Natalie's recommended summer reading for Lower School students at Carolina Friends School

1. curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018
Check out some of these 2017-18 books at your
local public library or bookstore this summer! I
created this list with a variety of readers in mind,
thinking about our school community, and
including a few of our favorites from the year.
Happy reading!
-Natalie, Lower School Librarian
Picture Books
Get ready for summer with these picture books for the whole family!
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis by Paul Meisel (2017)
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (2017)
Dude! words by Aaron Reynolds, art by Dan Santat (2018)

2. Picture Books
Moon by Alison Oliver (2018)
Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal (2018)
Alfie by Thyra Heder (2017)
A House That Once Was
by Julie Fogliano,
illustrated by Lane Smith (2018)
Little Fox in the Forest
by Stephanie Graegin (2017)
Islandborn by Junot Díaz,
illustrated by Leo Espinosa (2018)
Julián Is a Mermaid
by Jessica Love (2018)
The Field by Baptiste Paul,
illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara (2018)
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018

3. Eager Readers
We have a special basket section of Eager Readers in the
library, especially for emergent readers. These books allow
beginning readers to engage with interesting text at a level
that is just right for them. Why Eager Readers? Because
students will be eager to read more and more!
*For fans of Elephant & Piggie, Fly Guy, and Frog & Toad.
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
The Itchy Book! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!)
by LeUyen Pham (2018)
It’s Shoe Time! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!)
by Bryan Collier (2017)
Buzz, Bee! (National Geographic Readers)
by Jennifer Szymanski (2017)
Climb, Koala! (National Geographic Readers)
by Jennifer Szymanski (2017)
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin (2018)
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018

4. Chapter Books
Blending illustrations and text,
readers transitioning to chapter
books should check out some of
these books! Your reader can tell a
“just right” book by looking at the
ratio of words to pictures, blank
space on the page, and by reading
the first page.
Fergus and Zeke series
by Kate Messner, illustrated by Heather
Ross
Princess Cora and the Crocodile
by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by
Brian Floca (2017)
A Masterpiece Adventure series by Elise
Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Jada Jones series by Kelly Starling
Lyons, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley
Newton
Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi
Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet
Vukovic
The Last Firehawk series by Katrina
Charman, illustrated by Jeremy Norton
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018

5. Graphic Novels
With a mix of genres, these books rely on both the words
and pictures to create complex, cohesive stories -- whether
they’re silly, funny, adventurous, thoughtful, or mysterious.
Graphic novels are excellent (and popular) independent
reading selections!
The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey
The Amazing Crafty Cat series by Charise Myracle Harper
Phoebe and Her Unicorn series by Dana Simpson
Mighty Jack series by Ben Hatke
5 Worlds series by Mark and Alexis Siegel; illustrations by
Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, and Boya Sun
Good Night, Planet by Liniers (2017)
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018

6. Novels
From a talking tree to a forgotten zombie friend,
fantasy and adventure novels abound in this
year’s selections (top). Also included are a
couple of fun treehouse stories (middle) and a
trip back in time to harrowing events (bottom).
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate (2017)
The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd (2018)
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (2018)
The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz (2018)
Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead (2018)
The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff (2017)
The Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths
I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018

7. Keep your Spanish language skills fresh with some of these books!
¡El gallo que no se callaba! The Rooster Who Would Not Be
Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin,
translated by Madeica Dominguez (2017)
Lola planta un jardín by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind
Beardshaw, translated by Carlos E. Calvo (2017)
La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated
by Juana Martinez-Neal (2017)
Hombre Perro by Dav Pilkey, translated by Nuria Molinero
(2017)
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown, illustrated
by John Parra (2017)
¡Tienes un pájaro en la cabeza! by Mo Willems, adapted by F.
Isabel Campoy (2017)
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018
Libros en español

8. Nonfiction These true stories celebrate creativity,
bravery, diversity, and nature. Great for
reading as a family!
How to Be an Elephant by Katherine Roy (2017)
Grand Canyon by Jason Chin (2017)
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris (2017)
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall (2018)
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the
Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and Winifred Conkling,
illustrated by Laura Freeman (2017)
Stand Up and Sing!: Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to
Justice by Susanna Reich, illustrated by Adam Gustavson (2017)
Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics by by Margarita Engle,
illustrated by Rafael López (2017)
Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible
Journey by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes, illustrated by Sue
Cornelison (2017)
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated
by Frank Morrison (2018)
Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a
Disability by Shane Burcaw, illustrated by Matt Carr (2017)
Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai, illustrated by
Kerascoët (2017)
Find more at LSLIBRARY.CFSNC.ORG
curated by Natalie Sapkarov Harvey
Carolina Friends School 2018