Popsicles, adventures and warm nights camping with s’mores. That’s what summer means to me and my family. Whether your favorite things are splashing in the pool or having picnics at the park, summer is the time of year that both kids and adults look forward to all year ’round.
We’ve put together a list of some books to help children of all ages get their excitement brewing for the fun and sun of summer!
The Call by Wendy Ulmer The Call is a timeless tale of music, magick, a boy and his dragon. The time has come for Modo to enter Lower Schola and learn if he possesses magical gifts like his older brother, Gavin. What Modo discovers about himself is more than he could have ever imagined. Enjoy this unforgettable adventure (older fiction).
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk If you liked Lauren Wolk’s first book, Wolf Hollow, on this year’s Maine Student Book Award list, you’ll love her newest one. Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life in the isolated Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Set adrift as a baby Crow’s only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their neighbor across the sandbar. Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger (older fiction)
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
A relaxing summer camping trip takes an adventurous turn when Mr. Magee and his dog, Dee, find themselves unexpectedly sliding down a mountain in their unhitched trailer! (picture book)
The House Takes A Vacation by Jacqueline Davies and Lee White
This one is not just a hilarious book with entertaining illustrations about a house that decides to up and go on vacation, but also a great lesson on how to solve problems while still getting along with others (picture book)
Camp Rex by Molly Idle
Friends, campfires and one enormously large dinosaur—what isn’t there to love about this book? Your kiddos will be giggling from start to finish (picture book).
Secrets of the Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty
The debut novel by the author of Iggy Peck, Architect, this is a great mystery for independent readers who love to read about friendships, families, and a secret just waiting to come out (older fiction).
Letters from Camp by Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise
Told through entertaining letters to loved ones at home, with hilarious illustrations, the brother-sister duos at Camp Happy Harmony are experiencing a summer experience more bizarre than they could ever have imagined (older fiction).
Half Magic by Edward Eager & N.M. Bodecker
A magic coin that grants wishes seems like the best find ever for Jane. That is, until she realizes it only grants half of what you wish for, which leads to an adventure that teaches her to know what’s really worth wishing for in life (older fiction).
Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes
A hint of magic brings this story of a young girl spending the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico to life in a beautiful and mysterious way. An exploration into her heritage and confusing feelings about her family make this a summer she will never forget (older fiction).
Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
When two foster girls are placed together, their two different worlds clash. But when tragedy strikes, they must work together to find a way to survive. A touching, sentimental look at the bond between two young girls who learn the real definition of the word “family” (older fiction).
BNBookLog
by Carol McFadden, Head of Children’s Services
