My 8-year-old is a voracious reader. He will read anything and everything—but he wasn’t always this way. He had an amazing teacher during his second-grade year at school. This teacher reiterated what his mama always told him: reading unlocks knowledge, which unlocks the world.
So this summer, I made him a list that celebrates knowledge and imagination. (He’s already finished three of them. I should have made him a longer list!)
1. The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelly Barnhill (a lovely fantasy about a girl and her witch mother, with sorrow and hope at its core. Knowledge: Sorrow is better shared.)
2. Paperboy, by Vince Vawter (a sweet story about a boy who takes over a newspaper delivery job for his friend during the summer and meets the most interesting people. Knowledge: All people have their own pain.)
3. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier (a superb story about a blind thief who embarks on many adventures and finds redemption. Knowledge: We don’t always know what we think we know about people.)
4. Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard, by Jonathan Auxier (an excellent story about a girl who restores ancient books and must retrieve some important ones so she can protect them. Knowledge: It’s worth risking your life to preserve books.)
5. Magyk: Septimus Heap Book 1, by Angie Sage (One of my favorite fantasies for kids—fantastic world-building, fun characters, and a twist-and-turn kind of story. Knowledge: Even a seventh son can make a difference in the world.)
6. Smile, by Raina Telgemeier (a graphic novel that deals with embarrassing braces, fake teeth and friendship. Knowledge: You know who you are. Be yourself.)
7. The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy (A wonderfully entertaining fairy tale retelling that will make you laugh out loud. Knowledge: Princesses can be heroes, too.)
8. As Brave as You, by Jason Reynolds (a fantastic story about two brothers who spend a summer with their grandparents. Knowledge: There is love and safety in family.)
9. Unbound, by Ann E. Berg (a beautiful novel-in-verse that highlights the plights of a slave girl. Knowledge: History is hard but doesn’t have to be repeated.)
10. Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai (a wonderful story about an immigrant girl. Knowledge: We’ll never know the reality of another’s life until we walk in their shoes—kindness and empathy are supreme.)
11. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin (a marvelous story about a girl who attempts to save her parents from poverty. Knowledge: what we need and what we think we need are two different things.)
12. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein (another of my favorite poetry collections—funny, imaginative, informative. Knowledge: Silly is fun.)
I’m sure he’ll blow this list out of the water and that, at the end of the summer, I’ll have a much longer one to share.
The books mentioned above have affiliate links attached to them, which means I’ll get a small kick-back if you click on them and purchase. But I only recommend books I enjoy reading myself. Actually, I don’t even talk about books I didn’t enjoy. I’d rather forget I ever wasted time reading them. (But if you’re curious whether I’ve read something and what I thought about it, don’t hesitate to ask.)
