Top Summer Reads

Summer is officially here and while picnics at the park and long days in the pool are inevitable, summer is also a great time to pack in some reading. We asked our favorite librarian Ms. Lee to share her top recommendations for every age group.

Picture Book:

Flight School by Lita Judge

A persevering penguin is determined to fly in this adorably inspiring audiobook from the creator of Red Hat and Red Sled. Although little Penguin has the soul of an eagle, his body wasn’t built to soar. But Penguin has an irrepressible spirit, and he adamantly follows his dreams to flip, flap, fly! Even if he needs a little help with the technical parts, this penguin is ready to live on the wind. Get the book.

  From Ms. Lee: “This book has a great message about following your dreams.”

Middle Reader:

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Murderers, mob bosses, and convicts . . . these guys are not your average neighbors. Unless you live on Alcatraz. It’s 1935 and 12-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family have just moved to the infamous island that’s home to criminals like notorious escapee Roy Gardner, Machine Gun Kelly, and of course, Al Capone. Now Moose has to try to fit in at his new school, avoid getting caught up in one of the warden’s daughter’s countless plots, and keep an eye on his sister Natalie, who’s not like other kids.

All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents’ expectations, and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away. Get the book. 

From Ms. Lee: “This historical fiction has adventure, humor, and great characters.”

Young Adult:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows is a beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend. This edition also includes a special note to readers from Newbery Medal winner and Printz Honor winner Clare Vanderpool.

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.
Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan’s brawn, Little Ann’s brains, and Billy’s sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past. Get the book. 
 

From Ms. Lee: “This classic, autobiographical fiction is a story of love, friendship and adventure that stays with you.”