Awesome books for midsummer reading
One of the most important things children should be actively involved with over the summer months is reading.
While it's important that children enjoy lots of playtime, sunshine and relaxation, reading great books is equivalent to major fun and it also keeps young minds active and prepared to start the new school year.
There are loads of studies and reports about how children in the U.S. lag far behind their peers around the globe in reading and math.
Here's another fact: children who aren't read to or, for those able, don't read independently, fall far behind in reading skills (and academics in general) compared to youths who do read or are read to.
Check out the titles reviewed below, those recommended under “Librarian's Choice,” and books suggested by your local bookseller, and make sure reading is an integral part of a child's summer fun. It is more important than you might think.
The following book is available at many public libraries.“Do Like a Duck Does!” by Judy Hindley, illustrated in color by Ivan Bates, Candlewick, 36 pages; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.“Five little ducklings, following their mother; whatever any duck does, so does the other.”But wait! Who is this creature following close behind, pretending to be a duck? He certainly has a foxy looking nose and a wicked foxy smile.Mama Duck challenges the odd critter to prove he is a duck by doing just as she and her ducklings do. And, although the stealthy impostor keeps up with the ducks on most accounts, he is out-foxed on his last test and scurries off, leaving the ducks safe and sound.A marvelous book for younger children, this selection provides several solid messages — think for yourself and trust your instincts, test your theories when possible and believe in yourself. Bravo!Librarian's ChoiceLibrary: Evans City Public Library, 204 S. Jackson St., Evans CityLibrary Director: Judith PfeiferChildren's Librarian: Patricia PflugChoices this week: “If You Give a Pig a Party” by Laura Numeroff; “How to Train Your Dragon” series by Cressida Cowell; “Things Not Seen” by Andrew Clements
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“The Forbidden Library” by Django Wexler, Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin, 2014, 373 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 10 and older; read yourself: age 11 and older.Alice had spent her entire life of 12 years in New York City. When he father disappears, she is sent to live near Pittsburgh with an “uncle” Geryon she didn't even know she had.Geryon lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that Alice is told never to enter alone. But when a clever, conniving cat speaks to Alice and shows her how to get into the library unaccompanied, Alice takes the bait.There, she encounters the odd, arrogant boy Isacc who challenges her to open one of the books. Alice takes that bait as well, and when she looks at the first page, unintelligible words rearrange themselves into English and the next moment Alice is inside of the book where she must confront and defeat the dangerous villain.Luckily for Alice (although unbeknownst to her at that time) she is a Reader — something she is quick to learn is at once a gift and a curse.To escape from the book and solve the mystery of her missing father, Alice will have to dig deep and use her new-found skills, power and courage she didn't even know she possessed.Rich with fantasy, an evil fairy, ancient characters, and a plot that is altogether exciting and inventive, “The Forbidden Library” is one novel older children won't want to put down.“Magic Tree House #51: High Time for Heroes” by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House, 2014, 122 pages, $12.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.Merlin the magician has summoned the brother-sister duo Jack and Annie on another mission. Their two previous missions involved discovering two of the three secrets of greatness, both of which they were able to uncover: Humility, Hard Work.Merlin's present mission is to send Jack and Annie to the Nile River in Egypt in the mid-1800s to find the famous and beloved nurse Florence Nightingale, while simultaneously finding the third and final secret of greatness.An exciting blend of history, mystery and fantasy, this newest installment of Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series is once again first-rate.
Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at kendal@sunlink.net.
