What makes a great “beach read”? It’s a phrase that we use to describe a certain type of fun, engrossing story that entertains without demanding that you think too hard about it, but that sometimes you still find yourself reflecting on long after the summer ends. We’re excited to tell you about some of our recent favorites, and why they’re great choices for beach reading.
Lori: As a kid, I never got to go to summer camp, but always desperately wanted to! Awesome best friend duo Ivy and Bean are dealing with some camp envy of their own in their latest book, Ivy + Bean Make the Rules.
Mia: And the way Ivy and Bean get creative and make their own summer fun is an idea that any kid can use when the summer begins to drag on and on…! Long summer days are also a great time for making new friends and having adventures. When the Penderwick sisters spend their summer in a cottage on a sprawling estate, they befriend a boy who is the perfect companion to complete their crew.
Lori: The Penderwicks is filled with relatable and utterly distinct characters and keeps readers turning the pages, eliciting plenty of laughs and one or two gasps (there’s an unforgettable scene with an angry bull). These wonderful sisters really show that family vacations can be full of small but memorable adventures.
Mia: Some family vacations are filled with much bigger adventures, and they often hold interesting clues to the past. A Long Way from Chicago tells the story of siblings Joey and Mary Alice and their annual summer trip to visit their Grandma Dowdal in her quaint Illinois town. This novel is filled with short and hilarious stories, which make it easy to read in between dips in the water to cool off!
Lori: Sometimes the best way to beat the summer heat is to keep your fingers crossed for a summer downpour, especially if you’re nowhere near the ocean. In Come On, Rain!, Tessie’s unflagging optimism that a rainstorm must be coming inspires her whole neighborhood to head outside and enjoy the cloudburst.
Mia: The beautiful watercolor illustrations in this book remind me of my best friend’s favorite game from when we were little: to go outside on a nice day and draw on the deck or sidewalk with a paintbrush dipped in water. While you’re waiting for rain, you can make your own watery creations, or if you’re at the beach, draw in the sand. No mess to clean up and all the blank canvas you need!
Lori: And while you’re playing in the sand, don’t forget that the ocean is the perfect place to study sharks—at least from the safety of your beach towel! Buzz and Fly Guy keep curious kiddos captivated with all kinds of awesome shark facts, photos, and cool shark words in Fly Guy Presents: Sharks!
Mia: Sharks!!! Ahhh! The language in this book is just right for building kids’ confidence…at least their independent reading confidence! (It may not make them feel so confident about taking a dip in the ocean.…) What better way to set the mood for reading a story of ocean survival than with the sound of actual waves crashing around you? Voyage of the Frog is a harrowing survival story. Fourteen-year-old David is determined to sail alone out to sea to fulfill his uncle’s dying wish, but a surprise storm finds him lost, with no coast in sight, only seven cans of food, and barely any water.
Lori: You won’t be able to put this one down: no one’s better at edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting storytelling than Gary Paulsen! So make sure you survive your trip to the beach (or your very own backyard) with plenty of water, sunscreen, and of course a super fun, engaging, unforgettable book!
Author Bios:
Lori Ess is the associate director of title presentation for Scholastic Book Clubs. Before coming to Clubs, Lori was a children’s librarian in Queens, NY. She loves fantasy, mystery, mysterious fantasies, and silly picture books for toddlers.
Mia Cabana is a managing editor of online copy at Scholastic Book Clubs. She has also worked as a young adult librarian and dreams of someday joyriding around the country in her own bookmobile.
