Our book reviewer, Sheila Welch, has selected four books your kids will want to read this summer.
By Sheila Welch
Whether on a beach or in an air-conditioned library, children will enjoy these four books for summertime reading.
A BARGAIN FOR FRANCES is an “I Can Read Book” Level 2, written by Russell Hoban with pictures by Lillian Hoban. It’s as appealing as the charming, familiar picture books about this human-like badger family. When Frances is about to go play with her friend Thelma, Mother suggests that Frances “Be careful.” Past playtimes with Thelma have not gone well for Frances. But armed with her mother’s forewarning, Frances is careful. She comes up with a clever plan and manages to save not only her self-respect but also her friendship with Thelma.
JULIAN’S GLORIOUS SUMMER by Ann Cameron and illustrated with detailed pencil drawings by Dora Leder makes an amusing choice for summertime reading for second and third graders. Julian is embarrassed to admit he’s afraid of riding a bike, so he makes up excuses. Parents may want to point out the publication date of this book because the children in the illustrations wear no safety gear! This is definitely a story that could open up discussions about safety as well as honesty.
In this brand new (2016) novel, MAYBE A FOX, two well-known authors, Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee, collaborated to create the character of eleven-year-old Jules who’s dealing with the loss of her mother (years before) and now the devastating drowning of her older sister Sylvie. The story has a mystical element throughout, involving the Vermont woods and several wild creatures, including a tiny fox who becomes connected to Sylvie’s spirit. The short chapters are easy to read, but the issues dealt with makes this a book best suited for fourth and fifth graders who are looking for an imaginative, thought-provoking read. The death of the little fox is foreshadowed but may upset animal-loving young readers.
The cover photograph for Ann Martin’s RAIN REIGN captures the quiet yet intense tone of this novel told in first person by lonely twelve-year-old Rose whose diagnosis is high-functioning autism. Obsessed with finding homophones and with following rules, Rose conveys to readers a sense of her overwhelming need for order. Her main source of comfort is her dog, Rain. When a hurricane moves inland and Rain gets lost, Rose uses her organizational skills to locate the dog. But in the process of finding her beloved friend, Rose discovers the truth about both her dog’s past and her own. This realistic, poignant story will appeal to fourth and fifth graders.
About Sheila
Sheila Kelly Welch is a mother, grandmother and retired teacher. She counts among her children’s fiction books LITTLE PRINCE KNOW-IT-ALL and A HORSE FOR ALL SEASONS. Sheila's novel, WAITING TO FORGET, has been selected by Bank Street College and Pennsylvania School Library Association for their lists of best-books-of-the-year. Her most recent stories, MESS-UP MOLLY and BIG CAT AND KITTEN, are published on-line by MeeGenius.
