On the Shelf: Bonus Books for summer storytimes
“Babies Around the World” series (Duopress, ages birth – 4)
Introduce little ones to their counterparts in other countries with this board book series. Learn about dancing, food and life with words in the languages of the world, along with English translation. The illustrations are colorful and loaded with smiling baby faces.
“Art and Joy – Best Friends Forever” by Danielle Krysa (Prestel, ages 5 – 9)
Art and joy really do go together. Don’t let the art bullies (and perfectionism) tell you or your children otherwise. It’s OK to be silly in creating, to color outside the lines and even to be a little weird. This wonderful tale gently helps combat the need to make art perfect and lets little crafters run free.
“Holding On” by Sophia N. Lee, illustrated by Isabel Roxas (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, ages 4 – 8)
Oof, parents, this one might require some tissues. It is a sweet story about a grandmother and grandchild. They hold on to each other through songs and memories, both while they are apart and when the grandmother is quiet and can’t remember as much as she used to. This is a wonderful conversation opener about aging and the challenges it can bring.
“JJ Goes to the Potty” a CoComelon story adapted by Tina Gallo (Simon Spotlight, ages 5 and younger)
You know, you are just going to need to get some potty books eventually. If your little one is a CoComelon fan, let this lift-the-flap sticker book help pave the way to potty independence. It is a gentle and fun, and it can help take away some of the fear toddlers have about this step to becoming a big kid.
“Angelina, Star of the Show” by Katharine Holabird, illustrated by Helen Craig (Little Simon, ages 4 – 8)
Angelina Ballerina is dancing in the Mouseland Dance Festival – and she is pretty excited about it, so much so that she can’t really focus on anything else. Sound familiar? Little dancers will love this sweet tale. The detailed illustrations provide something new to pick out with each read.
“Batter Up, Charlie Brown” a Peanuts Graphic Novel, by Charles M. Schulz (Simon Spotlight, ages 8 – 12)
This wonderful collection of classic Peanuts stories and comic strips brings a big dose of nostalgia to your summer reading. Tuck this one in the car for road trip reading or let your kids dig in for baseball season. If you’ve forgotten, there are some great opportunities to talk about topics like bullying and sportsmanship with these stories.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: On the Shelf: Bonus Books for summer storytimes
