Summer Reading- Post 1- Books Everywhere

So I have a confession to make...I may or may not have gotten carried away at the Scholastic Book Warehouse Sale. OK. I did get just a teeny bit carried away. One of the best benefits from volunteering at my daughter's Scholastic Book Fair is getting invites to the Warehouse Sales. Most all the books are deeply discounted, and it is easy to get caught up in the moment. That said, these books I purchased are intended to coax as much summer reading out of my kids as possible. And, for us down here in Cobb County, Georgia- Summer Vacation begins tomorrow. Tomorrow is the last day of school!!!

Now, I have this theory about reading: the more the books are available, the more kids will read. I don't worry about reading level or subjects, especially for summer reading. I just try and choose books that my kids will enjoy reading and re-reading.

This summer, we will be taking one big trip to drive and see family. For this drive, I need to keep my kids busy for 800 miles! Am I crazy? Probably. However, one way I will keep them busy is by bringing a bag full of a wide range of books.

We will read books in the car...
and on the beach...
and on the train...
and on a plane.

We can read them in the morning...
and after lunch...
and while waiting for dinner to cook...
and at bedtime.

OK- I know that didn't rhyme, but you get the point. I will have books on hand at all times to offer as an alternative to screens.

Here is a glimpse of what I picked up at the Scholastic Warehouse sale. (Images link to Amazon if you would like to add them to your summer reading).

1. Penny and Her Marble (I Can Read Book 1) by Kevin Henkes

I choose this one because I have a friend who tells me her kids can't get enough of this story. We have so many other Kevin Henkes titles. It was time to invest in this one. 





2. Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach (My First I Can Read) by James Dean\

Little J loves Pete the Cat. What not read about Pete the Cat on the way to the beach? 





3. Ocean Soup- Tile Pool Poems  by Stephen R. Swinburne and illustrated by Mary Peterson 

This is a phenomenal poetry book that pack a whole lot of science in between the pages. This will be perfect for short reading times to take on a page at a time. 



4. Grimmtastic Girls books 1 and 2 by Joan Holub.


I know these books will make the perfect beach reads for my oldest.






5. Have Fun Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell and illustrated by David Catrow. 

If you haven't read any Molly Lou Melon books, you certainly should. She is imaginative and strong willed, just like my girls. 



6. Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony.

All I have to say is this book is about Panda bears and donuts- my two favorite things.

7. Spuds by Karen Hesse and illustrated by Wendy Watson.

This isn't a typical summer read, but it does provide some lessons about growing potatoes.




 

8. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Robert Byrd.

This is Miss M's reach read. It is a little above her reading level; but I wanted to pick up something to challenge her skills. Also, she is always faking a British accent, so I figured she would enjoy a book about a Medieval English village. 




9. Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Mark Hearld


This book will reside on our front porch this summer for Sunday morning reading. Outside Your Window is a book of poems that also provides lots of scientific information about nature. I adore this book. It is beautiful. 

 10. Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Emily Haynes and illustrated by Sanjay Patel. 

Everything about this book captures my kids' attention. The words, the pictures, the story all play together in a perfect multicultural story about eating junk food. Yes, we need this book in our house. 

11. Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth.

I know this is "technically" a Halloween book, but my Little J is obsessed with Panda bears. Any book that has a Panda bear will capture her attention. The book is stellar. 


Next week, I will be sharing an amazing pirate themed summer reading program being presented by Barefoot Books, and I will be sharing a reading log printable. 

How will you be kicking off summer reading? 

Check out other great reads and book suggestions on the Kid Lit Blog Hop: 

FTC Required Disclosures:
**This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!