|
C&NN Summer Reading Recommendations, 2010:
Books to discover and share with young readers.
"Did you ever read stories about animals when you were young? Did you get swept up in adventure tales about pioneer families or seafaring pirates or mountain climbers? Stories about animals, plants, and wild places can be a big part of helping kids connect to nature."
Summer vacation is the perfect time to discover or rediscover the writings of authors who celebrate nature and the great outdoors. This summer C&NN presents books for children and youth.
The following books were selected by C&NN senior writer, Sara St. Antoine, who sheds new light on the connection between storytelling and nature, bringing inspiring books to young readers and pre-readers. She's sorted these selected readings by age group to make it easy to find the perfect title for you and your family members and friends.
BOOKS ABOUT HIDEOUTS AND SPECIAL PLACES
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran (HarperCollins, 2004)
Build a fort and maybe you’ll find you’ve built a whole town. (3-7)
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Harper Trophy, 1995)
Fifth-grade classmates Jess and Leslie build an unlikely friendship as they create a secret magical kingdom in the woods called Terabithia. (9-12)
The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy (Speak, 2008)
Two girls with the nicknames Newt and Fox forge a friendship in the secret clearings and treehouse of their nearby woods. (9-12)
BOOKS TO INSPIRE FAMILY HIKES AND ADVENTURES
Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy Shaw (Houghton Mifflin, 1994)
Silly sheep can get muddy, lost, and wet, and still chalk it up as a perfect hike. (Infantpreschool)
The Complete Adventures of the Mole Sisters by Roslyn Schwartz (Annick Press Ltd., 2004)
Utterly charming short tales of two mole sisters taking delight in the world around them. (3-7)
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt, 2009)
Twelve-year-old Calpurnia spurns the domestic activities of other girls of her era (late 19th century) and joins her naturalist grandfather on treks through the Texas countryside. (8-12)
Heidi by Johanna Spyri (Puffin, 2009)
Who loves being outside in the mountains more than a young girl named Heidi? Maybe your kids will—take them hiking and find out! (8-12)
BOOKS ABOUT CAMPING AND WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
Duck Tents by Lynne Berry (Henry Holt, 2009)
Oh, the funny adventures that unfold when five little ducks go camping in the backyard. (Infant/preschool)
Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night by Cynthia Rylant (Aladdin, 1999)
Henry and his big dog Mudge go camping with Henry’s parents. (4-8)
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (Puffin, 2004)
Sam runs away and makes a new home in the Catskill Mountains of New York with his two companions, a falcon and a weasel. Classic adventure tale told with captivating details and gentle humor. (8-12)
The Brute by Mike Klaassen (Blue Works, 2005)
Sixteen-year-old Fortney reluctantly joins a scouting trip to the Flint Hills, only to discover he has to contend with the brute forces of nature—and his own temper—to get himself and five other scouts home alive after a tornado strikes. (9-12)
|
