Kid Trips Summer 2013 "Book Club" For Kids & Adults

6/5/2013

Summer has officially descended upon us and it is just a matter of time before the kids are out of school. Hopefully you will enjoy more relaxed mornings, less hectic evenings and savor some quality time with your kids.

With the summer comes reclaimed hours to enjoy things that DON'T include spelling test prep, endless homework, art projects, book reports, soccer practice and piano lessons. Seize the moment and take advantage of some great reads for both young and adult.

The authors at Kid Trips have put together an all-star list of reading recommendations for you to enjoy this summer. Each of us has our own recommendations and top picks. So the next time you find yourself waiting for swim practice to end, sorting out options for a raining day or just have some extra time at the end of a lazy day enjoy one of the attached books. Happy Summer 2013!

Amy's Book Club

A Mercy (2009) and Home (2013)
by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is probably best know for penning American classics like The Bluest Eye and Beloved. She is also winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. A Mercy tells the disparate yet intertwined tales of the earliest traders, settlers, natives, servants and slaves along the Virginian and Maryland coastal region in the 1680s.

A Mercy is a totally absorbing and interesting read about the diverse and complicated strands of our region’s history. Her latest book, Home is on my summer reading list and is about a man returning home from war to rural Georgia in the 1950s. All of her books are profound and beautiful to read.

Collapse and The World Until Yesterday
by Jared Diamond (author of Guns, Germs & Steel).

Almost a decade after it was released, Collapse (2004, 2011 revised) is still one of the most thoughtful and far-reaching accounts of how societies emerged, succeeded, and failed over the course of history in relation to their environments. The territory covered ranges from the Anasazi Indians, to Greenland, to modern ranchers in Montana. This book will make you think differently about our resources and how they are misused. In my own mind, it really started the questions I had about the sustainability of many modern practices.

Now, in Diamond's latest book, The World Until Yesterday, Diamond again gathers evidence from Inuit, Amazonian Indians, and other traditional societies to discover what they have to teach us about more personal human challenges like raising children, caring for the elderly, and maintaining health.

DVD Pick

House of Cards
on Netflix

Starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, this gripping series set in D.C. follows the political scandals and ugly underbelly of the U.S. Congress. It’s scandalous, juicy and I can’t wait for season 2 (anticipated in 2014).

Children’s Books

39 Clues (2008 – 2012)
by Rick Riordan (Ages 8 and up)

This slick series is a favorite of my 9 year old son and has a companion website with online games. The books include playing cards, puzzles, and mazes so that the reader can help brother and sister team Dan and Amy Cahill find 39 clues left by their late grandmother. The wacky characters and anticipation keep the mystery going for many volumes…the perfect lure to keep the reading going!

Thea Stilton Series
by Thea Stilton (ages 7-11)

This spin-off of the popular Geronimo Stilton Series, features the adventures of five mouseling friends as they travel across the globe solving mysteries. My daughter LOVES these books and I’m happy to read them with her because they are filled with clever twists and fun facts about all the places they visit (Aboriginal cultures in Australia, Machu Pichu in Peru, fashion designers in Paris). If you’re traveling this summer, try to find a Thea Stilton book to match your destination and learn along the way!

Wonder (2012)
by R. J. Palacio (Ages 9 and up)

This #1 New York Times bestseller tells the story about a boy named Auggie born with a facial deformity who just wants to be treated like everyone else. Its on many school reading lists this summer and is a good one for parents and kids to read and talk about together.

Claudine's Book Club

The Middle Place (2008)
by Kelly Corrigan

This is a compelling and beautiful memoir. The Middle Place wastes no time jumping into the deep end. The book starts with the author, Kelly Corrigan, receiving the devastating news that the lump in her breast is cancerous. Readers will follow the journey of this 32-year-old mother of two while she battles breast cancer and also has to deal with her beloved father’s recent diagnosis of bladder cancer. Corrigan takes readers through her fondest childhood memories, her fears about cancer and her all consuming love for her children and husband. The title is born from the notion that as we age we find ourselves in a middle place between being parents yet still continuing to be someone’s child.

I am also attaching a lovely video clip (below) of Kelly Corrigan. In it she reads a beautiful speech about the bonds of female friendship.

Bringing Up Bébé (2012)
by Pamela Druckerman

I have a fascination with the French culture. They just seem to have a “Je ne sais quoi” about life that I envy. That relaxed attitude can clearly be seen in French parenting. For the French, and many others in Europe, parenting seems very natural and effortless. They can easily vacation with their children. They don’t seem to bemoan the toddler years as I do. They don't appear to have issues with picky eaters. So what is their secret? I am always so curious as to how they avoid getting mired down in the day-to-day nonsense that I fill my life with as a parent. I tend to over analyze everything including snack time and I don’t think I am alone. Most of mommy friends and acquaintances seem to be equally insane on the topics of sleep methods for newborns, potty training, toddler tantrums and a thousand other small things that litter my brain on a daily basis.

So when Bringing Up Bébé hit the bookstores last year, I was anxious to hear from an “insider” about the secrets to being a more relaxed and confident parent. As an expat, Druckerman is the perfect mole to report back to weary American mothers and fathers desperate for advise on easing the sometimes burdensome call of duty that is better known as parenthood.

Druckerman covers it all from losing baby weight, getting infants to sleep and even tackles how to successfully bring small children to restaurants and on holiday. In addition to behavioral differences, Druckerman also highlights the differences in food that is served to children. I was totally enamored with the diverse offering of cheeses, fresh bread, even crepes that are introduced to even the smallest citizens. She is quick to point out that French mothers are not short order cooks nor do they specialize in chicken fingers and French fries.

Most readers will be incredibly envious of the French government-supported daycare and preschool system that helps parents, especially working mothers. I savored every word like fine French Bordeaux. I consider this book fun non-fiction meets self-help and well worth the time.

Millennium Series: Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (2009- 2012)
by Steig Larsson

The Millennium Series has been out for a few years and has even captured the attention of Hollywood. I have read all three books in Steig Larson's riveting series about an emotionally troubled, yet brilliant girl named Lisbeth Salander. The other main character, Mikael Blomkvist, is a charming yet flawed magazine publisher. The story is set in Sweden. The main characters find themselves thrown together as unlikely partners that are charged with solving the disappearance of a young woman almost four decades earlier. The book is rich with mystery and plots twists in every chapter. During their search the amateur sleuths unearth a far deeper and darker mystery that goes beyond one missing teenage girl.

You will walk away with a strange sympathy for Salander and will no doubt have a mad crush on Mikael Blomkvist. This entire series became my addition. Warning, some of the Swedish names and places are hard to follow but stick with the book -- it is well worth it. The expanded story continues to hold your attention throughout the trilogy. Even at the end of the 3rd book readers are left wanting more of Lisbeth and Mr. Blomkvist.

Bonus, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is now out on DVD with Daniel Craig playing Mikael Blomkvist. In addition, all of the books are now available in paperback.

May Cause Miracles: A 40-Day Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness (2013)
by Gabrielle Bernstein

This is at the top of my reading list. I have been told wonderful things about the book. Bernstein does require readers to journal and do some digging to address fears and uncertainties that clog our mind and prevent happiness in our daily lives. As a mother who is constantly stressed and never completely satisfied, I am anxious to start my journey. The beginning of the book already has me questioning where all of my fear comes from and why does it take up such a large part of my life.

Children’s Books

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks) (2009)
by Dr. Suess (ages 6 – 8 )

This classic series is perfect for fledgling readers, preschoolers and even toddlers. There is a reason why Dr. Seuss is such a celebrated author. Buy the collection and put special notes inside each book cover to remind your child of the magical time when they first discovered Dr. Seuss. Well-loved books with special inscriptions can become family treasures for generations to come. While the book is said to be best for children ages 6 -8, I am a firm believer that these books are wonderful for even small toddlers that are willing to hear the message.

Giraffes Can’t Dance (2001)
by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees (ages 4 -8)

This book tells the tale of Gerald the clumsy yet lovable giraffe that is too embarrassed to dance in front of other animals in the jungle. After some words of encouragement from a small friend, Gerald finds his place on the dance floor. This charming book reminds children to be themselves, ignore the unkind words of others and appreciate their own special gifts and talents.

The Paper Bag Princess (1992)
by Robert Munsch (ages 4 – 7)

This might be the first introduction to feminism for most little girls. All kidding aside, the book is a great reminder to young girls that you don’t have rely on others to fix your problems. When Prince Ronald is kidnapped Princess Elizabeth is reminded that SHE can get the job when it comes to dealing with the mean dragon. My daughter loves this book. This is also a great gift.

The Kissing Hand (1993)
by Audrey Penn (ages 4 – 8)

My sister-in-law first introduced me to this sweet book about a scared raccoon named Chester that is afraid to venture out to school without his mother by his side. It serves as a beautiful reminder that we can teach our children that the gift of love extends beyond our physical presence. Little ones are reminded that parental love is always present; you just need to know where to find it. The book is perfect for little ones who sometimes have to venture off into the unknown without the aid of their primary caregiver.

Micaela's Book Club

Light Between Oceans (2013)
by M.L. Stedman

A true page-turner that takes place in post World War I Australia about a lighthouse keeper and his wife who has multiple miscarriages. When a baby washes up in a rowboat, they see it as a sign from God and continue to raise the baby as their own. Then trouble brews up on the mainland. Will their secret be revealed? This historical fiction will lead readers through a gamut of emotions.

The Storyteller (2013)
by Jodi Picoult

Sage is a young woman that is a baker and leads a solitary, lonely life. She's unable to recover from her mother's death and is having an affair with a married man. When Josef Weber, an old man in the community, reveals to Sage that he was a former Nazi and confesses his unthinkable crimes, he asks her to put things right by doing an unspeakable favor. Will Sage cooperate? This tale takes place in modern times with graphic and gripping flashbacks to the Holocaust. Great characters, emotional story, some unexpected romance and a surprise ending!

The Other Typist (2013)
by Suzanne Rindell

Recommended for fans of The Great Gatsby and The Talented Mr. Ripley, this book takes readers on a journey through New York City in the 1920s where women's roles are being changed and challenged. The main character, Rose, is a typist with the New York City Police Department when a modern, new girl, Odalie, comes into the scene.

Rose falls under her influence and becomes obsessed with her ways and intertwined in trouble and mysteries.

DVD Pick

Call the Midwife (Seasons 1 & 2)

Don't overlook this great British drama focusing on a group of midwives and nuns living in East London in the 1950s. The acting is superb and story lines are engaging and filled with drama, romance, suspense, and more. You will fall in love with the characters and be all caught up when Season 3 hits PBS next year.

Children’s Books

The Train to Maine (2008)
by Jamie Spencer , illustrated by Rebecca Harrison Reed (ages 3-8)

Get your kids excited for their summer vacation in this beautiful and colorful picture book. Also a bonus is that illustrator Rebecca Harrison Reed is local and lives in Northern VA.

Elephant and Piggie Books (2007 – 2013)
by Mo Willems (ages 4-8)

This series is just hilarious. Kids and adults alike laugh out loud at the crazy antics of Elephant and Piggie. There are currently nearly twenty books in this series to choose from, and they are great for beginning readers.

Actual Size (2004)
by Steven Jenkins (ages 4-8)

Do you know how big animal parts really are? Find out in this fun, beautifully illustrated non-fiction book for children. Kids will love comparing their hand to a gorilla or seeing a giant squid eye that is bigger than their head. Other great Steve Jenkins books What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? and Biggest, Strongest, Fastest are also good picks for the little animal lover in your life!

We hope you enjoy our reading list. Please pass it onto a friend or share it on Facebook. Plus don't forget for summer fun in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., the best book of all is Kid Trips Northern Virginia!

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