Summer Reading

Nicole Maxwell
Summer is the perfect time to dive into a new book! Perhaps you are looking for a quick read or want to get lost in a longer novel, or both. Whether looking for humor, a heartwarming message, or mysteries and riddles, you will find worthy options reviewed in this column.

At Home in a Faraway Place. Lynne Rae Perkins. (2025). Greenwillow Books.
Lissie traveled far, far away with her dad and grandmother to visit her dad’s friend, Raúl. The people speak Spanish in this faraway place, which Lissie has not learned much of yet. She is determined, though, to expand her knowledge of Spanish. During their trip, Lissie asks many questions about what things are and the Spanish terms used. As she learns more about the unique aspects of this distant land, she begins to realize the similarities that exist between it and her home. Black-and-white illustrations made with pen, ink, and watercolor are intermingled throughout the text in full-page spreads and comic panels. The illustrations exhibit events in the story and Spanish vocabulary introduced throughout the text. The back of the book contains a list of Spanish words and phrases with English translations that Lissie learned throughout the book. Told from Lissie’s perspective, Perkins invites readers to join Lissie in embracing the wonders of traveling to a new place. (Gr 3-7)

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Bad Badger: A Love Story. Maryrose Wood. Illus. by Giulia Ghigini. (2025). Union Square Kids.
Identified as the first book in a new series, Maryrose Wood introduces readers to Septimus the badger. He views himself as a bad badger because he is not very badger-like. He has spots, rather than stripes like other badgers. Plus, Septimus lives by the sea, not in a forest, and enjoys sipping tea on his porch while listening to opera music on his phonograph. He leads a solitary life until a quiet seagull named Gully joins him one evening on his porch, and a friendship is born. Although the friends are quite different, they form a special bond. When Septimus comes to an important realization that he wants to share with Gully, she disappears. This prompts him to search high and low for her. He is determined to find his best and only friend, no matter what it takes. Giulia Ghigini provides an old-style touch to a charming tale of friendship through detailed, textured pencil drawings. (Gr 2-5)

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Don’t Trust Fish. Neil Sharpson. Illus. by Dan Santat. (2025). Dial Books.
This entertaining tale, narrated by an “innocent” crab, begins with facts about mammals, reptiles, and birds. Once fish are mentioned, the storyline shifts into a hilarious yarn. That should not come as a surprise, given the title of the book. What follows is a series of silly claims about why you should not trust fish. For example, they are always underwater where they cannot be seen, and some have sneaky disguises, like the tiger shark and catfish. The narrator repeatedly reminds the reader, “Don’t trust fish.” However, crabs are not fish. They are your friends. Dan Santat’s comical illustrations of fish with bulging eyes and exaggerated facial expressions committing irrational acts bolster the crab’s claims, adding to the amusing narrative.  The pairing of wacky pictures and humorous words will surely make readers laugh out loud! (PreK-Gr 2)

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Mermaids are the Worst! Alex Willan. (2025). Simon & Schuster.
Gilbert the Goblin is back in the latest installment of the Worst! picturebook series. This time, mermaids are the problem. While Gilbert had hoped for a quiet, relaxing vacation, the mermaids have arrived for the 105th Annual Mermaid Tournament of Awesomeness. They are anything but quiet as they prepare for and engage in the tournament’s events. Not to mention, they invade every activity Gilbert attempts to enjoy, from tanning to snorkeling to floating down a lazy river. Will Gilbert be able to enjoy the vacation he has waited hundreds of years to take, or will the mermaids ruin it completely? Willan’s vivid digital illustrations help create a feeling of total chaos on what was supposed to be a serene vacation for Gilbert. Gilbert’s latest encounter with what he deems the “worst” creatures will thoroughly amuse readers. (PreK-Gr 2)

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Nellie’s Big Splash. Cori Doerrfeld. (2025). Dial Books.
Nellie is a newly hatched sea turtle in this heartfelt story of facing what seems like the impossible. While she knows the ocean is where she belongs, each time Nellie inches toward it, the CRASH of the waves sends her scurrying away in hopes of safety. Yet, she keeps trying, even enlisting the help of a larger sea creature at one point, because she knows the ocean is her home. Can she muster up the courage to join the rest of the baby sea turtles? Cori Doerrfeld’s digital ink drawings in mostly muted tones, in contrast to the rich hue of blue used for the daunting waves, lure the reader into Nellie’s predicament, making them feel as if they are on the journey with her. Readers will find themselves cheering for Nellie to make it past the waves to the refuge of the water. (PreK-Gr 2)

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The Green Kingdom. Cornelia Funke & Tammy Hartung. Illus. by Melissa Castrillón. (2025). DK Children.
Small town girl, Caspia, is a 12-year-old from Wilmerton, Maine, who is not excited that she must spend the summer in the city of Brooklyn, NY, while her dad works on a construction site. When the family arrives at the apartment her parents have rented for the summer, she is immediately skeptical of the number of flowers on the wallpaper and the décor around the house. Then she finds a collection of old letters in a flower-covered dresser in her room and is intrigued by the riddles about the inhabitants of the green kingdom contained in the letters. Her curiosity is sparked, and her eyes are opened to the possibilities of exploring a new place over the summer and meeting new people. Ultimately, Caspia discovers more about herself and the adventures life has to offer during her summer in the city. Castrillón’s black-and-white sketches of various flowers and scenes from the story complement the storyline well. (Gr 2-6)

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The Misfits: A Copycat Conundrum (Book 2). Lisa Yee. Illus. by Dan Santat. (2025). Random House.
Olive Cobin Zang and the rest of the crime-fighting Misfits at RASCH are back in the second book of Lisa Yee’s witty series. When their classmate, Zeke, receives alarming notes while researching his great-great-uncle, who disappeared during an attempted prison escape, the Misfits jump on the case. As they try to figure out what is going on with Zeke, the Misfits are called to investigate valuable pieces of art that have gone missing from a museum in San Francisco. Along with the missing pieces of art, the city has experienced a series of odd earthquakes that only occur in certain areas within the city. Are these events somehow linked, or is it just a coincidence? Dan Santat’s black-and-white sketches are woven in throughout the text and add to the humor of this engaging, fast-paced storyline that is sure to keep readers engaged. (Gr 2-6)

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Tios and Primos. Jacqueline Alcántara. (2025). Nancy Paulsen Books.
A little girl travels with her Papa to meet family for the first time in his home country. While she is excited to meet her familia, she is worried about being able to communicate with them since she only speaks a little Spanish. Upon arrival, she meets numerous family members one right after another as they drive around the city. She does her best to communicate with them and to decipher what they say to her. Will she find a way to connect with her family, despite their language barrier? Colorful illustrations using marker, gouache, and Photoshop exhibit the familial connections, while Spanish words interspersed in the body of the story and within the illustrations contribute to the authenticity of the little girl’s experience. (Gr K-4)

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Wee Unicorn. Meg McLaren. (2025). Charlesbridge.
Wee Unicorn is not like what others expect of unicorns. She is loud and not magical, which often bothers her. Thankfully, her mountain giant friends lift her up when she is feeling down by encouraging her to be herself. One day, Wee Unicorn encounters a strange creature at the edge of the water and bolts away in fear. Once she stops to think, she realizes that she had treated the misunderstood creature in the same manner that she feels others treat her. She resolves to make it right and returns to the water’s edge in search of the creature. Her search takes her through the dark woods until she arrives at the loch. Here she finds the creature, who is not actually scary but gentle, and apologizes. Could these two misunderstood creatures form a friendship? With cartoon-like illustrations and the use of speech bubbles, McLaren has created a mythical world for young readers to enjoy and a touching account of friendship. (PreK-Gr 2)

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​Nicole Maxwell is a professor specializing in literacy instruction in the Elementary and Special Education Program at the University of North Georgia.