Hard to believe, but we are 20% of the way through #60DaysofSummerReading.

Time flies when you're reading books.

I thought I would pause and list my first 12 Summer Reading Suggestions. Check out Instagram for suggestions each day.

1) The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring-Blake. ALL THE STARS (or hearts) for this one! A must-read for grades 5-8.

2) Handimals by Silvia Lopez and Guido Daniele. Besides being gorgeous to look at, and filled with animal facts, this will likely inspire many wannabe artists to try their hand (no pun intended) at recreating the hand art. Gorgeous! A must for all elementary library collections.

3) Don't Date Rosa Santos by Rita Moreno. A refreshing #yalit rom-com with a strong sense of place and community. Grades 8-11.

4) Liberty Arrives by Robert Byrd. Engaging, informative, and beautifully illustrated. A look at the gift that was the Statue of Liberty. MUST READ. Grades K-5.

5) Saving Fiona by Thane Maynard. I ADORE this true story about baby Fiona, a hippo born prematurely at the Cincinnati Zoo and the efforts to save her. WITH PICTURES OF THE BABY HIPPO. Grades K-2

6) Rocket to the Moon by Don Brown. This title launches (wink wink) Brown's new graphic novel series: Big Ideas that Changed the World. This is fantastic, done by a master, and you will want multiple copies. For science and history fans alike, and anyone that enjoys the Hazardous Tales series (Hale). Grades 4-8.

7) 25 Fun Things to do For Your Neighbors by Paul Mason. Random acts of kindness meets Sunday Funday in this guide to community service projects. Grades 3-7 (or family projects with slightly younger kids).

8) Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes. This is one of my Top picks of 2019 and the PERFECT summer reading book for grades 4-6. Lety chooses summer camp at an animal shelter in this book filled with friendship, finding your voice, and furry critters needing new homes. Classroom teachers will want to check this out for the read-aloud rotation. Important for all readers, and a window for ELL, immigrant, and bilingual kids.

9) Girls of July by Alex Flinn. Four girls from different walks of life learn to live with each other over the course of one July in the Adirondacks. A great summer vibe! Grades 7-10

10) The Quiet Boat Ride by Sergio Ruzzier. Another in the Fox + Chick series, this is a summer adventure story for the newly minted reader that has graduated from Elephant & Piggie. Grades K-3

11) The Rest of the Summer by Sarah Dessen. A NEW SARAH DESSEN BOOK. Enough said. Grades 8-12 (and adults)

12) Let Er Buck by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Gordon C. James. A picture book biography of rodeo champion George Fletcher combine outstanding writing and illustration to bring Fletcher's spirit and this moment in history to life. One of my few 5 star books this year. Grades 2-5, and secondary teachers doing #classroombookaday.

Happy Reading! What are you reading this summer?

#kidlit #yalit #summerreading #newbooks #mrsyuskofavorite