School’s out, summer’s officially here, and I’m experiencing my annual childish geek-out for all the summery things I want to attempt with my kids. Having more time to read is of course on my list, but herein lies the problem with my summer book picks every year–my eyes get bigger than my stomach, so to speak, and when I shoot for too many books, I get overwhelmed. So I’m limiting my summer reading aspirations this year to these four books and will hopefully have this whittled down to only taking two on our road trip.
Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World
This just came out in April, but I’ve been waiting for it all year. Reading about a Kennedy is always fascinating, but Eunice? She’s my favorite.
Venture Girls: Raising Girls to be Tomorrow’s Leaders
I got this recommendation from Meg Conley (fun to follow on IG!). It’s super informative (some of the facts on women in the workplace will shock you) with great guidance on raising strong, resilient girls.
The God of Small Things
The writing is simply exquisite, so meaty with poetic descriptions, I find myself rereading sentences over and over just to experience the beauty and digest the descriptions word by word.
Educated
My friend loaned this memoir to me after she said she devoured it.
For the Kids
Without even thinking about it, we are so much more intentional in the summer about doing things we love–reading in bed together, lake picnics, taking days slow and easy. I love following seasonal themes with our picks for kid lit, and there are so many great children’s books that capture the magic of summer both in illustrations and poetic descriptions of picnics and fireflies and the stickiness on a hot, humid night. I also like to find new books to bring on our road trip to make things special and preferably books that are available in paperback to keep our packing light. Here’s a few we’re taking to Michigan with us this year (I already have them packed away for the trip):
The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley
I love to read a chapter book with Lainey in the summer. Last year, we read A Wrinkle in Time together. This year, we’re reading this new book about a girl who’s a little bit odd coming into adolescence. The reviews enticed me–beautiful lessons on accepting others, finding your own voice at that age, grief, etc.
Rebel Girls
We’re borrowing this book from a friend for the summer, but everything we’ve heard about it is fantastic (we’ve listened to the podcast as well and love it). It’s a great book for reading one short account a night together.
Pie is for Sharing
The perfect picture book for summer with stunning illustrations of a July 4 picnic and lessons on sharing.
The Storm Book
I got this book to help Nella with her storm anxiety (we also got Patricia Pollaco’s Thundercake). It completely captures the beauty of a summer storm in detailed descriptions: “Each crash of thunder sounds as though the rocks of the mountains were splitting apart, but each flash of lightning show them solid and quiet against the sky.”
Summer Story
We are big Brambly Hedge fans and get lost in the imaginary world of these little mice. If you love the world of Peter Rabbit, you’ll love the summer adventures of these mice.
Roxaboxen
This beautiful tale tells of a special place where all the children gather in summer and let their imaginations run wild. It captures children’s wild imaginations and ability to entertain themselves with the simplest things (long before devices).
Just Being Jackie
My friend Margaret (who wrote Just Being Audrey) released this gorgeous new children’s book last month, telling the story of Jackie O. The illustrations are so charming!
Ice Cream: The Full Scoop I love a good non-fiction picture book, and this one is also available in paperback. It’s full of lots of interesting facts about America’s favorite summer treat and the history of how it came to be.
Happy Page-turning!
I always love book recommendations! One of my favorites for the summer is The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant :).
Has Lainey read the Penderwicks series? They are some of our family favorites! I read the first few aloud years ago when my kids were 9 (a boy), 8, 5, and 2 (all girls). Even the two year old picked up bits and pieces, and they are such fun, sweet stories. The audio versions are also fantastic! The first one is about their summer adventure.
THANK YOU! Checking it out now!
The Penderwicks is pure summer reading magic. The fifth one is just being released. You will love them.
Just ordered!
so very good. And there is a brand new one!!
Best series ever! Loved it on audio!
Also…the sixty eight rooms series…
The last time you did a literature review, someone commented about a children’s book festival in Abilene,TX! Because of that post, my 8 year old daughter and I are getting on a plane Wednesday to go see Oliver Jeffers…the featured author/illustrator.
Thank you Kelle for making connections with others…I would have never known of this eventif it were not for your posts. We can’t wait!
The recipe from Thundercake is legitimately delicious! Who would’ve thought that tomatoes would make chocolate cake taste even better. Haha!
Sarah, Plain and Tall was a favorite read aloud of our girls, as well as the Milly Molly Mandy books (I think the illustrations alone could win you over for that one!).
Have you listened to the Read-Aloud Revival podcast? THE BEST out there for books, reading aloud, and connecting as a family. And book recommendations, of course.
HI! I too am reading Eunice. I second the Penderwick series, but we listened to it via CD (on our travels up and back to upstate NY). Our girls; gosh maybe 7 and 11 then, LOVED it. They cannot wait for the last of the series coming out this summer. Listening to it had everyone waiting to get the next book into the CD player once the first was complete. We had not previously been big CD book listeners, but the way it’s read really pulls one into the story. Highly recommend.
Okay, you guys have totally sold me on the Penderwick series for audio for the ride up!
Dear Kelle,
Thank you for recommending my book Eunice, the Kennedy Who Changed the World to your readers. I spent seven years researching the life of this remarkable, unheralded member of the Kennedy clan. Special Olympics, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, is only one of her legacies. I hope you enjoy getting to know this flinty, determined, cigar-smoking advocate for children with intellectual disabilities as much as I did.
All the best,
Eileen McNamara
If you can find the Penderwicks first book on audio download, Lainey might enjoy listening to it through headphones on the ride to MI. Similarly, Nella and Dash might like listening to a story for each of them through headphones. I know you’re always looking for ideas for the long ride north and now that they’re a bit older, this might fit the bill.
Thank you, Stacey! Love this!
When I taught fourth grade, I used to read THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD, by Lynne Reid Banks, to my students, and they always begged me to read more. Even Dash will love this one. It’s especially fun if you have some plastic Indians so the kids can picture what happens in the book!
I love that book! I forgot all about it. I bet Dash would love it!
Love summer reading! We take a blanket with books out to the lawn like in your picture. A few summer books we love- the Raft, Five Children and It, All the Places to Love, A Little Prairie House. My kids like the Penderwicks, too. I bet Dash and Nella would like McBrooms Wonderful One Acre Farm as well.
Oh my gosh, you listed some of my FAVORITES. I still have the copy of The Raft that I bought in college while I was taking Children’s Lit. I fell in love with Jim LaMarche’s illustrations after reading The Rainbabies (one of my favorite kid books of all time) and started buying his books even though I was college broke. And All the Places to Love is probably my #1 children’s book. Going to check out One Acre Farm now! Thank you!
If you don’t have it already, your kids would love The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. It’s a beautiful book!