B.O.O.K.S. (Biased Observations On Kids’ Books)

This week I've chosen to introduce you to nine books for kids, perfect for summer reading. I've divided them into age groups for your convenience.

Ages three and under:

"But Not the Hippopotamus" by Sandra Boynton is a delightful board book. This is a great tread-aloud for little ones. It uses great animal illustrations and lots of repetition-the stuff favorite books are made of..."a frog and a dog dance in a bog, but not the hippopotamus."

"Freight Train" by Donald Crews can also be purchased as a board book. Kids love trains. We used to spend many an afternoon on the steps of the library counting and naming train cars. This book uses bright clear illustrations and sound effects. A companion book, "Inside Freight Train" has train doors that slide open to show the many items carried along the tracks.

"Bear Hunt" Remember going on a bear hunt? Michael Rosen has written a book by the same name. Again repetition and great illustrations make this a book you will read again and again. This would make a wonderful book to live on grandpa's bookshelf.

For ages 4 to 8:

Jack Prelutsky has wormed his way into my heart as a leader in delightful poetry books for children. His poems are silly, bright, wonderful, and wacky. This one is called "For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone." If you have little ones to read to or who can read to you, this book will have you all in stitches.

"Kite Flying" by Grace Lee celebrates the ancient Chinese art of kite flying. This encourages families not only to think of ways they can spend a fun day together, but encourages imagination: Can a kite talk to the wind? Hmmm!

Mixing a famous sports star and kids is always a winner! "Hoops With Swoops" by Susan Kuklin and Sheryl Swoops, famous WNBA star, takes basketball to a new level.  Sheryl mixes basketball moves of all kinds with simple text that encourages kids to believe in themselves. This book combines the best of sports, biography, and inspiration for young readers.

For Ages 9 to 12:

What could be better on a sweltering summer day than to read and think about the challenge of keeping a group of Antarctic penguins comfortable? "Mr. Popper's Penguins" by Richard and Florence Atwater is a classic for independent readers. This award-winning book would make a great afternoon or bedtime read when it's hot.

Kids this age would sometimes rather do anything but read. "Summer Reading is Killing Me!" by Jon Sceiszka takes a trio of children that must read books from a prescribed list and makes each book an adventure. The kids are time-warped into each book. 

When they read "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency" (another summer must-read) and are transported next to a 266-pound chicken in wintertime New York, the fun begins.  Reading this book may even inspire a peek at some of the classics this trio of children meet on their summer reading list.

Harriet Gulbranson has been teaching elementary school for 35 years. She lives in Stuart, Iowa and is a mother of five children. She attended University of South Dakota and received a Bachelors of Science degree in Education. Harriet loves to read and has been Lori Fisher's sister all of her life! — Submitted by Lori Fisher, Quarter Moon Bookstore