A Stack of Summer Reading Awaits

Carrying on a post-Memorial Day weekend tradition, you will find the start of my summer reading in this issue of the Scoop. As many of you may recall, I set a goal of reading 13 books in 13 weeks—a book-a-week from Memorial Day weekend and through Labor Day. I am still striving to hit my goal—perhaps 2021 will be the year! For those of us who stayed local, this past rainy and chilly weekend provided the opportunity to read; perhaps you were able to get started on some of your own summer reading.

Before I share my list, though, I will take a moment to honor Eric Carle, a Massachusetts native, writer, and artist who inspired young readers throughout the world and whose Very Hungry Caterpillar has long been a part of the Belmont Day curriculum. Carle passed away at the age of 91 on May 23, 2021. His 70 books always made room for childhood interpretation and joy. Whether reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? or counting the number of plums the caterpillar has eaten, Carle’s work captures the innocence of youth and nature all at once.

So, as you embark on what I hope will be a summer filled with great books or, at least, a collection of great stories, I hope you take a moment to appreciate the work of Carle, a true master of early childhood literacy and art.

Here is my early summer list:

The Electric Kingdom, David Arnold

Case Histories, Kate Atkinson

Class Act, Jerry Craft

Shape, Jordan Ellenberg

The Searcher, Tana French

The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

Noise, Daniel Kahneman

The Premonition, Michael Lewis

The Maidens, Alex Michaelides

Just Work, Kim Scott

Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir

Caste, Isabel Wilkerson

The Professor and the Madman, Simon Winchester

Once summer gets started, I know I can count on my usual book recommenders—Blair Fross, Heather Woodcock, Amy Sprung, my mother, my summer book club, and others—to track me down, and my list, which already feels daunting, will be more than full.

Perhaps to make some early headway, I might pick up Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? It will undoubtedly be a quicker read than Kahneman’s latest, and I have little doubt that it will be as lasting in its memory. Many thanks to the great Eric Carle.

Have a great weekend.

“I wrote the book that had meaning to me. I made the pictures that brought me joy.” – Eric Carle