Posted on: July 22, 2009

Book It!

Show your kids how fun - and educational - reading can be with these hot new volumes

By Perry Gattegno
CTW Features

Those first few days back in class can be long, and nothing clears the mind quite like engaging yourself in an alternate world. Experts have long trumpeted the benefits of reading, so here's our list of the best books to get your kids away from the screen and into the pages:

"The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

(Sandpiper, 2009) When life gives you lemons, your kids can enjoy reading about someone else's sibling rivalry while picking up the basics of marketing and economics. Two siblings end up in the same class at school and decide to see who can sell more lemonade at their own stands in the last week before class begins. The result is a tart, fun read that may inspire your kids to try their hands at business.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw" by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books, 2009) The third in a well-regarded series, this book attracts the "tween" crowd because it sits somewhere between novel and comic book. "Wimpy kid" Greg Heffley encounters many of the same issues your student may feel - trying to win the heart of a classmate, facing pressure to succeed on the field, the idea of "being a man" - and his snarky self-commentary could make your child see that everyone has the same problems growing up.

"The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones" by Rick Riordan (Scholastic, 2008) This is the first in a series of 10 books, so if you're looking to get your kids hooked on reading it may be a good choice. The Cahill siblings find themselves with a choice: Accept an inheritance of one million dollars or embark on a treasure hunt that could lead to much more. They choose the hunt and take readers for the ride, where they must beat out other family members to find the 39 clues before anyone else. The good news is, books 2-5 have already been released, and your kids can play an interactive online game while waiting for future titles.

"Scat" by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf, 2009) If your child has a green streak, this new ecomystery from the revered Hiaasen is a great choice. Two students search for their missing teacher in the Everglades - Hiaasen rarely leaves South Florida behind - and determine that modern business and conservation seem to be odd bedfellows. This one might be more suitable for slightly older readers, as Hiaasen manages to weave the effects of the Iraq War on one of his main characters into the plot, but his trademark quirkiness takes control to soften the story.

"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt (Atheneum, 2008) Critics found this tale of three intertwined stories an impressive attempt at the great American children's novel, bestowing upon it the prestigious Newbery Book Award. The story's main characters are a family of cats and a lonely bloodhound who find companionship in one another, and while they deal with sadness and betrayal throughout the story, children will find themes of sensitivity and love more powerful underpinnings.

"A Really Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson (Delacorte, 2009) This one doesn't come out until late October, but as a condensed, child-centric version of his 2004 "A Short History of Nearly Everything," Bryson takes readers through a roller-coaster ride on the history of science. This one may lead your kids to ask lots of questions, but a primer on topics from physics to paleontology geared at kids may become a valuable resource for yours as they encounter new and more advanced topics in school.

"The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" by Michael Scott (Delacorte, 2008) This fantasy yarn will appeal to readers fond of mythology and medieval times. Twin siblings aim to use special powers to save the world when evil Golems steal an ancient text of magic, the novel is a race through prophecy, science and the strength of imagination, all rooted in the noted alchemist Flamel. A sequel is presumed to be in the works as well.