How About An Adventure? Summer Reading to Take You Away.

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Weslandia by Paul Fleischman Illustrated by Keven Hawkes c2002 Candlewick Press

Some children spend summer vacation at soccer camp or on a family trip, but Wesley has a plan. Why not create your own civilization? Instead of hanging around with the schoolmates who torment him, Wesley tends a new crop of strange plants from which he creates special ink for writing a new language, uses the fibers to create cool and comfortable clothing, builds himself a shelter, and names his world Weslandia. New and challenging games are to be invented and creative possibilities present themselves each day. No boredom can exist for long in this fascinating and colorful neighborhood.

Wesley assesses the growth of his flourishing plants.

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson Originally published by Macmillan Children’s Books : London c2001

Orphan Maia never dreamed she would be leaving her comfortable London boarding school to live with relatives in Brazil. When her relatives who live on a rubber plantation turn out to be unpleasant and unkind and have no interest in learning about the world of the Amazon river that surrounds them, Maia is very unhappy. Sometimes those who have courage and strength during difficulties are rewarded. New friends and a boat journey on the largest river system in the world bring Maia in touch with new possibilities. Eva Ibbotson takes her readers on an unforgettable trip.

Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry c1940 Currently available from Simon & Schuster

Teenager Mafatu has always been afraid of the sea. He has been teased and made to feel an outsider by the people on his South Pacific island of Hikueru. In order to redeem himself and make his father, the chief, less ashamed, Mafatu sets out to sea on a small boat with his dog as his only companion. He hopes to conquer his fear once and for all.

This is not a long book, but the story is one of those that lives long in the heart of readers. It is perfect for ages 9 to 12 and it is an excellent choice to read aloud at home or at school.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown Young readers edition c 2015 by Viking Books for Young Readers also available from Puffin Books

The true story of the team that rowed to victory for America at the 1936 Olympics. No one expected that a crew of young men from Washington State would outperform the Ivy League teams from the Eastern US, let alone win at the Olympics. The story of how they got there is inspiring and uplifting and belongs on any list of books for students. I played the footage of the actual boat crossing the finish line for my classes when I book talked this at book fairs. It is always a winner!

Endurance by Alfred Lansing c1959 by McGraw-Hill Book Company : New York

The story for which the word EPIC was invented! Most junior high readers can enjoy this true tale of survival under extreme conditions during a Polar expedition to the Antarctic in 1914. That 28 men could live through the loss of their ship without any of the modern technologies we know today is one of the most remarkable survival stories of all time, and a testament to the difference good leadership can make. Expedition leader Ernest Shackleton made the men get rid of most of their possessions when they prepared to take to the ice as their ship began to be crushed, but he kept the banjo. He knew his crew would need every possible help to take their minds off the dire situation they were in. He also knew that in the days leading up to WWI, nobody was going to be interested in coming to their rescue. They had to save themselves. This is the story of how they did it. If your teenagers do not know this story, why not get them acquainted with Shackleton and his brave companions?

The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden c2006 by HarperCollins

A classic How-To book that covers building a treehouse, skimming stones, the five knots every boy should know, identifying fossils, basic fishing skills, and more ideas for enjoying life outside. There are also many useful lists and documents such as baseball’s most valuable players, a Navajo code talkers dictionary, The Declaration of Independence, and the Ten Commandments, least we forget a few. This book will help your young lads adventure well this summer.

Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Don Fendler and Joseph Egan Original c1939. Republished in 2013 by Harper Collins

Another true survival story. When he was twelve years old, Don Fendler became lost during a hike on rugged Mount Katahdin and managed to survive alone until he was found on day nine. Mount Katahdin is famous for being the northern endpoint of the Appalachian Trail. It is a strenuous and difficult hike with extreme weather changes, not a good place to lose your way. This book is a good companion to the Dangerous Book for Boys. Be prepared, as the scouts say.

The River by Gary Paulsen c1991 Dell Publishing / Random House Children’s Books

The first sequel to Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Brian returns to the wilderness with a psychologist to teach survival skills, but must navigate a raft downriver after his companion is injured in a storm. Gary Paulsen is THE young person’s wilderness adventure writer. The Hatchet series is probably the best known of his books, but there are shelves more to be enjoyed. I have given his book Winterdance : The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod to outdoor fans in my family. Mr. Paulsen ran the Iditarod twice, and his tale of that experience as a rookie is enlightening, and a bit crazy.

What Holiday Approaches? Enjoy a classic with Charlotte Zolotow and Garth Williams.

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Over and Over by Charlotte Zolotow with pictures by Garth Williams c1957 renewed 1985. Published by HarperCollins : New York

Once there was a girl so little she didn’t know about the seasons or the days of the week. Christmas trees and pumpkins were all mixed up in her mind. Her mother helps her know which special days to expect as the year unfolds.

I read this to the kindergarten classes and it always held their rapt attention. Nothing looms bigger than the next holiday or birthday in elementary school! Who better to write and illustrate the story than the team of Zolotow and Williams? This book will get requests, you can bet on it.

Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai

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Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai c2003 Chronicle Books : San Francisco

Emily’s new,bright,yellow balloon is more than a toy; it is a friend to share her days and nights. There are issues with such lighter-than-air companions.

Fortunately,there are also solutions, which Emily’s clever mom employs to save the day. This picture book is all about simplicity and childhood pleasures adults will enjoy remembering when they share this book. It is a lovely choice for settling somebody down at bedtime.

Mrs. McNosh and Friends—-Books to Share with Ages 3-5

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Mrs.McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks with illustrations by Nadine Bernard Westcott c1998 Harper Collins

Here are a few books that four and five-year-old children enjoyed at story time. Most of them are suitable for younger children as well. My story programs with the four-year-old group lasted for 20 minutes and usually included some attention building nursery rhymes that might be sung or had accompanying actions. Today’s titles will appear on a longer reading list as a page soon, but with just the titles and authors, which should make it easy to print the list should anyone wish to. Picture books for older children will have their own lists, so stick around!

Mrs. McNosh does a big wash every Monday morning. Here are the author’s words:

“It takes her all morning, and when the sun’s high, she hangs what she’s washed on the clothesline to dry.”

Once Mrs. McNosh gets going there is no stopping her. All sorts of things besides laundry begin to appear. The dog, with his dish takes his place on the line, then a lamp, next two bats, which get hung upside-down. This brief, rhyming story will probably need to be read again because your audience will want more.

Wow! Said the Owl written and illustrated by Tim Hopgood c2009 Farrar, Straus and Giroux : New York

When a little owl decides to stay awake during the day, she experiences awe as colorful butterflies, green leaves, blue skies, and fluffy white clouds appear. The double page spreads in this book provide luscious expanses of bright color which just might elicit a “wow!” from viewers. Follow it up with a discussion of colors your audience has noticed indoors and out, and some paper and crayons.

Minerva Louise written and illustrated by Janet Morgan Stoeke c1988 Penguin Young Readers : New York

Minerva Louise is a curious chicken. The house with the red curtains attracts her, so when a window is left open she decides to investigate. Since she is a creature of the farmyard, she is confused by some of the things found in a house. Could logs laid for a fire in the fireplace be a cozy nest? A tricycle looks like a tractor to Minerva Louise, and a flowered bedspread must be a meadow of flowers, that cat sleeping on the sofa could only be a cow…The large, simple pictures and brief text make this suitable for very young children. There are more stories featuring the adventures of Minerva Louise, and they are all just as funny and full of charm.

Grump Is His Name… The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits

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The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits by Ulf Stark with illustrations by Eva Eriksson English edition c2016 by Floris Books : Edinburgh

Grump is a house tompte. He lives in a dog kennel converted into a cozy home just the right size for a small being, and he looks after a cottage long empty of its happy family. His best friend is a bumblebee. Here are some of the author’s words:

“His friend the bumblebee was flying around looking for flowers that had come into bloom. It swooped over the nettles beside the pigsty.

“Soon it will be time to leave and find a home of my own,” thought the bumblebee.

Every time it mentioned leaving, Grump grunted and said it was too soon for that. “What are you thinking of, you bumblenoodle? There aren’t enough flowers yet. You’ll starve.” Then Grump sighed. “No, I’ll have to put up with you a bit longer, you nuisance.”

The bee looked down at the tompte and wondered, “How will I have the heart to leave the old crosspatch? He saved my life once. I don’t want to make him sad.”

Grump and Bumblebee have a serious chat. Illustration by Eva Eriksson

Grump knows that a house tompte should be a bit grouchy, but sometimes he forgets and ends up doing very kind and thoughtful deeds. A large and noisily happy rabbit family nearby has benefitted from having Grump in the neighborhood, and this summer will be no different.

Father Rabbit is very proud of his top hat and wonders if an event called Midsummer might provide a chance to show it off, if only they knew how to celebrate it. Barty wonders if a tree is decorated. Grandfather wants to know if there are speeches given or poems written. Mother thinks dancing would be nice. Everyone hopes there will be tasty food to eat. Owl warns them that Midsummer is “Full of magic and love and mystery, so it’s best to watch out!”

So much can happen in the long days leading up to Midsummer’s Eve. There are storms, lots of time to play rabbit games, Grandfather’s lessons, perhaps even time to fall in love….There are 21 short chapters in this lovely book, perfect for reading one each bedtime right up to Midsummer’s longest day. Warm and gentle humor and scenes from happy family life are found throughout this story. It doesn’t matter that the family might be rabbits or mice. The characters are so like people you might know. Eva Eriksson’s pictures and page decorations make this a beautiful book to own.

Grandfather Rabbit teaches a lesson on plants, edible and otherwise. Illustration by Eva Eriksson

Grump turns to his “one and best book” In Praise of Solitude for solace when his friend leaves and learns that becoming attached to things leads to disappointment when they leave. Perhaps he will change his ways, or maybe the future will be better than he thinks. Better read this book and find out. The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits by the same two collaborators will be waiting for your young readers come Advent season. That is good news indeed.

Poor Behavior in the Dollhouse–The Tale of Two Bad Mice

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The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter c1904 Frederick Warne and Co.

Once upon a time two mice visited a very beautiful doll’s house. Tom Thumb and his wife Hunca Munca called, but no one was at home. The door was not secured, the mice entered, and discovered to their joy a plentiful feast laid out in the dining-room. There was a ham, a pudding, and other wonderful things. The ham was impossible to carve and eventually broke off the plate and rolled under the table. The meal was turning out to be very difficult to enjoy. Perhaps there are other items in the house to interest the parents of a growing mouse family. Will they make things right with Lucinda and Jane, the rightful owners and residents?

The Tale of Two Bad Mice is number 5 of Beatrix Potter’s 23 Original Peter Rabbit Stories. Frederick Warne & Co. made fresh reproductions of Beatrix Potter’s illustrations for the whole series in 2002. These books are small handheld works of art and no children’s home library is complete without a few of them. The Tale of Two Bad Mice is my favorite after the Tale of Peter Rabbit. The picture of a frustrated Tom Thumb dealing blows to the plaster foods with a mouse-sized fireplace shovel is priceless.

Illustration from “The Tale of Two Bad Mice” by Beatrix Potter

It is the incomparable and meticulously prepared art that make Beatrix Potter’s books come to life. Children who get to know these stories are getting acquainted with beauty, and quite a lot of humor!

Poetry for Children : Begin Here!

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A Child’s Books of Poems Illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa Originally published by Grosset and Dunlap c1969 This edition c2007 by Ronald K. Fujikawa, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.

This large format book of poems lovingly illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa is a perfect introduction to classic poetry for children. Young readers will meet Christina Rossetti, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Blake, Robert Louis Stevenson, Emily Dickinson, Lewis Carrol, and many others. Each page of black and white illustrations is followed by a gorgeous double spread in full color. Poems are indexed by titles and first lines to help you find your favorites. I was very happy to see this collection back in print and it was offered at all my book fairs. It deserves a place in your family library. Other titles by Gyo Fujikawa are available from Sterling Publishing in reasonably priced hardcover editions.

Who Has Seen the Wind by Christina Rossetti, illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa.

Climb Into My Lap: First Poems to Read Together Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Illustrated by Kathryn Brown c1998 Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers : New York

Here is another tall book with 80 pages of poems by Mary Ann Hoberman, David McCord, Charlotte Zolotow, Nancy Willard, Lee Bennett Hopkins and others. Each page is colorfully illustrated and ready to be studied by the youngster on your lap. Lee Bennett Hopkins created many wonderful poetry anthologies for children and most of them should be available at your local library. Check one out soon.

Page from Climb Into My Lap by Lee Bennet Hopkins. Illustration by Kathryn Brown

Side by Side : Poems to Read Together by Lee Bennett Hopkins with illustrations by Hilary Knight c1988 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Another great selection of poems from Lee Bennet Hopkins! You know Hilary Knight from his illustrations for Kay Thompson’s Eloise and the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books by Betty MacDonald.

Bored Offspring? Try These Cures from Tony Fucile and Peter Spier

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Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Fucile c2009 Candlewick Press

Friends Frankie and Sal have done it all. They have played all their board games and baked loads of cookies. They have played every sport and read all their comic books. What on earth is left to do? Maybe it is time to try doing absolutely NOTHING…

Turns out doing nothing can be quite a challenge, as the boys discover. In our house, we played a game called, “Quaker’s Meeting” which required you to sit perfectly still, no smiling or laughing or fun allowed. A judge would be appointed, who would glare at the contestants or make faces until somebody cracked. Somebody always cracked, of course, and great fun was had. What happens when Frankie and Sal attempt to sit quietly is illustrated with hilarious pictures that will have your audience laughing aloud.

Bored-Nothing To Do by Peter Spier c1978 by Doubleday

This book may be hard to find, if you see a used copy, snatch it up, because it is a treasure There are videos online of people reading it aloud, so there is free access to the story for your family available if your local library can’t find you a copy.

In the country, if one was bored during the summer vacation, your folks would tell you to go outside and stay out! There were trees to climb, maybe a brook to play in, forts to be built and defended, and plenty to do with a little imagination. Peter Spier tells the story of some bored but very imaginative children/ engineers who find a plane propeller in the barn and build themselves a flying machine. Readers will enjoy seeing all the found objects used in construction of a home made airplane. Better hide any propellers on your property.

Oh, Were They Ever Happy, by Peter Spier c1988 by Doubleday

Children left alone at home for a few hours on a slow Saturday afternoon just might decide to do some helpful chores….like painting the house. How will the neighbors, and most importantly, the parents, react when they behold the colorful new house on the block? My 6 to 9-year-old listeners enjoyed seeing this project progress in each more wildly painted page.

Meanwhile, Back at the Castle: #2

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Many Moons by James Thurber c1943 Illustrations this edition c1990 by Marc Simont

This post dedicated to Mary Harrington, librarian and well read friend of great intelligence and imagination who once looked up at the mention of James Thurber and said, ” Ah, a surfeit of raspberry tarts.”

The princess Lenore has taken to her bed due to the above mentioned overindulgence in raspberry tarts. Her father, the King is summoned to her bedside and promises her the moon if she will only get well again. How is this promise to be kept? The Royal advisors and experts have many lists of facts and statistics that are mostly unbelievable and not in the least helpful. Their suggestions will only make matters worse for the princess. Fortunately, there is someone in the castle who knows how to solve problems, and it is not who you might expect….

This book is best appreciated by listeners and readers ages 7 to adult. It is a tad longer than most picture books, and there needs to be enough life experience in the audience to get the cleverness and humor James Thurber provides. I read it to students in grades 3-5. You can find editions with the original illustrations by Louis Slobodkin, which is the one I knew as a child. Marc Simont knew and worked with James Thurber, and his wonderful artwork for this story was approved by Rosemary Thurber. Both artists got it right!

Now for younger listeners:

May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers. Illustrations by Beni Montresor c1964 This edition Aladdin Paperbacks c1989

The authors words:

“The King and Queen Invited me to come to their house on Sunday for tea.

I told the Queen and the Queen told the King, I had a friend I wanted to bring.”

And what friends turn up! There is much merriment and fun each day of the week at the castle as all sorts of animal friends come to the party. This rhyming story will amaze and happily entertain preschool children. Suspense keeps young listeners eyes glued to the book as each page turn reveals the next surprising visitors. This story was always a hit with the 4-year-olds in the story time circle.

Two Books for Homes with Beloved Pets

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Stay by Kate Klise Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise c2017 Feiwel and Friends : New York

Eli has been Astrid’s companion and best dog since she was a baby. Eli watched out for Astrid, slept on her bed, ate with her, and shared her busy days. As time went on Astrid began to notice that Eli was growing into an elderly dog. She decided to savor all their favorite activities, and perhaps add a few new ones to a Bucket List for Eli.

This was a book I shared with first graders, and it usually got rapt attention. Everyone wanted to comment about a dog they owned or knew about. It is a gentle choice to introduce the topic of aging pets to young children. There are suggestions, both touching and amusing, of things one might do to enjoy time with the mature family dog.

Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper c2017 Roaring Book Press : New York

Once there was a cat who lived happily as the only pet, watching the bird feeder, resting on the couch, giving itself a little grooming now and then. When a kitten arrived one day, the big cat began to teach it everything a cat must know, when to drink, when to rest, how to be. Time passed and the big cat got old and was no longer there. Perhaps a new little cat will come and need friendship and training from the now fully grown big cat.

This Caldecott Honor Book is perfect for the youngest children in a home with pets. The hard part of losing a pet is softened with this hopeful story about generations and new beginnings. The black and white illustrations clearly and simply evoke the daily activity and contentment in the life of a cat. It is a life-affirming story beautifully done.