Avid Summer Reading Picks
It’s May, which means school is ALMOST out! Hooray! Summer means going to the pool, eating ice cream, and most of all, lots of time for READING. Plus, you can read while at the pool or eating ice cream — win/win.
Picture Books
Chirri & Chirra by Kaya Doi — Sweet, magical, immersive, and full of delicious treats, these little girls will have you reading over and over. Fear not, though! A new book/adventure, Chirri & Chirra in the Tall, Tall Grass arrives June 20th. (4–8)
Wild Berries by Julie Flett — Do you love Robert McCloskey’s Blueberries for Sal? Then you’ll love the way this beautiful, bilingual (Cree/English) book looks and sounds, all the way down to, “Tch, tch, sh, sh, tup, tup.” (4–8)
The Blue Hour by Isabelle Simler — This gorgeous ode to twilight will encourage readers to slow down and savor all things vespertine. (4–8)
Life by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Brendan Wenzel — Part meditation on the beauty and wonder of life, part call to action. 100% beautiful. Out June 27th! (6–9)
When Green Becomes Tomatoes by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Julie Morstad — A lovely, meandering journey through the seasons that will likely inspire readers to write their own odes to summer. (6 & up)
Chapter Books
Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder, illus. by Emily Hughes — Join these playful brothers on their imaginative adventures. I don’t compare to Arnold Lobel lightly, but this one is definitely on par with Frog & Toad. PERFECT for beginning readers, but is also a fantastic book to read aloud as a family. (5–8)
Detective Gordon series by Ulf Nilsson, illus. by Gitte Spee — A team of two opposites (a sleepy, slumpy toad and a quick-witted, high-energy mouse) find common ground in a love of cake and solving mysteries. A Swedish import that is as gentle as it is engrossing. One of my absolute favorite series! (6–9)
Anna, Banana series by Anica Mrose Rissi, illus. by Meg Park— A girl faces real kid problems (friend fights, bullies, etc.) with verve alongside her adorable dog. (6–10)
Graphic Novels
Anna and Froga series by Anouk Ricard — A little weird, a LOT fun! Anna & Froga and friends will have you LOLing all summer long. (8 & up)
The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing — Just the right combination of creepy and funny in a fantastic noir-ish graphic novel in which, as our Rachel Watkins points out, a girl is the smartest (and toughest) character. (8 & up)
Phoebe and Her Unicorn series by Dana Simpson — Seriously my favorite graphic novel series. Add together the imagination of Calvin & Hobbes, a unicorn (named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, no less), lots of sparkles, and a TON of hilarious shenanigans, and you have Phoebe and Her Unicorn. (8 & up)
Lumberjanes series by Noelle Stevenson — Friendship, summer camp, and supernatural creatures. Need I say more? (10 & up)
Middle Grade
Wildwitch series by Lene Kaaberbol — Perfect for fans of Wise Child (WHY are you out of print, wonderful book?) or The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and any reader who loves gentle witchy magic. (8 & up)
Pax by Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Jon Klassen — Looking for a good tear-jerker this summer? Look no further than this touching portrait of a boy, his fox, and their determination to find one another after being separated by war. (8 & up)
The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi — Jumanji meets steampunk meets The Wizard of Oz? SIGN. ME. UP. (9 & up)
York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby — Nothing screams summer like an un-put-downable page-turner of a mystery. This new series from Laura Ruby is full of alternative history, ciphers, and friendship. Out May 16th! (10 & up)
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder — A bright, beautiful story of the challenges of growing up set on a mysterious island populated entirely by kids. Out May 30th! (10 & up)
One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes — A gorgeous, important poetry collection that will resonate beyond the page — here is a book to spark conversation. (10 & up)
Nonfiction
Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus, illus. by Kadir Nelson — A gorgeously-rendered ode to America’s diversity. I don’t know about you, but it seems like a book we all need to read this summer (and fall, and winter…). Out June 13th! (5 & up)
Grand Canyon by Jason Chin — Jason Chin’s art is mind-blowingly beautiful, and his inventive take on the geologic history of the Grand Canyon opens up a window on the past unlike any book I’ve ever read. (7 & up)
This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe — Whether you’re traveling this summer or not, this book transports you around the world to peek into the lives of kids in different countries. (8 & up)
Girl Rising by Tanya Lee Stone — Because empowering girls can change the world — and maybe we need that empowerment now more than ever. (14 & up)
Young Adult
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor — Anyone who loved the Smoke & Bone trilogy will LOVE this new fantasy by the same author. Rich in wordcraft and wholly original. (13 & up)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas — A book that looks America’s racism straight in the eye and features a powerful, refreshing voice. Read this IMMEDIATELY. (14 & up)
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Riviera — This one is a huge staff favorite at Avid, and though it is not marketed as YA, it features a Puerto Rican teenager who navigates coming out, microagressions, and becoming who she wants to be over the course of a summer. (15 & up)
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire — Another one that you won’t necessarily find in the YA section. This quick, superbly-written fantasy is perfect for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite belong. (15 & up)
