It's summer! Get the tent ready! Set out the beach toys and brush off the hiking shoes! Pack up the picnic basket, duffel bag and suitcases! But don't forget to tuck in the books.
Books go everywhere! Books are terrific introductions to places and people that you will be traveling to see or they are good support for stay-close-to-home fun. Books are the best friends during those quiet alone times of the long hot summer, as well.Following is a suggested list of titles for summer reading:
Books to read everywhere
"Families the World Over" (book series, Lerner Publications) provides information about countries you may be visiting.
"Serene Goes Home" by Lucy Diggs, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (Atheneum), is a fantasy about children who travel across the country to find a new home.
"Fun Places to go with Children" (series, Chronicle Books) provide activities for families on the go. Titles include Colorado, Washington, D.C., New England, New York Northern California, Southern California and Florida.
"Kidding Around Washington, D.C." (series, John Muir). There are a dozen in this series, which also includes Los Angeles, New York, London and other major cities.
"Cajun House" by Raymond Bial, illustrated with photographs (Houghton) is one of a series that would be nice to study before taking a trip to that part of the United States. Others are "Frontier Home," "Shaker Home" and "Amish Home."
"Salmon Summer" by Bruce McMillan with photographs (Houghton) is a close-up look at the salmon runs in the streams of Kodiak Island, Alaska. Another by McMillan is "Summer Ice: Life Along the Antarctic Peninsula."
"Tulip Sees America" by Cynthia Rylant (Scholastic), follows a young person from coast to coast.
Traveling around the West? Try these: "Children of the Wild West," by Russell Freedman (Clarion) tells how the West really was as a comparison of how it is now.
"Smoky the Cow Horse," by Will James (Macmillan) is a Newbery Award-winning book about a wild horse who is trained to be the best cow horse in the West.
Other cowboy books that are great "take-alongs": "Cowboy Album" by Linda Garfield (Ticknor & Fields) and "Cowboys: A Library of Congress Book" by Martin Sandler (Harper Collins).
"Yellowstone National Park" by David Petersen (Children's Press). There are books about any of the national parks that you may be visiting.
"Rushmore" by Lynn Curlee (Scholastic) tells about the 17 years it took to build this remarkable place.
"The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party" by Marian Calabro (Clarion). What was it like to be on this journey? Read and find out.
"Cactus Poems" by Frank Asch and Ted Lewin (Harcourt) celebrates the desert.
"Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest" by Gerald McDermott (Harcourt) will tell some of the myths and legends of the places you will visit.
"American Place Names" by George Steward (Oxford). Find out about unusual names of places that you may see as you travel.
"You Can't Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum" by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Glasser (Dial) is one of my "picks" for this year! Without words you learn what happens when a child takes a balloon to a museum and has to check it at the door.
"next stop grand central station" by Maira Kalman (Penguin) is a lively look at the grand old building in New York City.
"Don't Try This at Home: Science Fun for Kids on the Go" by Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling, illustrated by True Kelley (Morrow), helps the reader discover that science is everywhere -- on playgrounds, beaches, amusement parks, planes and even restaurants.
Two "musts" for traveling around the country are "From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs," edited by Amy Cohn (Scholastic), and "Singing America: Poems that Define a Nation" by Philip McCurdy (Viking).
Going to the Shakespearean Festival in southern Utah? "William Shakespeare and the Globe" by Aliki (HarperCollins) gives background on the streets of 16th century London and tells step by step how the theater was constructed. This is a good companion to "Shakespeare Stories" by Leon Garfield, illustrated by Michael Foreman (Houghton).
Visiting family? "The Bag I'm Taking to Grandma's" by Shirley Neitzel and Nancy Winslow Parker (Morrow) shows a child who really fills his bag for a trip to his grandparents' home.
"The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell (Macmillan). A great book to share at a family reunion, large or small.
Going to the ocean? Or down a river? With "Out of the Ocean" by Debra Frasier (Harcourt), after a long walk on the beach you can record your findings in an Ocean Journal that is carried in a sturdy mesh treasure bag.
Good read-alouds for the trip: "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster (Knopf); "The BFG" by Roald Dahl (Farrar); "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen (Macmillan); "Afternoon of the Elves" by Janet Taylor Lisle (Orchard); or "Titanic Crossing" by Barbara Williams (Dial).
. . . and don't forget a joke book! "Really, Really Bad Summer Jokes" by Rick Walton, illustrated by Jack Desrocher (Candlewick), and "Really, Really, Really Bad Jokes" will keep the trip lively.
References before you go: "Children's Atlas of the U.S." (Rand McNalley); "Children's Atlas of the World" (Reader's Digest); "AAA Travel Activity Book" (Checkerboard); "Travel Games" by A. Langley (Berkshire); "Rubber Neckers" (Chronicle Books), a game for traveling cross-country or across town.
For close-to-home fun
Books about Utah: "Journey to Topaz" by Yoshiko Uchida (Macmillan) is about an 11-year-old Japanese American forced to an a line camp during World War II. Sequel is "Journey Home."
"Lost in the Devil's Desert" by Gloria Skurzynski (Lothop). A boy is lost in the desert. A great read-aloud.
"Great Brain" (series) by John Fitzgerald (Dell). About Utah many years ago.
"Dragon's Gate" by Laurence Yep (HarperCollins) is about building the intercontinental railroad.
"This is the Place" by Pat Bagley (Buckaroo) is a fun picture book that describes a possible time line of Utah. "Utah" by Karen Sirvaitis (Lerner) is one of the "Hello, U.S.A." series.
Science in your own back yard: "Science Fun: Hands-on Science with Dr. Zed" and "Nature's Wonders" by Susan Striker (Owl/Firefly Books Ltd.) The experiments in the first book are very easy. A child of 4 or 5 can have fun with the whole family assisting. The second book is full of activities, enough for the whole summer.
"Nature Watch" by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom (Kingfisher). Become a nature detective.
"When Dad Fills in the Garden Pond" by Pam Ayres, illustrated by Graham Percy (Knopf) depicts a child's special view of nature through events in his own back yard. A nice accompaniment is "In a Small, Small Pond" by Denise Fleming (Holt). Eyewitness Books (series, Knopf) include many science topics such as trees, ponds and rivers, butterflies and moths. They have wonderful pictures and graphs for study.
"First Field Guides" by National Audubon Society (Society) include six subjects: birds, insects, mammals, wildflowers, weather, rocks and minerals. These are just right for intermediate and middle school readers. A must for Scouts and camping out! Also, "The Kid's First Book of Birdwatching" by S. Weidensaul (Running Press).
Visiting Red Butte Garden's Big Bug Exhibit? Try "Big Bugs: Children's Guide to Insects and Spiders" by Jinny Johnson (Simon & Schuster); "Bugs! Bugs!" by Jennifer Dussing and "The Ultimate Bug Sticker Book" (both DK); "Miss Spider's New Car" by David Kirk (Scholastic). And don't forget the other adventures of the wonderful Miss Spider!
Try some experimenting with food: "Science Experiences You Can Eat" by Vicki Cobb (Morrow) or "Dinner From Dirt: Ten Meals Kids Can Grow and Cook" by Emily Scott and Catherine Duffy, illustrated by Denise Kirby (Gibbs Smith).
For a more traditional try at cooking these are recommended: "First Meals" for the youngest member of the family, by Annabel Karmel, and "The Ultimate Vegetarian Cookbook" by Paul Gayler (both by DK). "Makin' Muffins" by Susan Devins (Dutton) comes with simple recipes and its own muffin tin.
"Tomatoes, Potatoes, Corn and Beans: How the Foods of the Americas Changed Eating Around the World" by Sylvia Johnson (Simon & Schuster) will give some background on the foods we have every day on our tables.
Don't forget to fanaticize with food, too. "A Cake All For Me!" by Karen Magnuson Beil, illustrated by Paul Meisel (Holiday House) takes the cake!
Gardening fun: "Flowerpot Gardens" and "The New Kitchen Garden" by Ann Pavaord (both by DK) have all the plants you may want to read about then try out the ideas.
"Down to Earth" by Michael J. Rosen contains text and art from 41 children's book authors and illustrators (Harcourt). It is full of great secrets, garden stories and garden projects you can do.
Camping out or having a sleep-over? In "Ira Sleeps Over" by Bernard Waber (Houghton), Ira can't decide whether to take his teddy bear to his first sleep over.
"Sleep Out" by Carol Carrick, illustrated by Donald Carrick (Seabury), tells of a first experience alone in the dark. "You're a Scaredy-Cat" by Mercer Mayer (Parents) is also about the fear of first-time campers.
In "Staying at Sam's" by Jenny Hessell, illustrated by Jenny Williams (Lippincott), a young boy discovers that his family's way of doing thing is not necessarily everybody's.
"Jerome Camps Out" by Eileen Christelow (Clarion) tells about Jerome Alligator's camping trip with Swamp School classmates.
"History News in Space" by Michael Johnstone (Candlewick) is a wonderful way to study the stars as you camp outside.
Day trips close to home? Take a book along! "My Visit to the Zoo" and "My Visit to the Aquarium" by Aliki (HarperCollins) are good ones to prepare for day trips.
"The Picnic" by Dorothy Aldis (Stech-Vaughn) is a book in rhyme. Be sure to try the "Ants on a Luge."
Sports and other things to do outdoors: "The Wolfbay Wings" (series) by Bruce Brooks (HarperCollins) has stories about a hockey team; "Scrappers" (series) by Dean Hughes (Simon & Schuster) takes a baseball team from the unlikely beginning to the heart-stopping finale.
"The Big Book of Games" by Dorothy Stott (Dutton) includes car games, singing games, party ideas and indoor/outdoor games.
"Toddler's Book of Fun Things to Do" by Sheila Hanly and Steve Shott (DK) will encourage many activities from dance to splash!
For the quiet "world of my own"
"Hiding in a Fort: Backyard Retreats for Kids" by Lawson Drinkard, illustrated by Fran Lee (Gibbs, Smith). Using easy-to-find materials this book provides directions for making a place to call your own (or to invite someone if you choose).
"Totally Private and Personal: Journaling Ideas for Girls and Young Women" by Jessica Wilber (Free Spirit) offers a clever way to get into journaling: "There are two rules: date every entry in your journal and don't make any more rules!"
"Build It With Boxes" by Joan Irvine (Morrow) explains how to make boxes and box creations, including an airplane and a dragon.
"Secret Spaces, Imaginary Places: Creating Your Own Worlds for Play" by Elin McCoy (Macmillan) provides directions for constructing a variety of play spaces including pirate ships, secret hideouts and castles.
This may be the summer to get in shape: "The Wellness Guide to Lifelong Fitness" by Timothy White (Random) is a comprehensive guide to physical well-being with more than 1,000 photographs.
Learn a secret language or a secret code: "The Cat's Elbow and Other Secret Languages" by Alvin Schwartz (Farrar); "How to Keep a Secret: Writing and Jam Talking in Code" by Elizabeth James (Dell); "The Kids' Book of Secret Codes, Signals and Ciphers" E.A. Grant (Running Press).
Books for reading and pondering alone: "Three Stories You Can Read To Your Dog" by Sara Swan Miller, illustrated by True Kelley (Sandpiper). Anyone with a dog will find a willing listener to a funny story.
"Harper and Moon" by Ramon Royal Ross (Atheneum) involves a friendship between two boys from very different backgrounds. A tender story.
"Make Lemons" by Virginia Euwer Wolff (Holt) tells of a girl who finds herself in a poverty condition and discovers friendship's power to make lemonade out of life's lemons.
"The Borrowers" by Mary Norton (Harcourt) and the four others in the series are fun reading for middle-grade readers.
Go to a museum all by yourself: "Frank's Great Museum Adventure" by Rod Clement (HarperCollins) is a trip through history that will tickle your funny bone.
"The Indian in the Cupboard" by Lynne Reid Banks (Avon) is a mystery involving a cupboard and the miniature Indian inside.
In "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George (HarperCollins), a young boy relates his adventure of the year he spends alone in the Catskill Mountains.