The end of summer approaches, and it’s time to start thinking about school! At least, that’s what I gathered the last time I went to the store and saw all the back-to-school supplies. I shall make school my unofficial theme this month. These are all more tangentially related to school though, so you don’t have to think about it too much if you don’t want to. Just sit back and enjoy a new book with your last days of summer!
Picture Books
“A Place For Us” written and illustrated by James E. Ransome
I love wordless picture books for the way they strengthen visual literacy, and this one will also foster empathy. A boy’s mom picks him up from school with a big hug, then the two head to a restaurant for some fast food. Afterwards, they spend time at the library together, where the boy diligently does homework while his mom reads a novel. They stay there until the library closes, and it’s then that the reader realizes they have nowhere else to go. They spend the night on a park bench, the boy’s head resting in his mom’s lap with her sweater as his blanket. The sun rises and she gently wakes her boy. After a clean shirt, combed hair and tooth-brushing in a park fountain, he’s ready for another day of school. The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous and poignant, and the love between mother and child is tangible. This will make an excellent and thought-provoking conversation starter.
“Ellie Has a Secret” written and illustrated by Amelia Bothe
Here’s another conversation starter, this time about how to deal with the burden of a secret. Ellie is enjoying sifting through the classroom sandbox one day at indoor recess when she comes across a delightful little shell. Impulsively, she tucks it into her pocket. When she examines it later at lunch, a tiny dragon-like creature emerges and introduces itself as “her Secret.” At first, Ellie is charmed and happily carries it everywhere with her…but the Secret grows and grows. Soon she can barely carry it, she’s isolated from her friends and she can’t sleep at night. When she finally tells her mother about the Secret and resolves to return the shell, she’s delighted to see the Secret shrink away. This is a great allegory, which I think is wonderfully accessible for kids. It perfectly captures the initial excitement of a secret that quickly becomes burdensome. This would be useful for starting conversations about secrets of all sizes, and letting kids know it’s always a good idea to tell a trusted adult. Also, the illustrations are cinematic and very cool!
Chapter Books
“Schooled” by Jamie Sumner
Lenny is entering sixth grade and starting college — sort of. Lenny’s Latin professor dad got a new teaching job at his alma mater, and now they’re living on campus. His father’s professor friends have kids his age, so they decide to start an experimental school for them that consists of auditing college classes, independent study, self-care and “group actualization.” Lenny has zero interest in the school, because ever since his mom died six months ago, his dad has had zero interest in parenting. As the year progresses, Lenny begins to connect with the other students and an elderly literature professor, and slowly takes interest in things again. The author uses the unique setting and college autonomy to show the importance of community when navigating grief.
“The School for Thieves” by Peter Burns
Tom is an orphan who survives on the streets of London by picking pockets and looking out for his friends. When his friends are snatched and carted off to the workhouse, Tom is desperate to get them back. But breaking into the workhouse and then getting back out again seems like an impossible task. Then he receives a card from a mysterious man, “Wanted: the clever, the cunning, and the fearless. Must be willing to risk death daily. Fortunes available for the most daring and capable.” With no other options, Tom soon finds himself in the snowy Alps at Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts, where he hopes to learn the necessary clandestine skills to rescue his friends. Beaufort’s is an international boarding school that trains students for membership in the Shadow League, a secret global organization that keeps the world’s political power in balance. As one might expect, Beaufort’s is full of secrets, and Tom has a lot to learn before he can save himself, his friends and possibly the world. This is a series starter that would be great for any fans of spy stories or dark academia.
