Kids Picks
We have reached what they call the dog days of summer. It’s officially too hot to do anything that doesn’t involve air conditioning or a body of water to jump in. A great way to pass the time is to lose yourself in a good book. Whether you are sitting on the beach, the dock of the bay, or chilling poolside, here are some fun, brand-new titles to help keep you entertained.
Ages 3-5
“The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spires
This is a heartwarming story about an unnamed girl whose best friend is a dog. The girl has an idea to make “the most magnificent thing!” She knows how it is going to look, how it will work, and all she has to do is make it. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it’s not. She tries and tries and just can’t do it. She gets so mad that she quits. Her dog convinces her to take a walk and come back fresh so she can try again.
“The Whatifs” by Emily Kilgore
Cora has a problem. She constantly worries about everything. Everything. What if her crayons break? What if her dog runs away? This constant worrying has caused the Whatifs to really love her. They like to sneak up on her and give her doubt. Now that she’s getting ready for her big piano recital, the Whatifs just won’t go away. In fact, they keep getting worse. Cora is so filled with worry, she wonders if she will even be able to perform. For any child who experiences anxiety, “The Whatifs” is an enlightening story about how anyone can turn their doubtful thoughts into hopeful ones.
Ages 6-8
“Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure” by Jeff Kinney
Rowley Jefferson is back, and this time he wants to write a book. He isn’t interested in fame or fortune, he just wants to write something that is interesting enough for his parents to read to him before bed. He asks his best friend, Greg, for help, but Greg sees too much of an opportunity to become famous and make tons of money. The result is a book that alternates between chapters of Rowley’s story and editorial sessions with Greg. Rowley’s story is filled with silly creatures and adventure, while Greg’s sessions are witty and filled with laughs. Readers will thoroughly enjoy the newest Rowley story.
“Lily to the Rescue” by W. Bruce Cameron
Lily, the dog who is the title character of the eight-book “Lily to the Rescue!” series, was once a stray. She was rescued and sent to an animal shelter run by Maggie Rose’s mom. Now she lives with Maggie Rose and has made it her mission to rescue other animals in trouble. Lily meets a crow with a broken wing, so they take her home to Maggie’s mom. When the crow gets a little too used to living in their home and begins causing problems, Lily comes to the rescue!
Ages 9-12
“House Arrest” by K.A. Holt
Timothy is 12 years old. He stole a wallet to pay for medicine for his sick baby brother, Levi. Unfortunately, he got caught and now is under house arrest for a whole year. He has to meet weekly with a probation officer and a therapist, keep a journal, and stay out of trouble. While Timothy wrestles with feelings of being abandoned by his father and trying to help his struggling family, staying out of trouble is proving to be a very difficult task.
“Amari and the Night Brothers” by B.B. Alston
Amari Peters is holding on to the hope that her missing brother, Quinton, is still alive. Even though the police and the town bullies told her he was gone for good, she never believed them. When she finds a briefcase in his closet with a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she knows she found the key to his disappearance. Now she’s competing against kids who have known magic their whole lives, and her talent is being called illegal. Everyone has turned against her, and now an evil magician is threatening the supernatural world. Despite her doubts, she has to continue or she will never find out what happened to Quinton.
