More Summer Reading Suggestions

As school librarians are winding down and enjoying their summer vacation, things at the public library are ramping up. Why? Everyone comes in to stock up on summer reading. I love it, and I know the kids do too. “Finally! I can sit and read whatever I want and not worry about doing homework,” said Sam, a 7^th grader at the local middle school. 

What I enjoy are all the requests to recommend a good book.

Here are a few books that I suggest time and again. 

Bodies from the Ash : life and death in Pompeii
by James M. Deem 
Houghton Mifflin. 2005

An archaeological mystery that details the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the burying of Pompeii in 79 A.D. by looking at the skeletons that were unearthed. 

The Emperor’s Silent Army: Terracotta Warriors of Ancient China

by Jane O'Connor.

Viking. 2002

Before she became famous for her Fancy Nancy series, author Jane O’Connor wrote an  fascinating nonfiction title describing the archaeological discovery in 1974 of thousands of life-sized terracotta warrior statues found in Northern China. 

Cathy reviewed these two last year. They are hardly ever on the shelves.

Puffling Patrol 
by Ted and Betsy Lewin 
Lee & Low. 2012

and 

Life in the Ocean: the story of Oceanography Sylvia Earle

by Claire A. Nivola

FSG. 2012

Any title in the Scientist in the Field series are great to recommend. One of my favorites is:

The Hive Detectives:  chronicle of a honey bee catastrophe
by Loree Griffin Burns

Houghton Mifflin. 2010

Bee scientists from around the country are rushing to discover the cause of bee colony collapse disorder. 

Pair this with

UnBEElievables :  Honeybee poems & paintings

by Douglas Florian

Beach Lane Books. 2012

Snuggle up and share these enchanting poems with other bee lovers. Or, read them aloud to the bees in your yard. I'm sure they will love them. buzz.



Stay tuned for more great recommendations.

Happy Reading!