Care givers looking for a charming, non-threatening book or series for young readers will find exactly that in the Heartwood Hotel series by Kallie George. Mona, a mouse, is looking for a safe home and finds a family instead. She realizes she is braver than she thinks, and that she does do good things and…
All posts in Summer Reading
Summer Reading: One Last Shot by John David Anderson
Middle grade readers looking for a summer reading book should check out John David Anderson’s One Last Shot. The protagonist, Malcolm, doesn’t like baseball which is a huge disappointment to his father, and causes arguments between his parents because his mother just wants him to be happy, while his dad wants him to be part…
Summer Reading: Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
It’s that time of year…lazy days of reading, drawing, bike riding, fishing, or whatever kids want to do. Parents looking for a book to engage their young readers will be happy with Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. Set in Manhattan, the mystery around a painting unfolds as young Theodora tries to figure out…
Summer Reading: Painting the Game by Patricia MacLachlan
For the last weekend of the summer, I have a final suggestion for summer reading. Painting the Game by Patricia MacLachlan is a great choice if you’re running out of time and need to get one more book read. It’s a quick, action-packed, friendly book about a girl who wants to learn to throw a…
Summer Reading: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glasser
Another summer reading suggestion for you this mid-August Friday: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glasser. While set during the five days leading up to Christmas, this fun, family story will work nicely for a summer reading assignment. Five siblings, two parents, and a grouchy landlord make for one stressful week. The kids…
Summer Reading: Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
Looking for another book to finish up summer reading? Consider a classic (published in 1981, so not too old) summertime story of four siblings walking across several states to their grandmother’s house, in hopes that she will let them stay. Cynthia Voigt’s Homecoming is a novel of resilience, self-reliance, loyalty, and belonging. Where is home?…
What I’m Reading: Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
Although published in 2014, I just finished reading Susan Crandall’s Whistling Past the Graveyard, and I loved it. It is one of the best books I’ve read in a while, comparable to Demon Copperhead and To Kill A Mockingbird, with a little of The Help thrown in as well. Starla is the nine-year-old protagonist and…
Summer Reading: Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White
Whether your vacation includes swinging on a hammock or reclining under a beach umbrella, reading a classic novel is the perfect complement. Reading E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a vacation in itself from the troubles of the world today. Go back in time with Fern who saves Wilbur, the runt of the litter, from Papa’s…
A Classic to Consider: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
It’s the time of year for summer reading, and many schools will post lists of recommended books. I believe there is room on every reading lists for a few classics, and for middle school readers, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is an ideal option. The friendship between Rat and Mole, the adventures…
Teacher Tuesday: Tuck Everlasting
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Classic to Consider, A Classic to Consider, Summer Reading, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
I couldn’t resist creating another post about the children’s classic novel, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Writing about it last week reminded me of fun moments in my classroom when my sixth graders and I analyzed the novel. We drew a Ferris wheel on the chalkboard (yes, I’m that old) and placed the characters from…