To kids, spring break means freedom! To parents, it often signals a scramble
for good ways to entertain youngsters while they're not in school. To that
end, here is a list of great Spring-Break reads for several age groups. Each
book or series is guaranteed to rivet a young reader's attention during
snowstorms, cross-country travel, or in those times when mom or dad just
needs a quiet nap in another part of the house.
Middle Readers: Ages 9 to 12:
"Airball: My Life in Briefs" by L. D. Harkrader (Square Fish,
9780312373825, $6.99, ages 9 to 12) This hilarious tale of basketball and
middle-school mishaps would deserve high praise even if it weren't set in
Kansas or written by one of our coolest Kansas authors; but since it's both,
it gets top billing: "Airball" tells how Kirby Nickel, a boy with a whole
lot of heart but no apparent athletic talent, leads his team to basketball
fame, all to achieve the dream of meeting his hero, a legendary K.U. Jayhawk.
"Airball" scored a place on the current William Allen White Award list and
was named a Kansas Notable Book. Hugely recommended!
"The Penderwicks" by Jeanne Birdsall (Yearling, 9780440420477, $6.50,
ages 9 to 13) I can't say it often enough: every girl between the ages of 9
and 13 needs this book, especially if she has a sister! It tells the utterly
charming summer adventures of the four brave, honorable, and clever
Penderwick sisters. It's a modern-day classic that won a National Book Award
and is now up for the William Allen White Award. Best of all, the
long-awaited sequel, "The Penderwicks on Gardam Street" is due out the
second week of April. Believe me, I've read it, and if it's possible, it is
even better than the first! Put this first book into a young reader's hands
now, and have us pre-order you a copy of the follow-up.
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" by Jeff Kinney (Amulet,
9780810994737, $12.95, ages 9 to 12) The first "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" has
been a hit with elementary-age readers, and this second novel-with-cartoons
is like a second scoop of ice cream: very, very welcome. In his cartoon
diaries, middle-schooler Greg Heffley writes and draws about his summer
vacation, his doofus older brother Rodrick with his doofus rock band, and
all the thrills and chills of life on the wrong side of adolescence. It's
wildly funny stuff. If your young reader hasn't yet discovered volume one,
best be safe and get them both. Your whole family will applaud you for it.
"Main Street: Welcome to Camden Falls" by Ann M. Martin (Scholastic,
9780439868792, $6.99) Remember the Baby-Sitters Club books? Well, their
author has begun a great new series that's perfect for young girls ages 9 to
12: The Main Street series follows a group of four young friends growing up
in a small New England town, and it showcases stories about friendship,
neighborliness, and family. Sisters Ruby and Flora live with their Grandma
Min and help out in her crafts-and-fabric store. Together with their best
pals, they audition for the school play, plan surprise parties, and raise
money for charity. There are three books out now: start with "Welcome to
Camden Falls" and be sure to pre-order book number four, "Best Friends," for
its release in early April.
"Bone 7: Ghost Circles" by Jeff Smith (Scholastic, 9780439706346,
$9.99, ages 9 to 12) This newest book continues the award-winning "Bone"
series of graphic novels——rich stories told in comic-book form. Three
comical cousins stumble into a fairy-tale land filled with ancient dragons,
secret princesses, and age-old magic. Together, they have to find a way to
stop an evil power from reawakening and taking over the world. "Bone" is
just the best thing ever: big comedy, action-filled plots, high adventure,
and hilarious characters. Highly recommended for visual readers and
reluctant readers!
Chapter-Book Readers: Ages 6 to 10
"The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil" and "Attack of the
Volcano Monkeys" both by Wiley Miller (Scholastic, 9780439856652 and
9780439861328, $14.99 each, ages 7 to 10) By the creator of the newspaper
comic strip "Non Sequitur," these action-packed chapter-books are filled
with full-color illustrations and a wonderfully whacky sense of adventure:
Basil Pepperell lives a "boring" life inside a lighthouse until the day
Professor Angus McGookin whisks him away (with mom's permission) to a hidden
city in the clouds. There, Basil befriends Louise and her pet pteranodon,
and together they fight back a robot army, rescue a kingdom of super-smart
monkeys, and foil the plans of a mad scientist. Kids can read them solo, but
these books also make great bedtime stories.
"Clementine" by Sara Pennypacker (Hyperion, 9780786838837, $4.99,
ages 6 to 10) The "Clementine" chapter books are funny and fantastic, the
perfect choice for when a reader is outgrowing Junie B. Jones. Clementine is
a third-grader with a great big imagination and a whole pocket full of
questions. She's a real peach, and she lets everyone know it. The first book
in the series, simply called "Clementine," is now brand-new in paperback.
It's followed by "The Talented Clementine," and a third book, "Clementine's
Letter" will come out in early April. You can pre-order now!
"Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers " by Megan McDonald
(Candlewick, 9780763636692, $4.99, ages 6 to 10) Stink is the little
brother of chapter-book favorite Judy Moody, but he gets into his own unique
brand of mischief and fun. In his first book, he gets trapped inside a comic
strip. In the second, he wins a defective jawbreaker that doesn't chip even
one tooth! In this third book, new in paperback, he competes in a
laugh-out-loud contest for the world's most repulsive pair of stinky shoes.
Young boys, especially, love this very funny series.
"Violet Bing and the Grand House" by Jennifer Paros (Viking Juvenile,
9780670061518, $14.99, ages 6 to 9)
Violet Bing likes to say "no." In fact, she refuses all sorts of things,
including Piano Lessons and Bumpy Pancakes, and now she's refusing a Family
Vacation. So Violet goes to stay with her great aunt in the Grand House, and
what she finds there is the delightful subject of this whimsical illustrated
chapter book. Violet makes a Friend, meets a Dog, and learns to come out of
her shell a bit in this very grand vacation adventure.
Young Adult Readers: Ages 11 to 16
"Shug" by Jenny Han (Aladdin, 9781416909439, $5.99, ages 11 to 13)
This is an essential book for girls ages 11 to 13; it perfectly captures the
joys and perils of being almost-a-teenager: Annemarie, nicknamed "Shug" by
her momma, is at that age when boys and girls start pairing off, when
friendships get complicated, and when junior high is just filled with
chances for embarrassment and rejection. Shug learns to navigate all these
challenges while remaining true to her smart-girl tomboy self, and the
result is a lovable, heartbreaking story about growing up.
"London Calling" by Edward Bloor (Knopf Books for Young Readers,
9780375843631, $8.99, age 12 and older) Young-adult author Edward Bloor
visited Watermark last October, and his YA novel "London Calling" has been a
favorite of our young readers for the past two years. It's the story of a
young guy who inherits a vintage radio that transports him through history
to the London Blitz of World War II. The fast-paced, mysterious story will
catch the interest of fantasy and science fiction fans, and they'll hardly
realize that they're getting a great history lesson along the way. It's very
cool.
"Drama! The Four Dorothys" by Paul Ruditis (Simon Pulse,
9781416933915, $8.99) It's mad-cap comedy and mystery as a group of
California high-school students stage theatre productions right on
Hollywood's doorstep. The series begins with a struggling production of "The
Wizard of Oz" that's plagued by a series of strange accidents that hint of
sabotage. In book two, everyone gets the harshest critiques of their
star-struck young lives when a big Broadway director comes to town. The
"Drama" series is great for theatre kids and for fans of shows like "High
School Musical" and "Gossip Girl." Book three, "Drama! Show, Don't Tell," is
due out in April and available now for pre-order.
Review by
Mark David
Bradshaw, March 6, 2008
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