fever, she is off to the pool. And spends the time standing by the wall, watching the other kids have fun during their lesson. The next week, she gets as far as sitting on the edge of the pool, watching the other kids have fun during their lesson. But the third week, Mary, the instructor, helps the girl get into the pool and by the end of the lesson, she is a more willing beginning swimmer (with lots more lessons to go). This is a sensitive, simple story about fear of the water, a fear that many young kids experience, and overcoming it. The real beauty of this story is not only that the girl gets past her fear and begins to enjoy learning to swim, but that the adults, her mom and Mary, don't pressure her, and let her come to the water in her own time. Hyewon Yum's watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are done in a palette of pool blues and tile whites, with lots of colorful bathing suits. Pair this book with Jabari Jumps for your young swimmers. 

The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Kate Berube
Alfred A. Knopf, 2018, 40 pages

It's a day at the beach, and Lola decides to build a sandcastle, with a tall, tall, tower topped with sea glass to signal mermaids. When a boy accidentally steps on the tower, he finds himself helping Lola rebuild. But along comes a small boy with a digger truck, knocking their sandcastle down, and he also finds himself helping to rebuild. When Lola starts collecting shells for her sandcastle, she collides with another girl and both lose their shells. The girl finds herself helping Lola and her two new friends. But when a wave comes along and washes away their whole elaborate sandcastle, it's too much for Lola, who sits on the beach dejectedly. Luckily, Lola has just made three new beach friends who are willing to rebuild, and so they begin anew. Anyone who has ever taken kids to the beach knows how easily a beach friend can be made, if only for a day or two, and this beach tale has captured that transient friendship so well. No names are exchanged, but the foursome work together as if they have been friends their whole lives. The text tries to imitate the building rhyme of "The House That Jack Built" but deviates in a very surprising and humorous way each time the sandcastle get destroyed. The simple but effective illustrations, done in a beachy palette of blues and yellows, add to the fun of Lola's endeavors with her new friends.

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Zlarnik, illustrated by Madeline Valentine
Schwartz & Wade Books, 2018, 40 pages

A day at the beach comes to an end and a family heads for home. As three children put away their beach toys and towels, the youngest girl is reminded of her day at the beach: "And you remember the beach that day/the sea so cool/the waves at play." Each usual evening activity - the kids taking a bath, the family eating dinners, getting ready for bed, good night kisses - elicits new memories of an idyllic day gone by. But there is the promise of more beach days to come as the story ends showing the sleeping house by the water as "Ocean breezes sigh/your favorite summer lullaby." Told in rhyming couplets, the vivid language with lots of visual and sound words really evokes the happy, carefree days of summertime at the beach that are reflected in the animated, playful gouache and digital illustrations. This makes a great bedtime book whether or not your young readers are at the beach, or just have their own good memories.

What are your summertime reading plans?

2017 Picture Book Summer Reading Roundup

Summertime is the perfect time for some fun picture book reading and here is a roundup of some of our favorite books that we have been repeatedly reading this year:

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim
2017, Candlewick Press, 32 pages, age 4+

This lyrical ode to summer captures everything that is wonderful about this favorite season. Once school is out and cubbies are cleaned of cookie crumbs, “the days stretch out like a slow yawn,” according to our narrator, an unnamed boy in a blue striped shirt. Summer is filled with lemonade stands, hide-and-seek, biking, parades, fireworks and ice cream. Summer is topped off with a family trip to the lake for fishing, old friends and, of course, a campfire to cozy around. Brenner has managed to encapsulate the essence of the perfect summer, evoking memories of my own childhood and that of my Kiddo. Jaime Kim’s acrylic and digital illustrations are done in a happy summer palette of greens, blues and yellow, with lots of Johnny-Jump-Ups sprinkling the pages like sprinkles on an ice cream cone. This is the book that reminds me each time I’ve read it to the kids just how much and why I love summer (as do my young readers).

Jabari Jumps written and illustrated by Gaia Cornwall
2017, Candlewick Press, 32 pages, age 4+

A child’s very first jump into a pool can be an exciting moment though often it is not without a little trepidation beforehand. Now that Jabari has finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, he tells his dad that today is the day he is going to jump off the diving board - after all,  he’s not the least bit scared. But as Jabari approaches the ladder leading to the board, some of his bravado seems to fade, as the lets other kids go ahead of him as he thinks about what kind of dive to do. Sensing his fears, dad suggests doing some stretches. But when Jabari decides to jump the next day instead, wise dad tells Jabari it’s OK to be scared, and offers just the kind of advice his son needs. Does Jabari jump? You bet he does. I loved this book. Cornwall has absolutely caught that milestone moment in a child’s life when they do something they are afraid of doing and it works out better than they ever expected. What a feeling! I also love the tender relationship between Jabari and his very patient dad. The pencil, watercolor, and collage illustrations really reflect Jabari’s experience, from the height of the diving board to the depth of the water, and every moment in between. 

Think Cool Thoughts by Elizabeth Perry, illustrated by Linda Bronson
2005, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 32 pages, age 4+

It seems this summer has been particularly hot all over the country. In this picture book, Angel, 7, is also suffering with the heat, unable to sleep at night, and not even after her mother tells her to think cool thoughts. In the morning, Angel’s mom and visiting Aunt Lucy start reminiscing about sleeping in the roof another summer when it was too hot, and sure enough, that night a mattress, sheets and pillows are carried upstairs and outside. That night, Angel slept on the roof between her mother and her aunt, and when she wakes, something’s different. Angel realizes she isn’t hot anymore, just as cooling raindrops begin to fall. After a scramble to get the bedding inside, Angel, mom, Aunt Lucy all return to the roof to simply let the welcome rain cool them down. I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone who actually did sleep on the roof of their building on a hot summer night, but I suppose it could happen, though beyond a fanciful picture book, I wouldn’t recommend it. And I did like this book. It is a nice family story about pulling together to solve a problem while creating tender memories. Linda Bronson acrylic and oil stylized illustrations are perfect for a story about hot nights in colors that go from hot reds to cool blues. A charming story for the dog days of summer.  

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever written and illustrated by Marla Frazee
2008, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 40 pages, age 6+

This is a delightful tongue in cheek picture book about two friends, James and Eamon, who are signed up for a week at Nature Camp and who will be staying with Eamon’s grandparents Bill and Pam during camp. Bill is a real nature lover whose biggest desire is to go to Antarctica, but try as he might, he just can’t get “Jamon” (as he called the boys) interested beyond the coffee ice-cream icebergs with hard chocolate sauce on top that Pam gives them to eat. And when Bill invites Jamon to see a penguin exhibit, the boys opt for quiet meditation in front of video games in the basement. Careful readers will soon notice that all the text and illustrations plus speech balloons tell two different stories. The title of this book, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, may seem rather ironic, but once camp is over and the boys have so free time, they decide to do something especially for Bill, so may the title isn’t so off-base after all. Complimenting the story are Frazee’s humorous illustrations that really brings out the boy’s close friendship, their energy, their interests and disinterests, all of which will probably remind you a of few boys you may know. It is also a wonderful intergenerational story that I suspect all elicit a chuckle or two from grandparents recognize themselves in Pam and Bill.

There Might Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Laurel Molk
2017, Candlewick Press, 32 pages, age 3+

The beach and the ocean can be a scary sight when you’re just little dog like Suki. But his owner Eleanor is determined to get her dog on the beach and into the ocean for some fun, despite all the excuses he might be able to think up to avoid the beach. After all, you can’t be too careful, and there might be lobsters. After being carried to the shore’s edge, and even with his favorite toy, Chunka Munka, by his side, Suki is scared - of the big beach ball, the salty, wet waves, lobsters. So, Suki just sits on the beach watching everyone else having a good, until, uh-oh, a big waves comes and take Chunka Munka right out to sea. Will Suki find his courage and be able to save his faithful companion before he sinks to the bottom of the sea, lost forever? Yes he does, and Suki feels pretty good about it, too. This is a wonderful story for kids who might be feeling a little trepidation about the beach and the ocean, especially after rooting for Suki to save Chunka Munka. Readers will find plenty of humor in Molk’s semi-silly watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink illustrations, and maybe even a few lobsters, but it’s all in good fun. Pay particular attention to the sea gulls doing exactly what sea gulls do - stealing people’s food all through the story. Do let your young readers count the number of times sea gulls succeed.

Sneakers, the Seaside Cat by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Anne Mortimer
1955/2005, HarperCollins, 32 pages, age 4+

Kids can join Sneakers, a very curious black and white cat, as he discovers all the interesting things to explore on his first visit to the beach with his boy and his parents. The seaside, Sneakers discovers, is a virtual smorgasbord of sensory experiences, from the smell of the fish in the ocean, to the cold, wet water on his paw; from the sound the seagull’s scree to sharp feel of the crab’s claw, there are just so many wonders. And then the fog rolls, big gray clouds hiding the sun. Margaret Wise Brown has really captured the way an animal must perceive the world without the benefit of language, and it is a great book for introducing and getting kids to talk about how they experience the world with regard to their own senses. Sneakers also is a bit of a rapscallion that is sure to amuse young readers. The lovely watercolor illustrations by Anne Mortimer also capture and reflect the wonder, the surprise and the curiosity of Sneakers’ different moods and feelings. Sneakers, the Seaside Cat may have been written in 1955, but it is a gentle story still holds up for today’s children.

The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Wendell Minor
1992/2017, Charlesbridge, 32 pages, age 3+

How do you describe the seashore to a person has never been there? Make it a sensory experience, but using descriptive language instead of actual sensory experience. When a young boy asks his mother what the seashore is like, she begins with the break of day and the changing colors of sky and water as the sun come up. At the beach, there are treasures for him to explore - shells, seaside creatures, a gulls lost feather. The cold ocean “makes you skin feel like peppermint” and the noonday sun tires you out. In the afternoon, there is an airplane to run after, twirling in the sand, and the walk home. After a wonderful, busy day, it impossible to stay awake to even notice the on/off beam of the lighthouse. Zolotow’s lyrical descriptions perfectly reflect the sights and sounds of a day at the beach, transporting mother and son so vividly that it almost feels as though they had been there. Added to this imaginary experience are Minor’s soft gouache and watercolor illustrations in a palette of blues and yellows that will leave the reader with the sensation of hot sun and sand countered with the coolness of the ocean’s water. This reissue is a welcomed delight.

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell
2001, Richard Jackson Books, 32 pages, 3+

The excitement of an anticipated visit from relatives living far away is almost of summertime tradition and Rylant understands this completely. Driving from Virginia in an old station wagon with an ice chest full of pop and bologna sandwiches, a carload of relatives drive all day and night to arrive at their destination, where they are heartily welcomed by…their relatives.  After lots of hugs and even a few tears, the relatives go inside the house, welcomed with a big family style feast. And they stay, for weeks, helping out in the garden and fixing things and sleeping wherever there was spot. Then it was time to pack the ice chest and return to Virginia. The relatives missed their relatives, but they also knew, they would visit with each other again next summer. This has been a favorite in my family since my Kiddo was little and there was a lots of relative visiting back and forth, and all so reminiscent of this book. In fact, I’ve never read it to a child who didn’t have relative stories to add to our discussion. They usually love the illustrations of the family meal and the sleeping arrangements, even if that isn’t their experience. Gammell’s jolly color pencil illustrations done in a colorful summertime palette of bright colors add so much to the whimsy and fun of the text. This book came out in 1986, but, like Sneakers, it also holds up well for today’s readers. 

What are some of your favorite summertime stories?