Summer reading is upon us. Did you know that if children
read at least five books this summer they will prevent learning loss, according
to a White House study. If children don’t read or engage with stories over the
summer they lose about 2-3 months of reading achievement. The best way to keep
your children reading through the summer is to sign up for one of the fabulous
summer reading programs. Reading is so
important! Here are three of my favorite picture books to check out this
summer! Recommended for ages 4-8.
Shoe Dog by Megan McDonald and Illustrated by
Katherine Tillotson
The beloved author of the Judy Moody and the Stink series
has created a fabulous picture book about a dog that loves to chew. What does
he chew, but shoes! He isn’t a dog that chews bones, or toys, or smelly socks,
but rather shoes. And lots of them! Especially brand new shoes! Clever and
lively illustrations by Tillotson, are created with crayon and charcoal and
then combined together digitally. An adorable read aloud story especially for
dog lovers who understand dogs need to chew!
President Taft is Stuck in the Bath by Mac Barnett
and Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
We have read about George Washington and his teeth and
Abraham Lincoln and his top hat, but what about President Taft. Did you know
that he got stuck in the bathtub?
A clever, silly but yet true story of how the 27th President
got stuck in his bathtub and how they got him out. The illustrations are
expressive, bold and quite colorful. These gouache caricatures add silliness to
a true story. A great Author’s note with facts pertaining to President Taft can
be found at the back of the book along with an archived picture of the bathtub
in the White House with President Taft and four men from his cabinet.
Share by Sally Ann Garland
Sharing isn’t easy; in fact most kids don’t like to share.
Bunny is no different but when her cousin comes to visit she realizes just how
much she doesn’t like to share. But her cousin wants to do everything like
bunny and bunny doesn’t understand why. A sweet rhyming story that helps children
understand the importance of sharing and why it can be so hard. Illustrations
are digitally created with a soft pastel palette. This is a great read aloud or
bedtime story. It also can be a
useful tool in teaching the importance of sharing.
