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2018 Summer Reading Recommendations

by Roger Sutton
May 17, 2018 | Filed in Articles & Opinion
Summer Reading 2018Pie Is for Sharing, as our Five Questions interviewees remind us, and so is this special issue of Notes from the Horn Book, which presents our 2018 Summer Reading list. We’ve selected our top ten suggestions, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, for all age ranges — fifty books in all — for beach reading or books to bring to summer camp. And, by the way, is there any better summer camp for book lovers than this one started by Michelle H. Martin and Rachelle D. Washington? It’s almost enough to make a guy want to give it all up and become a CIT — or it was, until reading Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol (from our Intermediate list) brought me right back down to earth (an outhouse?! Never).

You can print out a handy PDF version of the Summer Reading list here, with beautiful cover art by Pie Is for Sharing illustrator Jason Chin and designed by Horn Book creative director Lolly Robinson. And you can find annotated descriptions of each book, by section, here. Dig in and savor — and remember, it’s always nice to share.



Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief

Picture Books | Easy Readers and Primary Grades
Intermediate | Middle School | High School


Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton

Editor Emeritus Roger Sutton was editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc., from 1996-2021. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his MA in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a BA from Pitzer College in 1978.

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james stone

In 2006 I returned to collegiate teaching at Central State University in Ohio where I taught children's literature classes at this HBCU. It was a marvelous experience with excited students. We explored Jacqueline Woodson, Mildred Taylor and the iconic Virginia Hamilton. I retired in 2012 after participating in Governor Strickland's powerful program in Ohio to reach Black youth. I coauthored Midnight Oil a fictionalized look at the life of Samuel, a white boy who aids the Black community escape to freedom. My coauthor, David Childs, and I have just learned that Sage Publishing is coming out with our book in September. It's been a seven year ordeal and we are excited.

Posted : Jul 18, 2018 01:44

james stone

I earned a Ph.D. in Children's Literature from Ohio State where my first advisor was Charlotte Huck and my dissertation advisor was Rudine Sims Bishop. I believe I received the best of these two illustrious educators. Charlotte with her belief in the universality of humanity and deep love of literature and Rudine Sims Bishop whose courageous drive for Black children's books I am devoted to.

Posted : Jul 18, 2018 12:23

Aberto

I cannot resist mentioning my favorite new read for kids: "The Adventure of Thomas the Turtle"

Posted : May 18, 2018 06:11

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