Ahh, the pile of summer books has started to build. Our summer books, however, aren’t the typical escape to the beach reads that you might expect. We do our most serious reading in the summer.
Why? First of all, in Arizona it is too hot to go outside unless you enjoy dehydration and heat exhaustion. In that way, our summer is like winter in other places. You curl up next to the air conditioner with a cold drink, and a good book. Secondly, in summer we have huge blocks of free time. No reading twenty minutes and then having to run somewhere. I have read to my son for hours, until my voice is hoarse and then we read silently together.
With this strong commitment to reading, we have to be prepared with our private library of books. I usually weed out our current library, hit the used bookstores and trade for as many bargain books as we can afford. We can go to the library and run our errands now while it is relatively cool, no need to get in a hot car and swelter in July. And studies have shown that having books around the house is important, so I don’t mind the investment.
Here’s what is on the bookshelf right now. I’m sure you’ll be seeing reviews as the summer progresses.
Grow by Juanita Havill and Stanislawa Kodman (Illustrator)
I’m really looking forward to trying this one, because we already enjoyed another by Juanita Havill.
I Heard It from Alice Zucchini: Poems About the Garden by Jaunita Havill and Christine Davenier (Illustrator)
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt and David Small (Illustrator) an Ala Notable Children’s Books.
It has animals!
The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean by Trevor Corson
Yes, this is an adult book. I tend to read adult nonfiction aloud with a bit of “filtering,” if the themes are really adult.
A Country Year: Living the Questions by Sue Hubbell
A traditional favorite from years past that we will probably revisit.
If you have any further suggestions for summer books, we would love to hear them.