Summer reading - what are you reading (plus give away!)

I've had a great start to summer. Our weather has turned gloriously sunny, after long stretches of rain and cold all through May. We've been going on lovely after-dinner neighborhood walks, enjoying summer evenings. And my children are enjoying both time with friends and time with each other, in a nice balance (for the moment!). But best of all has been time to read!

Summer can be such a fun time to read what you want to read, not what other people are telling you to. I loved taking my tweens to the library with friends and watch them recommend books to each other. I love sneak-peaking what other people are reading at the pool or on the airplane. And I love stealing quiet moments to read in the middle of the afternoon or late at night - just those times when you're really not supposed to. But it's summer, so all rules can be broken a little, can't they?!!

This summer I've had the delicious treat of reading an advance copy of Brian Selznick's newest amazing work, Wonderstruck. It's written in the amazing style of Hugo Cabret, but weaves an even more intricate, interwoven story. I'll share more about it when it's published in September. And I loved reading a graphic novel Sidekicks, by Dan Santat. If your child inhales graphic novels and loves superheroes, this is definitely worth looking out for - it will be released next week.

Next up for my summer reading are:

• Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity, by Dave Roman - this graphic novel got great advanced reviews by the 4th and 5th graders at Emerson. They loved its humor, illustrations and overall blend of fantasy and real life.
• The Friendship Doll, by Kirby Larson - I've just started this wonderful historical fiction book. My youngest was drawn to the doll story, but I think it's more suited to older elementary readers (ages 9 - 12) who enjoy the detailed historical fiction that Larson does so well.

• The Boy Who Howled, by Timothy Powers - I've just started this as well (OK, it's a bad habit), and am having fun with this take on the classic story of a boy raised by wolves. Powers creates humorous dialog, imagining what the wolves were saying to one another and how they tried to talk with Callum, the young boy they took in. He's just been sent back to live with the humans, and I'm sure there are many adventures to come.
• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente - I've heard wonderful things about this new fantasy, with its twisted, turning story as September, a young girl from Omaha, Nebraska, finds herself whisked away to Fairyland to retrieve a witch's spoon. One book-loving friend, Donalyn Miller (a.k.a. The Book Whisperer), describes this as a blend between the Phantom Tollbooth, Alice in Wonderland and the Oz books.
• When Life Gives You O.J., by Erica Perl - Our neighbors are getting a puppy today, and my daughter has been yearning for her own puppy. Well, this book's trailer just made me laugh so much and think of her. In this sweet story, Zeely's eccentric grandfather Ace hatches a ridiculous plan involving a "practice dog" named OJ, but Zelly's not so sure how far she's willing to go to win a dog of her own. Is Ace's plan so crazy it just might work . . . or is it just plain crazy?
  

Come enjoy the trailer for When Life Gives You O.J., and you'll want to try it with you children:



Come join me in summer reading! I'd love to share your thoughts about what books you're enjoying with your children. Enter a chance to win a free copy of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by leaving a comment on yesterday's post here.

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Review ©2011 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books.