to the for s field guide the best books summer reading

ST. M ARY'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
FIELD GUIDE
TO THE
BEST BOOKS
FOR S UMMER
READING
A List of Recommended Reading ffor
Rising First & Second Graders
at St. Mary's Episcopal School
Summer 2014
CATCH SOME FANTASTIC BOOKS THIS SUMMER!
A WELCOME AND THE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dear St. Mary's Families and Friends,
Welcome to SUMMER!!! How glorious to trail toes through sparkly cool water, to smell
honeysuckle on the breeze and to bite into a red tomato, straight from the vine...ah, bliss! How
glorious also to plunge into a great book at the beach or on a plane bound for summer fun!
For students who take that plunge, the risk of "summer slump" (or "summer setback",
"summer reading loss", etc.) is greatly reduced or eliminated. When students read at least 4
books (on their reading level) over the summer, they keep their brains active and are therefore
much more able to resume their studies come the new school year. Many studies have proven
this over and over again. The benefits of reading over the summer goes much farther than just
being ready for a new school year as kids who make a habit of reading are ready for future
success (including acing college entrance exams).
"Reading" can mean reading books but also magazines, comic books, listening to audio
books or anything that can sustain solid reading for at least 20 minutes a day. At the end of this
guide is a calendar to help you plan your reading to meet your goal. So, to get you started on the
right track, use this guide to find a few great books and enjoy the plunge!
@
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ONE …………………………………... AWARD WINNING BOOKS
TWO ………………………………………….
KIDS' PICKS
THREE
……………………………….. TEACHER FAVORITES
FOUR ………………………………………
SCI-FI/FANTASY
FIVE ……………………………………. FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE
SIX ……………………………………................ NONFICTION
SEVEN ………………………………………...…….. POETRY
EIGHT
………………………….......... ……. READING DIARY
AWARD WINNING BOOKS, 2013
CHECK OUT THESE BOOKS THAT HAVE RECENTLY
RECENTLY WON MAJOR LITERARY AWARDS
CALDECOTT AWARD – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED PICTURE BOOK
Winner: Locomotive by Brian Floca
Honor Books: Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Journey by Aaron Becker
Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner
THEODORE SEUSS GEISEL AWARD – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED BEGINNING READER BOOK
Winner: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Honor Books: A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
Ball by Mary Sullivan
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
NEWBERY AWARD – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
Winner: Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Honor Books: Doll Bones by Holly Black
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
SIBERT MEDAL – FOR MOST DISTINGUISHED INFORMATIONAL BOOK
Winner: Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan Roth
& Cindy Trumbore
CORETTA SCOTT KING MEDAL – ILLUSTRATOR AWARD
Winner: Knock, Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me
by Brian collier, illustrated by Daniel Beaty
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD – YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE
Winner: The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata
BOSTON GLOBE/HORN BOOK AWARD - PICTURE BOOK
Winner: Building Our House by Jonathan Bean
SEQUOYAH AWARD – CHILDREN'S LEVEL (VOTED ON BY THE CHILDREN OF OKLAHOMA)
Winner: Sidekicks by Dan Santat
OKLAHOMA BOOK AWARD – CHILDREN'S
Winner: Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer
IRMA S. BLACK AWARD
Winner: That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems
KIDS' PICKS
HERE
ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS YEAR
Y EAR' S
GRADERS FOR NEXT YEAR' S
1ST
AND
1ST
AND
2ND
2ND G RADERS
THAT'S RIGHT, THE 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS
GRADERS THOUGHT AND
THOUGHT
THOUGHT OF SOME BOOKS
ST
ND
THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING
INTERESTING AND FUN FOR KIDS
KIDS STARTING 1 OR 2 GRADE NEXT
YEAR. HERE ARE THEIR PICKS:
FAVORITE STAND-ALONE BOOKS
Please Write in This Book by Mary Amato
Baby Rattlesnake by Te Ata
A Drop in the Ocean by Jacqui Bailey
101 Animal Babies by Melvin Berger
The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla
The Paint Brush Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla
Prince of Egypt by DreamWorks Animation Studio (DreamWorks' Classics Edition)
Diary of a Wombat and Diary of a Baby Wombat by Jackie French
Valentine's Day Dognapping (#10 in the "Scooby Doo Reader" series) by Gail Herman
Hey Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
Splat the Cat by Tom Scotton
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Petting Zoo by Gail Tuchman
Turbo (Junior Novelization) by Tracey West
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
FAVORITE SERIES
"Ivy + Bean" by Annie Barrows
"The Berenstain Bears" by Stan and Jan Berenstain
"Horrible Harry" by Suzy Kline
"Fashion Fairies" by Daisy Meadows
"My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish" by Mo O'Hara
"Magic Tree House" by Mary Pope Osborne
"Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Park
"Big Nate" by Franklin Peirce
"The Littles" by John Peterson
"The A to Z Mysteries" by Ron Roy
"Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling
"Geronimo Stilton" by Geronimo Stilton
"The Black Lagoon" by Mike Thaler
"The Boxcar Children" by Gertrude Chandler Warner
HERE ARE
SOME
TEACHERS FAVORITES. . .
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FACULTY AND STAFF
AT ST. MARY'S!
Mrs. Airington Admires: Little Women “My mom was a teacher and she loved it and so did we.”
Mrs. Alltizer Advises:
“I would recommend any Dr. Seuss book or Berenstain Bear book. I would read to my kids at bedtime and they
loved these books even when they got older. I also loved to read the “Little House” books. I loved to imagine what it
would be like to live like Laura and Mary Ingalls. My all time favorite books are the “Junie B. Jones” books. I love to see
what she does in each book.”
Mrs. Beckman Suggests:
Dr. Seuss & P.D. Eastman's Early Readers like: Go Dog Go, Green Eggs and Ham, Are You My Mother?
"My son Andrew's Favorite was Captain Cat by Syd Hoff. When I was in grade school, my favorite book series were The
Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Little House on the Prairie books. I also remember A Wrinkle in Time and The Secret
Garden being favorites when I was older."
Mrs. Crabaugh Recommends:
"Shel Silverstein is one of my very most favorites!! His drawings and poems are so silly and so much fun!!!
What a happy day our kids will have diving into one of his books!!!! Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling
Up, Every Thing On It...plus so many more of his shorties like...The Giving Tree...The Missing Piece...Runny Babbit...Don't
Bump the Glump...etc..."
Mrs. Freedman Favors:
“My pick for elementary students is Harriet the Spy. I must have read that book 20 times growing up
and I have even read it as a grown up. I love reading all of Harriet’s spy notes!
My pick for Preschool would be the Pete The Cat books and Mortimer by Robert Munsch for elementary.
Mortimer reminds me of Mrs. Westhof who read the book every summer at KaleidEscape and did a special
performance which had everyone laughing. It’s a favorite of most SMES kids.”
Mrs. Javaheri Just Loves:
“I recommend all the Pete the Cat books. I love to see what Pete is up to in each book.”
Mrs. Mackiewicz Mentioned:
“ALL of Jim Arnosky’s books-especially Crinkleroot’s Guide to Walking in Wild Places.”
Also:
Compost, by Gosh! An Adventure With Vermicomposting by Michelle Eva Portman
Dear Children of the Earth by Schim Schimmel,
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel and
Recycle! A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons
Mrs. Mitchell Says:
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
"We read it (to my kids) at bedtime and had to reread it several times."
… and these favorite authors: Tomie DePaola, Mem Fox, Kevin Henkes, Leo Lionni, Ezra Jack Keats,
Jan Brett, Audrey Wood, Paulette Bourgeois, and Audrey Penn. Just to name a few.
Patricia Polacco,
Mrs. Pierce Proposes:
“Nate the Great” series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, “Encyclopedia Brown” series by Donald J. Sobol,
The “Who Was….?” series by assorted authors and “Let’s Read and Find Out” series by assorted authors
Mrs. Woods Adores:
“To Kill a Mockingbird is my absolute favorite novel, and I try to read it each year. You truly can’t help falling in
love with the characters. What I love most about TKAM, is the advice that Atticus gives his children. Truly, Atticus’s
words of wisdom are words by which we can all live. I strive to be as wise as he.”
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
FROM MERMAIDS TO MONSTERS, ALIENS TO DRAGONS...T
...TRY
THESE:
= a book in picture book format, = an early reader , % = a book for reading together
% Peter Pan
by J. M. Barrie
Prepare for the St. Mary's big musical production of Peter Pan in the 2014-15 school year by sharing this
together over the summer. Deserving of a place in every child's library, it would make a super bedtime book.
Journey
by Aaron Becker
Reminiscent of Crockett Johnson's classic Harold and the Purple Crayon, we meet a lonely girl who escapes
her boredom with the help of a red marker by creating her own imaginative and wondrous world.
Rabbit and Robot: the Sleepover
by Cece Bell
Rabbit and Robot are best friends and Rabbit is so excited for Robot to sleep over for the very first time. But
can Robot handle all the run that Rabbit has in store for them?
King Jack and the Dragon
by Peter Bentley
For Knights and Kings in training, read as Jack, Zak and Casper defend their castle from dragons just before
bedtime. The importance of creative play and the power of imagination shine here.
Horus' Horrible Day ("First Graders From Mars" series)
by Shana Corey
Did you know that Martians go to school? This series tells all about some Martian pals and their adventures
in school. (the series is out of print but still available at the Metropolitan Public Library and is worth a trip.)
% My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannet
This first of a classic series tells of Elmer Elevator's determination to free a captive dragon on Wild Island.
A Poor Excuse for a Dragon
by Geoffrey Hayes
Fred must do certain things to be a "real" dragon, but…eating people? Ick. A tale of realizing that being
your best does not always mean doing what others think you should do, but finding your own way to shine.
Sleep Like a Tiger
by Mary Logue
Welllll, this isn't exactly a fantasy but the fantastical, dream-like illustrations in this bedtime story just begged
to be included in this list somehow. The illustrations can be enjoyed for hours before bedtime, too.
No More Monsters for Me!
by Peggy Parish
From the author of the favorite "Amelia Bedelia" series comes a story of a girl who has decided that she's
got to have a pet and a monster will do just fine. See what mom thinks about that…
Robot Zot!
by Jon Scieszka
Robot Zot is on a mission to conquer Earth! Nothing can stop this mega-charged robot or ease his path of
destruction through his landing site. Will Earth survive? Read and find out!
Commander Toad in Space ("Commander Toad" series)
by Jane Yolen
Sure to excite even the most reluctant reader, Commander Toad blasts off into space aboard the trusty ship
"Star Warts" on a mission to save his home. Will an encounter with "Deep Wader" put him in mortal peril?
Mr. Wuffles
by David Weisner
Mr. Wuffles' favorite kitty toy turns out to be an tiny alien spaceship, but the damage he does by playing
with it causes the aliens to make repairs, which only makes Mr. Wuffles want to play with it even more.
TO TICKLE YOUR FUNNY BONE
DO YOU LOVE TO LAUGH OR TO MAKE OTHERS LAUGH? IF
BOOKS ARE FOR YOU:
SO, THESE GREAT
= a book in picture book format, = an Early Reader, % = a book for reading together
Children Make Terrible Pets
by Peter Brown
Lucy the Bear wants a pet so desperately, she's willing to go way out of the ordinary. When she finds a little
boy in the forest and brings him home, her mom tries to warn her but does Lucy listen? Read and find out!
Bink and Gollie
by Kate Di Camillo
This is the first of a new series by Newbery Award winning Di Camillo. Bink & Gollie are quite the best of
friends, though they are quite different. There are some good vocabulary words in addition to fun stories.
Horrible Harry in Room 2B
by Suzy Kline
Harry is a prankster who has an interesting way of learning lessons and getting out of trouble. There is a
series of books about Harry and his on-again, off-again love interest, Song Lee.
Adventures of Cow
by Cow (aka: Lori Korchek)
This book tells the adventures of a cow with humor that is absolutely absurd and that kids just love. Through
a series of photos, Cow discovers that sometimes the biggest adventure is finding oneself.
The Tricky Tooth (a “Katie Woo” book)
by Fran Manushkin
Katie Woo’s classmates have all lost at least one tooth and Katie feels left behind. Find out how far she’s
willing to go to feel “caught up”. Then read the rest of the “Katie Woo” books—they’re a hoot!
% Homer Price
by Robert McCloskey
Never say small towns are dull, especially not when there are kids like Homer Price around to make mischief.
Even though this was written in 1943, it is still completely fun and enjoyable by all ages. A must-read!!
Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share
This wacky tale has enough corny jokes to laugh all summer! Very silly!
% The Hoboken Chicken Emergency
by Kevin O'Malley
by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Another classic, this time from way back in 1977. Hoboken, NJ has never seen the likes of Henrietta, 266pound chicken that Arthur Bobowicz brought home instead of a Thanksgiving turkey..wait till she gets loose.
The Watermelon Seed
by Greg Pizzoli
This year's Geisel Award winner deserves another mention. A melon-loving crocodile accidentally swallows a
seed, which brings about a panic not unknown to children: will the seed grow? A charming & funny book.
Dragons Love Tacos
by Adam Rubin
Do you love tacos? Did you know dragons do, too? Well they do, it’s true! But you have to be very careful
because if they eat too much hot sauce, well…just be ready to duck!
I'm a Frog!
by Mo Willems
And last but not least, what list of funny kids' books could be complete without at least one of Mo Willems?
In this "Elephant and Piggie" adventure, Piggie shows Elephant how pretend works. Great fun.
FOR
FANS OF
NONFICTION, O R, THE “REAL” STUFF
“REALLY TRUE” THINGS—YOU’LL LEARN SOME
GOOD STUFF!
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein
by Jennifer Berne
Albert Einstein did not necessarily looooove school, but he did love to think about things and to observe
what was around him. His “just thinking” turned into some of the most important ideas of the last century.
Nic Bishop: Butterflies and Moths
by Nic Bishop
Wildlife photographer Bishop turns his camera this time to the amazing world of butterflies and moths.
Read other books from his series of nature books including: Snakes, Marsupials, Frogs, Lizards and Spiders.
Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution
by Don Brown
War can bring out the worst in people as well as the best. Henry Knox, a man who preferred “a good meal
to a good fight”, went 300 miles to bring back 58 cannons to General Washington’s weaponless army.
Locomotive
by Brian Floca
You don’t have to be a fan of “Thomas the Tank Engine” to be in awe of the workings of the train painstakingly and wondrously drawn by Caldecott Medalist, Brian Floca. For children of all ages, all aboard!
Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes
by Mollie Katzen
A friendly and appealing cookbook that kids can follow themselves (with help from a friendly grown-up).
Adults can also use it for getting kids (even 3 and 4 year-olds) involved in the kitchen. Lots of yum here!
Roots, Shoots, Buckles and Boots
by Sharon Lovejoy
This book is chock-full of fabulous ideas for kids and their families for gardening and summertime activities.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909
by Michelle Markel
No one likes to be treated unfairly—it’s not the St. Mary’s way! When Clara and her family moved to the US,
it was to make a better life. They found that some bosses in the US were quite mean so Clara, with some
help from co-workers, decided to make those bosses be nice and treat their workers better—find out how!
Bedtime Math
by Laura Overdeck
A genius idea for getting kids to crave math. Overdeck looked for ways to get her kids to look forward to
bedtime so she got in the habit of giving them a math puzzle once they were tucked in. It worked! Her
friends kept asking for more puzzles so she made this book designed for varying levels of difficulty.
The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and Our National Parks
by Barbara Rosenstock
This is the true story of a fateful Yosemite camping trip taken by President Teddy Roosevelt and naturalist
John Muir. Their hikes and talks led Roosevelt to realize that some areas of land ought to be preserved and
protected for future generations—a decision which resulted in the creation of our national parks.
Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled: How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Really Looked Like? by Catherine Thimmesh
Since the first fossils were found, people wondered what dinosaurs really looked like. Using fossils from the
earliest days and the most recent discoveries, artists have been able to put together some amazing images.
Cooking on a Stick: Campfire Recipes for Kids
by Linda White
Speaking of camping, whether you’re in your backyard, the Rockies or Yosemite, this is a must-read for those
planning a campout over the summer. Bring lots of sticks!
POETRY!
WE
ALL HAVE POETRY LURKING SOMEWHERE IN OUR HEARTS, BEATING ITS OWN
RHYTHM. READ A FEW AND FIND OUT WHAT SPEAKS TO YOU!
The Llama Who Had No Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems
by Mary Ann Hoberman
Hoberman has been tickling children’s funny bones with her poems for over 40 years and this collection
includes many of her old favorites. The new illustrations make the collection fun and appealing!
National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!
edited by J. Patrick Lewis
A clever collection of perfectly paired photos and poems that you won’t want to put down!
Once I Ate a Pie
by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest
Even if you’re not a “dog person” you will still adore these autobiographical poems told in free verse. Each
dog’s poem so wonderfully carries through their voice and personality, you’ll smile and laugh and laugh!
Silly Street: Selected Poems
by Jeff Foxworthy
In case you missed Foxworthy’s first book of poetry for kids, Dirt On My Shirt, you will love this collection of
very readable poems for children.
The Frogs and Toads All Sang
by Arnold Lobel
Mr. Lobel wrote the beloved “Frog and Toad” series of early readers, so it was not a shock when a collection
of poetry on frogs and toads was found after he died. His daughter gathered them in this lovely book.
Now We Are Six
by A.A. Milne
The beloved creator of Winnie the Pooh wrote more than about Christopher Robin and the inhabitants of
the 100 Acre Wood—he wrote delightful poetry of childhood…poems you will want to read over and over.
Hi, Koo!
by Jon J. Muth
Koo, the nephew of Stillwater (the panda from Muth’s other books including Zen Ties) is on his own,
exploring the seasons through haiku. A fun way to introduce the idea of haiku.
Poetry Speaks to Children (Book and CD)
edited by Elise Paschen
Many will insist that poetry is meant to be heard, not just read. Enter this amazing collection that children
can not only read but hear read by the authors, including Robert Frost, Roald Dahl, J.R.R.Tolkein and more!
Truckery Rhymes
by Jon Scieszka
Leave it to Jon Scieszka to lovingly twist our favorite rhymes into a whole new collection of silliness! Boys
and girls alike will appreciate these, but do read the originals first so the new twists make sense.
The Real Mother Goose
by Blanche Fisher Wright
I know, I know…you’re “too old” for Mother Goose. Nonsense. One is never too old to revisit this
collection that has been in libraries for over 75 years.
READING DIARY!
Here is a spot where you can keep track of the books you've finished reading over the summer. Be
sure to read at least five (5) books that are on your actual reading level, as that will keep your brain
happy and ready to start the new school year! If you do read at least 5 books, you will be
recognized at Storm Central in August!
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