Back to School Reading
Douglas, You Need Glasses!
By Ged Adamson
Best for: Ages 4-8
Lots of kids wear glasses. Yet even with famous characters like Harry Potter out there some children don’t want glasses, even if they need them. “Douglas, You Need Glasses!” is a fun and subtle attempt to relieve the anxieties children have about getting glasses. Douglas’ misadventures in near-sightedness offer a loving humor that welcomes children in and embraces them with understanding.
Adamson uses lively illustrations and exciting colors to engage children in the eyeglass action. After Douglas finds the perfect pair of glasses, he is amazed by how clear and wonderful everything looks. Although the text and illustrations are fun, it is the last pages that show photos of real children wearing glasses connected to a social media component that makes this book an excellent pick for children contemplating glasses.
What’s good: Real photos of real children and a social media component too.
What’s bad: Weak on information about the eye exam, but a strong offering of empowerment.
The Perfect Dog
By Kevin O’Malley
Best for: Ages 4-8
Obviously there is no such thing as one perfect dog for everyone, but this book makes a go of illustrating many different breeds. After her father says her family can get a dog, one girl proceeds to describe what the perfect dog should be. Size—she’s unsure about Great Danes. Speed—greyhounds may be too fast. Hair, slobber and barks are also considered. When she finally gets the chance to search for a dog in real life, she decides that it has to be happy. In the end her perfect dog finds her.
This tome won’t necessarily help children pick a new pet, but dog lovers will love this book anyway. Dog breeds and doggie faces cover each and every page, just waiting to be explored and examined.
What’s good: Quick text and strong visuals make for a good read-aloud story.
What’s bad: Will appeal mostly to dog lovers and not the general reader.
Click Here to Start
By Denis Markel
Best for: Ages 10-12
Have you ever played an “escape the room” type of game? They are essentially brain teasers and scavenger hunts rolled into one mysterious game. This is the engine that propels the narrative development of Click Here to Start.
Ted Gerson is a half Jewish, half Japanese-American boy living in La Purisma, CA. He loves “escape the room” games and holds all the records for solving them. When his great uncle dies, this 12-year-old is joined by two friends in a real life “escape the room” mystery that could lead to a treasure lost since the end of WWII—if they can make it through the dangers along the way. Driven by puzzles, character development and WWII historical intrigue, Click Here to Start is a page turner for gamers and puzzlers and readers who like a good read.
What’s good: Fast-paced adventure, mixed with mysteries that keep you guessing until the end.
What’s bad: Some questions are left unanswered. I guess they’re planning for a sequel.