Summer is here. And how! When soaring temperatures chase us back to the comforts of our rooms, what do we do to keep ourselves from boredom? No, don’t look at the television. Instead, take a look at your bookshelf. Have you read the books there? In that case, go take a peek at you brother or sister’s bookcase (when they’re in a good mood, of course), or better yet — make a quick stop at the library to pick out some awesome books.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This book is apt for our younger readers. Little Max is wreaking havoc in his house as he runs around dressed in a wolf costume, chasing the dog, annoying his mother and generally being a ‘wild thing’. This forces Max’s mother to send him to bed without dinner. But the story doesn’t end there. A forest grows in Max’s bedroom and he sets off to a magical place inhabited by the “wild things”. Max has the time of his life here, but will he eventually make it back home?
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl’s The BFG , as some of you might be aware, is being made into an animated movie by Steven Spielberg. And that is why the book makes its way into this list. You would want to read the book before you watch the movie, right? BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant, as Sophie finds out one night when the giant blows dreams into children’s bedrooms. Sophie accompanies the giant to his country where she is about to have an adventure of a lifetime.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Opal is lonely and it doesn’t help her cause when her father moves to a town in Florida, where she knows no one. But a visit to the local Winn-Dixie store changes all that as she befriends a dog and brings it home. What Opal is yet to realise is that the dog, named Winn-Dixie, could be more than an animal companion to her as she discovers interesting people and places she never thought she would.
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
This story highlights a classic case of role reversal and mistaken identity, and makes for an intriguing read. Tom can’t decide which is worse — begging on the streets or being beaten up by his father for not collecting enough alms. His life is miserable until he meets Prince Edward, who is identical to Tom. But a twist of fate throws Edward out into the streets as the pauper while Tom is mistaken to be the prince. Where will it lead the boys to?
