You’ve attained a summer lifestyle when there is a perpetual rotation of drying bathing suits. The drying rack is no longer stowed away between rounds. It becomes a permanent feature of the main living area, a monument to sun-kissed mornings and bright afternoons, a slight scent of chlorine or pond water permeating the air.
What is one to do in the rare times that no one is wearing a bathing suit? Escape the heat of the day with a good book, of course. We’ve relished the summer reading list, revisiting old friends and finding new stories. Library requests dispatched through multiple library systems returned gorgeous old volumes smelling deliciously of old paper and glue from the old central library, pages slightly yellowed but somehow pristine after all these years.
With late-night summer parties and early-morning swim meets, however, you may not have the stamina for a chapter book classic. Cranky little siblings might not be prepared to tolerate a lengthy read. What then?
Enter: the picture book. Enjoyable long past the customarily assumed age for books with illustrations, good picture books can be a delight for young and old. Here are a few ideas for summer reading:
- “One Morning in Maine” by Robert McCloskey- You could just as easily reach for “Burt Dow Deep-Water Man” or “Blueberries for Sal” or “Time of Wonder” or, for that matter, “Make Way for Ducklings.” All of these McCloskey titles have a summer setting, and all are exquisite. “One Morning in Maine” follows a little girl, Sal, through the drama of losing a tooth—and losing the tooth—digging clams, and accompanying her father and younger sister in a boat to the general store. One of the very best books about losing a tooth!
- “Corgiville Fair” by Tasha Tudor- Another New England setting, Tudor’s beloved Corgi tale involves a town of cats, corgis, rabbits, and boggarts (mythical little creatures), who come together for fierce yet friendly competition in the annual Corgiville Fair. Caleb Corgi seeks to lead his voracious racing goat Josephine to victory. Marvelous details, as one can expect from a Tasha Tudor book.
- “All the Places to Love” by Patricia McLachlan- Not necessarily the most beloved by young children, at least in my house, this is a lyrical book about a multigenerational farm and the passage of time. Lots of bright, summer sunshine.
- “Sea Story” by Jill Barklem- The Brambly Hedge collection has two stories that take place in the summer season. “Summer Story” follows the courtship and wedding of Dusty Dogwood and Poppy Eyebright. For another summertime journey, “Sea Story” is a detailed account of the journey from Brambly Hedge to the coast where an industrious family of mice utilize ingenious technology to collect salt and live a comfortable life in a harsh environment.
- “My Summer Vacation” by Sumiko Davies- A personal favorite, this simple story follows a girl with her parents and brother on a summer vacation. Rich with details, it’s bright and delightful. Parents reading the book will likely view the narrative a bit differently seeing how much work Mom and Dad put in behind the scenes to get that vacation off the ground.
That makes 5, but if you’re still reading, here is an added bonus, something zany: Rattlebang Picnic by Margaret Mahy. When the McTavishes get married, they have the choice of a fancy, new car or lots of children. They opt for the kids and some wild family adventures. Not everyone enjoys this book. One reviewer described being terrified as a child looking at this book. She writes, “I found it by searching, ‘children’s book car family volcano.’” What’s not to love?
The real reason to bring this book into the summer picture book lineup is that forever after some of your kids will refer to cars full of children as “the old Rattlebang,” which could not be more charming.
