Mr. Pig's Summer Reading List

Aloha, friends! This pig is ready for summer! Are YOU? Together with my fellow Cottagers--Anika Denise, Jamie Michalak, Kara LaReau, and Kristen Tracy--I've packed my suitcase with our favorite summer reads. Take a peek, pick up your own copies, and share your summer to-read list in the comments section. We'd love to hear your picks!

Board Books & Picture Books for Your Beach Bag

TOY BOAT
by Randall de Sève, illustrated by Loren Long 
A boy, a boat, a grand adventure . . . a perfect summer read. Now in board book format!

LATELY LILY
THE ADVENTURES OF A TRAVELING GIRL
by Micah Player 
"Every day is an adventure," says the jet-setting Lily, who takes trips by plane, train, boat, and even camel. Retro-style, saturated art depicts locations all over the world from a kid's point of view. A great book for getting children excited about a trip, as well as keeping a travel journal, writing letters, and meeting new friends. (Note: Lately Lily also a kids apparel company. Check out their website for Lily's notebook.)

DOT.  
by Randi Zuckerberg, illustrated by Joe Berger 
Dot knows a lot. She knows how to tap . . . to swipe . . . to share . . . on a computer. And she pays attention to little else. Until one day Dot sets off on an interactive adventure with the world outside her door. An imaginative, non-preachy story about taking a break from the devices.

IN THE SEA
by David Elliott, illustrated by Holly Meade 
You'll want to dive in to this ode to creatures of the deep, featuring David Elliott's playful poetry and Holly Meade's bold woodcut illustrations.

PLANET KINDERGARTEN 
by Sue Ganz-Schmitt, illustrated by Shane Prigmore
Today is liftoff. "You are well prepared," says Dad. Mom counts down. Into the rocket ship . . . the boosters fire, and we launch. I'm off to PLANET KINDERGARTEN! After reading this clever book, children heading into kindergarten will be ready to suit up for their own daring adventure.


Best Books for Camping, Hiking, & Backyard Exploring 
 

THE NATURE CONNECTION
AN OUTDOOR WORKBOOK FOR KIDS, FAMILIES, AND CLASSROOMS
by Clare Walker Leslie
A must-have for every child! Nationally recognized naturalist and artist Clare Walker Leslie has created an inviting, interactive book that combines observational activities with journaling and field-note prompts. Chockful of fun activities for every season.

WILD ABOUT BEARS
by Jeannie Brett 

The straightforward text is balanced by lush, expressive paintings of bears in their habitats. Children will enjoy the illustrations while learning many intriguing bear facts such as, "The sucking noise of the sloth bear's snout can be heard from 300 feet away." Who knew?

Impossible-to-Put-Down Middle Grade Novels

THE VERY NEARLY HONORABLE LEAGUE OF PIRATES
MAGIC MARKS THE SPOT (book one) 
by Caroline Carson 
Summer is the perfect time for some adventure on the high seas. We love Caroline Carson's quirky swashbuckling tale of feisty Hilary Westfield, a girl who's always dreamed of becoming a pirate. With a venerable cast of scourges and scallywags, and a fun format which intersperses letters, guidebook extracts and newspaper articles between chapters, it's a rollicking romp of a summertime read. 

LOCKWOOD & CO.
THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE (book one) 
by Jonathan Stroud
A creepy mystery, rich descriptions of a haunted London and masterful storytelling combine to make The Screaming Staircase irresistible summer reading fun!

THE BLOSSOMING UNIVERSE OF VIOLET DIAMOND

by Brenda Woods 

The heartfelt story of eleven-year-old Violet Diamond, a biracial girl who finally meets the African American side of her family. Violet is a quirky, endearing protagonist and the novel delicately yet deftly explores issues of race and identity.

OLIVIA KIDNEY

by Ellen Potter, illustrated by Peter Reynolds 
Fans of Harriet the Spy will love the Olivia Kidney series, starring a spunky, skateboarding heroine who can see and hear ghosts. Ellen Potter's writing is funny, fearless, and extraordinarily imaginative. The New York City setting is full of quirky details and characters. Just plain FUN.

THE IRON MAN

A STORY IN FIVE NIGHTS 

by Ted Hughes

Some reviewers call The Iron Man: A Story in Five Nights a science fiction novel, while others call it a modern fairy tale. It’s the thrilling story of a boy who encounters an iron man and eventually must figure out a way to save Earth from a powerful alien monster. Written by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and published in 1968, it’s a story that stays with you long after you finish it. 

ODESSA AGAIN 
by Dana Reinhardt
Dana Reinhardt’s magical story of a fourth-grade girl who uncovers the power to manipulate time is a funny and charming story that investigates what’s really important to a struggling fourth-grader. It’s a lovely story with characters that feel entirely real.