Article Contributed on: 4/25/2007 11:13:56 AM
by Allison Peters, children's librarian, Belmar Library
Do you have a young reader who can never find a book that he is interested in reading? Maybe you bring your daughter to the Library every week and all she ever wants to check out are the Junie B. Jones books by Barbara Park? Well, fear not.
Summer Reading Club is the perfect opportunity to expand horizons and read something new and exciting. If you don't know where to start, the children's librarians at JCPL are always happy to make recommendations for you and your family. Also, we collaborate on recommended reading lists to help you select books for young readers, from babies on up through the teenage years. These lists include topics such as family-read-alouds, fantasy, simple concept books, science fiction and much more! You can pick up a booklist at any of our libraries.
Here are some of my favorites from our third, fourth and fifth grade reading lists.
You can never go wrong with an independent thinker like Clementine. She'll remind you of the loveable character in Beverly Cleary's books about Ramona Quimby. Sara Pennypacker's novel, "Clementine," features one week in the life of the title character -- a budding artist who despises the clear parts in her eggs, cuts off her neighbor's hair and then cuts her own! To top it off, she unwisely answers the ringing telephone on her principal's desk...after being sent to the principal's office. Does her week improve near Friday? Yes, it does!
Brothers Orville and Wilbur Riot know better than to mess with the principal of their elementary school -- their mom. But do they behave? No. Their quest to never be bored does not allow much time for good behavior. "Drooling and Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return" is the second in Mary Amato's series. In three belly-laugh adventures, Orville and Wilbur cause mayhem at the breakfast table with bug "THOINKING" battles and "clean" their room with a performance known as "flight of the whitey-tighties." On the "I don't know what to do days" of summer, refer to the end of this book for descriptions of the Riot Brothers' favorite games.
When a gentle pony comes to Fran and Keira's home in "Jigsaw Pony" by Jessie Haas, the girls begin to quarrel more than normal. However, when it becomes evident that Jigsaw is having trouble galloping and leaping, the girls join forces out of concern for their sweet pony. They soon discover that he is too old for some of the tricks they had hoped he could achieve, but are delighted to discover that Jigsaw has other special tricks to share. A horse lover herself, Haas has penned several fiction and nonfiction titles about this beautiful animal.
Sam and Molly are like siblings, yet they are separated by two centuries. Susan Cooper's novel "Victory" tells the story of young Sam, who was kidnapped into service aboard a warship. Join Sam Robbins aboard the H.M.S. Victory, commanded by Admiral Lord Nelson in the early 1800s, for bouts of seasickness and grand adventure! In alternate chapters, Molly Jennings, in present day America, purchases a biography of Admiral Lord Nelson at a used book store and discovers a hidden note taped in the cover, signed by Sam Robbins. Who is this Sam to whom she feels such a close connection? Read this exciting tale and find out.
Fans of American history will be fascinated by Thomas B. Allen's exploration of the issues George Washington faced at the outset of the Revolutionary War. In "George Washington: Spymaster," we learn that with limited troops and supplies the Americans did not have a chance against the British. Washington developed new strategies of deception and fought an invisible war utilizing spies, codes, ciphers, invisible ink and more. For budding code breakers who like to be challenged, Allen includes codes throughout the book that need solving!
Red the June Jefferson County Public Library newsletter, "Exploring Your Library," for more exciting titles and reading suggestions to help you achieve your eight-hour Summer Reading Club goal!