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Posted on by Liz Milliron

Best of Summer Kid Lit Giveaway Hop

By Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73

It’s finally happened. Summer is over and the kids are back in school. Depending on whether you are a kid or a parent, this could be good or bad.

For me, summer always meant two things: time at the pool, and time to read – not just books my teachers told me to read, but anything I wanted to read! Of course, many of those paperbacks went to the pool with me (I mean, a kid has to do something during periods of “adult only swim,” right?). But I spent just as many hours hiding from those pesky younger siblings, up a tree or in the woods of the house across the street, losing myself in the adventures of Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, or journeying along with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Of course, back to school means getting back into the reading habit. Or maybe you’re lucky, and your kids never got out of it. In any event, there will be opportunities for “what did you do this summer” essays and “pick a book” free reading book reports. So hopefully you got some good reads in over the last few months.

And if you didn’t, no worries! The bloggers below, assembled by Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Youth Literature Reviews, are more than willing to share their summer reading expertise.

Tell me: What’s the best kid’s book you’ve read (or your kids have read) this summer? One lucky commenter can win $25 Paypal case (open to US and international residents.

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103 Replies to “Best of Summer Kid Lit Giveaway Hop”

  4. OH, I wish it was summer here, lol. The best 3 kids books we have read are Bear Snores On, The Monstore, Boy + Bot.
    They are so fantastic.
    Thanks so much for joining us on the hop. Cheers Julie

  5. I suggest a YA series, The Kitty Irish series, by Tessa Grant. The first in the series is Trajectories. High suspense with werewolf hunts and teen age angst.

  11. I love your description of summer – The Penderwicks, for me, is the ultimate summer book – we loved the Little Critter books for a picture book rec!

    2. Another staple of my youth – Miss Marple. Christie in general, really. Poirot couldn’t go on vacation either (or even to a friend’s for Christmas!).

      I have never read A Series of Unfortunate Events, but my 13-year old has. She said they’re a little creepy, but good (she likes creepy).

    1. In the other half of my writing life, I write crime fiction so I primarily associate James Patterson with thrillers. I still struggle to equate him with middle-grade and perhaps I need to fix that!

  19. I’ll vote for Return to Cardamom by Julie Grasso. But if you’ve got classics in mind, I think The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald has low exposure but is much loved by all who remember it!

  24. I read Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket a few months ago. Excellent MG noir! (Yes, noir. You read that right.)

    1. I can believe it! I read a bit of “Unfortunate Events” – not the whole thing, but a snippet. Noir is a good description; they are definitely not lighthearted romps!

  26. I’d go with anything by Shannon Hale. I love her books! I also love Greensleeves by Eloise Jarvis McGraw.
    Thanks for being part of the giveaway! I want to invite you to participate in Booknificent Thursday, my all-things book-related link-up party every Thursday at mommynificent.com anytime you have a chance! We’d love to have you join our little reading community!
    Tina

  27. I’ve got to say there are two books that really made an impact for me this summer. They are titled: “If I Stay” and “Where She Went” by Gayle Forman. Phenomenal reads. Probably better suited for the upper YA Middle Grade Market. 🙂

  29. “But I spent just as many hours hiding from those pesky younger siblings, up a tree…” or on the roof, to lose myself like you did!! And I loved it for I read wherever I could and loved being alone with my book! Thanks for the delightful memory.

    1. Oops! Forgot to recommend a book: I love the picture books these days and will recommend “A Sick Day for Amos McGee” by Philip and Erin Stead.

    1. I had a full, box set of trade paperbacks for that series. I gave it to my daughter – and my son (then 2) drew all over some of them. We were both so mad!

    1. Ooo, that’s my favorite too! I just finished Goblet of Fire last night; I’m sure I’ll be picking up Order of the Phoenix here soon. I seem to go back to these books ever 12-18 months or so.

  39. The Hobbit, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are classics 🙂 For toddlers, The Clumsy Crab is a cute story and great introduction to animals under the ocean, so you can talk about the beach. Or The Berenstain Bears go to the Beach.

    1. I recommended The Hobbit to a non-reading student of mine years ago (mandatory reading project – if he didn’t read something, he was going to be suspended from the football team). He really enjoyed it.

    1. Loved Anne! I have a hard-cover omnibus edition of all three. I’ve tried to get my daughter to read it a bunch of times, but she keeps fighting me on it.

  54. I read a ton while on maternity leave this summer, but one that stands out is Cry For The Moon by William Woodall. It was a different take on the teen paranormal genre and a great coming if age story.

  55. Friends of Liberty was a nice read highlighting what life was like in the late 1700s in Boston. I really enjoyed this children’s historical fiction book because the story encompassed great facts, realistic portrayals of the time period, and a story that could allow children to make connections.

    1. I love books like this, that connect kids to something that might be considering “boring” such as history or classical mythology. When my son started reading Rick Riordan, he got so jazzed to read Greek/Roman mythology. He really blew his teacher away with his knowledge, too.

  57. I picked up “I’ll Follow the Stars” by Stephanie Lisa Tara for one of my grandchildren for Christmas. The illustrations drew me to the book & my love of sea turtles. This book is a must have. It is a book of hope, promise & life. Everyone needs to read this. So inspiring.

  58. Oh my! Where to begin with that question. There have been a few. I’ve only read children’s books all summer believe it or not! I really enjoyed Quests of Shadowind by L.A. Miller and The Firestone Crystal (review forthcoming). Tough choice! Thanks for joining us in the Hop. 🙂

  60. I love The Hobbit. But my kids love just about any book. I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More and Those Darn Squirrels are current favorites!
    (amanda j h on rc)

  66. We loved Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems. It’s an easy read for children and has a real lesson about sharing. We also got the stuffed bunny with it and she loved it so much it has been to a lot of places that we go. Everyone asks about the bunny and she tells them the story in her words of course. It’s an enjoyable book a must read for all children.

  70. Thanks everybody for stopping and commenting. The winner for the giveaway is Aubree Faunce. Congratulations, Aubree! I’ll be contacting you via email soon!

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