Summer Reading Extravaganza 2007

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

•  Picture Books and Younger Readers
•  Middle Readers
•  Young Adult
•  Download the entire list as a PDF (to come)

Picture Books and Younger Readers

Alien Invaders Written by Lynn Huggins-Cooper Illustrated by Bonnie Leick Ages K-3 ISBN: 978-0-9741992-7 Price: $4.99 Raven Tree Press A curious child compares small garden creatures to what he knows of space invaders. Antennas? Shiny armor and helmets? Are these Earth dwellers or something out of this world? Bugs are brought to like by wonderfully funny illustrations in irradescent blue skies, greenish bug bodies and illuminated eyes. Criticas says ". . . this engaging introduction to insects has child appeal and could serve as a pattern for writing. A sound purchase. . . ." The book is presented fully in both English and Spanish. This bilingual format is easy to read in either language. A keyword vocabulary page is included to jumpstart learning.

Eight Ate Written by Marvin Terban Illustrated by Giulio Maestro Ages 5-8 ISBN: 978-0-618-76676-5 Price: $6.95 Clarion Books This collection of original riddles is unlike any other because the main words in each answer sound exactly alike but have different meanings. Zany illustrations add to the fun and provide clues to the solutions. And the newly designed full-cover cover makes the package even more appealing. So dig in—and see why you should play with your words (not with your food)! "An excellent example of language play." —School Library Journal "A well-executed concept." —ALA Booklist Also try these paperback titles of wordplay by Marvin Terban: THE DOVE DOVE: FUNNY HOMOGRAPH RIDDLES, IN A PICKLE: AND OTHER FUNNY IDIOMS, MAD AS A WET HEN! AND OTHER FUNNY IDIOMS, TOO HOT TO HOOT: FUNNY PALINDROME RIDDLES, YOUR FOOT'S ON MY FEET: AND OTHER TRICKY NOUNS

The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights Written by David A. Ufer Illustrated by Kirsten Carlson Ages 4 to 8 ISBN: 978-1-934359-05-1 Price: $8.95 Sylvan Dell Publishing Modeled after The Wizard of Oz, this enchanting story describes a young giraffe who suffers from a fear of heights. On his way to the village doctor, the giraffe befriends a monkey who is afraid of climbing trees and a hippo who is afraid of water. What causes the three new friends to face and overcome their fears? Perhaps it's a hungry crocodile. . . . Encourages children to overcome their fears and to help friends in trouble.

In a Pickle Written by Marvin Terban Illustrated by Giulio Maestro Ages 5-8 ISBN: 978-0-618-83001-5 Price: $6.95 Clarion Books "Idioms—phrases that do not mean the same as their literal translations—are explained here in a lively look at the language. . . . The book's breezy style finds its complement in Giulio Maestro's cartoons done in shades of green and orange. The cartoons cleverly illustrate the idiom in an amusing manner that sometimes manages to incorporate both the idiomatic and literal translations." —ALA Booklist "Here is a book to help children understand where grown-ups get those weird expressions. The text consists of 30 common idioms with definitions, examples of usage and brief background. . . . The idioms are fun and easy to understand." —School Library Journal Also try these paperback titles of wordplay by Marvin Terban: THE DOVE DOVE: FUNNY HOMOGRAPH RIDDLES, EIGHT ATE: A FEAST OF HOMONYM RIDDLES, MAD AS A WET HEN! AND OTHER FUNNY IDIOMS, TOO HOT TO HOOT: FUNNY PALINDROME RIDDLES, YOUR FOOT'S ON MY FEET: AND OTHER TRICKY NOUNS

Judy Moody Declares Independence Written by Megan McDonald Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Ages 6-9 ISBN: 9780763628000 Price: $5.99 Candlewick Press Hear ye! Hear ye! Everyone knows that Judy Moody has a mood for every occasion, and now a visit to Boston has put her in a revolutionary frame of mind! Unfortunately, a protest for more allowance in the form of a Boston Tub Party only has her dad reading the riot act. But luckily a crisis involving her brother, Stink, allows Judy to show her courageous quick thinking—and prove her independence after all!

Oh Crumps Written by Lee Bock Illustrated by Morgan Midgett Ages K-3 ISBN: 978-0-972192-4-3 Price: $4.99 Raven Tree Press Farmer Felandro is exhausted after a day of chores, but the list of things to do tomorrow won't let him sleep. Laugh along as he remembers a mixed up list of chores that never seeem to get done. Kirkus Reviews: "beautiful illustrations—humorous, busy, fun." Winner of CCBC Choices and Betty Ren Wright Book of the Year honors. A Booksense 76 Pick and ForeWord Book of the Year finalist. The text is provided fully in both English and Spanish. this bilingual format is easy to read in either language. A keyword bilingual vocabulary page is proveded to jumpstart language learning.

The Rainforest Grew All Around Written by Susan K. Mitchell Illustrated by Connie McLennan Ages 3 to 7 ISBN: 978-0-9777423-8-7 Price: $8.95 Sylvan Dell Publishing Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the rainforest circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song The Green Grass Grew All Around. Search each page to find unique rainforest bugs and butterflies hiding in the illustrations, and delve deeper into the jungle by reading the educational sidebars in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

Shh! The Whale Is Smiling Written by Josephine Nobisso Illustrated by Maureen Hyde Ages 2-7 ISBN: 0-940112-06-X Price: $8.95 Gingerbread House While the rest of the family sleeps in the Victorian household of this rhythmic lullaby of a book, an older sister takes her brother on a fantasy voyage with his favorite animal, the humpback whale. No longer frightened by a windstorm around their house, he embarks on this joy-filled undersea odyssey to swim and breach with the gentle creature. The ending finds him back home, fast asleep. This free-verse work by the creators of Grandpa Loved and Grandma's Scrapbook, is revised and back in print, available in hardcover and soft.

Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker Written by Megan McDonald Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Ages 5-8 ISBN: 9780763632366 Price: $4.99 Candlewick Press When Stink buys a huge jawbreaker that doesn't break his jaw, he writes to the manufacturer—and receives 21,280 jawbreakers for his trouble! Soon he's so obsessed with getting free stuff that he misses an envelope in the mail pile, until his best friend starts looking as mad as a hornet. Thirty-six idioms are sprinkled through the story, inspiring a search that's more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Tudley Didn't Know Written by John Himmelman Illustrated by John Himmelman Ages 4 to 8 ISBN: 978-1-934359-04-4 Price: $8.95 Sylvan Dell Publishing Tudley, a pond-living painted turtle, adopts other animals' behaviors—simply because he doesn't know he can't! He flies like a bird, sings like a katydid, hops like a frog, and glows like a firefly. All the while, he uses his special behaviors to help other animals. But will Tudley's new friends help him when he needs help? Encourages children to be comfortable with themselves, to try new things, and to help friends.

Turtle Summer Written by Mary Alice Monroe Illustrated by Barbara Bergwerf Ages 5 to 9 ISBN: 978-0-9777423-7-0 Price: $8.95 Sylvan Dell Publishing This heartwarming photographic journal shares the joys of a mother and daughter's summer as Turtle Team volunteers. Join them as they search for sea turtle nests and stand with them under starry skies as they protect the eggs and young hatchlings. Turtle Summer is the journal described in Swimming Lessons, the sequel to Monroe's New York Times best selling novel, The Beach House. Encourages children to care for endangered wildlife.

The Twelve Days of Summer Written by Jan Andrews Illustrated by Susan R. Jolliffe Ages 4-8 ISBN: 9781551437354 Price: $8.95 Orca Book Publishers The Twelve Days of Summer takes readers on a joyous journey into summer, from the first discovery of three eggs in a sparrow's nest to the day when those eggs hatch. Readers will pore over the pictures, searching for that fifth bumblebee, that tenth crow, and for the thoughtfully chosen toy that turns up on each page: a parachute with the goatsbeard seeds, a fan with the ruffed grouse. This is a story to delight and engage children and adults alike.

•  Picture Books and Younger Readers
•  Middle Readers
•  Young Adult
•  Download the entire list as a PDF (to come)

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