Summer Bookshelf
And a very fun snail mail announcement!
The days are hot and long, the sports and activities are wrapping up, and I am furiously shelving Dog Mans and Wimpy Kids at school. Those sections are only stuffed when kids aren’t in school which means break is so very close!
Before I sign off for the summer, I want to share a few World Cup-inspired books and bits & bobs, but first, I very happy to announce another Mittens & Books mailer!
Mittens & Boots Snail Mail
I had so much fun sharing a hard copy of children’s book recommendations with readers last year and wanted to do it again. But then this spring we had the fire at school and I found myself flustered, grumpy, and honestly running a bit ragged between a weird end to the school year and my own family’s busy life. I wasn’t sure if this would come together!
I tried to put it out of my mind, but inspiration struck and I ended up having a great time putting together a new piece. I pulled 24 different books (almost none of which have been included here before!) into a fortune teller ( or cootie catcher, if you’re my age!). The book suggestions suit a range of summer moods, reading tastes, and abilities, along with jokes and fun facts.
If you live in the US and would like to receive it, fill out this form (I promise not to do anything weird with your information!). And if you’d like to make a small contribution to offset the costs of this mailing, please do so via Venmo — details are provided in the form. I can’t wait to send these off at the end of the month!
Soccer Fever!
Madani’s Best Game is a picture book with great range, working beautifully for both big and little kids. Madani is the best soccer player on his team, but he doesn’t have shoes to play in. He’s saving money in a little box, and all his teammates assume he’ll soon purchase cleats to become an even better player. The twist at the end is extremely sweet. For Madani, the best part of the game is who you get to share it with.
The Floating Field is an incredible nonfiction picture book that shares a story from Koh Panyee in Thailand, where the entire village is built on stilts. Twice a month, sandbars formed and the local kids could play soccer. But after coming together to watch the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the kids were inspired to build something that would allow them to play anytime they wanted. They created the floating field using old wood and buoys, eventually forming the Panyee Football Club that successfully competed against other teams on the mainland.
The Academy has been widely circulating among my 4th and 5th graders this year, and after finally reading it myself, I totally understand the appeal! Leo is a small town soccer star who unexpectedly finds himself at the London Dragons youth squad for the summer. Despite being creative and energetic on the field, his lack of elite training means he’s far behind the other players in terms of skills. Fast-paced and super fun, there are now six books in this series to keep you kiddo busy if they get hooked :)
All Thirteen isn’t exactly a soccer book, but it is about an extraordinary soccer team. This is a nonfiction account of the twelve players and their coach who who were unexpectedly trapped in a cave by rapid flood waters. The 2018 rescue mission dragged on, but the throughout the harrowing experience, the kids and their coach demonstrated grit, trust, caring, and bravery. Soontornvat writes short, snappy chapters with lots of photos throughout — I was immediately hooked, and have happily shared this book with many upper elementary students over the years.
Bits & Bobs
I’ve been running a book club at school this year (using the Book Wrangler’s excellent model), and was lucky to receive a gift certificate to a local bookstore from the families who participated. As a librarian surrounded by books, I very rarely buy them, so this was hugely fun. I picked out Land, Whistler, and London Falling for my own summer reading pile.
These halloumi and sweet potato tacos have been in steady rotation — so fast and delicious (NYTimes cooking gift link).
The kids and I watched Remarkably Bright Creatures and we all loved it — a great pick for big kids through adults of all ages.
I picked up these chambray drawstring pants at J. Crew before our trip to California in April and highly recommend them. Super comfortable, very lightweight, and they roll up into almost nothing for packing. If you always wished you had another pair of pants on your summer vacations, these are great.
I hope you all have a light and joy-filled summer with your loved ones. I’ll see you back here in September (and in your actual mailbox later this month!).