Sturdy For Common Things: Summer Reading

It's an ordinary day when I show up at home with a tumbling pile of books after work. My choices inspired by favorite books of children I see day in and day out at the library, books suggested by my fellow coworkers (the know-all when it comes to great children's books), or books I happen to find on my own accord.

Our library, like many other libraries across the nation, participated in a summer reading program, an initiative that not only encourages children to read, but also helps keep their language skills sharp during the summer months. Just the other day I heard on the radio that kids lose almost half a year of learned school work over the summer and one of the best ways to inhibit this from happening is by reading. And while it is important for school-aged children to continue their reading, it's just as important for younger children to be introduced to books. In the final days of summer it's been inspiring (as a librarian and a parent) to see thousands and thousands of children and parents embrace this program.

So, in honor of summer's last hurrah, I've chosen a few books, favorites of LBD's and a couple favorites of my own, to highlight what we've been reading this summer:

After "mama" and "dada" came the word "dog". Mostly because we read RRRALPH over a hundred times in the course of a week in a half. She enjoyed this book that much.

I would have to say this is LBD's all time favorite book. Hands down. We've had to renew it twice already. She also enjoys the sister story by Emma Dodd, I Don't Want a Posh Dog.

Dinosaur! Roarrrrrrr!!!

ABC's for night night time.

Bee and Bird. About a bird and a bee.

Okay, so this was my pick. I would go as far to say it was my favorite book we read together all summer. Can't go wrong with the Jane Goodall. If you have a chance to check it out, take a glance at the photograph on the last page. Pure beauty.