Newsletter

Summer Reading

08-Jun-2008

Greetings and Salutations!

I've been thinking about summer reading. Summer means reading to me.

When I was a child, I'd spend a couple of weeks at my grandmother's house every summer.Grandma would give us her library card and my sister and I would walk down the hill, under eucalyptus trees that buzzed with katy-dids, to check out books. We'd spend a long and luxurious hour or two browsing the stacks and finally emerge into the hot sunlight with an armload of books.I remember reading Agatha Christie and Mary Stewart, Elizabeth Marie Pope and L. M. Boston. Even now, just looking at those books gives me the shivery feeling of anticipation--Summer Vacation!

Next week I'm off to the library and I have my list all ready.I live in a small town with a small library that I visit often.In fact, I read some of my picture books and played guitar at the kick-off for their summer reading program last week. But next week is our monthly trip to the Big City library, where I have a wider choice of reading material.

We used to make the trip more often, but the price of gas has cut down on our travel. My reading list won't include any current bestsellers--they can't be checked out for a whole month. But that doesn't matter to me. I like to reread the books I read while lying poolside at Grandma's house and so I'm sure I'll check out a few of those, as well as last year's bestsellers.

A good book keeps as well as freezer jam-- and like the jam, you can take it out anytime and have a taste of summer.

Have a great summer!
Best,
Judy

Selected Works

Chapter Book
Nora and the Texas Terror
Nora's rowdy cousin from Texas is coming to stay. Is Ellie as bad as Nora remembers?
Picture Book
Carmen Learns English
Spanish-speaking Carmen attends Kindergarten, and teaches her classmates lessons about language and determination.
Cinco de Mouse-O!
Join Mouse on a Mexican Fiesta!
Adventure
The Case of the Purloined Professor
A whirlwind adventure the rats will never forget!
Picture book
Pick a Pumpkin, Mrs. Millie!
TIME magazine Best Children's Books of 2009
Award Winners
ONE IS A FEAST FOR MOUSE
Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award 2009
PUPPY POWER
Children's Choices list 2009
Don't Be Silly, Mrs. Millie!
TIME magazine Best Children's Books of 2005
My Family Plays Music
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award 2004
Weird Stories from the Lonesome Café
Nevada Young Readers Award 2002
Adventure/Mystery
The Tails of Frederick and Ishbu: The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot
Can two pet rats save the world? Book One in "The Tails of Frederick and Ishbu" Great read aloud!