6 picks for summer reading for kids
With summer underway and school out for at least two months, CBC Windsor talked to Janet Brown, the director of children's programming at the central branch of the Windsor Public Library, to get her recommendations for summer reading.
She spoke with CBC Windsor Morning host Tony Doucette earlier this week. You can hear the interview in the player below:
Here are 11 of her top picks:
Edge of Extinction
By Laura Martin
Ages: 11-13
Described by some as Jurassic World meets Dawn of Planet of the Apes, the book is set on earth, 150 years after dinosaurs were cloned and took over the world, leaving humans on the edge of extinction.
Lead character, Sky Mundy has found a clue as to the whereabouts of her missing father — and that same clue may also save the world.
Sky and her friend Shawn must deliver a flash drive to a location in Lake Michigan but there are people who would kill for the secrets she is carrying. And, of course, there are dinosaurs along the way.
The Misadventures of Max Crumble 1 – Locker Hero
By Rachel Renee Russell
Ages: 9-13
Max is in Grade 8. He was previously homeschooled and public school is scary.
Max has the ability to smell pizza from a block away and he tries to be a school hero but there is a bully named Doug. His joy is putting Max in his locker.
Unfortunately, Max's uncanny ability to smell pizza doesn't help much. But it doesn't mean he won't try his hardest and do his best.
The Trials of Apollo
By Percy Jackson
Ages: 9 and up
Usually, parents send their kids to their rooms or other like disciplines but Apollo's father, Zeus, takes sway all his son's powers and makes him human and sends Apollo, who is 4,000 years old, to New York City as a teenager.
There are humans, monsters and gods who want to get rid of Apollo.
The story revolves around Apollo in this weakened state having to seek help from the demi-gods.
The Parent Agency
By David Baddiel
Ages: 8 and up
Ten-year-old Barry hates his parents, hates being called Barry, hates his siblings and hates his life. He wants new parents.
Barry is transported to a world where kids rule and gets a five-day parent trial package, which features five different sets of new parents, each of which has to give him a 10th birthday party.
Sounds great right? Things get interesting when he can't choose.
OC Daniel
By Wesley King
Ages: 8 and up
Daniel Leigh is a water boy for his football team, the Erie Hills Elephants. He is asked to help solve a potential murder mystery but Daniel has a secret that hopes know discover – he has been hiding his obsessive compulsive disorder.
This book addresses the challenges of living with obsessive compulsive disorder and acceptance of one's self.
Lily and Dunkin
By Donna Gephart
Ages: 8-13
Lily Jo McGrother, a girl, was born Timothy McGrother, a boy. But being a girl is not so easy when you look like a boy, especially for an eighth grader.
Dunkin Dorfman is from New Jersey and has a bipolar disorder.
After 13 years, his family has moved from New Jersey to Florida, which is where he meets Lily.
Upon meeting, their lives change forever in this book, written in alternating first-person narration.
Other books Brown recommends include:
- As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds
- The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
- Wishing Day by Lauren Myracle
- What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein
- Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary Paulsen