Explore the World of Books with Great Summer Reads

This summer, brims with books, programs and activities from countries and cultures all over the world.  The Summer Reading program begins June 15 with an interactive musical performance featuring marimbas and xylophones.  Everyone is invited to join us from 11 a.m. to noon for a toe-tapping good time as Marimbamania! introduces us to music from around the world.

Kids, teens and adults have the chance to win prizes by reading this summer.  Stop into the library to pick up entry forms and a few good books to read.

Here are a few suggestions to start your adventures:

For Adults:

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
No packing list could be complete without a towel and a reminder to not panic.  Explore the outer reaches of absurdity with Arthur Dent, a perfectly ordinary and confused Earth guy who is taken under Ford Prefect’s cheerful wing.

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
As a third-string quarterback, Rick Dockery never really expected to play in the championship game. But with minutes to go and a healthy point lead, he’s on the field and determined to carry the game. He carries it, all right–all the way to an embarrassing defeat. Overnight, he’s kicked off the team and searching for any team that will take him. Which is how he ends up in Italy, where he doesn’t speak the language, doesn’t know the culture and is in for a few pretty big surprises.

The English Major by Jim Harrison
Michigan author Harrison has a gift for wit, relatable characters and a sense of home that is particular to small-town Michigan. In this American road trip, Cliff, a recently divorced retired teacher, ends up on the road after his ex-wife literally steals the farm out from under him. Armed with a childhood puzzle and a mission (somewhat silly but definitely heartwarming), Cliff visits with an old classmate, his son, who is now a movie producer, and a former student, who now becomes a flame.

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy by Frances Mayes
In beautiful, warm and sensual phrasing, Mayes describes the abandoned villa in Tuscany that she bought, renovated and swiftly came to love. Even the most difficult tasks are an adventure to enjoy and to learn from and Mayes’ description of rural Italy invites the reader to wander markets and relax in the sunshine with her. When you finish the book, you might consider picking up the equally charming movie of the same name.

Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz
In this alternately historical biography and current travel memoir, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Horwitz examines both the life of the renowned maritime explorer and the effects he left on the lands he visited. Though Horwitz does not venture into Antarctica, his often-humorous interactions with Maori toughs, Polynesian storytellers and the king of Tonga fully satisfy any armchair traveler or fan of engaging tales.

The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
In 1939, Polish cavalry officer Rawicz was captured by the Soviets, imprisoned and sent to the Siberian Gulag. His rich descriptions of the long, freezing walk to the prison, the horrific conditions there and the desperate plan he and six other prisoners concoct to escape is only the beginning of the tale. Rawicz takes us with him on the 4,000-mile trek south to India and freedom and from there, back into battle as he reenlists to fight against the Germans. An enthralling and relatable memoir, you will come out of it with a fresh appreciation for the human spirit.

For Teens:

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
The Navajo language is only spoken, not written down and there is only a small group of people who know it well. When the United States needed a way to send  secret messages during World War II, 16-year-old Ned Begay answered the call. This fictional novel is based on the true efforts of the Navajo code talkers who braved some of the heaviest fighting of World War II, saving countless lives in the process. 

The Essential Guide to Geocaching: Tracking Treasure with Your GPS by Mike Dyer
Geocaching is an inexpensive and fun activity to do with friends or family and a great way to exercise your body and your mind. This guide will teach you the equipment, terms and history of geocaching. Hint: We will host a geocaching program for teens on June 28.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth’s surface.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
When 17-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to crisscross Europe on a sort of scavenger hunt that transforms her life.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Young Ender Wiggin may prove to be the military genius Earth needs to fight a desperate battle against a deadly alien race that will determine the future of the human race.

The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
In the future, people travel through space nearly instantaneously via the FT&T – Federal Telepath & Teleport. Rowan was trained from a young age to be one of the strongest T&Ts in the universe, but despite her great power, she can’t stand to travel until a mysterious voice calls for her help.

For Kids:

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
DiCamillo, the author of Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, brings to life another heartwarming story the whole family will want to share. Edward Tulane, a most distinguished rabbit, is a china rabbit with an elegant wardrobe and the adoration of the little girl with whom he lives. But one day, Edward becomes lost and then found.

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller
What would happen if the states suddenly got tired of being where they are now?  What if Florida decided it wanted to live next to Minnesota? Or Maryland by Colorado? Find out in this funny story available with an audio CD for reading on your own or with a friend.

Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers and Eaters by Jane Yolen
Discover delicious treats to go along with your favorite fairy tales!  This book includes 20 fairy tales and an easy, yummy recipe to go with each.

How and Why Stories: World Tales Kids Can Read and Tell by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss
A collection of 25 traditional stories explaining why an animal or plant or natural object looks or acts the way it does. Following each story are storytelling tips and short modern, scientific explanations for the subject of the story.

For Little Ones:

Bear in the Air by Susan Meyers
Gentle rhyming text and adorable watercolor pictures make this a wonderful treat for parents and children to share.

Freight Train by Donald Crews
Count the colored cars behind the engine!  The freight train travels through tunnels, over bridges, through the night, through the day.  A perfect book for babies–or anyone else who loves trains!

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
The bus driver has left you in charge!  Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus, no matter what he says or does!  Parents, some of the pigeon’s pleas will sound familiar–and funny.

For more details on locating any of these items or copies from other libraries in the county, call us at 586-598-4900 or consult our website at www.chelibrary.org.