Summer 2015 Preview:
The Best Books for 6- to 8-Year-Olds
by Devon A. Corneal
Your growing reader is finally ready to conquer books on his or her own and summer is a wonderful time to get some extra reading in. But wait, summer is supposed to be fun, right? So make sure that when you’re combating the summer slide, you’re also picking books that will make your kids laugh, or pique their curiosity, or encourage them to solve interesting problems. Sound like a tall order? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are twenty fantastic books guaranteed to entertain your kids this summer.
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Ella
Move over Eloise, Ella is here. Ella is an urban child who lives at The Local Hotel. She has a nanny named Manny whose hair is an extension of his philosophy. Ella starts the day with energizing breathwork and yoga poses before zipping around on her scooter to the latest Hillary Clinton fundraiser. For everyone who wondered how Eloise would fare in the age of smartphones and laptops, now is your chance to find out.
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Little Bird’s Bad Word
When Little Bird learns a new word from his dad, he can’t wait to share it with his friends. Unfortunately, Little Bird’s new word isn’t at all nice. An important lesson, fun illustrations, and a perfect last page for the grown-ups, this is a must-read.
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Max’s Math
Max likes to look for problems. They’re interesting. In a mixed-up world of numbers and shapes, Max is certain to find more than his fair share as he and his brothers head out on an adventure. Take this book to the beach to keep your reader entertained (and secretly educated) this summer.
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Emu
Available from:This educational gem is so gorgeously illustrated that I could hardly concentrate on the amazing emu facts throughout. Instead, I found myself transfixed by the bird’s intense stare and the rich landscape of the Australian eucalyptus forest. If you have an animal lover in your house, this is a great addition to a summer reading list.
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Meet the Dullards
The Dullards are boring, plain, monotonous and, well, dull. Unfortunately, the Dullard children are starting to show signs of being interesting. They’ve asked to go to school. They’ve started reading books. They’re playing outside. Mr. and Mrs. Dullard realize they have to act now if they want to ensure that their children become proper bores.
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Sleeping Cinderella and Other Princess Mix-Ups
Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty are fed up with their stories. So they decide to switch places and see if their fellow princesses really do have perfect lives. They’ll soon find out that maybe they didn’t have it so bad after all.
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The Elephantom
Available from:Plenty of people have ants or mice in their house, but not everyone has a phantom elephant. If you do, you might need to read this book to discover how one clever girl got rid of her uninvited guest.
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The Big Ideas of Buster Bickles
Summer is a time for daydreaming and inventions, but no one seems to like Buster Bickle’s ideas. Except, perhaps, his Uncle Roswell. Uncle Roswell has a What-If Machine, designed to make anything Buster imagines real. But you’ll have to read the book if you want to see the trouble these two mad inventors get into when Buster’s big ideas start to get a little too big.
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Little Red Henry
Available from:Henry has been cosseted and fussed over since he was born, but now he's ready to do things by himself like pouring his own milk and choosing his own clothes and eating his peas without help. Henry is happy but his family is at loose ends. What will they do with all their spare time?
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Good Night, Firefly
I spent my summers catching fireflies and putting them in jars. My cousin used to smear them all over her feet, but that’s another story. Nina is more my kind of girl, capturing a single firefly to light up her room and scare away the shadows. But after a while, the firefly’s light starts to dim and Nina must decide how to fix him.
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My Rules for Being a Pretty Princess
Be careful what you wish for, because being a pretty princess isn’t easy. There’s no dirt, no stuffing your face with cake, and no playing. Instead, there’s dancing and uncomfortable dresses and lots of waiting. Unless you change the rules. Perfect for little girls who dream of being princesses, but want to do it their way.
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Welcome to the Neighborwood
Available from:This is the ultimate pop-up book, perfect for the start of summer when kids start spending more time outside. Filled with intricate, gorgeous pop-ups of animals found in and around our backyards, woods, and ponds, you’ll be astounded by what you’ll learn.
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Orion and the Dark
Available from:Orion is scared of everything, and I do mean everything. He’s especially afraid of the dark. Until one night, the Dark comes to visit and takes Orion on an adventure to overcome his fears.
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Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury
This is a classic collection of the best adventures of Frog and Toad, two fast friends who couldn’t be more different. When your child is ready to begin conquering chapter books, this is a wonderful introduction.
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Ivy and Bean Take the Case
The adventures of Ivy and Bean continue in this latest from Annie Barrows. This isn’t just a detective story, it’s a great reminder that friendship can bring even the most different of people together. If your child hasn’t met these two amazing girls yet, they can spend the summer getting to know them.
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Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
Leroy Ninker is ready to be a cowboy, but first he needs a horse. Thank goodness he runs into Maybelline. Now he just has to figure out how to treat her right. From the genius behind Flora and Ulysses, the escapades in Leroy Ninker will help pass the time on the ranch this summer.
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The Ballpark Mysteries #1: The Fenway Foul-Up
Available from:Who doesn’t like a baseball game on a sunny day? Unfortunately, Mike and Kate’s perfect day at the ballpark goes horribly wrong when someone steals a player’s lucky bat. Can Mike and Kate solve the crime? The Fenway Foul-Up is the first in a series of early chapter books set in ballparks around the country so you don’t have to be a Red Sox fan to love these books.
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The Princess in Black
Available from:Princess Magnolia is a perfect, prim, and proper princess — until danger calls. Then, she swaps her fancy dress for basic black and head out to stop a big blue monster from eating all the goats. This is a girl who knows how to multi-task. Now, if only she can keep her secret. I’ve recommended this book before, and I’ll keep at it until every kid who wishes for a secret identity and a castle has read it.
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The Year of Billy Miller
Billy Miller hopes that the second grade will be his year. It’s not off to a great start though. With a bump on his head and an annoying desk mate, this year may just be one he wants to forget. Your growing readers will be eager to find out if Billy’s year is one to remember, or one to forget.
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Little House in the Big Woods
I’m going old school here, with the classic book about life in an early time. I grew up with the Little House stories (and the TV show, which, while great, pales in comparison to the books themselves). Send your child out in the backyard and let them discover what life without electricity or cars or phones or, gasp(!), the Internet, was like and see if they remember to come back in for dinner.
