The best books for summer aren’t reserved solely for Mom and Dad. The folks at Books & Books in Westhampton Beach have five great beach reads for kids (and, in some cases, kids of all ages) to grab when you’re packing up the pails, shovels and sunscreen.
Wave by Suzy Lee
A delightful book for the youngest set of campers. Lee’s wordless picture book perfectly captures a child’s day at the beach. Followed by a flock of seagulls, a girl runs to where waves break on the shore. She surveys the sea and together they begin a silent dance. In a story of small events, Lee portrays a universal childhood experience of carefree adventure. Kids will love poring over this all summer long!
World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky
In this riveting new book for kids ages 8 and up, Mark Kurlansky, beloved author of the award-winning bestseller Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, explains what’s happening to fish, the oceans and our environment—and what kids can do about it. Interwoven with the book is a full-color graphic novel illustrated by Frank Stockton. Kids will enjoy the book so much they won’t realize how much they’re learning from it!
The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine
A great read for kids 8 and older. Mike tries so hard to please his father, but the only language his dad seems to speak is calculus. For a boy with a math learning disability, nothing could be more difficult. When his dad sends him to live with distant relatives in rural Pennsylvania for the summer to work on an engineering project, Mike doesn’t end up learning anything about engineering—but what he does learn is far more valuable.
Weird But True: 300 Outrageous Facts by Jonathan Halling and National Geographic
At last, all those weird but true facts that readers of National Geographic Kids love so much are collected into a fun-filled book that you’ll come back to again and again! Kids ages 8 and above will learn that peanut butter can be converted into a diamond, the world’s oldest pet goldfish lived to be 43 years old, and other fun facts in this casual reference book. Wacky, fascinating information and lively art combine in this easy-to-browse book that is sure to give young readers hours of fun.
Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So Talented Pop Star by Renee Rachel Russell
The newest in the Dork Diaries series that kids can’t get enough of! Kids 8 and up will love reading about Nikki Maxwell’s latest hijinks, and the inevitable misunderstandings that ensue. This time around Nikki is doing everything she can to keep kids at school from learning that she’s there on a scholarship in exchange for her dad working as the school’s exterminator. She thinks she has the perfect solution when a major talent competition is announced with a school scholarship offered as the top prize. But of course, in the Dork Diaries, things don’t always go according to plan!
