BPC School Summer Reading Lists 2023.xlsx

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1	BPC School Library - K Summer 2023 Reading List
2	Cover	Title	Author	Blurb (from the Publisher)	Genre and Format	Fiction

3		When You Can Swim	By Jack Wong	In this exploration of what it truly means to swim, expansive vignettes introduce sandpipers, tannin-soaked lakes, and the feeling of a small waterfall on sun-soaked shoulders. But what about those who are afraid of the water's mysterious ways and resist learning to swim? Painting a compelling picture of the many joys and surprises that the water holds, artist and author Jack Wong has delivered an empowering, poetic journey that invites children to discover their confidence within to receive the warmth and wonder of the natural world.	Picture Book	Yes
4		Just Like Grandma	By Kim Rogers, Illustrated by Julie Flett	In this lyrical picture book by Kim Rogers (Wichita), with illustrations by Boston Globe-Horn Book Honoree Julie Flett (Cree-Métis), Becca watches her grandma create, play, and dance—and she knows that she wants to be just like Grandma. Becca loves spending time with Grandma. Every time Becca says, “Let me try,” Grandma shows her how to make something beautiful. Whether they are beading moccasins, dancing like the most beautiful butterflies, or practicing basketball together, Becca knows that, more than anything, she wants to be just like Grandma. And as the two share their favorite activities, Becca discovers something surprising about Grandma. Features an author’s note and glossary.	Picture Book	Yes
5		Only a Trenza Away : A Tale of Trust and Strength	By Nadine Fonseca, Illustrated by Camila Carrossine	A father’s love for his daughter is joyfully expressed during their nightly routine when he braids her hair and shares imaginative bedtime stories. Every night Xia’s father delicately braids her hair before bed. As he gently tugs and twists and tightens her hair, they embark on imaginative and fun adventures as he makes up stories about Xia and her trenzas, or braids. In one story, her trenza becomes a sturdy twisted vine that she uses to bravely swing through the jungle. In another, her trenzas are jump ropes as she catches the beat to play Double Dutch with the best players in the neighborhood. One night, after story time, Xia worries what she would do if Papa is not there to help her in a real adventure. Papa shares with her the most important story of all: Papa says, “There will be adventures, like going to your new school, when you’ll need to be brave, patient, focused, and curious. And while you might be on your own, you’ll never be alone, mi’ja. Papa finished brushing her hair and carefully parted it into three sections. “This section will remind you of the people who love you deeply.” “This one is for the many people who need your love for them.” “And this one . . . this will help you remember to love yourself exactly as you are now and who you hope to be. They are stronger woven together and will help protect your hair and your heart."	Picture Book	Yes
6		Climb On!	By Baptiste Paul, Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara	Take a hike with this father-daughter adventure that’s sure to inspire you to get outside. When a young child reminds her dad about the hike they planned, her father is hesitant —To the tippy top? It’s a great day to watch futbol (soccer). But as the two climb on, her enthusiasm is contagious. Filled with setbacks, surprises, and stunning views, this warm and humorous story highlights in vivid colors the bonding power of a shared experience. A list of creatures at the end prompts a second look for keen-eyed readers to make discoveries of their own.	Picture Book	Yes
7		We All Play	By Julie Flett	Animals and kids love to play! This wonderful book celebrates playtime and the connection between children and the natural world. Beautiful illustrations show: birds who chase and chirp! bears who wiggle and wobble! whales who swim and squirt! owls who peek and peep! and a diverse group of kids who love to do the same, shouting: We play too! / kimêtawânaw mîna At the end of the book, animals and children gently fall asleep after a fun day of playing outside, making this book a great bedtime story. A beautiful ode to the animals and humans we share our world with, We All Play belongs on every bookshelf.	Picture Book	Yes
8		The Big Bath House	By Kyo Maclear, Illustrated by Gracey Zhang	A joyful celebration of Japanese cultural traditions and body positivity as a young girl visits a bath house with her grandmother and aunties NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY New York Public Library • NPR • Publishers Weekly • Kirkus Reviews • Horn Book • The American Library Association • ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project You’ll walk down the street / Your aunties sounding like clip-clopping horses / geta-geta-geta / in their wooden sandals / Until you arrive… / At the bath house / The big bath house. In this celebration of Japanese culture and family and naked bodies of all shapes and sizes, join a little girl–along with her aunties and grandmother–at a traditional bath house. Once there, the rituals leading up to the baths begin: hair washing, back scrubbing, and, finally, the wood barrel drumroll. Until, at last, it’s time, and they ease their bodies–their creased bodies, newly sprouting bodies, saggy, jiggly bodies–into the bath. Ahhhhhh! With a lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations, this picture book is based on Kyo Maclear’s loving memories of childhood visits to Japan, and is an ode to the ties that bind generations of women together.	Picture Book	Yes
9		Mel Fell	By Corey R. Tabor	A Caldecott Honor Book and ALA Notable Book of the Year! An innovative and charming tale about a plucky little bird, from the award-winning author-illustrator of Fox the Tiger. Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith. Sometimes, you might fall down, down, down, before you learn to fly up, up, up…	Picture Book	Yes
10		Big Shark, Little Shark, and the Spooky Cave	By Anna Membrino, Illustrated by Tim Budgen	Big Shark is scared! The cave looks far too dark and spooky to swim into. But Little Shark isn’t scared in the least! Can he coax Big Shark to explore? Some exciting surprises are waiting deep in the spooky cave! Shark fans and emergent readers will enjoy all the stories starring this odd couple: Big Shark, Little Shark; Big Shark, Little Shark Go to School; and Big Shark, Little Shark, Baby Shark. Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.	Early Reader - Step 1	Yes
11		Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite!	By Ashley Spires	A hilarious story about one bug’s quest for greatness (with some cool insect facts mixed in!). Meet Burt, a ten-lined june beetle. He’s sure he has a superpower like other insects. No, he can’t carry 50 times his weight, like ants, or spray paralyzing venom, like some termites. What june beetles seem to do best is chase porch lights and lie on their backs flailing their legs in the air ... hmm. Maybe Burt doesn’t have any special skills after all ... But when some other bugs get into perilous trouble that even their superpowers can’t get them out of, Burt realizes there is one helpful thing only he can do ...	Graphic Novel	Yes
12		Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds	By Elise Gravel	Perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly, Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds is the first in a new early graphic chapter book series about the friendship between Arlo, an arrogant crow, and a sarcastic little bird named Pips. Like most crows, Arlo has a big brain. But Arlo has something else: a little pal who’s not afraid to tell him when he’s being insufferable! In the first of three episodes, a battle of the brains and bird-to-bird banter soon turns into an unexpected friendship. Arlo and Pips' adventures include a visit the big city and the beach on their hunt for shiny things and French fries. Cool crow facts are included throughout the book. Everyone's crowing about Arlo & Pips, with Kirkus praising it as "a perfect match for newly independent readers"!	Graphic Novel	Yes
13		Dark on Light	By Dianne White	Gentle the evening. Sweeping the skies. Dark the shadows as twilight arrives. Rose the horizon, gleaming and bright. Twilight and evening and dark on light. When the family dog trots away from the house at sunset, three siblings tumble out the door to go find him. Soon they find themselves immersed in the luminous colors, shades, and shadows of nature at night—both dark and light. They wander through moonlit lavender meadows, past a timid fawn, beneath a snowy white owl, and much, much more as the night deepens until, at last, they find their sneaky pup. With beautiful illustrations by Felicita Sala and lyrical text by Dianne White that’s perfect for reading aloud, this book invites young readers to step into the wondrous, colorful nighttime natural world.	Picture Book	Yes
14		Emile and the Field	By Kevin Young, Illustrated by Chioma Ebinama	In this lyrical picture book from an award-winning poet, a young boy cherishes a neighborhood field throughout the changing seasons. With stunning illustrations and a charming text, this beautiful story celebrates a child’s relationship with nature. There was a boy named Emile who fell in love with a field. It was wide and blue– and if you could have seen it so would’ve you. Emile loves the field close to his home–in spring, summer, and fall, when it gives him bees and flowers, blossoms and leaves. But not as much in winter, when he has to share his beautiful, changeable field with other children…and their sleds. This relatable and lyrical ode to one boy’s love for his neighborhood field celebrates how spending time in nature allows children to dream, to imagine…and even to share.	Poetry, Picture Book	Yes
15		A Duck, Duck, Porcupine! Book: My Kite Is Stuck! and Other Stories	By Salina Yoon	Meet Big Duck, Little Duck, and Porcupine, stars of this award-winning early reader series. "Visually striking." - Booklist, starred review	Early Reader	Yes
16		See Pip Flap Ready-to-Read Pre-Level 1 Part of The Adventures of Otto	By David Milgrim	Otto and his friends are back in this Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book. See Pip Flap is a Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read, part of the award-winning, star-reviewed The Adventures of Otto series by New York Times bestselling author/illustrator, David Milgrim. See Tweet fly. Fly, Tweet, fly. Pip wants to fly too—flap, flap, flap! Can Otto help Pip find a way to soar in the sky? This Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read with bright illustrations and minimal text is perfect for the true emergent reader.	Early Reader	Yes
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