Oh this reading list was fun to put together! Summer is the perfect time to find a good shady spot under a tree, and never leave until the fall colors start to show. From simple picture books, to amazing adventures filled with wonder, to the laugh-out-loud antics of two unexpected friends, this summer's reading list has just what you've been looking for.
Journey: Watch as the power of imagination leads a young, lonely girl into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When disaster strikes, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker takes the reader on a word-less journey of self-determination and unexpected friendship.
The Story of Buildings: While the outdoors will always be our favorite place, buildings are an important part of our lives. For most people buildings are where we work, eat, sleep, and go to school. So how does a building come to be? From dreams to reality, journey along with The Story of Buildings to find out just how these structures jump out of imaginations and into the real world. Well written and beautifully illustrated, this is a book aimed at kids, but one parents will love to read as well.
Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles Book I: In Wildwood, Prue and her friend Curtis uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval—a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much greater as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.
Flora and Ulysses: It begins, as many of the best stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman is the just the right person to step in and save him. What happens next, neither expected. Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry. This early-reader chapter book is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters, cleverly illustrated in a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations.
Locomotive: In the summer of 1869 massive locomotives ruled the rails, and introduced America to the wild landscapes of a very much unsettled West. In this Caldecott Medal honoree book, the trains, their crews, and families from all walks of life are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. With the mighty Locomotive as it's engine, this beautifully illustrated book comes alive with details of the trip; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean. Hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by on the rails of the trans-continental. Caldecott Medal Book.
Be in a Treehouse: From acclaimed tree house builder Pete Nelson, Be in a Tree is a comprehensive source of inspiration and practical information about treehouse design and construction. In it, Pete shares the basics of treehouse construction with his own recent projects as case studies. Using photographs taken especially for this project along with diagrams, he covers the selection and care of trees, and explains the fundamentals of building treehouse platforms. To get the aspiring treehouse builder excited, Nelson presents 27 treehouses in the United States, Europe, and Africa.
Press Here: Simple instructions can lead to incredible imaginary journeys. Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey. Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size. Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page. This unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity provides read-aloud fun for all ages!
Make Map Art: Cartographers rejoice! This creative tool kit includes everything map lovers need to create custom frame-worthy map art. The instructional booklet includes projects ranging from personalized party invitations to a road map to happiness, all easily crafted from the fill-in map templates, legends, and icons included. Plus a bonus poster-size world map for charting global destinations!
Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music: If you're lucky enough to be up early on a spring morning, or out at a bird sanctuary, you've heard it before, the bird symphony. Loud and gregarious, and so perfect in each moment, it's no wonder composers have been borrowing from their orchestral works. This selection of works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, and others introduces children to classical music through the discovery of the melodious similarities between notes produced by instruments such as the flute, the organ, and the harpsichord and the birds’ songs.
Happy Reading!
~ Jordan