FCBG List for the Summer Reading Challenge
We asked Sue Wilsher, of Through the Bookshelf and North Somerset Teachers’ Book Awards, to create a list of books linked to the Summer Reading Challenge. Please read on for some great recommendations!
The Summer Reading Challenge started in 1999, taking children on a Reading Safari and has since engaged them with themes such as ‘Reading Mission’, ‘Space Hop’, ‘Creepy House’ and ‘Mischief Makers’. This year, The Reading Agency are partnering with the Science Museum group to encourage children to join the ‘Gadgeteers’.
Designed to tackle the ‘summer slide’, the Summer Reading Challenge is an excellent way of engaging children with reading over the holidays. Research (A Society of Readers October 2018) shows that ‘Regular reading breeds important life skills, which translate into greater opportunities in life… in order to build a more productive, creative and fairer society, access to and promotion of reading needs to be made universal and common for all.’ Libraries, an essential part of each community, ensure that everyone has access to a wonderful selection of books all year round!
The ‘Gadgeteers’ theme has been chosen to spark curiosity in the world around us and to show that both reading and science are for everyone. Every year in schools, teachers work hard to promote the scheme and to encourage children to engage with it. Having some suggested reads as a starting point is often helpful for both parents and children. A Gadgeteers Book Collection can be found on the website https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ and here are some further suggestions.
Picture Books
Rosie Revere, Engineer Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts (Abrams Books)
One of a series of books, The Questioneers, Rosie is a brilliant inventor who dreams of becoming a great engineer. Things do not go according to plan, but advice from her Great Great Aunt Rose (based on Rosie the Riveter who represented women who worked during WWII) inspires her to keep going.
Each of the books in this series is brilliant with engaging illustrations and a very positive message. There are also short novels and non-fiction titles about these characters, perfect for sharing or for independent reading.
Izzy Gizmo Pip Jones, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)
Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention Pip Jones, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)
Izzy loves to invent, but her inventions never quite work as she would like them to, leading her to give up. However, when she meets a crow with a broken wing, she must try again to help her new friend.
Perfect for encouraging perseverance and resilience, Izzy rises to another challenge in her second book, ‘The Invention Convention.’
A Dress with Pockets Lily Murray, illustrated by Jenny Løvlie (Macmillan)
Lucy and Aunt Augusta are dress shopping, but Lucy wants a dress with pockets where she can keep all her leaves and petals, magical spells and beautiful shells. Will she find the dress she needs?
A brilliant story for encouraging children to explore the world around them, this book shows that pockets lead to adventures. Lucy uses her pockets to gather lots of wonderful things- and any budding gadgeteer also needs this essential fashion accessory!
The Most Magnificent Thing- Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press)
A little girl knows she is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing, but this turns out to be much harder than she thought. Luckily, her best friend, her dog, convinces her to take a break before trying again.
Perseverance and creativity bring their own rewards as the little girl struggles with feelings of frustration and failure before getting her project just right!
Once Upon a Big Idea- James Carter, illustrated by Margaux Carpentier (Little Tiger)
This rhyming book takes the reader on a journey from the Stone Age to the modern world, exploring all manner of human inventions along the way.
This is part of a non-fiction poetry series by James Carter, each taking the reader on a journey of discovery.
Early Readers
Leonora Bolt, Secret Inventor- Lucy Brandt, illustrated by Gladys Jose (Puffin)
Leonora Bolt spends her days living on remote Crabby Island, inventing all manner of marvellous inventions, from magnetic cheese to rocket boots. However, everything changes when a boy named Jack washes up on the island one day. He tells Leonora that her Uncle Luther has been stealing her inventions and selling them as his own on the mainland.
With the second adventure, Leonora Bolt: Deep Sea Calamity, these books are full of fun, ingenious plans and brilliant inventions with appealing illustrations throughout.
Al’s Awesome Science series- Jane Clarke, illustrated by James Brown (Five Quills)
Full of science facts and step-by-step experiments, this series is perfect for the budding gadgeteer or scientist! Energetic twins, Al and Lottie, are always close to trouble and budding scientist, Al, is often surprised by the unexpected – and messy- results of his experiments!
Fun stories combine with accessible experiments to try in these highly illustrated books. The ‘Lottie’ series by the same author and illustrator team offers appealing eco-adventures to try.
Ollie Spark and the Accidental Adventure – Gillian Cross, illustrated by Alan Snow (David Fickling)
Ollie Spark loves mending machines, but he gets more than he bargained for when fixing Aunt Caz’s van throws him into a real-life spy adventure. With Gasket, his new dog best friend, Ollie is whisked away to a mysterious city which he must save from disaster.
Full of gadgets, adventure and brilliant illustrations by Alan Snow, this is a spectacular spy story like no other!
Mega Robo Bros: Power Up! Neill Cameron (David Fickling)
Bickering brothers, Alex and Freddy, are super-powered robots and when London is attacked, they need to foil the plans of the Evil Robot 23. Adapted from the previous format, these chunky format versions have lots of bonus content.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (Razorbil)
When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village in Malawi, his family lost the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat or sell. Looking for a solution, William began to explore science books in his village library and he came up with the idea that would change their lives forever: he could build a windmill. Made from scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.
This memoir shows how an idea can lead to great things. Photographs, illustrations and an epilogue updating the reader on William’s story help to make this an absorbing and inspirational read.
Everything Under the Sun: A Curious Question for Every Day of the Year – Molly Oldfield with various illustrators (Ladybird)
Although not strictly for Gadgeteers, this collection of 366 questions is perfect for dipping in and out of, or for sharing a fascinating fact every day. Find out who made the first ice cream, why rabbits eat their own poo, why waves break in the beach…and see if you can beat your teacher at trivia when you return to school!
Invented by Animals- Christiane Dorion, illustrated by Gosia Herba (Wide Eyed)
Meet the animals who have inspired scientists and inventors! Engaging illustrations combine with accessible text to make this a very enjoyable, informative and inspirational read. Built by Animals- Christiane Dorion, illustrated by Yeji Yun (Wide Eyed) is also available in this series.
Middle Grade
Amber Undercover -Em Norry (OUP)
‘Ordinary’ schoolgirl, Amber Roberts, suddenly finds herself recruited as a secret agent for The Agency after an escape room adventure with friends. After her initial training, she is sent to infiltrate an exclusive boarding school which The Agency suspects of harbouring members of a cybercrime unit called CHAOS. Initially feeling out of her depth, Amber soon starts to believe in herself and rises to the challenge of being a spy.
With family and friendship firmly at its heart, this tech-filled adventure is such a good read!
Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest- Vashti Hardy, illustrated by George Ermos (Scholastic)
Harley lives in Inventia, near the Iron Forest which grows all the mechanical things which Inventia needs. When a strange fungus starts damaging the forest, Harley must find a solution before everything falls apart!
Vashti Hardy is well known for books which celebrate STEM subjects whilst offering action-packed adventures. ‘Harley Hitch’ is extremely engaging and full of lively illustrations by George Ermos. There is a second Harley adventure- Harley Hitch and the Missing Moon- and readers who enjoy these titles might also like to read ‘The Griffin Gate’ series (illustrated by Natalie Smillie, Barrington Stoke) or Vashti’s longer novels, the ‘Brightstorm’ trilogy (illustrated by George Ermos, Scholastic), Crowfall (Scholastic) or ‘Wildspark’ (Scholastic).
City of Rust- Gemma Fowler (Chicken House)
Railey lives in Boxville, a city built of containers and scraps, with her gran and Atti, her bio-robotic gecko. A talented engineer, she dreams of winning the biggest drone race on Earth. But the race is interrupted, she is forced to flee and take refuge with the Junkers, tough, fierce clans who mine in the Soup, a ring of rubbish, speeding around the Earth. Befriended by Laurie and Care, two young Junkers, Railey learns that the world she knows might be destroyed by a huge Junk Bomb and realises that she and Atti must use all their flying skills to save it.
With its strong ecological theme, fabulous cast of characters and compelling adventure, ‘City of Rust’ is an absorbing and enjoyable read.
Science and Me – Ali Winter, illustrated by Mickaël El Fathi (Lantana)
‘Science and Me’ is a wonderful introduction to some of the inspirational men and women who have been awarded Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine. The book starts with a biography of Alfred Nobel and his creation of five annual awards -those mentioned above plus Literature and Peace.
Each biography is a fascinating read, full of inspiration, not only for each achievement, but of the tenacity and determination shown by those responsible for them.
Atlas of Amazing Architecture: The Most Incredible Buildings You’ve (Probably) Never heard Of Peter Allen (Cicada Books)
Seeking out a more diverse, inclusive approach to what constitutes amazing architecture, this book introduces the reader to a wealth of buildings throughout history, spanning all the continents and introducing new engineering technologies. Shaping the World: 40 Historical Heroes in Verse- edited by Liz Brownlee (Macmillan)
‘Shaping the World’ is an excellent, diverse collection of poems, celebrating forty remarkable people and their achievements.
Wonder: The Natural History Poetry Book – Ana Sampson (Macmillan)
‘Wonder’ is a stunning collection of poems, grouped into sections reflecting the different treasures the museum houses. The book feels as carefully curated as the museum itself as it is obvious that much thought has been given to the range of poems included and how they have been organised. Notes from the author are peppered throughout, offering additional explanation and detail. There are also many black and white illustrations relating to the poems.
The Challenge launches in libraries in Scotland and N.I. on Saturday 25th June and in England and Wales on Saturday 9th July. Whatever you choose to read, have fun taking part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge!