Summer page turners
Filed Under Stuff | August 19, 2008
The advent of school days may be lurking on the horizon, but summer’s still here and while the warm and lazy days have a reputation for outdoor pursuits for kids, reading offers year-round fun. It’s a great way to calm (and cool) down overexcited and overheated kids and it brings lovely context to iconic summer experiences like blueberry picking, ferry trips and family visits.
Rattletrap Car, by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Jill Barton
Through the ingenious use of chocolate marshmallow fudge delight and some snazzleberry dazzleberry razzleberry soda pop, a father and his three children finally make it to the lake in their beat-up jalopy. A fun story for cooling down on a hot, hot day.
Blueberries For Sal, by Robert McCloskey
Summer wouldn’t be complete for us without several tremendous mouthfuls of blueberries and a re-read of this 1949 award-winning classic. Here is the timeless story of Little Sal who goes blueberrying with her mother and gets all mixed up with Little Bear and his mother.
Jessie’s Island, written by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Sheena Lott
Anyone going on a ferry trip or visiting the Gulf Islands will enjoy this BC classic about seaweed fights, mucking about on muddy flats, watching a shy otter family and other idyllic west coast summer pastimes.
The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell
A funny, warm-hearted story about a whole passel of relatives who come visiting and can’t stop ‘hugging, eating, sleeping and breathing together’ for weeks on end. They also tend the garden, fix broken things, make music, and finally pack into their car to make the long trip back home, where they dream about next summer’s visit.
Where I Live, by Frances Wolfe
Sparse text and gorgeous oil paintings evoke halcyon days of summer in this charming prizewinner, written and illustrated by a Halifax children’s librarian. Young readers will delight in the beautiful images of sparkling water, special seaside treasures, sandy beaches and seagulls.
Helen Moore is yoyomama’s kiddie lit correspondent. She is a local children’s librarian who is the past Chair of the Canadian Library Association Amelia Picture Book Award. Helen loves to bring home books from any library to share with her two young sons, ages two and four.
Interested in literacy? Check out yesterday’s article on pre-reading skills.
2 Responses to “Summer page turners”
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Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
The RIDE ON TRACTOR BY VILAC is on my little boy’s wish list should his mommy wins!
For the Dandilion Kids Contest my wish list is the LITTLE FRIENDS DUVET SET. So cute and beautiful, my 3 year old would love it.
Thanks.