Kids Picks
We know your parents are always saying, “Go outside and play!” It is true that unless you are jumping waves in the ocean, there are some days where it’s just too hot to venture out. On those dog days of summer, let the iPad charge and pick up one of these books to keep you entertained.
Ages 3-5
“Seagrass Dreams” by Kathleen Hanes
“Seagrass Dreams” is a fun, marine life-inspired book that encourages counting from numbers 1-11. As the book goes on, children learn about various animals living in the sea, including a bucktooth parrotfish, a yellow stingray, the great barracuda and a chocolate chip sea star. There is information about each animal’s name, habitat and much more!
“Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?” by Brianna Caplan Sayres
Did you know that even airplanes have a bedtime routine? When it’s time for bed, they need to power down, wash up and listen to stories. Children who love planes will enjoy listening to how planes have routines, too, and can sometimes behave just like children do. “Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?” is colorful and fun, and children will stay engaged when they are able to follow along with the simple rhyming verses.
Ages 6-8
“Hattie & Hudson” by Chris Van Dusen
You can never judge a book, or a beast by its cover. Hattie McFadden loves to explore. Every morning she takes her canoe out onto the lake. Her singing attracts a huge mysterious beast that lives in the water and everyone in town is terrified. Everyone, that is, except Hattie. Hattie names him Hudson and they become fast friends. How can she get everyone else to see that he isn’t a monster after all?
“Prince and Pirate” by Charlotte Gunnufson
Prince and Pirate live in separate fishbowls and both are happy to rule their territory. Except one day they are put into a tank together. Prince is horrified to find this fish trespassing on his turf. And Pirate is sure this scurvy sea slug has come to steal his treasure. Prince and Pirate’s hilarious battle for territory rights will have children laughing throughout the book.
Ages 9-12
“Invisible Emmie” by Terri Libenson
Middle school is rough, no matter who you are. Emmie is quiet, shy and artistic. Quite the opposite, Katie is popular, outgoing and athletic. These two completely different girls might not have crossed paths except for that embarrassing note that ended up in the wrong hands. Emmie and Katie both have a crush on Tyler. When Emmie’s sappy love note she writes to Tyler is made public, it’s Katie who comes to her defense!
“Brave” by Svetlana Chmakova
Jensen dreams of being a hero and saving the world each day. In reality, life is much different as he struggles to get through middle school. Math is hard, finding friends is hard and finding a teammate for a school project seems impossible. Jenny and Akilah handle the school newspaper and they find a way to suck Jensen into their world of school news, social troubles and drama! Jensen’s anxiety is at its max! Will his dreams help him be the hero he wants to be?
