Here are some recommendations for summer reading that your children might enjoy. Since the time I first was allowed to cross the street and walk to the library, I have had a love of children’s literature.
It is easy to rattle off names of favorite authors of children’s books. Picture books are a good place to start. Most of us have settled on the couch and read a picture book to a child. Reading aloud to children is of tremendous importance for many reasons. I will save that article for another day. Renowned book illustrator Brian Wildsmith puts it this way. He writes, “Art is food for the soul. Picture books offer a chance to communicate the importance of things such as kindness, compassion, friendship, and beauty.”
Maine has a bountiful supply of famous children’s book writers, many winning the most prestigious book awards in the industry. All of them I would recommend for summer reading. A Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey evokes the feelings of the Maine seashore in magical ways with masterful watercolors. Let us not forget Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine and Make Way for Ducklings.
Barbara Cooney wrote her award-winning book Miss Rumphius, based on a real person who spread lupine seeds along the roadsides of Christmas Cove in Maine. As a little girl, Miss Rumphius was given wise advice by her grandfather. Do something that makes the world more beautiful.
Chris Van Dusen writes and illustrates brightly colored books from his home in Camden. He also illustrated The Mercy Watson series that tells the humorous misadventures of a lovable pig. I also enjoyed Down to the Sea with Mister Magee. I gave that book to my granddaughter and have a photo of her sleeping with the open book over her face. She bonded with her “birthday book”.
Here is another suggestion for a summer activity. Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids has been popular over the years. There is now a new companion activity book with crossword puzzles, word searches, and map studies. Now that would be a nice quiet activity on a rainy day.
I have one more book to highly recommend, this one is for parents. The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Wall Street Journal children’s book reviewer Meghan Cox Gurdon. Chapter headings will give you an idea of the vital material every parent should know. A sample includes: What Reading to Children Does to the Brains, Reading Together Strengthens the Bonds of Love, Turbocharge Child Development with Picture Books, and The Rich Rewards of a Vast Vocabulary. At the back of Gurdon’s book is a long list of highly recommended titles for all ages.
I wish you a summer filled with swimming, hiking, fishing, and reading great books. More ideas to come.