We read with interest Nicholas Kristof’s column on the importance of summer reading for children—and plenty of other people did, too. 
The column rose to the top of the most viewed list at nytimes.com. But surely we won’t be the only ones to question Kristof’s reading recommendations. Almost every book on the list was published decades ago (the two exceptions being Harry Potter and the Alex Rider series). Among Kristof’s picks for summer reading were the Hardy Boys, Freddy the Pig and Little Lord Fauntleroy. That’s like telling my teenage son to go see a movie, and suggesting that he choose between Gone With the Wind and The Philadelphia Story. Great films, no doubt, but not as likely to interest kids as a well-done recent release.
We all love the classics, but aren’t there plenty of newer books that would hold the attention of children—and teach them a little something as well? Of course there are, and The Book Case is here to prove it! For technical support, we asked husband-and-wife children’s book experts Dean Schneider (a recent Newbery selection committee member) and Robin Smith (an upcoming Caldecott committee member) for quick, off-the-top-of-their-heads recommendations of a few recent children’s books worth reading.
Dean picks:
- Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief and the rest of the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series (for any age able to read them)
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (for ages 11 & up)
- Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (ages 11-14)
- Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos (for high school-aged readers)
Robin suggests:
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson (or anything by her, actually)
- The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan (great minds think alike)
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
There are so many more it’s hard to know where to stop, but I have to mention a few of my own recent favorites:
- The Underneath by Kathi Appelt (not the cuddly animal story you’d expect from the cover, but completely enchanting)
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (this Caldecott-winning graphic novel would be an especially good choice for reluctant readers)
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (a Newbery-winning ghost story that’s more adventurous than spooky)
- The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (and the sequel, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, wonderfully nostalgic tales about four sisters).
Go ahead and share your favorite classics with your children this summer—but don’t stop there!
Thankyou for spreading the word – We are in a Golden time for Children’s literature – help them sift through today’s dross to find gold!
Their time is important too – don’t ask them to waste it reading books published for the children of the last century – Those Halcyon days are gone….not forgotten.. but perhaps lists with ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’ are best avoided. After all avid readers will find them very easily in any ‘classics’ section – it’s the new ones they need to guided through.
I’d suggest for Teen Readers ‘Gone’ by Michael Grant… SciFi Teen Anxiety Coming of Age or another favourite in my South London School is Award winning ‘The Knife of Never Letting Go’ by Patrick Ness – Quite an original idea – Dystopian frenzy/quest.
Or….Rachel Ward’s ‘Numbers’ – chilling premonitions.. but realistically written, not a horror book.
see http://www.ckg.org.uk for other suggestions from readers 11 – 16 who have been shadowing the CILIP Carnegie Book Award.
Happy Reading!
How nice to get a perspective from England, where so many of the children’s classics were written!
We also liked The Knife of Never Letting Go and can’t wait to check out your other recommendations. Looks like Rachel Ward’s Numbers won’t be published in the U.S. until next year, so we will look forward to reading that one.
I just this morning finished reading an advance copy of CATCHING FIRE, Suzanne Collins’ follow-up to THE HUNGER GAMES. (It actually pubs in September). WOW, is all I can say. I can’t believe how well-written and compelling both books are (I rarely read young adult books). My 20-year-old daughter, who is FINALLY returning to reading after about 6-year hiatus, read THE HUNGER GAMES in one sitting and is coming home from college this weekend to pick up CATCHING FIRE. If you want to see your teen dive into a book this summer, hand him/her THE HUNGER GAMES! And they’ll be in line at the bookstore in September to buy CATCHING FIRE.
My 12 year old loves the Gregor the Underlander series, and also the Uglies series. Another fav is Sea of Trolls. There are TONS of great kids’ books out there these days.