Kimber the Magnificent here. Jumping into summer and summer reading. Cuz summer is the lazy, daisy season. (Kimber: Not sure what that means. Methinks Mom just made that up. I prefer to think of summer as The Season of Endless Barbecues...)
“You’re gonna eat that?”
Wait. Where were we?
Oh yeah. Summer and summer reading. We talked about conquering your summer reading list the other day. One of us thought we oughtta clarify that the last thing Mom and I want on our summer plate is a reading list that feels like homework. So if your “summer reading” includes Russian literature that’s as dense as a pea soup fog or has books with plots so thick you could pave roads with ’em, you’re doing it wrong.
So there I was. Minding my own beeswax. Snoozing in the sun. With visions of Porterhouse steaks dancing in my head… What?
Well. Then She Who Must Be Obeyed asks me about summer reading plans. What do I look like, an oracle?
“C’mon, Kimmi. Time’s a-wastin’. We gotta get goin’ on our plan to conquer our summer reading list.”
Wait. We have a plan? Really?
Cuz, hey. Mom and I? We’re pros at summer reading. Cramming our book bag with enough library books to choke a camel. Adding to our TBR pile till it resembles the leaning Tower of Pizza. (Mom: “That’s Pisa, Kimmi.” Kimber: “You eat what you want and I’ll eat what I want, okay?”
TSA lines moving at glacial speed? Travel package rivaling the national debt? Accommodations that make the Bates Motel look like an upgrade?
Let’s go!
Summer vacay is just around the corner. So pack your bags and set sail on the U.S.S. Mom and Kimster for some favorite fictional summer vacay locations. We’re talkin good food, good scenery, and good times. Based on books. (Accessories not included. Batteries sold separately.)
ALL ABOARD!
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl). What could be more fun than all the free chocolate Mom could possibly chow down? ‘Sides. It’ll be a brand new year by the time she comes down from that sugar high.
The Emerald City (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum). The sentries! The horse-drawn carriages! The green glasses! A yellow-brick road and a hot air balloon! Oh yeah!
Cair Paravel (The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis). Seeking magical, scenic, and epic adventure with talking animals and a Really Big Lion? All you have to do is walk through a wardrobe.
Neverland (Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie). Mom: Okay, Kimmi. Where’d ya stash my pixie dust?
Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane (Mary Poppins – P.L. Travers). What IS inside that carpet bag, anyway?
Rivendell (Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien): The ultimate “Calgon, take me away” retreat. Plush accommodations. Breathtaking natural beauty. Excellent elven wine and endless plates of food. Miles of hiking with a sweet furry face we all know and love. And no one will ask to see Mom’s passport.
The Shire (The Lord of the Rings again- J.R.R. Tolkien): If we’re not busy rescuing hunanity and saving the world, we’ll park here for a while. Chow down on six meals a day (but who’s counting?). Snooze and cruise while waiting for Gandalf to show up with the latest fireworks extravaganza.
Camelot (The Once and Future King – T.H. White). A king. A queen. A knight. A round table. And Morgan le Fey. What could possibly go wrong?
The Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie-the-Pooh – A A. Milne). Terminal cuteness with the world’s most loveable bear ‘of very little brain’ and his sweet forest friends. Who wouldn’t want to join Pooh for a friendly pot of honey?
Chew and Swallow (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – Judi Barrett). A town where food falls out of the sky. All day. Every day. Kimber: Sign me up!
Where are you heading this summer? Let us know which fictional paradise you’re hoping to wake up in!
So Mom is skipping merrily around the house. Opening every window in sight. Crowing about sunshine and summer.
Who loves ya, baby?
So embarrassing.
But that got one of us thinking. What are some great children’s books set during the sunshine season? The kind that’ll keep kiddos engaged, turning pages and avoiding endless choruses of “I’m boooorred”? Cuz summer is prime reading time! And not just for us dinosaurs (Don’t tell Mom I said that, okay?).
No idea what that means, spake I, Kimber the Magnificent. But Mom is crowing about “Hoo-ray for June!” So “June” must be a good thing, right? Especially if “June” comes in Filet Mignon, medium-well, wrapped in bacon and all juicy and yummy and…
Wait. Where was I?
Oh yeah. June. And reading.
Well. Today you’re in for a treat, Cupcake. Cuz today I’m gonna give you a rundown on how this June reading thing works in my house. Like this:
Kimber the Magnificent here. Giving you a little heads up. Cuz The ‘Ole Curmudgeon is being an old curmudgeon today. Again. Still. It has to do with this holiday thingy today. I’ll let TOC fill ya in:
Glad you asked. The answer is cuz I’M SO EXCITED!!
Mom: Kimber, that’s not new. You’re always excited. Just likd you love everyone. (Except maybe the neighborhood powder puff. But let’s not get picky here, okay?)
Kimber: I know. But Im soooo happy and super excited! Cuz its a favorite time of year! As in, Spring! New life! Warmer weather! Trees budding! Mud drying! Burgers on the barbie… What?
Oh yeah. Spring. And Easter! Oh yes. Oh Yes. OH YES! Like this:
They thought it was over. Friday felt like a final defeat. But Sunday morning was just getting started.
Cuz Easter isn’t just a story. It’s the Most Momentous Event in Human History. The Ultimate Triumph. The Everlasting Hope. Easter changes everything.
And one of our favorite books celebrating Easter is pretty new. In fact, it was released just last year by indie author Caleb Backholm. It’s called Two Weeks Till Sunday.
You know it’s Pawsome cuz we say so. It also garnered a very rare 5.0.
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran (Thorndike Press, 2023)
Genre: Fiction – Murder Mystery
Via: library
Pages (Print) 382
Kimber here. Telling you we weren’t going to do a “St. Patrick’s Day post.” Were not. Were not. WERE NOT!! But then…
This here “murder mystery” thingy sorta jumped off the shelf at The Book Place and landed in Mom’s book bag. Funny how that happens sometimes. But a cozy mystery by Jessica “J.B.” Fletcher set in Ireland? Well. Who can resist that? Especially on St. Patrick’s Day. So here we are.
You may be relieved to hear that we’re not doing a sappy Valentine’s Day post today. You know the type. Sparkly and swirly and romance-y and heart-y. Love birds and turtle doves and enough saccahrine to induce sugar diabetes. The ‘Ole Curmudgeon nixed that idea.
♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, ‘Ole Curmudgeon.
On this Valentine’s Day we’re all about book love. We’re focusing on why we love reading and giving you some examples of same. Like, books we really, really love.
Here are 10+ Reasons We Love Reading (what would you add?):
1. We get to visit all kinds of Really Cool Places and time frames. In our heads. Without coughing up a single penny for gasoline or airfare. Examples: A Tale of Two Cities. Doctor Zhivago. The Little Prince.
2. We meet some Really Cool Peeps. Characters that are relatable, endearing, surprising or intriguing and leave a lasting impression. Examples: Ferdinand the Bull. Curious George. Elizabeth Bennett. Edmond Dantes. Frodo. Reepicheep. The Boys in the Boat.
3. Reading expands our horizons. Ignites our imagination. Inspires. Challenges. Educates. Motivates. Examples: The Joy Luck Club. Lords of the Earth. In the Shadow of the Almighty. Masters of the Air. Ghost Soldiers.
4. We get to dive into some Really Cool Storylines. A compelling plot that captures the imagination and keeps us engaged is a special kind of fun. These stories often have universal themes like adventure, friendship, and courage. Often all of the above. And more. Examples: Call It Courage. A Christmas Carol. Black Beauty.Robinson Crusoe. The Velveteen Rabbit.
5. Reading offers emotional resilience. Reading often touches on deep emotions and experiences that resonate with readers of all ages – curmudgeons included! They address fundamental human concerns like love, fear, hope, and the need for acceptance. Examples: Fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. Aesop’s Fables.The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Elephant Man.Les Miserables.
6. We get to discover and enjoybeautiful language. The use of rich, evocative language can make the reading experience more enjoyable and memorable. This includes both the narrative style and dialogue. Examples: Inkheart. A River Runs Through It. Spencer’s Mountain. Anything by Max Lucado. Charles Swindoll. Jan Karon. Richard Paul Evans. Brock and Bodie Thoene.
7. We get to meet new people. Explore different cultures, continents, concepts and cuisines. Examples: Born Free: Lioness of Two Worlds. James Clavell’s Asian saga series. The Good Earth. Out of Africa.Travels With Charley. My Antonia. The Old Man and the Sea. A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
8. Good memories. Ever meet a book that made you smile when you re-visited it again? It’s like a hug from a long-lost friend. Examples: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Where the Wild Things Are. Goodnight Moon. Little House on the Prairie series. Anything by H.A. Rey, Virginia Lee Burton, or Margaret Wise Brown.
9. Sometimes reading changes everything. A book is so powerful or poignant or both, it can change your life. Example: The Bible.
10. We love discovering new and different takes on classic themes. These can include the triumph of good over evil, the importance of family and friends, and the journey of self-discovery. Examples: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Swiss Family Robinson. Pretty much anything by E.B. White.
11. We love reading books with layers of meaning that can be appreciated differently at various stages of life. This kind of book can be enjoyed multiple times. Each reading offers new insights. Examples: The Chronicles of Narnia. Peter Pan. Gulliver’s Travels. Alice in Wonderland.
12. Reading is magical. It opens a door into other worlds. Transports into different realms. Provides opportunities galore for adventure and exploration. Offers ringside seats at historic events. Much more. Besides. It’s fun! See items 1 – 11 above. You’re welcome.
We’ve read and enjoyed these titles as a family. All include strong characters, engaging plots, and superlative story-telling. All have stood the test of time. (Kimber: You may detect a big canine bias here. Because everything is better with dogs. Including the Great Outdoors!)
Here, in no particular order, are our 100% unscientific, completely subjective recommendations for 20 awesome outdoor classics for older children. How many have you read?
Pages & Paws 