With the school year drawing to a close, I’m thinking ahead to summer reading and next year in the library. But first, I wanted to thank the library volunteers for their ongoing support throughout the year. The library is a special place and our volunteers not only assist in daily maintenance, but they add to that welcoming feeling our boys experience each time they visit. That being said, we always could use more library help and I encourage new parents to consider joining our team this fall. If you would like to help out, please contact me.
At Cathedral, we like to think of ourselves as a community of readers. Parents and faculty alike value reading and support the notion that being “well-read” is an asset in academics and in life. We also know that “summer slide” is real. Summer reading is essential for literacy skills. Reading 30 minutes a day will establish routine and ensure that your son maintains confidence and stamina. We encourage you to make reading a meaningful and regular part of your summer experience. Furthermore, one of the strongest indicators of a child’s interest in reading is their parents’ habits. So commit to your summer reading goals today and make sure your children “catch you” in the act!
Along those lines, in the Lower School, we’d like to introduce (and experiment with) the idea of a whole school summer book read. The title we’ve chosen is, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. It’s a wonderful story of ingenuity and hope against all odds. Not only is it available as a beautiful picture book, there is a young reader’s edition and more adult version as well. Families can read it together or boys can read the appropriate leveled book on their own. I will be discussing it with students in the library upon our return from summer break. If parents want to participate in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind conversation, there will be additional opportunities available. I can’t wait to reflect on this inspirational story with boys this fall and you!
Below you will find a list of my recommended titles for summer reading. For a wider range of book lists, explore these amazing online resources:
* = favorite resource
Summmer Reading Lists:
1st Grade
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book.
Big Bug Surprise - Julia Gran
A Cool Drink of Water - Barbara Kerly
Is a Worry Worrying You? - Frieda Wolff
The Big Fat Cat That Went Kapow - Andy Griffith
The Cat on the Mat is Flat - Andy Griffith
Baby Monkey Private Eye - Brian Selznick
Fly Guy Presents: Snakes (Series) - Ted Arnold
I Am a Frog! (Series) - Mo Willems
Triangle (Square) - Mac Barnett
2nd Grade
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book.
Hello, LightHouse - Sophie Blackall
Unforgotten Coat - Frank Cotrell Boyce
Meet Yasmin (Series) - Saadia Faruqui
Keena Ford (Series) - Melissa Thomason
Captain Awesome (Series) - Stan Kirby
Leroy Ninker (Series) - Kate DiCamillo
Dogman (Series) - Dav Pilkey
Polly Diamond (Series) - Alice Kupiers
The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle - Alison Inches
3rd Grade
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book or young reader’s edition.
Go Mo’! Mo’ne Davis: The Girl Who Changed Baseball History - Joseph Bubar
Evangeline Mudd (Series) - David Elliot
Baby Mouse (Series) - Jennifer Holm
Animal Planet Adventures (Series)
Time Warp Trio - Jon Scieszka
Terrible Two - Mac Barnett
Could You, Would You? - Trudy White
Bad Guys (Series) - Aaron Blabey
Thank You, Omu - Oge Mora
Mr. George Baker - Amy Hest
Catwings - Ursula K. Le Guin
4th Grade
* Lower School All School Summer Read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba, picture book or young reader’s edition.
Belly Up - Stuart Gibbs
Last Kids on Earth - Max Brailler
Big Nate - Lincoln Pierce
Myth - O -Mania (Series) - Kate McMullen
Fortunately the Milk - Neil Gaiman
Sideways Stories at Wayside School - Louis Sachar
I Survived Hurricane Katrina (Series) - Lauren Tarshis
The Lemonade War - Jaqueline Davie
13th Story Treehouse - Andy Griffiths
Stef Soto, Taco Queen - Jennifer Torres
5th Grade
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (Series) - Karina Van Glaser
Crenshaw - Katherine Applegate
Echo - Pam Munoz Ryan
The Brixton Brothers - Mac Barnett
Hoot (Flush, Scat, Squirm) - Carl Hiassen
Fuzzy Mud - Louis Sachar
Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper
Wolf Hollow - Lauren Wolk
How They Choked (How They Croaked) - Georgia Bragg
Gangster Granny - David Walliams
6th Grade
Merci Suarez Changes Gears - Meg Medina
I Am Malala (Young Reader’s edition) - Malala Yousef
The Fourteenth Goldfish (The Third Mushroom) Jennifer Holm Pax
Ghost (Sunny, Patina) - Jason Rynolds
The War That Saved My Life (The War I Finally Won) - Kimberly Brusker Bradley
Chains (Forge, Ashes) - Laurie Halse Anderson
The Wild Robot - Peter Brown
The Story Thieves (The Stolen Chapter, The Secret Origins ) - James Riley
Amal Unbound - Aisha Saeed
Ms. Williams’ Summer Suggestions:
Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
The Earth Sea Trilogy - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Golden Compass - Phillip Pullman
7th Grade
The Hate You Give - Angie Thomas
Ghost Boys - Jewell Parker Rhodes
Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson
Booked (Crossover, Rebound) - Kwame Alexander
Legend (Prodigy, Champion) Marie Lu
Warcross - Marie Lu
Bomb - Steve Sheinkin
Mars One - Jonathan Maberry
Refugee - Alan Gratz
Mr. Corrigan’s Summer Suggestions:
The Princess Bride - William Goldman
Call of the Wild - Jack London
Shane - Jack Schaefer
8th Grade
The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon
A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park
The House of the Scorpion - Nancy Farmer
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyn
Ready, Player One - Ernest Cline
The Martian - Andy Weir
Born a Crime (Young Reader’s edition) - Trevor Noah
Fallen Angels - Walter Dean Myers
The Girl in the Blue Coat - Monica Hesse
Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys