Words to Grow On
A bumper crop of books for a delicious summer of reading pleasure
The joys of reading are almost synonymous with summer for many of us. We fondly remember our first memories of books that introduced us to ideas and worlds beyond anything we had imagined. This summer, introduce a favorite child of yours to some wonderful writing about food with these suggestions from Carmichael’s Bookstore.
Board Books:
Wild Backyard
Kate Riggs $7.99
A robin pecks for berries. A rabbit nibbles leaves. Wild Backyard offers up a fun introduction to the activities of six backyard animals that are sure to fascinate every preschool learner. This is a board book all young readers will go wild over!
Picture Books:
Finding Wild
Meagan Wagner Lloyd $16.99
There are so many places that wild can exist, if only you know where to look! Can you find it? In Finding Wild, two kids set off on an adventure away from their urban home and discover all the beauty of the natural world. From the bark on the trees to the sudden storm that moves across the sky to fire and flowers, and snowflakes and fresh fruit. As the children make their way through the woods and back to the paved and noisy streets, they discover that wild exists not just off in some distant place, but right in their own backyard.
Bloom
Doreen Cronin $17.99
Another wonderful tale by Doreen Cronin, author of the Click Clack Moo books, Bloom is a new twist on the classic fairy tale story. When the glass castle begins to crack, the Royals send their meekest subject, Genevieve, to coax Bloom, the long-banished mud fairy, to come back and save the kingdom. Bloom and Genevieve seem highly unlikely heroines to the Royals — but never underestimate the power of hard work, self-confidence, and a little mud. With themes about the beauty of nature, this is a timely book about being “green,” and all the wonders that the Earth can provide.
The Night Gardener
Terry & Eric Fan 17.99
One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William’s gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William — and his town — are changed forever. In an age where children are consumed by electronics, The Night Gardener is a breath of fresh air. Interwoven into the story is a subtle message about going outside to enjoy the beauty of nature.
When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems from All Seasons
Julie Fogliano $18.99
Flowers blooming in sheets of snow make way for happy frogs dancing in the rain. Summer swims move over for autumn sweaters until the snow comes back again. Seasons change from winter to fall in this book of poetry from Julie Fogliano, author of And Then It’s Spring and If You Want to See A Whale, and charmingly illustrated by Julie Morstad. From beginning to end, this beautiful book of poetry about the seasons feels like it’s been a part of children’s book canon all our lives.
Non-Fiction:
A Beetle Is Shy
Dianna Hutts Aston $16.99
The award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long team up again, this time creating a gorgeous look at the fascinating world of beetles. From flea beetles to bombardier beetles, an incredible variety of these beloved bugs are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched and visually striking book is perfect for sparking children’s imaginations in both classroom reading circles and home libraries.
The Ultimate Guide to Gardening: Grow Your Own Indoor, Vegetable, Fairy, & Other Great Gardens
Lisa J. Amstutz $12.95
Looking for something to do this summer? Full of how-to projects for any level of gardener, this book includes step-by-step instructions with accompanying full-color photographs. Whether you’re planting flowers outdoors, or vegetables indoors, you’ll find a range of unique gardens you can grow yourself. Tips and techniques are included, as well as variations to make each project your own.
Middle Grade:
The Wild Robot
Peter Brown $16.99
Peter Brown’s first Middle Grade reader is illustrated in his trademark style with loveable animals prominently featured, and introduces wonderful robots into the scene. This is truly a wildly imaginative ride about a heroic female robot named Roz. Science-friendly without being didactic, this book can be used to teach simple lessons about earth science, and the effect that technology plays in our world. The environmental message will resonate with his picture book readers who are ready for more as well as his myriad adult fans.
Hour of the Bees
Lindsay Eagar $16.99
While her friends are spending their summers having pool parties and sleepovers, 12-year-old Carol is spending hers in the middle of the New Mexico desert, helping her parents move the grandfather she’s never met into a home for people with dementia. At first, Carol avoids prickly Grandpa Serge. But as the summer wears on and the heat bears down, Carol finds herself drawn to him, fascinated by the crazy stories he tells her about a healing tree, a green-glass lake, and the bees that will bring back the rain and end a hundred years of drought. As the thin line between magic and reality starts to blur, Carol must decide for herself what is possible — and what it means to be true to her roots. Readers who dream that there’s something more out there will be enchanted by this captivating novel of family, renewal, and discovering the wonder of the world.
Carmichael’s, along with Morris Book Shop in Lexington and Destinations Booksellers in New Albany, represent locally owned retailers where the benefits of buying local can be experienced.
