Children's Summer 2003 Reading List
Critics List the Season's Best Books for Kids

 See Classic Literature for Children

 Also see Books of Summer 2003

June 9, 2003 -- NPR's Neal Conan hosts Talk of the Nation's discussion of the best summer reading for children. His guests include Eden Ross Lipson , children's book editor for The New York Times and author of The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children; Carol Erdahl, owner of the Red Balloon Bookshop, a children's book store in St. Paul, Minn.; and Deborah Taylor, a former Newbery Medal committee member and librarian at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md. And listeners share their favorites.

Carol Erdahl's Book Suggestions:

Owner Carol Erdahl Red Balloon Bookshop

Picture Books:

» Dear Mrs. LaRue Letters From Obedience School, by Mark Teague
» Don't Take Your Snake for a Stroll, by Karin Ireland
» Farfallina and Marcel, by Holly Keller
» Frederick, by Leo Lionni
» George Washington's Teeth, by Deborah Chandra, Madeleine Comora
» Martha Speaks, by Susan Meddaugh
» The Mitten, by Jan Brett
» My Friend Rabbit, by Eric Rohmann
» Olivia, by Ian Falconer
» Stone Soup, by Jon J. Muth
» Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola
» Toot and Puddle, by Holly Hobbie
» When Everybody Wore a Hat, by William Steig

Early Chapter Books:

» Jake Drake, by Andrew Clements
» Judy Moody, by Megan McDonald
» Junie B. Jones, by Barbara Park
» Magic Tree House, by Mary Pope Osborne
» My Father's Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Ages 8-12:

» Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo
» Bud Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
» Dear Papa, by Anne Ylvisaker
» Frindle, by Andrew Clements
» Half Magic, by Edward Eager
» Holes, by Louis Sachar
» The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle, by Don Wulffson
» Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech
» Sahara Special, by Esme Raji Codell
» Secret of Platform 13, by Eva Ibbotson
» Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funk

Teen:

» Big Mouth Ugly Girl, by Joyce Carol Oates
» Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson
» Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer
» In the Stone Circle, by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
» Or Give Me Death, by Ann Rinaldi
» Redwall, by Brian Jacques
» The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares
» The Second Summer of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares
» The Silent Boy, by Lois Lowry
» Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli


Listener Suggestions:

» Meet Addy: An American Girl, (American Girls Collection), by Connie Rose Porter

» Mr. Yowder and the Lion Roar Capsules , by Glen Rounds

» Stuart Little, by E.B. White

» Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White

» The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander

» Summerland, by Michael Chabon

» Mickey & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure, by Dan Gutman

» Honus and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure, by Dan Gutman

» Shoeless Joe & Me, by Dan Gutman

» Harry Potter books, by J.K Rowling

» Buck Wilder's Small Fry Fishing Guide: A Complete Introduction to the World of Fishing for Small Fry of All Ages, by Tim Smith

» Buck Wilder's Little Skipper Boating Guide: A Complete Introduction to the World of Boating for Little Skippers of All Ages, by Tim Smith

» Buck Wilder's Small Twig Hiking & Camping Guide: A Complete Introduction to the World of Hiking & Camping for Small Twigs of All Ages, by Tim Smith

» Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

» Where the Sidewalk Ends : Poems and Drawings (and other poetry), by Shel Silverstein

» Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

» The Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis

» A Series of Unfortunate Events (series), by Lemony Snicket


Other Resources

Enoch Pratt Free Library

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