Kids' Corner

Summer Reads

Although summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, here are some books you may want to check out to get into a summery mood: 

The Penderwicks: a summer tale of 4 sisters, 2 rabbits, and a very interesting boy by Jeanne Birdsall
The title says it all!  This is a funny, “old-fashioned” story;  the sequel is The Penderwicks on Gardam Street.     For grades 3 – 6 

Summer According to Humphrey  by Betty Birney
The sixth book about the smart and friendly class hamster finds him spending the summer at Camp Happy Hollow with Og the frog.    For grades 3 – 6 

Signal    by Cynthia DeFelice
Twelve-year-old  Owen’s summer is filled with mystery in this fast-moving story set in the Finger Lakes of New York.   For grades 4 – 6 

How to Survive a Totally Boring Summer    by Alice Delacroix
New in town,  3rd grader Randall decides to start a chess club, which turns out to be surprisingly complicated!  (At the back of the book Randall teaches readers how to play chess.) For grades 2 – 5 

Campfire Mallory  by Laurie Friedman
The newest in the Mallory series,  this finds her “not a happy camper” at sleepaway  Camp Blue Lake -   will things improve for 9 year old Mallory McDonald?  For grades 3 – 6 

Emma Dilemma, the Nanny, and the Secret Ferret  by Patricia Hermes
Instead of leaving her ferret Marmaduke at home,  Emma sneaks him along on the family trip to Maine – which leads to an adventure-filled summer.  For grades 2 – 6 

Ths Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis   by Barbara O’Connor
The “small adventure” takes place in Fayette, South Carolina, when quirky Elvis drops into town and livens up Popeye’s boring summer.    For grades 3 – 6 

One Crazy Summer   by Rita Williams-Garcia
Narrated by feisty 11 year old Delphine, this recounts the summer of 1968 when she and her two sisters are sent from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to stay with their unconventional mother.   For grades 4 – 7 

Mark your calendars:  June 22 is the beginning of HPL’s Summer Programs.  That’s the first day you can stop in at the library and pick up a Summer Reading packet, and sign up for some of our programs.   A bright blue flyer listing everything that’s going on at the library for kids this summer is available right now. 

Happy Reading!
Ellen Xydias, Children’s Librarian