It’s that time again — time for you to share the books that you and your child have enjoyed sharing or that novel that your older child just couldn’t put down because it was “the best.”
With school being out for summer in most places (except here in Connecticut, where due to starting late and 5 snow days we still have more than a week left) — we are more in need than ever of some good recommendations.
Anyone who ever clicks over to my site Snapshot, knows that my 5th grader reads like crazy. I’m talking about unprecedented levels of reading this year (she participated in Callapidder Days’ Spring Reading Thing for the first time this year and will be posting her complete list of completed books this weekend so you can see what I mean).
My point in saying this is not to brag or to get a referral on a Readers Anonymous group (I’d be asking the wrong crowd for that anyway), but to say that even as much as Amanda enjoys reading, it’s still not a done deal. I remember well that when she was in 4th grade, her reading dropped off a lot. She was involved in a lot of activities, her homework burden increased, and so books just took a backseat. This year she changed schools, and there is a huge emphasis on independent reading (yay!), so she reads a good bit at school each day.
I try to help her with great suggestions (many of which I get from other moms or adults who read juvenile lit, so keep them coming please!). I also make sure that we have lots of books around. When I take Kyle to the library, I pick up a few books for her as well. Regular trips to the library are definitely going to be a part of our summer plans.
So–let’s have it. Share what your kids are reading. I think that it worked well last week to leave our information in the comment section (Mr. Linky will be back for Nightstand, since there are so many participants).
Leave a comment telling me what your kid’s pick is for the month. If you have a blog and wrote up a post, just link back to this post here, and leave your link in the comment field and we’ll come visiting.
It’s always helpful to know what ages of children you have for ease in surfing.
Join in our upcoming Tuesday community events (remember — they are not just for bloggers only!):
June 23 — What’s on Your Nightstand
June 30 — I Read It! (share reviews of books that you read that we recommended — on your blog or in the comments)
July 7 — since we’re taking the month off from the bookclub, join us for our first comment carnival!
July 14 — Children’s Classic — Field Trip!
August 4 — Classics Bookclub — Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Reviewing a generic children’s books on Chronicles of Narnia:
http://www.readingtoknow.com/2009/06/kids-pick.html
Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is reading!
My little girl likes to read the picture books I wrote and illustrated for her (featuring her) at the moment.
From Jennifer: You can’t beat that Nina! Thanks for joining in.
From Dawn: Holy smoke– that’s awesome! What a great treasure for her to have. Long ago, I made a Goodnight Moon book for my son using the same kind of rhythm and rhyme structure, but with photos from his own bedroom and text to match. It was a little goofy, but almost 9 years later, he still looks at it every once in a while, which makes me enormously happy!
C. read the first 2 Ryann Watters books & shared his thoughts on my blog:
http://callapidderdays.com/2009/06/kids-picks-c-reads-ryann-watters-and-the-shield-of-faith.html
Thanks for hosting!
My boys (8 and 6) LOVED the Mysterious Benedict Society books by Trenton Lee Stuart when we did them as read-alouds, and now my eight year old is rereading them on his own. We’re all eagerly awaiting the third book, due out this fall.
From Jennifer: Thanks for joining in Missy! My daughter (10) loved those books too. I haven’t read them yet, but would like to. Perhaps this summer I’ll get to the first one.
From Dawn: I don’t know about these, but I’ll have to see if they might be something my 8 year old would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!
I wrote about More Poetry (age 5) and Percy Jackson (age 10).
come see what my 7 yo son enjoyed this past month!
Mine’s up! It’s about a book-and-CD set of Cynthia Rylant’s Mr. Putter & Tabby—>http://hopeistheword.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/kids-picks-mr-putter-and-tabby-by-cynthia-rylant/
We’ve (I have a 4yo and an 8yo) been enjoying the Pigeon books before bed this week (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late) and also When You Give a Moose a Muffin and When You Give a Pig a Pancake. Both boys love these. I also have been reading Socks by Beverly Cleary with the older one and we’ve enjoyed that.
On his own he has been reading a series of Star Wars chapter books based on the movies and seems to be enjoying them. He’s definitely a budding reader and he has currently decided he wants to be an author. I have been encouraging him by telling him that to be a good author he needs to really read and so he is taking it seriously and really enjoying it.
From Jennifer: My son is crazy for the When You Give. . . books. Thanks for joining in.
From Dawn: Crystal, sounds like a mirror image of my house! We ADORE anything by Mo, and the Pigeon is definitely our fave. And, my 8 year old lives, breathes, and exists for Star Wars, so he blows through any SW book like mad. Nice to know there are others out there like us!
My 12 y/o daughter NEEDS NEW BOOKS!! In the meantime, she’s re-reading (for the billionth time, she wants me to add) Gregor the Overlander. It’s her current fav.
From Dawn: I’ve really gotta check out those Overlander books– thinking that they will most likely be in my son’s future!
From Jennifer: LOL edj — my daughter’s in the same predicament. She was reading something, but stopped and I asked her about it, and she said, “I’ve already read that like 3 times already.” I don’t know how your daughter handles intensity, but my daughter and I both loved Hunger Games by the same author. And if she hasn’t read the Percy Jackson books, she might like them. And what about City of Ember? That’s another good series.
We are getting into series books! My older son (almost 12) is really into 39 Clues and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He is not a big reader so anything is great! My youngest (9) is really interested in the Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull. The author came to the school and visited. I’ve read the first and have started the second. Amanda would love them! We are also reading the Harry Potter series aloud and will be done with Half Blood Prince before the movie (which was our goal!). My 14 year old daughter reads anything and everything and is into Jodi Picoult.
From Dawn: Yes, the Wimpy Kid is big with my son as well. I don’t know about the Fablehaven series, so you’ve given me another title to look for at the library! Thanks for the rec!
From Jennifer — I will have to look at those. Haven’t heard of them. And I remember by the time I was Hannah’s age, I was reading anything and everything too. I’ll be posting a review soon for a teen book that I think she’d really like (sort of Twilight-ish).
My girls are big into reading this summer as well. The 11 year old devours anything by Andrew Clements and is now deep into Nancy Drew. She loves mysteries or any story with a twist. She has already already completed the hours required for our local library’s summer reading club, which doesn’t end until July 31st! The 8 year old has taken an interest in poetry, so I found a series of poetry books by Jane Yolen that combine nature photos and poems. She loves them! A few nights ago we started a read-aloud on The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane — we’re up to Chapter 6 already! What fun!
From Dawn: My oldest son (almost 9) reads a lot of Andrew Clements as well. In fact, I just picked up two titles from the library last night for him, so they’ll probably be torn through in the next couple of days, especially when school’s out later this week!
From Jennifer: Corrine — my daughter always finishes the summer reading program right away too. It’s pretty funny. I’m looking forward to Kyle participating this year. And I reviewed those poetry books by Jane Yolen (posted a review just last week I think — and linked to the first one from a while ago). They really are cool.
We have discoverd the Dinsosaur Cove Series. Preston loves them. Also my oldest just read “The Boy Who Dared”. I love children’s books and could name many!!!! 🙂
From Dawn: I recently heard someone else talking about “The Boy Who Dared”– good things! Isn’t children’s lit amazing? 🙂
Here is mine. http://bit.ly/oHvd3
My 3 1/2-year-old recently discovered Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, and we have more books in the series on hold at the library. Such wonderful illustrations in these books!
He is also enjoying Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad books- we have the audiobook collection as well and he LOVED listening to them on a recent road trip.
From Dawn: Frog and Toad books are just great, aren’t they? Two of those forever memorable characters, always a good pick!
Here’s what we’ve been reading this month: http://www.bookiewoogie.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html
From Dawn: You guys are as busy as ever! I want to check out A Curious Collection of Cats– looks great!
http://mommablogsalot.com/2009/06/16/kids-picks-berenstain-bears-by-the-sea/
My 3 year old is infatuated with The Berenstain Bears By The Sea right now! 🙂
Better late than never, right??!! Mine’s up finally– http://mteblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/kids-picks.html
Happy reading!
We read so many books his tastes change a lot but there are a few he picks time and again
http://raynadeatren.blogspot.com/2009/06/kids-pick.html
I am a former teacher and have a hard time narrowing it down to my “favorite”. There is so much great literature out there! Here is my attempt at narrowing it down!
http://momanddadteach.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-favorite-author.html
Everything on a Waffle (Newbery Honor Book) by Polly Horvath