Summertime is the perfect time of year to soak up the sunshine and some good reads. Here are a selection of great children’s book to read-aloud with the family:
“I hope you’re wearing your battle pants, rock warrior.” The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors written by Drew Daywalt (The Day the Crayons Quit) and illustrated by Adam Rex (School’s First Day of School, is my current favourite read-aloud of 2017. Daywalt writes a hilarious and dramatic tale of how the great legends rock, paper and scissors came to meet and, of course, battle in the cavern of Two-Car Garage. Rock hails from the Kingdom of Backyard, Paper’s territory is the Empire of Mom’s Home Office and Scissors resides in the Kitchen Realm. Rock, paper and scissors are each invincible in their respective kingdoms — smooshing Apricot, jamming the Computer Printer, battling Dinosaur-Shaped Chicken Nuggets — and must leave their realms to find worthy opponents. Rex’s illustrations perfectly express the outrageous drama of Daywalt’s narrative. This book will appeal to children of all ages.
In Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, the second book in a new graphic novel series by Ben Clanton (Mo’s Mustache), Narwhal and Jelly return for super adventure fun. Through a series of short comic vignettes, Super Narwhal and his sidekick Jelly Jolt discover their true super powers. (Spoiler alert: Narwhal’s superpower is bringing out the super in others.) This short graphic novel is full of laugh out loud dialogue. Perfect for readers seeking a fabulous friendship duo after completing the complete oeuvre of Mo Willems (Elephant and Piggie). I am eager to read the third instalment of Narwhal and Jelly, which will be released next spring.
“Now Barkus and Baby live with us. And we are a very, very happy family.” In the early chapter book Barkus by Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan (Sarah, Plain and Tall) and illustrated by Marc Boutavant, a young child receives a special present from Uncle Everton. Uncle Everton is about to embark on a journey around the world and is unable to bring his big, brown, smart, friendly, well-behaved, trick-master dog, Barkus, so he gives Barkus to Nicky. Barkus is the most wonderful dog. The dog follows Nicky to school and becomes the classroom dog, he celebrates his birthday with a very noisy party with his human and dog friends, and he nurtures and cares for a lost kitten that becomes Barkus’ Baby. Told in five short chapters, Barkus is a story of friendship and family that will warm the hearts of readers. Boutavant’s bright, 1960s-style illustrations are full of charm and this is a perfect early chapter book for emergent readers. I look forward to book two in this new series.
Princess Cora and the Crocodile, written by Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz (Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!) and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca (Locomotive) is a story about Princess Cora, who is tired of life under the overbearing rule of her mother, father and nanny. When they will not allow her to have a puppy because it would shed and “make messes on the carpet,” Princess Cora writes a letter to her fairy godmother. Instead of a puppy, her godmother sends Cora a crocodile — a crocodile who bites and has a weakness for cream puffs. Schlitz writes a most entertaining tale of the royal madness that ensues when the crocodile acts as the princess for the day while Cora has some good fun outside the castle walls climbing trees and picking strawberries. Brian Floca’s delicate watercolour illustrations are full of charm. Highly recommend for fans of Shannon Hale’s The Princess in Black.
Visit your local library to borrow these awesome summer read-alouds, and be sure to ask your children’s librarians for more book recommendations.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Natalie Schembri works at Port Moody Public Library.
