Summer Reading Extravaganza 2006

Summer-themed titles, beach reads, and other books for vacation reading from CBC member publishers.

•  Picture Books and Younger Readers
•  Middle Readers
•  Young Adult
•  Graphic Novels
•  Download the entire list as a PDF (190KB)

Picture Books and Younger Readers

101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science Written by Dia L. Michels and Nathan Levy Ages 8-10 ISBN: 1-930775-36-9 Price: $9.95 Science, Naturally!/Platypus Media Science affects everything—yet so many of us wish we understood it better. Using an accessible question-and-answer format, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, expands a reader's knowledge—whether they are 8 or 108. Key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and general science are explored and demystified by an award-winning science writer and a seasoned educational trainer in consultation with a team of scientists. Endorsed by science organizations and educators, this easy-to-tackle book is a powerful tool to assess and increase science literacy.

Alien Invaders Invasores extraterrestres Written by Lynn Huggins Cooper Illustrated by Bonnie Leick Ages K-3 ISBN: 0974199273 Price: $4.99 Raven Tree Press A curious child compares small garden creatures to what he knows of space invaders. Are they Earth dwellers or something out of this world? He decides to make friends with them just in case. Humourous sketches in shades of indigo are colorized for iridescent sheens and exotic glows for that "bug yucky" appeal. Bilingual story in full text translation both English and Spanish. Keyword vocabulary page in both languages also included.

Blackbeard Written by J. Patrick Lewis Illustrated by Many Ages 7-10 ISBN: 0792255852 Price: $16.95/$23.95 Canadian National Geographic Society/National Geographic Society This dramatically illustrated book combines history, adventure, and poetry. While Lewis celebrates Blackbeard's mystique, his historical note recovers the actual facts of Edward Teach's life.

The BossQueen, Little BigBark, and the Sentinel Pup Written by Sarah Clark Jordan Ages 7 to 11 ISBN: 1-58246-170-8 Price: $5.95 Tricycle Press Chris is the BossQueen. She is First Dog. She tells Layla when to bark her big bark. Layla is Second Dog and always will be. Mina is Last and the sentinel. Together, they are the Girls and they are good at their Job. When the Dogs of the Neighborhood warn that the Girls have moved into a house with a cat, the question of "What kind of cat makes Dogs afraid?" is asked and answered by the only Dog willing to find out—a Sentinel Pup readers will cheer as she comes into her own. "Anyone who's ever loved a dog will cheer for The BossQueen, Little BigBark, and the Sentinel Pup." —Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody Books

The Bumblebee Queen Written by April Pulley Sayre Illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne Ages 4-7 ISBN: 1-57091-363-3 Price: $6.95 Charlesbridge Award-winning author, April Pulley Sayre, introduces young readers to the bumblebee queen in simple, captivating language. From her underground nest as spring warms the ground to her efforts to build and care for her own colony, the lifecycle of the common bumblebee queen is fully explained with details even young children will understand and find interesting. Patricia Wynne's scientifically accurate illustrations detail hive life so beautifully, you can almost hear the constant buzz and smell the flowers. Young readers will look at bumblebees in a whole new light. Includes ideas for good bee-havior, suggested reading, and Web sites for further study. A Junior Library Guild Selection Introduction to science and nature Fascinating facts to amaze your friends and family

Clever Monkey Written by Rob Cleveland Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire Ages 4-8 ISBN: 0-87483-801-0 Price: $3.95 August House Story Cove/August House Publishers When two greedy jungle cats discover a large piece of cheese, they can't decide how to divide it fairly. The clever monkey comes to their rescue. Or so they think. After reading this trickster tale from West Africa, you will think twice before asking a monkey for help.

Drum Written by Rob Cleveland Illustrated by Tom Wrenn Ages 4-8 ISBN: 0-87483-802-9 Price: $3.95 August House Story Cove/August House Publishers In this story, a poor boy's dream of having a drum takes him on an unlikely path. He meets several people who guide him along the way. In time, he learns to make his own magic in this world.

Facing the Lion Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna Written by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton Ages: Grades 6 and up ISBN: 0-792272978 Price: $6.95 National Geographic Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers around raising cattle. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic life with the universal experiences and emotions of a growing boy. Here's a fascinating introduction to a vibrant culture few outsiders ever see. Please note this book describes the author's ritual circumcision, the coming-of-age ceremony of this culture.

Fat Cat Written by Margaret Read MacDonald Illustrated by Julie Paschkis Ages 4-7 ISBN: 0-87483-765-0 Price: $7.95 August House Little Folk/August House Publishers Have you ever heard the saying, "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach"? Well, Cat's stomach is bigger than a lot of things. He is always hungry, and living with culinary-inclined Mouse, who makes thirty-five pies in one day, just makes it worse. Fat Cat swallows everything in sight, including the washlady and her washtub, a troop of soldiers and their swords, even a king and his elephant! But when Cat swallows Mouse and her sewing basket, that's the last straw. Tiny Mouse cuts to the heart of the situation, taking an upside-down world and turning it right-side-up again. Greedy Cat learns his lesson and turns "fat" into "fancy," "fabulous," and "fantastic."

Grandma's Scrapbook Written by Josephine Nobisso Illustrated by Maureen Hyde Ages: Cross-Over ISBN: 0940112051 Price: $8.95 Gingerbread House The pages of the lovely scrapbook Grandma kept to chronicle summers spent with her granddaughter are sandwiched between illustrations of the girl, now a teen-ager, as she is reminiscing. When the girl opens the first page of Grandma's scrapbook for us, we fall back in time and enter their seaside world, following their wonder-filled relationship through watercolor-rendered photographs and memorabilia Grandma preserved in that scrapbook: matching locks of hair, a squashed flower the girl picked as a baby, a seashell clasped in the girl's hand one starry night. The scrapbook serves as an effective catalyst for both the teen-ager and the reader, causing a reliving of the tender and zany moments the pair shared as they went about their days picking flowers and garden greens, taking dunkings in the ocean, riding bicycles through paths in woods, entertaining guests and reading from their favorite books. (An illustration secret: a close look reveals that the book from which they are reading is Grandpa Loved, the companion volume to this one!) The last summer chronicled in the scrapbook finds the roles switched: now, the girl guides Grandma's wheelchair to the places Grandma brought her in a stroller or on the back of a bike. And even though I collected for the scrapbook all summer long, the girl begins when we meet her again as a teenager at the end of the book, there were still a lot of blank pages left when Grandma died. Through the quicksilver dynamic of the narrative, by the time we learn that the reminiscences about Grandma have been posthumous ones, the reader shares in the girl's poignant sense of hope that uplifts and dignifies this experience of loss, tingeing it not with sadness, but with grateful wonder.

Grandpa Loved Written by Josephine Nobisso Illustrated by Maureen Hyde Ages: Cross-Over ISBN: 0940112043 Price: $8.95 Gingerbread House An older boy takes us on a densely atmospheric reminiscence of his moments spent with Grandpa as they savored life at the beach, in the forests, in the city, and in the landscape of their family. Gentle watercolors by Maureen Hyde grace the book, drawing readers into the intimate relationship as the boy grows and the grandfather ages in each lively vignette. Even after we discover that the grandfather has died, this companion volume to Grandma's Scrapbook is no less effective in evoking a powerful charge of wonder and hope since its narrator believes that his grandfather is always with him. Parents Magazine named Grandpa Loved One of the Best Kids Books of the Year, and it has been listed as one of the all-time picture books with the most unforgettable language.

Happy Birthday, America Written by Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Paul Catalanotto Ages 4-8 ISBN: 1-59643-051-6 Price: $5.95 Roaring Brook Press Celebrate the most American of holidays with a warm family story by the bestselling author of The Magic Tree House series. Mary Pope Osborne takes us through a lively celebration of the Fourth of July in small-town America. Three generations enjoy parades, popcorn, "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and at the end of the day, lightning bugs and fireworks. "The day is made up of little things, while the celebration is about big things—community, freedom, and pride. Catalanotto's watercolor palette lends a candlelike glow." —Booklist

Hello Ocean Written by Pam Munoz Ryan Illustrated by Mark Astrella Ages 3-6 ISBN: 0-88106-988-4 Price: $6.95 Charlesbridge Relive a day at the beach with this lovely book of memories. You can almost feel the salt spray on your face and smell the musky scent of ocean in the cool morning air. Remember how the sand squishes between your toes as the tide rushes to shore and taste the tang of the ocean on your lips. Hello Ocean is a joy-filled and playful poem about the draw of the shore and the effect the ocean has on all five senses. Spirited language evokes a sense of closeness and nostalgia for an old friend. The inspiration of the ocean will make learning the five senses as easy as a day at the beach. Crisp, realistic illustrations fill the pages with the rush of surf and the warmth of sun-baked sand. The sights and smells and sensations of the ocean become vividly clear in these beautifully rendered paintings.

How Tiger Got His Stripes Written by Rob Cleveland Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire Ages 4-8 ISBN: 0-87483-799-5 Price: $3.95 August House Story Cove Many years ago, the proudest animal in the jungle was not the peacock. The proudest animal was the tiger. In this folktale from Vietnam, we see how Tiger's pride leads him to covet wisdom and, with the help of a wise farmer, earn his stripes.

If My Mom Were A Platypus Written by Dia L. Michels Illustrated by Andrew Barthelmes Ages 8-12 ISBN: 1-930775-19-9 Price: $9.95 Platypus Media Middle grade students learn how 14 mammals are born, eat, sleep, learn and mature. The fascinating facts depict how mammal infants begin life dependent on their mothers and grow to be self-sufficient adults. The book is organized by describing 13 different animals, with sections on each covering the topics: birth, growth, knowledge and eating. All stories are told from the baby mammal's point of view. The 14th and last of the species presented is a human infant, with amazing similarities to the stories of the other 13. With stunning full-color and black-and-white illustrations and concise information, this book helps children develop a keen sense of what makes mammals special.

Magic Apple Written by Rob Cleveland Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire Ages 4-8 ISBN: 0-87483-500-2 Price: $3.95 August House Story Cove/August House Publishers Three brothers embark on separate journeys to fulfill their father's dying wish. In their journeys, they go to distant lands, find curious treasures, and learn the true meaning of giving.

Mallory vs. Max Written by Laurie Friedman Illustrated by Tamara Schmitz Ages 7-10 ISBN: 1-57505-863-4 Price: $5.95 Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group Spunky, 8-year old Mallory McDonald is very unhappy when her parents decide to get her older brother, Max, a dog. Why would her parents agree to such a thing? When they finally get the puppy, it's worse than Mallory imagined. Everyone loves Champ and he and Max are getting all of the attention. What will Mallory do?

Mosquito Bite Written by Alexandra Siy Illustrated by Dennis Kunkel Ages 7-10 ISBN: 1-57091-592-X Price: $6.95 Charlesbridge On a hot summer night, a girl cries out, Ready-or-not-here-I-come! And the game is on. A boy hides behind an old tire that used to be a swing and waits silently, hoping not to be caught. He is also sought by another predator: Culex, the common house mosquito. She is in search of blood to nourish the hundreds of eggs in her body. Culex's story unfolds amid black-and-white photos of children playing a game of hide-and-seek. Incredible close-up photographs taken with an electron microscope highlight the details of a mosquito's life as it grows from egg to larva to adult. These photomicrographs are so detailed you can see the tiny scales that feather the wings of the intrepid Culex.

Ocean Counting: Odd Numbers Written by Jerry Pallotta Illustrated by Shennen Bersani Ages 4-7 ISBN: 0-88106-150-6 Price: $6.95 Charlesbridge Are you ready to count by twos starting with odd numbers? You may need a little help, so let an ocean-full of creatures show you the way. And while your head is swimming with numbers, add in a few ocean-dweller facts to make things interesting. From one Striped Bass with teeth like Velcro, to seven Basking Sharks that cruise with their mouths open to catch food (now that's odd), to 49 Smelts traveling in a school. Shennen Bersani's richly textured illustrations find a world of color and activity in the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean. So realistic it's like looking at an aquarium. And, if skip-counting and ocean facts aren't enough of a challenge, look closely in the illustrations for the names of the U.S. capitol cities. Great introduction to marine biology Challenges young mathematicians Beautiful illustrations will fascinate young ocean lovers

Ralph Masiello's Ocean Drawing Book Written by Ralph Masiello Illustrated by Ralph Masiello Ages 5-8 ISBN: 1-57091-530-X Price: $6.95 Charlesbridge Seasoned illustrator Ralph Masiello shares his love and experience of the ocean with children who love to explore shape and color with their drawing pencils, crayons, and paints. From the simple design of clams to mysterious and elusive creatures like squids and moray eels, Ralph teaches young artists how to put together elements a line, an easy curve, a circle to create life-like drawings. Ralph also demonstrates how to use different mediums to add color and depth for more advanced drawings.

Sea Critters Written by Slyvia A. Earle Illustrated with photos by Wolcott Henry Ages 6-9 ISBN: 0-7922-5584-4 Price: $6.95 National Geographic Beginning readers encounter a fascinating array of sea "critters" representing the major categories of life on Earth. Children will meet a gigantic barrel sponge, eerie looking nudibranches, and a tentacled cuttlefish. They observe sea squirts, moray eels, and a human diver. The stunning full color photos, art, maps, and simple text will spark curiosity and appeal to a child's sense of wonder.

Scaredy Squirrel Written by Mélanie Watt Illustrated by Mélanie Watt Ages 4 to 8 ISBN: 1-55337-959-4 Price: $14.95 Kids Can Press (March 2006) Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It's way too dangerous out there. He could encounter tarantulas, green Martians or killer bees. But in his tree, every day is the same and if danger comes along, he's well-prepared. Scaredy Squirrel's emergency kit includes antibacterial soap, Band-Aids and a parachute. Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day . . . his worst nightmare comes true. Scaredy suddenly finds himself out of his tree, where germs, poison ivy and sharks lurk! But when Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting. . . . Mélanie Watt is a children's book author and illustrator whose books include Leon the Chameleon (author and illustrator), Where Does a Tiger-Heron Spend the Night? (illustrator) and Bearcub and Mama (illustrator).

The Soccer Machine Written by David Bedford Illustrated by Keith Brumpton Ages 7-11 ISBN: 1-933605-00-6 Price: $4.95 Kane/Miller Book Publishers 8-0? How could The Team lose 8-0? Easily! Harvey's team always loses. Professor Gertie, Harvey's neighbor, can't really understand it, but her game-winning inventions for The Team just haven't helped. (Her Bouncy Boots were too bouncy and her Smoke Machine was too smoky.) Now she thinks she has the perfect solution: Mark 1, the Soccer Machine. He has a metal body covered with Squidgy Skin, a top speed of 45 miles per hour—and he's programmed to win! But will this latest invention really work? Can The Team actually win? Book #1 in The Team series

Stanley's Wild Ride Written by Linda Bailey Illustrated by Bill Slavin Ages 3 to 7 ISBN: 1-55337-960-8 Price: $14.95 Kids Can Press (March 2006) Stanley's Party may have come to an end . . . but our favorite party animal's back and ready to roll! Stanley knows he's not supposed to leave the yard, but he's dog-tired of it. So when he discovers a way out . . . he's gone! A few escapes later, five dogs are at large in the big wild world beyond the fence. And with Stanley in the lead, they're off to have the kind of fun you can't find in a yard—chasing tomcats, sampling tasty garbage and soaking fire hydrants. Then, late at night, atop the steepest hill in town, they come upon a mysterious wheeled . . . thing. And before you can say "Hot dog!", Stanley's off on the ride of a lifetime! Linda Bailey is the award-winning author of more than fifteen children's books, including Stanley's Party, the Stevie Diamond mysteries and the Good Times Travel Agency series. She leaves her yard every day to be walked by her dog, Sophie. Linda's yard is in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bill Slavin has illustrated over sixty books for children, including Stanley's Party, the Good Times Travel Agency series and Transformed. He shares his yard in Millbrook, Ontario, with his wife and fellow illustrator, Esperança Melo, their cat, Merlin, two rabbits, five squirrels and a family of cardinals.

Stone Soup Written by Heather Forest Illustrated by Susan Gaber Ages 4-7 ISBN: 0-87483-602-6 Price: $6.95 August House Little Folk/August House Publishers Two hungry travelers arrive at a village expecting to find a household that will share a bit of food. When they don't, they come up with an ingenious solution . . . and transform the village at the same time.

Tito, the Firefighter Tito, el bombero Written by Tim Hoppey Illustrated by Kimberly Hoffman Ages K-3 ISBN: 0974199265 Price: $4.99 Raven Tree Press A boy in Spanish Harlem dreams of being a firefighter one day. Because of his ability to speak both English and Spanish he helps the firefighters answer a call for help. A good deed is still una buena accion in any language. Lively hand-sketched artwork portrays the bomberos of New York City. Bilingual story is told with embedded Spanish text. Story is mostly English with Spanish sprinkled and repeated throughout the book. Keyword vocabulary page is included in both languages.

Top of the League Written by David Bedford Illustrated by Keith Brumpton Ages 7-11 ISBN: 1-933605-01-4 Price: $4.95 Kane/Miller Book Publishers The Team is on top! They only need one more point to win the league championship and a trip to soccer camp! But when Darren, the goalkeeper, misses an easy save, the rest of The Team are furious. Even Professor Gertie and Mark 1 are fighting. In fact, they're all fighting—and losing! Is this the end of The Team? Can Professor Gertie's inventions help? Or will Harvey need to come up with something totally different in order to save The Team? Book #2 in The Team series

Vegetable Dream Huerto soñado Written by Dawn Jeffers Illustrated by Claude Schneider Ages K-3 ISBN: 0977090604 Price: $4.99 Raven Tree Press An old-fashioned story of friendship and the importance of nurturing dreams. A young girl dreams of having a garden, but her parents are too busy. Her elderly neighbor steps in to help her achieve her goal. Both find that a garden is the place where so much more than vegetables grow . . . friendship flourishes. Vivid pastel impressionistic illustrations support the gentle hearted story. Bilingual story told in full text translation both English and Spanish. Keyword vocabulary page included in both languages.

•  Picture Books and Younger Readers
•  Middle Readers
•  Young Adult
•  Graphic Novels
•  Download the entire list as a PDF (190KB)

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