Kids Picks
I know you don’t want to hear this, but school days will be here sooner than you think. If you haven’t picked up a book all summer (it’s OK, you aren’t alone), now is a great time to start getting back into it! Diving into a good book is a great way to pass the time on the hot summer days. Here are some new releases that we recommend reading while you are floating on some cool water.
Ages 3-5
“Moon’s First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship” by Susanna Leonard Hill
It gets lonely being up in the sky by yourself, only able to watch Earth from afar. This is how Moon has spent her whole life. She watched the dinosaurs when they lived on Earth, cried when the ice age froze everything over, saw people take over the planet, and yet no one ever comes to visit her. Will she ever have friends, or is she destined to be alone forever?
“How to Catch a Dinosaur” by Adam Wallace
At some point in time it seems that every young child wishes they had a dinosaur for a pet, but do you have what it takes to catch one? First you have to find one and prove they still exist. Then you have to use your brain so you can set the right traps. If all goes well and you are successful, what will you do with one once you have it?
Ages 6-8
“Harold & Hog Pretend for Real!” by Dan Santat, Mo Willems
New from the Elephant & Piggie authors comes Harold & Hog. Although the best of friends, these two couldn’t be more different. Hog is always careful. Harold never is. Hog isn’t one to smile a lot, but Harold is! Hog worries so much that Harold doesn’t have to. When the duo plays a game pretending to be Elephant & Piggie, it doesn’t go well. Will their friendship survive?
“The Lion King: The Novelization” by Elizabeth Rudnick
The real-life version of “The Lion King” movie hit theaters at the end of July. If you haven’t seen it yet – go! Before you do, this book is a great refresher. Simba learns at an early age that he is destined for royalty. When his father dies in a tragic accident, Simba runs away, fearing he is responsible. It doesn’t help that his evil Uncle Scar tells him so. But some things are just meant to be and you can’t change fate. Simba’s childhood friend finds him and brings him home to fight for the land and take his place as king.
Ages 9-12
“Storm Blown” by Nick Courage
Alejo isn’t worried when the rain and wind come to his home in Puerto Rico, but when people start evacuating, he realizes things might be worse than he thought. A hurricane named Valerie is headed straight for them! Emily takes her sick brother, Elliot, on an adventure to the beach he loves. She wasn’t prepared for a hurricane to soon cross their paths. Alejo and Emily find themselves in extremely dangerous circumstances. Will everyone make it out alive?
“Restart” by Gordon Korman
When Chase wakes up in a hospital room, he has no idea why he’s there. He doesn’t remember falling off the roof and hitting his head. In fact, he doesn’t even know what his name is. Chase has to relearn everything. When he finally goes back to school, everything seems different; that is, from what he thinks things were like. Some kids are super nice and some seem like they are afraid of him. One girl is so angry with him she pours yogurt on his head. Chase finds himself at a crossroads between learning who he was and deciding who he now wants to be.
