Summer Reading Lower School 2024

To deliver her mother's delicious soup to her sick Granny Oak, Evergreen the squirrel must face her fears and make the journey, during which she meets other forest dwellers, including some who want to get their hands on her soup!

Harriet Wermer investigates to find a treasured pair of binoculars that have gone missing from her grandmothers bed-and-breakfast.

Dr Morley is about to embark on a quest to the northernmost tip of the world, to discover a creature that everyone talks about but nobody has ever seen: The Giant Arctic Jellyfish. After years of research and hard graft, she gathers together a highly trained crew and a boat full of specialist equipment, and sets sail for the vast icy scapes of the Arctic. Will she find what she is searching for? Or will it find her?

Graphic novel-like layouts and humorous text tell the thrilling tale of two friends who become stranded on a volcanic island in Iceland.

"When Cat announces that the Humans have given her a surprise present, Doggo and Pupper are all ears. But when they find out that Cat has a new bed and misses her old one, they set out to help her search for cozy"--Provided by publisher.

"Ohayo! It's breakfast time and Gigi can't wait to make her favorite meal--Peanut Butter Toast. Yummy! But Ojiji doesn't like peanut butter. How can anyone not like peanut butter? Ojiji prefers Japanese foods--like natto, made from fermented soybeans. Will Gigi learn to love a new breakfast treat? This story highlights the close relationship of Gigi and her grandfather and the importance of trying new things!"--Provided by publisher.

When the Bear's friend, the little bird, dies, Bear is inconsolable. Full of grief, he locks himself in his house and ventures out again only when the smell of spring grass blows in through his window. He meets a wildcat and finally feels understood. As the cat plays his violin, Bear remembers all the fun he had with the little bird. Now he can say goodbye to his friend, because he knows he'll always have his memories.

"Join Panda and Squirrel in nine funny, wise and thoughtful stories about the meaning of friendship"--Back cover.

"In an alternate past--or possible future--a mighty tree stands on the banks of a winding river, bearing silent witness to the flow of time and change. A family farms the fertile valley. Soon, a village sprouts, and not long after, a town. Residents learn to harness the water, the wind, and the animals in order to survive and thrive. The growing population becomes ever more industrious and clever, bending nature itself to their will and their ambition: redirecting rivers, harvesting lumber, reshaping the land, even extending daylight itself . . ."--Provided by publisher.

"Praised for acting like a big girl when she is small, as a young girl grows, 'big' becomes a word of criticism, until the girl realizes that she is fine just the way she is"--Provided by publisher.

fter the death of her mother, a little girl learns to live with a figure named Empty that personifies her grief. پس از مرگ مادرش، دختری یاد می گیرد که با شخصیتی به نام خالی زندگی کند که نشان دهنده غم و اندوه اوست.

Henry, a first grader on the autism spectrum, attempts to navigate friendships, and sudden changes in classroom routines--like a parade on Friday instead of share time.

"A Palestinian family celebrates the stories of their homeland in this moving autobiographical picture book."--Provided by publisher.

"One boy's parents travel from far-off lands to improve their son's life. But what happens next is unexpected. What does it mean when your parents are different? With humor and pathos, Sworder reflects on the strange nature of giving and receiving love and celebrates those parents who embrace a hard life for themselves in the hope of a better life for their children"--Provided by publisher.

hough the world is very different from when his Tooth Mouse descendants worked, a Tooth Mouse named Pérez continues his ancestors' tradition and brings children their permanent teeth.

"A twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun"--Provided by publisher.

"The Night Parade is about to begin . . . The ground thunders in Tokyo. A gust of wind blows. The pitter patter of paws and claws draws closer. The air is thick with swirling, swooping demons. It's Eka's favorite evening of the year, the one night she refuses to miss. But it's become harder to travel to Japan now that she's living across the world in New York. Unsure of when she can return next to see her yokai friends, Eka tries to forget that this could be her last parade for some time. Instead, she'll march, sing, dance, hoot, and screech until sunrise. Because on this night, there's no time to waste--the Night Parade awaits"--Provided by publisher.

On Halmoni's birthday after finding a mess in the kitchen but no Joon, Jin is sent through a magical portal into a fantastical world to deliver rice cakes to the notorious miser Jo-harabuhji and hopefully meet Joon and restore Halmoni's broken magic pot.

How does Santa go down the chimney? Nobody knows, but this text presents a lot of different ideas!

"9 year-old Obioma is a football star. She uses a special stick to score goals and never loses a race in her wheelchair! But when she moves to a new city, she has to go to a new school where she has no friends, and everyone calls her 'the girl with the wheelchair'. Obioma misses playing football most of all, until one day a girl named Ayana asks her to race. Once they start playing football, everyone joins in and Obioma finds a new team to play with!"--Provided by publisher.

"A story of nocturnal animals at different points on the food chain"--Provided by publisher.

"Ana and Harwin's friendship has been off the charts since day one! But when Harwin learns her family is going to move far away, the duo isn't sure how their friendship can survive the move. See how their friend-o-meters calibrate"--Provided by publisher.

Internationally acclaimed poet John Agard recalls the journey made by the thousands of Caribbean children and their families who traveled to Britain between 1948 and 1971 as part of the Windrush generation. With one last hug, Windrush child says goodbye to his grandmother and the shores of his Caribbean home before embarking on an adventure across the ocean--under a sky full of promise--to an unknown horizon. With sensitivity and tender lyricism, world-renowned and multi-award-winning poet John Agard narrates the epic story of a child's voyage to England aboard Empire Windrush. Joyous illustrations by debut artist Sophie Bass richly evoke the changing landscapes and the uncertainty, courage, and hope of those who step into history--and travel far in search of home.

A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991.

Mahani Teave grew up on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, one of the most remote islands in the world, where moai statues stand and music is everywhere. When she began taking lessons on the island's only piano, she proved to be a great talent. She left Rapa Nui when she was just nine to continue her music education, wishing she didn't have to leave such a beautiful place to pursue her dreams. She became an internationally acclaimed classical pianist, playing around the world for all kinds of audiences. But her island home kept calling her back. Years later, she returned to Rapa Nui to stay, and with a new dream: to save its environment and culture.

A true story of determination and groundbreaking achievement follows eighth grade African American spelling champion MacNolia Cox, who left Akron, Ohio, in 1936 to compete in the prestigious National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., only to be met with prejudice and discrimination.

"Growing up under the gray skies of England during WWII, David Hockney used art to brighten his world. He discovered that the more he looked and drew, the more he could see beyond the surface to find beauty, possibility, and new perspectives. In the most ordinary things, whether a splash of water, a changing landscape, or the face of a friend, David always found something to love, uniquely capturing the vibrancy and life of his subjects . . . [This book] tells the inspiring story of a groundbreaking artist who has shown the world a new way to see"--Provided by publisher.

"Meet Randolph Caldecott, the artist who revolutionized picture book illustration and for whom the prestigious Caldecott medal is named! . . . a lively, humorous, and energetically informative biography that celebrates the spirit of storytelling in art. Quick! If you don't move fast, you're going to miss him - there he goes - Randolph Caldecott, future famous illustrator. His sketchbook is full of hurly burly: wild weather, frisky animals, and people so sprightly they can barely hold onto the pages. But in the 1850s, there are no children's books like that. Not yet. Many books are published, but their pictures look stiff, full of pretty poses and cluttered scenery. No one has imagined how much fun an illustrated book could be - because the future hero of children's book illustration is still just a lad."--Provided by publisher.

"A picture book autobiography by Yukie Kimura about her childhood in Japan during World War II, co-written by her son and bestselling nonfiction author Steve Sheinkin"--Provided by publisher.

"The true story of how a 1969 fire in one of the most polluted rivers in America helped foster awareness of water pollution and how the river's fate contributed to the environmental movement"--Provided by publisher.

"Enter the dark Antarctic winter, where a pair of emperor penguins share the task of keeping their young one alive--and discover how fighting climate change is key to their survival"--Provided by publisher.

An illustrated concertina book that takes the reader on a journey down the river, from the source high up in the mountains all the way to the sea, . . . [and] ventures down surging waterfalls and past meandering turns, whilst exploring the remarkable relationship between humans, nature and rivers.

"When a whale passes away, its body sinks to the ocean floor and becomes an energy-rich food source for organisms living in the deep sea"--Provided by publisher.

"A nonfiction picture book that tells the . . . story of the honeybee colonies that lived on the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and survived the devastating 2019 fire"--Provided by publisher.

Moon smiles down on Earth and observes different countries celebrating Ramadan until her crescent tinkle triggers the start of Eid.

"For this multicultural family, inspired by the author's own, two New Years mean twice as much to celebrate! In the fall, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, offers an opportunity to bake challah, dip apples in honey, and lift voices in song. In the spring, Lunar New Year brings a chance to eat dumplings, watch dragon dances, and release glowing lanterns that light up the sky"--Provided by publisher.

"Lyrical text and . . . illustrations plunge readers into an undersea exploration of the mysterious, accomplished octopus and its . . . abilities"--Provided by publisher.

The true story of Destiny, a little sloth who did not let an injured eye keep her from learning how to be free in the rainforest.

"What could we clever humans ever learn from trees? Take an unashamedly anthropomorphic wander through the woods to learn a few life lessons from our foliaged friends"--OCLC.

"Rhyming text follows the evolution of the ocean, from the fiery time of its birth to the marvelously biodiverse present. Includes notes from the author and illustrator, spotlights on past and present marine life-forms, a [fold-out] timeline of evolutionary eras, a glossary of key terms, and recommended further reading"--Provided by publisher.

"Follow our moon as it waxes and wanes across the night sky in this informative ... nonfiction picture book"--Amazon.

"With wind and water, nature shapes our planet in amazing ways. Photos of geological marvels accompany lyrical verse in this exploration of the forces of weathering and erosion"--Provided by publisher.

"Discover what growing trees need so they can rise to the sky in this . . . look at the tree life cycle"--Provided by publisher.

A narrative nonfiction story detailing the long distance that dust from the Sahel in Africa travels across the Atlantic Ocean to replenish life in the Amazon Rainforest. Told from the perspective of dust, . . . takes readers on a journey through . . . illustrated landscapes, celebrating the power and wonder of Earth's ecosystems, and showing how these tiny particles are in fact key to the health of our planet"--Provided by publisher.

"Meet Moon! Follow along as she guides us through her origin and her purpose in this . . . nonfiction picture book. . . . This . . . exploration into the moon both informs and entertains, and helps young readers make sense of the world around them"--Provided by publisher.

"This browsable book explores the wind's role in our planet and its history, from carrying pollen to shaping sand dunes to pushing record-breaking ships across the ocean"--Provided by publisher.

"A . . . survey of seven nomadic societies spread across the continents. With . . . illustrations bringing the material to life, we learn about the Sama Bajau, fishing nomads from the Philippines who spend months at sea without ever touching land. We discover the Yanomami peoples of the Amazon rainforest whose connection to their environment informs every aspect of their lives. The Nenet nomads of Siberia follow their reindeer through blasting winds to the very edge of the Arctic Circle"--Amazon.

"Since the beginning, humans have created stories about the universe. From early mythology to modern-day science is a long journey, yet so much of our galaxy remains a mystery. What will we believe tomorrow? . . . [This book looks at] the complex and ever-evolving relationship between science and story"--Provided by publisher.