Parent Book Recommendations May 2006
By Sandy Meagher

There are so many. To get the summer started, I recommend for everyone to read Books to Check Out for Kids: A Journal (Chronicle Books, 2006, ISBN: 0-8118-5082-X). This is a gift for everyone to track books they read and want to read, provides Mad Libs®-style book reviews, a time chart and 50 stickers to use throughout the journal. What a fun way to get started!

For middle grade readers, try a contemporary science fiction book, The Prometheus Project: Trapped by Douglas Richards (DNA Press, 2005, ISBN: 0-974-87654-2). This adventure will keep kids turning the pages. The children in the story need to be very courageous, determined and great problem solvers – perfect for middle grades.

Since fantasy is ever-popular, try The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (The Chicken House, 2002, ISBN: 0-439-40437-1). Our fifth grade teachers are using this as a read-aloud and it's hard to keep it in the library.

Boys especially are interested in machinery, and they'll love Fantastic Farm Machines by Cris Peterson (Boyds Mill Press, 2006, ISBN: 1-590-78271-2). Most children should have the opportunity to see Curious George, the movie. What young people will be amazed to know is the harrowing story of how Curious George creators Margaret and H.A. Rey escaped from the Nazis with their original manuscript in June 1940. Read The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden (Houghton Mifflin, 2005, ISBN: 0-618-33924-8).

For people of all ages who love illustrations in children's books, be sure to read The Art of Reading (Dutton, 2005, ISBN: 0-525-47484-6). To commemorate the fortieth anniversary of "Reading Is Fundamental" (RIF), the nation's largest nonprofit literacy organization, 40 children's book illustrators collaborated to re-imagine a book from their childhood. The book has powerful illustrations and insightful essays.

For those adventurous spirits, try Ice Drift by Theodore Taylor (Harcourt, 2006, ISBN: 0-152-05081-7). Two Inuit brothers become stranded in the Arctic – will they survive on their own?

Summer nights are perfect for stargazing, and the Kingfisher Pocket Guide to the Night Sky by Carole Stott (Kingfisher, 2006, ISBN: 0-753-45996-5) is a super companion to have along. We always brought a couple of flashlights to point out the stars and to read the book.

The primary grade students are in for some real treats. Biscuit is 10 years old! Children learning to read love these stories. The latest is Biscuit Visits the Big City by Alyssa Capucilli (HarperCollins, 2006, ISBN: 0-06-074164-3). For the preschool-kindergarten set, don't miss The Crunching Munching Caterpillar by Sheridan Cain (TigerTales, 2006, ISBN: 1-589-25771-5). Call Tiger Tales for a catalog: 1-888-454-0097.

Be sure to go to your nearest public library with your child this summer. They have wonderful programs, books, books on tape, videos and so much more!

Sandy Meagher is the Library Department Chairperson and School Librarian in the Wayne Highlands School District, Honesdale, PA.