City library's
recommended books for kids
Here's Ms. Kakuma-Depew's summer reading recommendations
for kids:
Readers (50 pages or less)
 Chicken
Said Cluck; by Judyann Ackerman (GrantHarperCollins,
2008)
Chicken wants to help Earl and Pearl plant their
pumpkins. But she only manages to get in the way,
until grasshoppers invade the pumpkin patch. Then
Chicken is the only one who can stop them.
Goose and Duck; by Jean Craigehead George
(GrantHarperCollins, 2008)
A boy mothers a gosling and a goose mothers a duckling,
until both find their true callings. A simple, funny
introduction to imprinting.
Short Chapter Books (approximately
100 pages)
 Snake
and Lizard; by Joy Cowley (Miller Book
Publishing, 2008)
Snake and Lizard share a number of adventures,
argue with each other and end up as lifelong friends.
Clementine's Letter; by Sara Pennypacker
(Hyperion, 2008)
Clemintine learns her favorite teacher will be
leaving for a trip to Egypt and will be absent for
the remainder of the year. She devises a plan to
get rid of the substitute and get Mr. D'matz to
stay.
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever;
by Marla Frazee (Harcourt, 2008)
Friends James and Eamon enjoy a wonderful week
at the home of Eamon's grandparents while attending
a day camp during summer vacation.
 How
Oliver Olson Changed the World; by Claudia
Mills (Farrar, Straus, 2009)
Afraid he always will be an outsider like ex-planet
Pluto, nine-year-old Oliver finally shows his extremely
overprotective parents that he is capable of doing
great things without their help while his class
is studying the solar system.
Toy Dance Party; by Emily Jenkins
(Schwartz & Wade, 2008)
Six stories relate further adventures of three
best friends, who happen to be toys. They encounter
a fearsome-possible-shark, enjoy a dance party and
deal with rejection by The Girl who is growing up.
 Nikki
and Deja: Birthday Blues; by Karen English
(2009)
Third graders Nikki and Deja try to come up with
a fun way to celebrate Deja's birthday while she
is staying at her boring neighbor's house. But,
their nemesis Antonia may devise a way to ruin Deja's
perfect party.
Bettina Valentino and the Piccaso Club;
by Niki Daly (Farrar Straus, 2009)
Fifth-grader Bettina Valentino couldn't be a bigger
fan of the funky new art teacher at Bayside Prep.
The teacher walks around barefoot and is full of
inspiring lessons about how art can be used to challenge,
shock and surprise. But, the teacher's unconventional
methods get him into trouble with some influential
parents. It's up to Bettina and some of her art-loving
friends to nip the controversy in the bud and support
freedom of artistic expression.
Longer Chapter Books (over 150
pages)
 Seer
of Shadows; by Avi (HarperCollins, 2008)
Photographer's apprentice Horace is commissioned
to do a ghost portrait for a society matron-a fake
portrait. However, Horace discovers his photos can
draw real ghosts into this world. The lady's dead
daughter Eleanora returns to seek vengeance on those
who killed her. Horace is the only one who can stop
her.
London Eye Mystery; by Siobhan Dowd
(Random, 2008)
When Ted and Kat's cousin Salim disappears from
the London Eye ferris wheel, the two siblings must
work together. The police have no clues. Ted and
his brain that is "wired differently" and impatient
Kat must become sleuthing partners to try to solve
the mystery of what happened to Salim.
 Abigail
Iris: The One and Only; by Lisa Glatt and
Susan Greenburg (2009)
Abigail Iris thinks she would rather be an only
child. But, she goes on vacation with her best friend,
who is an "only." Abigail realizes there are benefits
of being one of many.
My One Hundred Adventures; by Polly Horvath
(Schwartz & Wade, 2008)
Twelve-year-old Jane lives at the beach in a run-down
old house with her family. She has learned how to
pray and prays for adventures. This summer, she
finds them while accompanying her pastor on bible
deliveries, meeting former boyfriends at her mother's
and being coerced into babysitting for a family
of ill-mannered children.
 Fortune's
Magic Farm; by Susanne Selfors (Little
Brown, 2009)
Ten-year-old orphan Isabelle is rescued from a
rainy, boggy town where she works in a dismal factory.
She learns she is the last surviving member of a
family that tends the world's only remaining magic-producing
farm.
Top of the Order; by John Coy (Feiwel
and Friends, 2009)
Ten-year-old Jackson lives for baseball. But, he
becomes distracted by the approach of middle school,
his mother's latest boyfriend and the presence of
a girl-his good friend's sister-on his team.
 Goblins!;
by Royce Buckingham (Putnam, 2008)
Twelve-year-old Sam Hill and 17-yer-old Pj discovers
a scary world of goblins under the earth after one
of them escapes through a tunnel in the ground.
When Sam follows the goblin back down, Pj must go
underground to rescue him.
Big Splash; by Jack Ferriolo (Amulet
Books, 2008)
Matt Stevens is an average middle schooler with
a glib tongue and a knack for solving crimes. He
uncovers a mystery while working with "the organization"
a mafia-like syndicate run by 7th-grader Vincent
"Mr. Biggs" Biggio. The group specializes in forged
hall passes, test-copying rings, black market candy
selling and taking out hits with water guns.
 Masterpiece;
by Elise Broach (Henry Holt, 2008)
Marvin, a beetle, makes a miniature drawing as
an 11th birthday gift for James, a human with whom
he shares a house. The two new friends work together
to help recover a famous Durer drawing stolen from
the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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The
St. Louis Public Library has a varied plan to help kids
liven up their summer vacations and get more out of the
city's headquarters library as well as the 13 neighborhood
branches. 
Ms.
Beth Kakuma-Depew is the library's young services collection
development librarian. She compiled the list of recommended
books especially for