Every summer, Inly selects books for students in every level to read over the summer. The primary goal is for the students to have a shared reading experience that can serve as a jumping off point when they return to school in September. An equally important goal is for the students to read something enjoyable. Summer is not the time for books that require guidance from teachers. We choose books that will support a child’s reading skills and are perfect for the deck or the beach. We also have a long list of books from which students can choose other books to read over the summer. I’ll share some of those titles over the next few weeks.
Inly implements a curriculum that gives children an appreciation of the riches and complexities of today’s world. The curriculum does this with a three year rotation of studying Ancient Civilizations, North and South America, and World Cultures. Students explore the fundamental needs throughout different cultures and civilizations to make connections with themselves and others. We are entering a World Cultures year, and the Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary summer books are on-ramps to next year’s armchair tour of the world.
Here are the 2020 Summer Books, most of which are available in paperback at Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset.
Children’s House: Choose one (or all) of these classic picture books:
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson
Lower Elementary: Choose one (or read both) of these picture books: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman or Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey.
Upper Elementary: Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
Middle School: The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
I selected Benjamin’s new novel for our middle school students for a couple of reasons. One is that it’s about a girl starting middle school, a time of change and new questions for everyone – including Caityln, the main character in The Next Great Paulie Fink. Caitlyn has the added challenge of replacing a legendary student, Paulie Fink, who his classmates won’t stop talking about. The other reason I like this novel is that it raises questions about myths – how they get started and the dangers they present. As Kirkus said in their starred review, it’s “a book to make readers think, question, reach, laugh, and strive harder.”
Happy Summer Reading!
Sommer Reading 