Summer is an open book: A reading guide for children

Enlarge

A long summer stretches ahead for students. What would you like to learn this summer? Is there a character you would like for a friend? Maybe you would like to join an adventure. Books offer countless opportunities. Try one — we dare you!

These reviews were written by three professors of children's literature: Melissa A. Cain (MC) of the University of Findlay; Barbara St. John (BSJ), professor emerita of Bowling Green State University, and Alexa Sandmann (AS) of Kent State University.

MOUSE WAS MAD. Written by Linda Urban. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Harcourt. $16. Mouse is furious, but what is the best way to demonstrate his anger? The other animals offer suggestions — bear stomps, bobcat screams. At least Mouse finds his own way to exhibit his anger. The other animals are very impressed. Illustrations are great fun! Think of ways to express your anger. What do you think of mouse's solution? — BSJ

POPVILLE. By Anouck Boisrobert and Louis Rigaud. Roaring Brook Press. $16.99. With each turn of the page of this wordless pop-up book, young children can see how the town of Popville grows. The first page shows a simple building and trees at the end of a road. Then more buildings, roads, cars, and utilities gradually appear, until the final spread where a full town is revealed. The stylized design allows children to imagine the details. — MC

COOL CAT by Nonny Hogrogian. Illustrated by the author. Roaring Brook Press. $17.99. In this wordless book, a sweet black-and-white cat awakens into a bleak brown world. He gets out his paints and begins painting a more colorful environment, starting with green plants. As he paints, other common backyard animals come to help. They add a pond, assisted by a duck, a turtle, and a frog, and finally celebrate their beautiful new world. — MC

WAITING OUT THE STORM. Written by JoAnne Early Macken, Illustrated by Susan Gaber. Candlewick Press. $15.99. Paired with soft acrylic paintings, a delightful poetic text describes a mother and daughter's conversation as they wait out a summer storm. Promising her that they will be "cozy as bunnies!" the mother reassures her apprehensive daughter that the wind, thunder, and lightning are just part of nature's plan, and that she need not worry about the turtles, chipmunks, or birds. The mother lovingly comforts her child: "Like chickadee babies, we're safe from the storm." — ALS

SHREK! TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, Written and illustrated by William Steig. Farrar Straus Giroux. $17.99. With the release of the last Shrek movie, children might be intrigued to read the original book. This Shrek is quite horrible and determined to marry an ugly princess. When they meet, Shrek says, "Oh, ghastly you, with lips of blue, your ruddy eyes with carmine sties enchant me." The princess says, "Your nose is so hairy, oh, let us not tarry, your look is so scary, I think we should marry." So they do.— MC

SAVAGE SAFARI and MICRO MONSTERS. Kingfisher. $14.99 each. These two books are part of a series published by Kingfisher which introduce readers to the extremes in the animal world. Savage Safari focuses on animals from Africa who must rely on their strength, speed, or cunning to survive. Facts about the animals are presented in simple format with many amazing photographs. Micro Monsters explores the microscopic monsters which are a part of our world. Again, lots of facts about these invisible invaders as well as astounding photographs. Children will be fascinated with these creatures. — BSJ

S IS FOR SMITHSONIAN: AMERICA'S MUSEUM ALPHABET. Written by Marie and Roland Smith. Illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen. Sleeping Bear Press. $17.95. Before taking a trip to Washington, this book is a must for young readers. Poetic text about key subjects showcase the Smithsonian Museum, and inviting illustrations reinforce the extensive and engaging informational content. From "A is for Amelia Earhart," because the Lockheed Vega 5B she flew on her successful flight across the Atlantic is housed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, to "Z is for Zoo," in recognition of the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park and the Giant Pandas housed there, this book describes this extensive national treasure. Simply fascinating. — ALS

THE WONDER BOOK. By Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Paul Schmid. Harper. $17.99. The Wonder Book is reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's Where The Sidewalk Ends. Illustrated with sketchy cartoons, this imaginative book explores a wide variety of the author's creative speculations. Did you ever wonder if laughing hyenas cry? Did Mary Mack ever dress in other colors besides black? Would a periodic table of manners be useful? The book is full of puns and stimulating word play. — MC

KEEPER. Written by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by August Hall. Atheneum. $16.99. The night of the blue moon was planned to be a perfect night, but it was a complete disaster. Keeper wants to blame someone. Maybe the crabs who spoke to her; maybe B.D. (best dog); maybe Sinbad (the tame seagull). Maybe the adults Signe (her guardian), Dogie (who made surfboards), or Mr. Beauchamp (gentle elderly neighbor). No, Keeper realizes, they aren't to blame for the terrible day. Deep down inside, Keeper knows her own role in the disastrous events. Keeper believes her mother, Meggie Marie, is a mermaid, so she and B.D. set out in a small boat to find her. Meggie Marie will set things right. But as Keeper sails into dangerous waters she realizes that she must assume much of the responsibility for the problems. Can she accept reality? Is Meggie Marie really a mermaid? Fantasy, folklore, and reality are interwoven in Keeper's amazing story. Keeper will haunt you! — BSJ

PRINCESS OF GLASS. By Jessica Day George. Bloomsbury. $16.99. Who is Ellen, the mysterious servant girl? Is she really as foolish and as clumsy as she appears? Princess Poppy recognizes magic afoot. Having been rescued from her own magic spell, she wants to help Ellen. But who or what is the Corley? How can she be defeated? In the meantime, Poppy has met Prince Christian and realizes she wants him in her life. Ball gowns, glass slippers, adventures, and magic abound. A delightful read! — BSJ

AFTER EVER AFTER. By Jordan Sonnenblick. Scholastic. $16.99. This time, the sequel to Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie tells Jeffrey's story. No longer is he the little brother with leukemia. Now he's the teen in remission, negotiating his own middle-school experience. Realistic about the effects of cancer treatment on learning, this is more the story of the effects on a family, at times funny and others heart-wrenching. Sonnenblick has created a captivating story of friendship, capacity for human goodness, and understanding, a powerful testimony to the human experience. — ALS

DARKLIGHT. By Lesley Livingston. Harper Teen. $16.99. In this sequel to Woundrous Strange, Livingston continues the story of Kelley, an aspiring New York City actress who is really the daughter of faeries King Auberon and Queen Mabh. Told with humor and a clear understanding of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, this book is sure to enchant readers as they follow Kelley's romantic and perilous adventures into and out of the Otherworld. — MC

THE WAGER. By Donna Jo Napoli. Henry Holt. $16.99. In 1169, Italian Don Giovanni is orphaned, spoiled, and rich. Mount Etna erupts and a tidal wave destroys his entire world. Penniless, he makes a deal with the devil not to wash or change clothes for three years, three months, and three days in exchange for a purse of endless coins. This remarkable story provokes questions about values and what we would do given a curse that is also an opportunity. — MC

THE OUTSIDE OF A HORSE. By Ginny Rorby. Dial. $16.99. Hannah and her father are fascinated with horses and have always watched the Kentucky Derby together. But now Hannah's dad is fighting in Iraq. Hannah is living at Fort Bragg with her stepmother and baby brother. When Hannah learns of a nearby horse farm she volunteers to help the owners, and finds out that these horses have been rescued from abusive situations. The owners are teaching them to trust humans again. Hannah's dad returns home without one leg and filled with terrible nightmares of the war. He too must learn to trust. As Hannah works with the horses, she realizes her dad also needs patience and understanding. A haunting story. Hannah is an amazing young woman. — BSJ

SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR. By Matthew Quick. Little Brown. $16.99. Amber lives an unconventional life. But it's become even more so when she, her mom, and her dog, Bobby Big Boy, begin living in a school bus. Still, Amber has an amazingly positive outlook on life, surrounded by her unconventional set of friends — until tragedy strikes. Then, even they can't reach her until she realizes that no matter what, she is a "hopeful misfit." She realizes "I'm a hope spreader." She is indeed, and the world is a better place because Amber is in it. — ALS