Summer is here! Teachers around the world rejoice at a little bit of free time before they start planning for next year, but parents are already starting to think about how to keep the little ones occupied when they give the inevitable “I’m bored” line eventually. Maybe you are both of those things! We hope this list of summer reading suggestions will help you find just what you’re looking for!
Jessica’s Summer Reading Plans
Truth is I will be on the plane and traveling quite a bit this summer. That means bringing plenty to read! Between taking my newly teenage son to New York for a visit, presenting in Galveston, Missouri (ILA), and other close by trips, I might actually complete my list this year!
Picture books
Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff. In Texas, Benjamin Franklin is a fifth grade standard, so twice I have researched him with my personal children. He really is fascinating. We laughed quite a bit as we learned about him and were amazed by his accomplishments. This looks like a nice addition to Sherry and my biography picture books. (It will definitely add to our Historical Fusions session)- If: A Mind-Bending New Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Numbers by David J Smith. This book seems to be a beautifully illustrated picture book about how to visualize abstract concepts. Yes please!
- Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors by Joyce Sidman. This beautifully illustrated picture book is made up of science poems. Science and ELA/R integration!
- Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big by Berkeley Breathed. Honestly, between the title and illustrations, I had to purchase it!
Young Grade Novel
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Newbery Honor book). This has been on my list for a while. I love her picture book The Other Side which I use frequently to teach asking questions and making inferences.
- The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry. My only reason is that it is by Dave Barry.
- The Water and The Wild by K.E. Ormsbee. Honestly, the cover drew me in. Yes, I judged the book by it’s cover.
- Oliver and the Seawigs (Not-So-Impossible Tales) by Philip Reeve. I probably just want this because the cover says, “Monkeys! Mermaids! Islands … With wigs?!?” It seems silly and fun!
Middle grade novel and YA
Haunted Histories: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons, and Powerful Palaces by J. H. Everett. Once again, my dark side is calling me! I love the title and the idea of the book. It makes me think of one of my other favorites How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg. I can’t wait to read this nonfiction.- The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel. This is on the Lone Star list and therefore one of the Battle of the Books for this year. I chose to read this one from the list, because it is the author who wrote This Dark Endeavor, which I loved from cover to cover.
- The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson. This is also on the Lone Star list and I can see myself really enjoying the main character who seems to be the James Bond of his Middle School.
- Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan. Been on my list. Think it’s on everyone’s list or blog. Possible Newbery winner next year? I’m calling it!
Professional
- Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools by Ron Ritchhart. I support the idea of changing the culture of thinking, so this has been on my list since March!
- Great Habits, Great Readers: A Practical Guide for K-4 Reading in the Light of Common Core by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo. It’s been out for a while, but I am interested in getting new information for fueling a fire I already have lit!
- Culturally Responsive Standards-Based Teaching: Classroom to Community and Back by Steffen Saifer. Sherry and I have been researching and working with teachers on culturally responsive teaching, so I am interested in more ideas!
Adult
- The Torah: The Director’s Cut by R. E. Dinlocker. Many of you know that I went to school in Jakarta, Indonesia. One of my teachers, Mr. Dinlocker has been writing books set in many of the locations he has lived. I have been meaning to read a few and think I will start with this one.
Guilty pleasure
- People Style Watch. Yep … I admit it.
Sherry’s List for the Summer
Picture Books
Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) by Mac Barnett. Browsing through my Amazon wishlist, I remembered I’d seen this one a while back. I LOVE Mac Barnett, and the format of this book (picture book graphic novel) appealed to me.- Take Away the A by Michaël Escoffier. The idea behind the book is that within every language there are words that change and become a different word through the simple subtraction of a single letter. I love wordplay and I’m excited to see how I can use this one in the classroom.
- What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada. This one grabbed me visually because I love how the illustrator embodied the idea that this little girl just doesn’t know what to do with. As a reader/writer, I love the implications of this book as a mentor text.
- Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown. An ironic twist on the classic “first pet” stories. This one just makes me smile and I will enjoy reading it to my son, who is slowly developing his sense of humor and sarcasm!
Middle Grade and YA
- The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstien. (Mystery) I think I knew this was coming out when I reviewed Mr. Lemoncello’s Library a few months ago, but I forgot about it until I saw the cover on a book display at The Strand bookstore in New York. Not enough room in my suitcase to bring it back, but the first page hooked me: “His mother will be busy. His father will be away. He will be bored. In short, Billy G. will be perfect.”
- The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm. (Mystery) Somehow I always want to read the books with goldfish on the front. I don’t even like fish. I think I have a problem.
- There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart. (Realistic Fiction) The title seems like a good reason to read this one – I like bears. Also, it’s on the Lone Star Reading List, which seems to drive a good deal of my reading. Also, it boasts “dry wit and wilderness adventure.” I’m in.
- Proxy by Alex London. (Dystopian Sci-Fi) Another Lone Star book that I’m really excited to read. It got rave reviews from Marie Lu (author of Legend, another book I really enjoyed), and I always enjoy a good dystopian novel.
- Inanimate Alice. (Transmedia) I read about this one on a blog recently and I’m so intrigued. The viewer experiences a combination of text, sound and imagery and interacts with the story at key points. Sounds so good!
Professional
- The Sketchnote Handbook by Mike Rohde. Visual notetaking is gaining popularity on the education scene, and the notes and presentations I’ve seen that employ them really resonate with me. I think my brain thinks visually and spatially this way, but I’d like to train it to be more strategic. I’m definitely not an artist, but apparently you don’t have to be!
- Mindset by Carol Dweck. I know I’m a little late to this party, but after seeing her research about fixed vs growth mindset everywhere, I want to read it for myself to gain a deeper understanding.
Guilty Pleasure
- The Heir by Kiera Cass. This is the fourth in a series. I read the first three in the space of about two weeks and I was quite dismayed to discover that the fourth wasn’t coming out until this month! The best way to describe this series is the Hunger Games meets Matched meets The Bachelorette. So good!
- How to Quinoa: Life Lessons from My Imaginary Well-Dressed Daughter by Tiffany Beveridge. This book started life as a Pinterest board that I couldn’t stop laughing over. I even thought about what I would name my own imaginary well-dressed toddler son (Crossfit Paleo, in case you were wondering). I LOVE satire and parody, and the snarky humor of this author’s descriptions of her pins has me dying to read this book!
Student/ Child Suggestions
(the ages are a bit arbitrary…don’t feel locked in…look around)
K-2
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School by Davide Cali and Benjamin Chaud. (Funny Picture Book). For the child with a crazy imagination who might dream up reasons why (s)he was late for school.- Goodnight Already! by Jory John. (Picture Book). Great read with fun twists.
- Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry. (Picture Book). Of course it has an anti-bullying message, it’s never too early.
1-4
- Frank Einstein and The Antimatter Motor: Book One by Jon Scieszka. (Humor) Okay there are a few reasons why. One, it’s by Jon Scieszka, you can’t go wrong. Two, book one means it’s a series, if your kid likes it then you won’t have to worry about what to read next!
- Timmy Failure (there are three) by Stephan Pastis. (Humor) My sons thoroughly enjoyed this series. These books are set up as a hybrid graphic novel and novel (similar to a Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, etc.). Again, there are three!
- Capture the Flag (gr. 3-8) by Kate Messner. (Mystery) This is a patriotic mystery of sorts, Messner keeps the book at a fast pace that is enjoyable for kids.
- The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths. (Humor) Again my children loved this book and now there are three! My two ultra creative kids enjoyed this story and thinking about this fantastical tree house that caters to every kids dream.
- Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs by J. Patrick Lewis. (Poetry). A whole picture book with witty poetry on the last moments of animals. Fun for the whole family?
- Hot Diggity Dog: the History of the Hot Dog by Adrienne Sylver. (Nonfiction). Yep, it’s the history of the Hot Dog told in small “digestible” bites.
- Quarterback Season by Fred Bowen. (Fiction- Sports). It’s about football. The end.
- Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff by Robert Paul Weston. (Novel in Verse)
- Secret Agent Jack Stalwart Book 1: The Escape of the Deadly Dinosaur by Elizabeth Singer Hunt. (Mystery). This is a great book for the reluctant reader and again, it’s a series! This one is about Jack determined to win a science fair competition.
- Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk and Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff. (Fairy Tales). These are great new fractured fairy tales for ages 8+.
- Theodore Boone: The Fugitive by John Grisham. (Mystery). Admittedly I haven’t read this yet, but love his adult books and many of my students enjoy his books.
- The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere, Vol. 1) by Jacqueline West. I almost forgot about this series as I was writing this list. This is a fun mystery series that involves two plots that converge. There is a mystery within the paintings (a whole new world) and her own realistic plot in the house, but she figured out how to get in the paintings.
A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat by Emily Jenkins. I’m so intrigued by the amount of multicultural learning, social studies content, and learning about customs that can come from one picture book. Powerful!- All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson. (Historical) Grades 3+. A new picture book that illustrates freedom through the eyes of a little girl.
5-8
- Public School Superhero by James Patterson. (Humor) So, we haven’t read this one, but we checked it out from the library, because we love all of James Patterson’s books! When you find a favorite author, stick to it! We enjoyed Treasure Hunters, I Funny Books, Middle School books, etc.
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein. (Mystery). Quirky characters and a secret puzzle to be solved.
- How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg. (Grades 5+) (Nonfiction) We LOVED the first one, How They Choked, this one has the promise of being equally amusing and educational!
- Lincoln’s Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin. (Nonfiction). This was on last years Lone Star List and it was a fan favorite.
- Stop the Bull, Theseus! by Kate McMullan (there are other god/godesses as well) or Poseidon: Earth Shaker by George O’Connor (other books by the same author as well) (Mythology/ Graphic Novel). Those kids who love Rick Riordan will love these short books to help support other novels or just to learn more.
- Chains (gr 6-10) (Historical Fiction). This story takes place during the Revolutionary war and is about Isabel a 13 year old strong protagonist girl.
- Anyone but Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp. (Fiction). This soon to be series is unique. I can’t find any other book that compares, but many young girls have enjoyed the witty story of Ivy the 12 year old maid.
Loot by Jude Watson. (Mystery). Just fun. Two girls separated at birth come together only to be threatened to be moved apart. Will they take over their father’s shady business?- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. (Novel in Verse). If you’ve spent any time in my workshops or on my blog, you know I’m obsessed. It did win the Newbery, so I’m not alone. This is a powerful story of basketball and family told in verse.
- Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman. (Fantasy – Dystopian/Utopian). This fast-paced post-apocalyptic novel takes place after WWIII.
- Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana. This fictional story is about the trauma that was caused by Hurricane Katrina.
- A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd. Beautiful story filled with delight, romance, and family matters. It is a fan favorite!
9-12
- The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb. (Nonfiction) . Students are learning about World War II in Social Studies and reading novels like Anne Frank, this is a great addition to the learning. Plus it has a bit of Cold Case, CSI, Criminal Minds action going. A team of spies capture the elusive Adolf Eichmann, head of operations for the Nazis after vanishing 16 years prior.
- We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a true story by Josh Sundquist. (Memoir) Sundquist is a motivational speaker and Paralympic ski racer, but apparently not great with the ladies. He uses his memoir to find out why his relationships failed and analyzes the results. Quite amusing.
- Paper Towns by John Green. (Mystery). This will be a movie in July, why not read it first? A mystery, a romance, what more do you need?
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. (Fantasy – Utopian/Dystopian). This genre is forever popular with strong youth readers and this one has been getting rave reviews! The main characters are accepting of their place in life as slaves, until her brother is accused of treason. Now Laia must make some pretty challenging decisions.
- The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel. (Fairy Tale”ish”) Evil villains, Dragons, forbidden fortresses, curses, and an engaging plot.
Quarter Back Season is a book that even the reluctant reader can enjoy to read!!