105 Ways to Give a Book

Thursday Three Thirteen: Summer Chapter Books

I’m doing something a little different today. Instead of writing single-paragraph reviews of three books, I’m giving quick summaries of thirteen books for the elementary school crowd. But in missing the review, you’ll get my personal stamp of approval over the many summer books I have known — and I’ve known quite a few. These are in addition to my already profiled summer books. I’ve listed the books roughly in order of the target age of the reader, from youngest to oldest. That said, many of the books would be great to read aloud to younger readers, as I’ve made up this collection of mostly lighter summer books.

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp ShakedownLunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown
by Jarrett Krosoczka
A new addition to younger graphic novels is this series featuring a Lunch Lady with astonishing abilities to fight crime and serve tater tots. With the Breakfast Bunch kids, she tackles a new enemy at summer camp. Silly fun!

Babymouse: Beach Babe
by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
An earlier book in the Babymouse graphic novel series brings us a trip to the beach that can’t help but go wrong. Oh, Babymouse, I love you so. (Also look for Camp Babymouse.)

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis
by Barbara O’Connor
Feeling bored in his small Southern town, Popeye befriends a newcomer named Elvis who finds adventure in everything. A great book for seeing the wonders in the everyday world.

 Moxy Maxwell does not Love Stuart Little Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little
by Peggy Gifford
Someone has been putting off her summer reading — and continues to find ways to do so in amazingly elaborate ways. The photographs and the clever section titles add to this amusing book. (Also, one of my favorite covers of all time.)

Summer Reading is Killing Me
by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
Summer reading doesn’t work out well for the Time Warp Trio either, as the boys put their booklist in “The Book” and end up caught in a world of good and bad characters from children’s literature. Mayhem ensues.

Lowji Disovers America
by Candice Fleming
When Lowji arrives from India, he comes with wishes for new friends and pets. But summer vacation makes it hard find kids in his neighborhood, and his landlady is not fond of animals. No matter, as Lowji’s positive attitude and clever solutions get him results in amusing ways.

 Summer According to Humphrey Summer According to Humphrey
by Betty Birney
The little hamster with the big series of adventures gets to go to Camp Happy Hollow where he meets a wild mouse, visits the lake, and helps the kids adjust to the outdoor life and each other. There’s always fun to be had with Humphrey.

Minn and Jake’s Almost Terrible Summer
by Janet Wong, illustrated by Genevieve Cote
Jake returns to his home for a visit, but didn’t expect his camp-free summer to be ruined by his Halmoni’s plans and his little brother’s annoyances. When his best friend Minn makes a visit, even that causes conflict. Can this summer be saved?

The Lemonade War
by Jacqueline Davis
When Evan finds out that his younger sister Jessie is going to skip a grade right into his class, he channels his anger into a challenge as to who can make the most money with competing lemonade stands. An interesting and often amusing story of marketing strategies, sibling rivalry, and making lemonade.

 Any Which Wall Any Which Wall
by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
“Common magic” takes four kids out of their boring summer doldrums when a magical wall transports them into different worlds of adventures, including a pirate ship and Camelot. Delightful story with a timeless tone.

Lawn Boy (and Lawn Boy Returns)
by Gary Paulsen
A lesson in business and the free-market economy is contained in this story of a boy who starts with a old riding law mower and ends up as a young tycoon. Funny and yet highly educational.

Tortilla Sun
Jennifer Cerventes
When twelve-year old Izzy visits her Nana’s remote New Mexico village for the summer, she discovers secrets about her father, along with a view into a different world. Sweet with a touch of magic.

One Crazy Summer One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Sent out to stay out of the house by their estranged mother, three sisters spend a summer in 1968 among the Black Panthers learning about revolution, identity, and personal responsibility. A deeper book, for certain, but with its own lightness and humor.

Free Baseball
by Sue Corbett
Mistaken for a batboy by a local Cuban team, Felix takes the opportunity to hang out with the ballplayers — and maybe find out something about his dad. Certainly a book that features the game well, but also the complexity of relationships and secrets.

(This post was previously published at PBS Booklights)

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

1 comment:

The Pen and Ink Blogspot said...

No!!! AAAARGH! You've given me more books I want to read.
I'v read Tortilla Sun and The Time Warp Trio.
The Others I have to catch up with/ But first, the books I bought and the SCBWI conference. Finished This Book is Secret. Milo: Sticky note and Brain Freeze. Starting Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. So many more to read.
Will be doing a "first page" picture book post on the Books Allyn Johnston of Beach Lane Books used as examples in her breakout session.