Summer Reading–Update
School’s out. The kids are home. We’ve been to visit family and had family visit us. We’ve been swimming, eating popsicles, and watching the World Cup. I haven’t had a second of time or attention to write but we’ve all been making progress on our summer reading. I wanted to share two of my early favorites: Laura Purdie Salas’ Water Can Be… and Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover.
In a way Water Can Be… is exactly what it sounds like, a list of many forms and functions of water. But to think of it that way is to miss it’s charm which is its creativity. Laura has been incredibly creative in her thinking about all the things water can do; she’s been equally creative with her rhymes. For example, she writes, “Water can be a..Tadpole hatcher…Picture catcher…” If you haven’t already read it, I highly recommend it.
I also recommend The Crossover, Kwame Alexander’s novel in verse for kids 9-12. This isn’t a book about basketball. It’s a book about a boy who plays basketball whose life is getting complicated by his twin brother’s new girlfriend, his father’s health, and his own reactions to these challenges. I love all the complicated characters. I especially love the boys’ mom who is the assistant principal at school and does her best to give the boys guidance and limits. The collection even includes poems about interesting words like pulchritudinous and churlish. I recommended this book to a 12 year old boy who loved it. I hear from his parents that it’s now making the rounds among his friends.
I hope you’re all enjoying your summer activities. How’s your summer reading going?
For more Poetry Friday, visit Buffy’s Blog.
I agree, Water Can Be is a charming, creative book. I hadn’t heard of The Crossover. A novel in verse for boys is an interesting idea. Thanks for telling me about it.
I also loved Water Can Be. Will have to checkout The Crossover. Thanks for the recommendation
Thanks so much:>) And I JUST picked up The Crossover from the library today. I’ve heard wonderful things about it from so many people!
I love Water Can Be, too! I have The Crossover on my reading “to do” list. I should get to it next week (I have 2 books in front of it). I have recommitted to taking time to read this summer and two books I read recently stand out: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys (on the older end of YA) and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (YA) Both books engaged me from the opening page. I’ll keep you posted on other recommended reads. Keep your recommendations coming too, Liz, I love hearing about good books. Happy Friday! = )
I loved both of these, too! My summer reading…well…not so great (YET!!) but I just put about 30 books on reserve at the library!!
So far I haven’t done much summer reading OR summer writing. Sigh. But I must add The Crossover to my list, and I’m glad your summer is turning out to be full of good news. 🙂