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Dinosaurs book cover
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Color kittens book cover
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Brown bear book cover
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Animal Orchestra book cover
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My first airplane ride book cover
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Good night work book cover
If You’re Going . . . to the Natural History Museum
Even the littlest kids will be excited about fossils after listening to “Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!” by Sandra Boynton. Boynton’s silly yet clever rhymes make this board book fun for adults to read aloud as well. For slightly older kids, start with Ian Whybrow’s “Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs,” then move on to “Harry and the Dinosaurs at the Museum.” You could even let the kids pick out some dinos of their own at the museum gift shop.
If You’re Going . . . to the Art Museum
It’s never too early to start talking about art! The unique “Touch the Art” series by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo allows kids to interact with features from famous paintings. For example, “Make Van Gogh’s Bed," devoted to the Impressionists and late 19th century artists, features mixed-media versions of Monet’s water lilies, Cassatt’s seashore and Cézanne’s fruit. Other titles in the series include “Pop Warhol’s Top” and “Feed Matisse’s Fish.”
Or, begin with the basics and check out “The Color Kittens” by Margaret Wise Brown. This classic story is a pleasure to read and reread, thanks to Wise Brown’s clever turns-of phrase and Alice and Martin Provensen’s gorgeous illustrations. Once at the museum, you can use the story as a springboard to discuss the different colors chosen by artists as well as the colors that were combined to make them.
If You’re Going . . . to the Zoo or Aquarium
Introduce your child to animals of all different kinds with “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?” by Bill Martin, Jr. Eric Carle’s vivid illustrations combine with catchy, repetitive prose to keep this favorite on the short list of must-read children’s books year after year. On the aquatic side, Deborah Diesen’s “The Pout-Pout Fish” is tough to beat. Adults and kids alike will enjoy the smart, funny rhymes and eclectic cast of characters that includes Ms. Clam, Mrs. Squid and Mr. Eight (an octopus). If you find yourselves wanting more undersea fun, move on to the sequel, “The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark.”
Finally, for a book that specifically discusses a zoo trip, check out “Let’s Go to the Zoo!” by Ellen Weiss. This story features the Fisher-Price Little People, but the dozens of pop-out doors that hide animal surprises are the real attraction. Young children will want to explore this interactive book again and again.
If You’re Going . . . to a Concert
As children’s books go, “Animal Orchestra” by Ilo Orleans has aged exceptionally well since its original publication in 1958. This rousing, rhyming Little Golden Book will give young ones insight into some of the instruments they might expect to see. For a more modern musical tale, try “This Jazz Man” by Karen Erhardt. Her words bring the tune from “This Old Man” to life by incorporating jazz instruments, sounds and terms. At the story’s end, Erhardt offers short biographies of nine great jazz artists. It’s impossible to describe how much fun this book is, but after one time through you’ll be hooked!
If You’re Going . . . on Vacation
Traveling by plane? “My First Airplane Ride” by Patricia Hubbell uses simple language to help little ones understand exactly what to expect from each step of the process. Traveling by train? Revisit Watty Piper’s classic “The Little Engine that Could,” which is chock-full of both trains and motivational messages. There are a currently a number of different versions of this book available on Amazon.com, so read the product details and reviews to find one that is a good fit for your family.
Depending on your destination, the “Good Night Our World” series (www.goodnightourworld.com) by Adam Gamble may also be a perfect pick. These simple board books depict popular sights in places such as Chicago, Michigan, Denver, Florida Keys and Washington, D.C. Think of them as guidebooks for the 0-5 set.Wherever you’re headed this summer, your journey’s sure to be better with a good book. Happy summer reading!
Michelle Shirk is an attorney, freelance writer and proud mother of one. She writes about family, travel and seasonal events for parenting publications across the United States.