Summer School, Summer Fun
New Books Make an Adventure of Reading Count on the Subway By Paul Dubois Jacobs & Jennifer SwenderIllustrated by Dan YaccarinoBest for: Ages 3-7
Math is all around–even on vacation. When a little girl and her mom take a trip into New York City, the counting begins. From counting a single metro card to counting passengers who exit and enter a stop, the numbers come and go fast with expediency. The playful rhyming and zippy pacing of the text match the movement of the subway system. And the quirky characters and stylized images remind us that learning can, and does, happen everywhere.
Pay attention to the details on each page. Yaccarino’s mid-century illustration style may seem flat, but it’s filled with layers of detail, like the robot boy, a purse dog and more. Speaking of dogs, how many wiener dogs can you find in this book?
What’s good: Yaccarino always engages the reader in his visual storytelling. What’s bad: Nothing. It’s a fun book by counting book veterans. I Pledge Allegiance By Pat Mora & Libby MartinezIllustrated by Patrice Barton Best for: Ages 4-8
Learning about someone who chooses to become a citizen is good for all of us. So is getting a little history behind the pledge. After all, living in the land of the free and the home of the brave is a gift we should all appreciate.
Mora and her daughter, Martinez, draw on their own family history to tell the tale of Libby and her Great Aunt Lobo. Both are learning the Pledge of Allegiance. Libby is learning about the pledge for her class at school, while Lobo wants to become a U.S. citizen. Libby’s teacher gives them details and history surrounding the pledge, but the part that stands out most to me is Lobo’s own history. She says that when she came to the country as a little girl with her family, the flag made her feel safe. “The American flag–red, white and blue–wrapped itself around me to protect me.” Young readers may not understand that it’s a metaphor for the safety of living in America, but it’s a great conversation starter.
What’s good: Great conversation starter for classrooms and families. What’s bad: A little lengthy for young readers. Kingdom Keepers VII: The Insider By Ridley Pearson Best for: Ages 10-12
Ridley Pearson said this is the last installment of the Kingdom Keepers series. If you haven’t read the other books in this series, don’t pick this one up yet. Start with book one. Fans have been waiting for the final battle, and that’s just what they’ll get as the Keepers pick up the fight with the Overtakers, four years after book six. Mostly, it’s an excellent final book in the series. A few small plot points are left hanging – a rarity from Pearson. And the final chapter will leave you wondering if it really is the last we’ll hear about the Keepers’ battle with the Overtakers.
What’s good: Several fans offered input for the story and had their writing included. What’s bad: Several plot points are introduced, then dropped without resolution.