We hope you are enjoying our Remarkable Reading Recommendations for Summer 2015! Here is our fourth installment. All of our posts will highlight different books featured on the Scholastic 2015 Summer Reading Booklist. Each of our posts will focus on a different theme and will include a book for non-readers all the way through young adults.
Did you miss our Fiction booklist? Check it out here!
Did you miss our Throwback booklist? Check it out here!
Did you miss our Series booklist? Check it out here!
Selection #4 – Non-Fiction
When it comes to adventure and romance, sometimes the best place to look for a good story is in a history book. These works of non-fiction are not only based on true stories, but are highly engaging and entertaining for the reader. Expand your horizons with one of these non-fiction selections!
Ages 0 – 2
Bears! Bears! Bears! by Bob Barner
This delightful children’s book introduces young readers to many different types of bears. From pandas to polar bears and even some you may not have heard of before – like the sun bear and the moon bear. Colorful illustrations and adorable rhymes will make this book a favorite for your youngster. We enjoy this book because the non-fiction facts are presented like a picture book and the illustrations are a delight. Plus, the book jacket unfolds into a poster for your student’s bedroom!
Amazon.com — $13.45 (hard cover)
Ages 3 – 5
How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge
Dinosaurs have always been a hit with kids. We grew up on the Flintstones and now we’re enjoying “Jurassic World”. Kids know that dinosaurs were big, but just how big is “big”? This book combines factual knowledge with clever illustrations to compare dinosaurs to modern day animals. Dino lovers of all ages will be amazed by the real life comparisons. (For example, did you know that the Microraptor was barely the size of a chicken?) We chose this book because it presents the dinosaurs in a new realistic light and helps kids strengthen their comparison and estimation skills. The illustrations are great!
Amazon.com — $12.73 (hard cover)
Ages 6 – 7
Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story of the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine & Kadir Nelson
Many slaves went to great lengths to find their freedom. A young boy named Henry grew up as a slave, working in his master’s home. Not soon after, he was separated from his family and forced to work in a warehouse. After Henry marries and starts his own family, they are sold at a slave auction and Henry is alone yet again. But then he gets an unconventional idea that might help him find his freedom. We were inspired by Henry’s true story and find the combination of words and illustrations to be highly compelling. A wonderful story for the whole family!
Amazon.com — $12.26 (hard cover)
Ages 8 – 10
10 True Tales Series, by Allan Zullo
Allan Zullo has composed a series of short books depicting true tales of bravery and heroism. Each book in his series features a different group of people. Titles include FBI Heroes, Young Civil Rights Heroes, and a book on surviving shark attacks. The series is still being released and more books were released at the end of June – including 9/11 heroes, World War II heroes, and Crime Scene Investigators. Each book features true stories and highlights the men and women who saved the day. While some books may be too intense for young readers, we think these books are a great way to introduce readers to different professions and periods of time. The stories in the books are short for quick, easy reads.
Amazon.com — prices vary (paperback)
Ages 11 – 13
The Giant and How He Humbugged America, by Jim Murphy
In 1869, a 10 foot tall petrified “man” was unearthed from the ground. People from all over came and paid money to look at the mysterious giant. Where did he come from? This book tells the amazing story of the Cardiff Giant and one of the biggest hoaxes in American history. We enjoy this book because this story is seldom shared and it also talks about the influence of communication and the media. Lessons learned in the 19th century can still be useful today.
Amazon.com — $15.92 (hard cover)
Young Adult
Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival, by Marcel Prins, Peter Henk Steenhuis & Laura Watkinson
The story of Anne Frank is familiar to many, but several other children were forced into hiding to avoid the horrors of the Holocaust. This collection of short stories shares the adventures of fourteen other children who fled their homes to survive. Some children were teens and others were barely toddlers, forced to live with distant relatives or even complete strangers. We chose this book for our list because the stories are compelling. The bravery of these young people led to their survival from the terrors of World War II.
Amazon.com — $12.98 (hard cover)
What books would YOU recommend? Tell us in the comments section and we might feature your book on a future list!
If you decide to purchase these (or any other) books online, please consider supporting the Creative Education Institute and ordering them through Amazon Prime. For every purchase you make through Prime, Amazon will make a donation to the non-profile organization, which will go to provide academic services to students in need.
Be on the lookout for the next installment of our reading list – Just Released books!
Photo Credit: The pictures of the books in this post were taken from Amazon.com.