Chapter Books to Read Aloud or Alone Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary (1982) Enjoy the further adventures of a motorcycle-riding mouse who goes to school. The BFG by Roald Dahl (1982) Sophie and the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) must come up with a plan to save the world from nine man-gobbling giants. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (1948) A young boy sets out to rescue a baby dragon who is being held captive by a group of animals on Wild Island. Little Rhino: My New Team by Ryan Howard (2015) After school, Little Rhino loves to practice catching and hitting with Grandpa James. Now he’s on his first baseball team. Batter up! A new chapter book series from Major League Baseball's 2006 National League MVP, Ryan Howard. Bunnicula: A Rabbit-tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe (1979) Harold, the dog, and Chester, the cat, are convinced that the new baby bunny is a vampire. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones (2015) Sophie and her parents have just inherited a farm. Why would someone be trying to steal their chickens? Could it be because of their amazing superpowers? Sofia Martinez: My Family Adventure by Jacqueline Jules (2015) Sofia Martinez has a big personality and big plans, which makes every day memorable. Follow her adventures in this new series.

Katie Woo series by Fran Manushkin Katie Woo is smart and funny – and good at getting into trouble!Enjoy her stories in this early reader series. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (2006) Eight-year-old Clementine helps her father get rid of the pigeons around their apartment building. Andrea Davis Pinkney Pike is excited to welcome Andrea Davis Pinkney to campus next December. Ms. Pinkney is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of many books for children and young adults. She is the author of several notable titles, including Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down; Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride; Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation; and Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Songs. Take time to enjoy her books this summer. Read Around the World “Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.” -- Hazel Rochman At the Pike Library, we encourage students to read widely, whether it be a new genre or series, a book set in another country, or about a character different from themselves. By opening the pages of a novel or a picture book, we can travel to the Harlem Renaissance, to Hong Kong, or to Hogwarts, all courtesy of an author’s imagination. SummerReads is compiled by Pike librarians Mrs. Mellin and Ms. Spence and is available as a pdf at http://www.pikeschool.org//page.cfm?p=2476.

Visit your local library and sign up for summer reading programs and special activities.

SummerReads

Lower School Summer 2016

Reed Cahill Class of 2018

Highlights from the Past Year Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews (2015) In picture book format, this is the true story of a trombone player and his drive to be heard. 2016 Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award The Turnip by Jan Brett (2015) Badger Girl is thrilled with her giant turnip but when the time comes to harvest it, she needs help. Maya’s Blanket: La Manta de Maya by Monica Brown (2015) As Maya’s special blanket grows old and worn, she and Grandma turn it into a dress, a skirt, a shawl, a scarf, a hair ribbon, and finally, a bookmark. Inspired by the traditional Yiddish folk song “I Had a Little Coat.” 8, An Animal Alphabet by Elisha Cooper (2015) An ingenious counting book full of interesting facts about animals around the world. Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle (2015) A young girl dreams of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongos. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers. 2016 Pura Belpré Award The Night Gardener by Terry and Eric Fan (2016) William’s gray little town comes to life when a mysterious gardener appears and creates wonderful topiary statues each night. Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry (2015) When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair become fast friends. Skunks Smell Bad by Susan H. Gray (2015) This nonfiction book offers answers to why skunks smell bad and other skunky questions.

Now You See Them, Now You Don't: Poems About Creatures That Hide by David L. Harrison (2016) A series of poems illustrated with cut-paper collage. Can you find the hidden animals? Illustrated by Giles Laroche, Pike’s 2015 visiting author. Cricket Song by Anne Hunter (2016) A sweet bedtime story focusing on two sleepy children on different continents going to bed accompanied by a variety of smells and sounds. Bright Sky, Starry City by Uma Krishnaswami (2015) Phoebe and her dad long to see the stars. When the lights go out in the city, they get their chance. Includes back matter describing the night sky. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick (2015) A woman tells her young son the true story of how his great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, rescued a bear cub in 1914, and how that bear became the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories. 2016 Caldecott Medal Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner (2015) Explore the hidden worlds of the garden - above and below ground. If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson (2015) In this luminously illustrated book, the animals learn about the power of sharing. Don’t Call Me Grandma by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (2016) Great-grandmother Nell does NOT want to be called grandma. Woodpecker Wham! by April Pulley Sayre (2015) Woodpeckers galore - along with amazing facts and information.

Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks by Corey Rosen Schwartz & Rebecca J. Gomez (2016) When Hensel and Gretel’s dad gets snatched by a wily fox, the sisters use their ninja skills to find him before he becomes dinner. I Used to Be Afraid by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (2015) A close look at scary things that turn out to be magical. Learn how a frightening spider creates an intricate web and how the dark can transform into the brilliant night sky.

Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea (2015) Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests sounds like fun to Ballet Cat.

Thunder Boy Jr. by Alexie Sherman (2016) Thunder Boy Jr. is named for his dad, but he wants a name that's all his own. Can he find the perfect name?

Ideas Are All Around by Philip C. Stead (2016) On a simple walk through the neighborhood, ideas are everywhere just waiting to be discovered.

What This Story Needs is a Hush and a Shush by Emma J. Virján (2016) A pig in a wig wants to go to sleep but the farm animals keep her awake.

Sonya’s Chickens by Phoebe Wall (2015) Sonya carefully raises three chickens from the time they are tiny chicks. When one goes missing, she learns a valuable lesson about nature and the joys and sorrows of caring for another creature.

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems (2016) Piggie wants to thank everyone. But Gerald is worried that Piggie will forget someone important. The 25th and final entry in the series.