Giveaway: A Summer Reading Set from Scholastic

Did you happen to catch the OTHER holiday over the weekend? Not the one that celebrates the big guy in our lives… the one that said “hello, summer’s here.”

Because that’s the holiday that means most of us will soon have our kids underfoot twenty-four hours a day, Babble’s here to help with everything you need to keep them occupied: a free box of books from Scholastic.

With the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge under way since April 30, they’re going full speed ahead now that summer’s officially here. And summer reading lists are set up on their site to help you help your kids map out the summer.

We’ve picked out a few of our favorites here at Babble:

For the 3 to 5 set, get ready to comfort the skinned knees of summer play with a read-aloud of Jeremy Tankard’s Boo Hoo Bird. It’s all fun and games until Bird gets “bonked” on the head, and nothing – and no one – can make him feel better. Well, no one but Bird himself. A goofy story that lets kids know a little boo boo isn’t the end of the world, the bright colors and funky illustrations carry the simple tale along. And the laughs make it all worthwhile.

For the 6 to 8 group (younger if Mom and Dad are reading), Peter Elwell’s Adios Oscar is a summer adventure to Mexico without ever having to pack their bags. This out-of-the-box story about a caterpillar who prepping for life after the cocoon – when he’s sure he’ll be a beautiful butterfly bound for Mexico – takes a turn for the bright lights when Oscar bursts out of his chrysalis as your common moth. Oscar refuses to let looks determine his future, saying “Adios” to his world to follow his dreams. Mixing a science lesson with an empowerment message, your kids will gravitate to the book like, well, moths to a flame.

The 8 to 12 group (or families who are reading aloud chapter books these days) should stop the presses and run to the bookstore for a copy of Lois Duncan’s News for Dogs. From the author whose Hotel for Dogs is now a major motion picture, the brother and sister newspaper is at turns heartwarming and heartbreaking. Incorporating calamity akin to the original for plenty of thought-provoking fun, it’s a chapter book that will make them beg for just one more chapter.

Want your kids to stay occupied this summer? Check out the rest of the Scholastic reading list, and shoot us an e-mail at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and the age of your child plus the name “Scholastic Giveaway” in the subject line. A winner chosen at random on July 5 will receive a set of four books appropriate to their child’s age (including one of our picks).

Check Out More Book Picks:

• Win a Copy of Sarah Dessen’s Along for the Ride

• Love, Peace and ‘69: Woodstock For Kids

• Is This the Best Baby Book Ever?