Tasty Summer Reading, Recipes Included!

School's out, and Lafayette Library Media Specialist Mrs. Cifrodella and daughters Julie and Jordan are serving up a heaping helping of summer reading: a baker's dozen of tempting tales, scrumptious stories, and delectable book recommendations.  There's something for everyone on the menu, so let's dig in!

For starters, Mrs. Cifrodella suggests historical fiction adventure, Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (RL 3.7).  In 1935, Turtle's mother finds work as a housekeeper for a woman who does not like children.  The eleven-year-old is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in Key West, Florida.  Before long, Turtle's world opens up in unexpected ways.

A sweet and satisfying summer tale: In The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (RL 4.6), four sisters vacation with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains.  The girls share adventures with a local boy, much to the irritation of his snobbish mother.  Emma created a book trailer:

Speaking of sweet and satisfying... Julie C. is sampling a slice of Pie by Sarah Weeks (RL 5.6). When Alice’s Aunt Polly passes away, she entrusts the recipe for her world-famous pie crust to her disagreeable cat, Lardo, which she leaves in Alice’s care.  While everyone in the pie-crazy town attempts to discover the secret ingredients, Alice learns important lessons about friendship, faithfulness, and family.

Pie Diorama.

How about a piece of sci-fi pie?  In Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass (RL 4.6), Earth has accidentally been erased from existence!  Joss-- seventh son of the Supreme Overlord of the Universe-- teams up with an outspoken human named Annika to re-create the vanished planet. 

Today’s special: Picture Book Pie!  With rhyming text and illustrations, How to Bake an American Pie by Karma Wilson (RL 3.3) shares a patriotic pie recipe, one prepared from all the things that make the United States special.

Another sweet reading treat: In It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder (RL 3.9), twelve-year-old Isabel dreams of seeing the world but has never ventured from Oregon.  Best friend Sophie  tells her about a baking contest, and Isabel enters the competition, hoping to travel to New York City.  But she worries about her Mother's newly-opened cupcake shop. Noreen shares a book trailer:

A companion book with more baking, more recipes, more friendship fun: In Sprinkles and Secrets by Lisa Schroeder (RL 3.7), twelve-year-old Sophie is thrilled to have the opportunity to audition for a television commercial... until she learns the advertiser is Beatrice's Brownies, a competitor with her best friend's family's cupcake shop. 

Sprinkles and Secrets Diorama.

Fresh-squeezed summer reading: In The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (RL 3.1), Evan and younger sister Jesse operate rival lemonade stands, each trying to earn one hundred dollars before the end of summer.  The chapter book includes tips for operating a successful lemonade stand.  Take a look at a book trailer, created by Grace L.

Lemonade, with a life lesson: Using rhyming text and bright illustration, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand by Liz Scott (RL 1.5) shares the true story of childhood cancer patient Alex Scott, who opened a lemonade stand to raise funds for cancer research, starting a nationwide movement, and inspiring this picture book about character, compassion, and courage: 

Hot weather, cool reading: Jordan C. recommends The House of Hades by Rick Riordan (RL 4.7) to Lafayette readers.  Packed with action, adventure, fantasy, and magic, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series follows Percy and Annabeth as they work with Greek and Roman demigods to seal the Doors of Death and escape the Underworld.

More action, more adventure, more fantasy, more magic... and pirates!  In Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (RL 7.2), the three Darling children journey through Neverland with Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up.  Watch a classic video review for this classic story, created by Hailey C.

On the lookout for more pirates?  Check out Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (RL 5.6).  Inspired by Peter Pan, this first-book-in-a-series tells the tale of orphan Peter and his friend Molly as they battle diabolical Black Stache and his evil associate Mister Grin.  Former Lafayette student Maddie P. gives the book high ratings, recommending it to adventure-loving readers.

A bestselling series to scoop: In Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell (RL 5.8), fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell fills her diary with funny stories and fanciful sketches, describing eighth-grade life in a new private school.  Lafayette graduate Kristina S. recommends this series about friendship, popularity, bullying, and learning to be yourself.

There you have it: a baker's dozen, thirteen books to start our summer reading.  Hungry for more?  Check back soon for more recommendations and summer fun!