fine tuning summer plans

As I was reading Eating from the Ground Up's post about summer, I had to stop and take a deep breath; the big breath before the plunge. Stick's kiddos have already been out of school for over a week now--a thought that stresses me out, "what are we going to do ALL SUMMER!!!?" until I remember, "Oh yeah, Summer Reading!" This is our last minute of making our lists and making sure everything's done and ready for our kick-off event on Saturday and Summer Reading, which technically begins in a week! A week! As I'm sure lots of librarians feel around this time of year, I'm really excited and also nervous, ready for it to begin and be over at the same time. :)  

So, as we begin our final Summer Reading '13 plans and family's every where plan their summer vacation, think about unplugging the kids (and yourself) from your individual iPhones, iPods, iPads, and tuning into a great book together; take turns reading aloud, or better yet, snag a great book on CD from your local library. Thanks Magic Lady!



Read-Aloud Chapter books:
Hint: Remember to choose a read-aloud 2 reading level grades or more above the age of the child in order to develop vocabulary and sentence structure. Grade levels indicate the listening age of the child.

Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo (3rd and up. Great audio edition available, too!)
BFG, or almost any other novel by Roald Dahl (Grades 3-5)
Castle in the Attic, by Elizabeth Winthrop (Grades 3-5)
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White (Grades 2-4)
Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker (Grades 2-3) and its sequel
Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke (2nd grade and up. Great audio edition available,too!)
Gooseberry Park, by Cynthia Rylant (Grades 1 -4)
Lady Lollipop, by Dick King-Smith (Ages 6-8) and its sequel
Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, by Julie Andrews Edwards (Grades 2-4)
My Father’s Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett and sequels (Ages 4-7)
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry (Grades 4-6)
PeeWee’s Tale, by Joanna Hurwitz (Grades 1-3)and sequels
Poppy, by Avi (Grades 3-4) and its sequels
Prince of the Pond, by Donna Jo Napoli (Grades 3-5)
Roxie and the Hooligans, by Phyllis Naylor (Grades 1-3)
Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo (Age 8 and up. Great audio edition available.)
The Teacher’s Funeral, by Richard Peck (Grades 4-6)
Trouble Don’t Last, by Shelley Pearsall (Grades 5 and up)
Weird Stories from the Lonesome Café, by Judie Cox (Grades 3-5)
Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Graham (Grade 2 and up - only for experienced listeners, but beautiful writing!)