Summer Reading Guide 2018

Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela thought her name was too long. That is until her dad shares the history behind it. Alma discovers pride in the strong relatives after whom she is named. The limited colors used in the drawings provide a look back and a look forward as Alma grows to recognize the strength in her name.

When a boy misses his bus, he hollers, “Bus! Stop!”  What follows is an imaginative series of other buses that appear as a Conestoga wagon, a boat and even one that floats. The horizontal format and blocky illustrations focus on the boy’s travel travails – and the start of another’s bus problems as he finally boards a bus.

A small, gray elephant has a bad back itch. Can anyone help him? The alligator is a bit scary, the sloth is too slow, and meerkats are too tickly. Relief comes for elephant but maybe not so much for the hedgehog. Simple comic strip-like illustrations and dialog in various sizes are rib-tickling.

Handsomely illustrated, shapes both simple (square, rectangle) and complex (cone, hexagon) are introduced as found in a range of art and architecture, faith, and practices in Muslim countries. A concluding note by the author broadly explains Islam and the range of countries from which her inspiration was drawn.

Family life is busy for the young narrator until after dinner when he and his dad share the Magic Hour. As day wanes but before being tucked in, father and child take a magical neighborhood walk enjoying small pleasures along the way. Gentle text and handsome illustrations combine to reveal one family’s loving and lovely tradition.

Lucy always wanted a dog but Bear becomes a bit of a problem. In addition to sleeping for months, he is messy and eats endless bowls of porridge. When Bear runs away, both he and Lucy find out that friendship overcomes most things. Readers will immediately recognize the mistaken identity seen only in the simple illustrations and enhanced in humorous dialog.

If you don’t blink, you don’t have to turn the page; you therefore don’t have to go to bed. Each time a blink occurs, however, the closer the end gets in this humorous, participatory book with a big-eyed owl as a guide (who, by the way, is asleep by book’s end).

A child visits his grandfather but has trouble communicating; they literally don’t speak the other’s language. That is until they find another way to share thoughts and feelings through art. As each of them expresses himself creating unique superheroes, two generations are drawn together. Universal emotions are placed in a specific but nonetheless moving context.

Two dudes, a platypus and a beaver, paddle out to ride a wave but see a threatening fin nearby. Is the huge shark a threat or a friend waiting to be made? This wacky, almost wordless tale is told in large spreads and smaller panels of expressive characters complemented by the equally expressive typeface of the few words used. Get it, dude!?

Beaver doesn’t think about his neighbors downstream while he’s building his dam. Frog bravely tries to make Beaver understand but Beaver just doesn’t listen. Only when disaster strikes do all of the animals figure out how to make homes for everyone. Gentle wisdom and cartoon illustrations tell a satisfying story.

Even goldfish can use a vacation as three children learned. They let their fish, Barracuda, Patch, and Fiss, — as well as many other kids’ fish — vacation in a fountain built by the architect of Grand Central Station!  At the end of the summer, the goldfish returned to their homes and children. The “perfectly true made-up story” is based on actual events in NY City,

Say hello to a dazzling array of animals presented in intriguing groupings. Starting with “Hello Hello/Black and White” all the way to “…Roars,/Peeps, Chirps/and Chants/Hello Song,/and Hello Dance…” the bouncy, rhyming text and animated illustrations is sure to engage. A final note about the animals’ status and a key to who readers have greeted conclude the book.

Yumi and Grandma really wanted to see each other. As Yumi travels by bus toward Grandma, Grandma travels by train to visit Yumi. Back and forth they go until they accidentally but happily meet in the middle. Humor abounds in the simple illustrations and gentle narration in an elongated format that highlights Yumi and Grandma’s treks back and forth.

Kayla loses a tooth but now can’t find it! Will the Tooth Fairy still visit her? Can her trusty canine, King, help solve the mystery of the missing tooth?  The latest installment is sure to delight fans and stands on its own as a recognizable, satisfying, everyday mystery just right for newly independent readers.

Sapphire was not like other dragons. She had no desire to “crush castles or capture princesses.” But the local residents of a forest shun Sapphire until other fierce and fiery dragons destroy the woods. Almost translucent illustrations in rich, layered colors move the satisfying story to its dramatic conclusion.

“Millions of year ago, dinosaurs walked the Earth.” Some were small, some walked on two legs, others on four. An easy text and colorful but simple, dramatic illustrations on double page spreads present a variety of the ancient creatures each clearly labeled. Even today, you can see their bones at museums. Endpapers are used to further extend the informative presentation.

In this companion to Triangle (opens in a new window), Square’s block is seen and greatly appreciated by Circle. Circle declares that Square is a genius, but is he? This second installment in Barnett’s trilogy is sure to amuse as well as confound.

The third brother was a different kind of dinosaur. Rather than a more typical stegosaurus, he was a stegothesaurus who knew lots of words and loved to use them. Then he met an equally loquacious allosaurus and learned how this meat-eater acquired his words! Words and wordplay and simple, silly illustrations will delight both non-dinosaur and dinosaur aficionados.

Tasty treats create shapes which turn into an array of creatures with just a few additional lines and a lot of creativity. Baklava Squirrels are made from the edible Greek parallelogram; oval jelly beams make colorful butterflies, and more in this original – and appetizing – look at shapes.

A colorful line-up of simply shaped animals opens this book. Sharp-eyes will see the one that is hiding, angry, sleeping, and more on each double page spread. Some are sure to recall “Who’s Who?” on the black pages with only eyes showing. An answer key is provided for the impatient or less observant.

Nora announces that she and her toy giraffe Jeff are bored. Reluctantly, she takes her grandmother’s advice and soon discovers a Tiger with whom to explore grandma’s lush, jungle-like garden. Richly colored and well told, this is a tale of the power of imagination and play.

Who is Baby Monkey? Well, he’s a baby and a monkey but one with a job: he’s a Private Eye! Readers will solve the mysteries with Baby Monkey as they carefully examine signature monochromatic sketches interspersed with narrative. The format is wholly original as is the humor and art. (For the less keen-eyed, a key to the visuals is included.)

When Jack and Annie don the magic baseball hats given to them by Morgan, they find themselves back in 1947 as batboys. There they learn a lot about the game, a player named Jackie Robinson, and how history was made. Readers may also want to find out more in the accessible nonfiction companion, Baseball (Magic Tree House Fact Tracker) (opens in a new window) which introduces more about the people and players of the period.

Meet bowhead whales in this slim but fact-filled volume. Dramatic illustrations add detail and drama beginning on endpages. This brief, accessible introduction may inspire further examination of these fascinating sea mammals.

A new year starts every month somewhere in the world. Join the celebrations from Russia to Spain, from Jordan to Chile (plus many more) in lively poems and textured, colorful collage illustrations. Additional information about the celebrations and different calendars concludes this lush, unique fête.

Even as a kid, Max had a good arm. He even pitched while he served in the Navy where he struck out Joe DiMaggio. The next time he pitched to the star, Joltin’ Joe hit a homerun which is when Max’s career as a baseball clown really started. Meet Max Patkin and follow his unusual baseball career in comic illustrations and straightforward text.

Lily and her mom miss their own garden. When they visit the public garden they find their neighbor preparing the soil. Soon Lily and her friends are helping Mr. Sam plant and tend a vegetable garden. A concluding activity for an easy home garden ends this informative, easier to read book.

Pete Seeger was a musician, an activist, an environmentalist and more. An overview of his life and work is presented as though a ballad-like narrative almost ready to be sung. Strong, clean lines in black and white with a “golden thread” running through are created by cut paper illustrations for a powerful introduction to Seeger’s life and times.

When the new lighthouse keeper replaces the old one, he continues the duties: polishing the lens, refilling the oil, and keeping watch for sailors in trouble. With his wife, his life continues until a mechanical light replaces the old one and the family moves to the mainland. Though they say goodbye, the lighthouse continues to say hello. This handsome, delicately illustrated and gently told tale pays homage to early lighthouses and their keepers.

The true story of four African American women whose talent and tenacity led to careers at NASA is recast for younger readers. The unfairness and dscrimination caused by segregation is presented in an accessible, age appropriate, and engaging way.

What would happen if the “S” in the word moose comes loose? And the “E” breaks free? Follow the madcap sequence as the cow, goat and other animals share their ideas. Comical line drawings and wacky scenes play with words for laugh-out-loud silliness.

Third grader, Jasmine Toguchi, wants to enter her school’s talent show, but what talent could she show? She knows though when she’s introduced to the traditional Japanese drums where Jasmine finds a skill – and a friend. Young readers will see themselves in Jasmine and her recognizable travails.

Joan was not like other girls her age. Rather than parties and such, Joan preferred to visit the Natural History Museum to talk to the curator about reptiles and even her own crocodile. In this fascinating look at an early scientist, readers will meet a unique, perhaps eccentric woman (and her komodo dragon) whose work can be appreciated today.

Travel with Nate Bell and a group of kids whose adventure begins at the Science Museum. They travel back in time to explore dinosaurs and the eras in which they roamed the earth. Several suggestions for further investigation conclude this lighthearted but informative book.

When Trey loses his lucky piece of sea glass, he’s convinced that his luck is gone, too. He goes into a slump in baseball, not certain that he can ever get his mojo back. Baseball fans will enjoy the baseball terms and jargon and just may figure out that lucky charms are not what create success on or off the baseball field.

Peter and Ernesto are friends but are very different: Peter is a homebody while Ernesto wants to explore. So travel he does making the friends’ reunion all the better when it comes. The comic book format with simple illustrations is just right to depict the sloths’ friendship with both humor and sincerity.

One sunny morning, two children bounce out of bed to start counting and exploring insects. What they find – leafhoppers, ladybugs, and more – are presented through rich, rhyming text and in numbers that always add up to 10. Colorful illustrations depict an idyllic countryside and young, cheerful explorers.

Did you know that snails build “roads of slimy mucus”, other snails can follow those trails, often to eat together? That snails live everywhere on earth in all types of environments? Find out much more about these amazing — albeit slimy — creatures in this comically illustrated but fascinating glimpse at snails.

Hippos are denser than water and so sink in water. Plus, they can’t actually swim but push off to “sail through the water like otters.” Interesting factoids about these huge land animals are presented in cartoon illustrations complete with funny asides in conversation bubbles. Further resources are included at the end. The author approaches a furry animal in the same way in The Truth about Bears (opens in a new window).

What is a maker? “A maker starts with/empty space/ideas/hope/and stuff.” With those things, one can craft a boat, a card, a tie-dye shirt, or even a sock puppet. Poetry, art, and ideas come together in a charming whole to encourage, inspire, and stimulate creativity. Textured illustrations show a range of children creating, sharing and more.

People collect lots of different things: bugs, art, marbles and more. But Jerome collects words that he heard, saw, or read. When Jerome’s word collection goes flying out of his albums, he learns that words are even more powerful when creatively put together and shared. The pleasure in language is evident in the narrative as well as line and wash illustrations.

Even good guys behave badly sometimes and that includes American hero, Abraham Lincoln. Rather than demount old Abe from a pedestal, this historical episode serves to demonstrate that even the best folks make mistakes and that errors can be rectified. Humorously told and expressively illustrated, additional information concludes the tale of Lincoln’s almost-duel.

Amal’s dream of becoming a teacher is thwarted when she is penalized for insulting the landowner’s son, becoming his servant. Her tenacity and love of learning leads to a satisfying conclusion in this riveting story set in contemporary Pakistan.

Celeste, the small mouse that accompanied John James Audubon’s apprentice, on an earlier adventure (A Nest for Celeste (opens in a new window)) is now separated from Joseph. Happily, she finds a new companion, an earnest young man named Abe Lincoln. This quiet fantasy is generously illustrated with expressive pencil drawings.

Bixby Alexander Tam, aka Bat, is back. He was first introduced in A Boy Called Bat (opens in a new window) where Bat first met Thor, a baby skunk rescued by Bat’s veterinarian mom. Now Thor is big enough to be released, but Bat wants to keep him…even taking Thor to his sister’s play. The result is predictable but as gently humorous and engaging as this tale of Bat.

Dinosaurs, endlessly fascinating, continue to be explored. Current information is presented in an intriguing format that includes a foldout timeline. More standard information is included such as an examination of what a dinosaur is, when they lived, when they ceased to exist, as well as some of the paleontologists who discovered them.

Meet the dragon slayer, a girl and a mouse, and a boy who talks to ants. Three traditional tales, each revealing a particular truth, are recast here in comic book format. An introduction and the concluding background note provides a glimpse into the cultures from which the tales come.

Jordie is thrilled when Professor Reese moves in next door with her dog, Baxter. Is it possible that Baxter can understand what Jordie says? Has the professor’s work put her in danger? This fast-paced adventure combines mystery and science fiction sure to intrigue.

The life of the man whose name is associated with nonviolent protest is presented in graphic format. A range of well-known artists contributed their work to present a slim but impactful look at Gandhi’s life. Actual photographs and additional biographical information are included at the end as is information about the artists.

A baseball game. A kid watching. An outfielder needed. It should be an easy out, but not really when all manner of fantastic things get in the way of catching the ball. What really happens in this a riveting, nearly wordless baseball game is open to interpretation and certainly worthy of multiple examinations.

Ever wondered why or what makes you itch? There are lots of itchy answers ranging from mosquitoes to fungi among many other cringe-worth things. Find out in this fascinating, informative, well-sourced, and illustrated exploration.

Meet nature’s recyclers, a variety of critters that contribute the “brown food web”, presented in a range of poetry and humorous illustrations. In addition to factual material throughout, this small volume concludes with additional information, a glossary, activities and experiments.

Francis strives to make the best shoes possible, even from material that is hard to acquire. When his friend doesn’t return with one such item, Francis goes on a jungle trek to find him. Along the way, he comes across actual animal residents. Photographs are incorporated into comics as is a bit of factual information for a rollicking good adventure.

Have you ever wondered where the rainbow flag comes from? It all began with the first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. His life and how the rainbow flag came to be and to express both hope and pride are briefly presented in accessible language and animated illustrations. Photographs of Milk and additional biographical sketch conclude the book.

Rescue couldn’t make it as a guide dog, but he was ideal as a service dog. When Jessica lost both legs, the dog named Rescue rescued Jessica in many ways. Though the tone and illustrations of the book are appropriate for younger readers, the seriousness of the event that caused Jessica to lose both legs is quite sophisticated. It is explained in an afterward.

“Rodents are a diverse group.” They range from the pygmy jerboa to the sizable capybara, the largest rodent in the world. Rodents have been made into pets, culinary delicacies, lab animals and more. A range of rodents are presented in realistic, life-size illustrations and informative but accessible text. Additional resources conclude this fascinating look at often maligned mammals.

Sharks often get a bad reputation from movies and television but they’re crucial to a healthy ocean. Find out more about these amazing creatures in this dramatic, engaging comic book that is well-researched and well-documented. If things technical and mechanical things are of greater interest, then try Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present, and Future (opens in a new window) by Mairghread Scott, illustrated by Jacob Chabot.

How, Etzel, a German shepherd trained to be a fierce police dog came to be the much-loved and talented silent movie star is dramatically presented in this fictionalized account. Black and white illustrations create a sense of the time in which Strongheart lived and worked. Based on actual people and events, Strongheart’s story is sure to appeal to a new generation.

When the clock strikes 13, Tom is transported to a Victorian garden where he meets Hatty. Each time Tom leaves his own 20^th century England to see Hatty, she has grown a bit older. Philippa Pearce’s classic novel has been translated into a very satisfying and dramatic graphic novel, capturing the essence of the suspenseful fantasy.

Magic has turned Eliza’s 11 brothers into swans and only she can rescue them. Brilliantly illustrated and engagingly retold, the now-classic Hans Christian Andersen enchanted tale of love and loyalty is presented anew.

Making wishes is easy; making them come true in a world of diminishing magic isn’t so easy. That doesn’t stop a new Granter, a young fairy named Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets, from trying along with a canine friend and a couple of humans in this warm, gently humorous, and fresh novel.

Baby Lincoln decides to go on a ‘necessary journey’ away from her bossy older sister, Eugenia. Baby returns with lots of stories and a sister who missed her. Fans or newcomers to the Deckawoo Drive series are sure to enjoy this charming, gentle, and very funny story.

A gentle fantasy in which a cat is transformed into a human who assists a reporter uncover interesting stories.

Eugenia Lincoln is a practical person with no time for gee-gaws, whoop-de-whoops, or frivolity. When an unexpected package containing an accordion arrives at her house, she is determined to have nothing to do with it. But her plans to sell the accordion, destroy the accordion, and give the accordion away all end in frustration. How can Eugenia stop being tormented by this troublesome package? Might she discover that a bit of unforeseen frivolity could be surprisingly … joyous?

Young fowl hatch near a large bear named Bruce who becomes their adoptive parent.

Mark Twain’s partial tale told to his own children has been carefully completed by Philip Stead and is interpreted for modern listeners.