Candlewick Presents Books for Summer Reading

Peppa Pig and the Great Vacation

9780763669867 ? May 2014 ? Hardcover ? $12.99 ? 32 pages ? Ages 2-5

Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, Peppa, and George are off to the warm, sunny seaside. It's too bad Goldie the goldfish can't come along, but Granny Pig and Grandpa Pig will look after Peppa's beloved pet. There's lots to do on vacation -- send postcards, have pizza for lunch, take a nature walk, and of course go to the beach. It's a great vacation indeed, and Granny Pig and Grandpa Pig have taken very good care of Goldie. Maybe too good! Will this be Peppa's greatest vacation ever?

Picnic by John Burningham

9780763669454 ? May 2014 ? Hardcover ? $16.99 ? 32 pages ? Ages 2-5

One day, Boy and Girl head down the hill with a picnic basket and meet a fancily dressed Sheep, Pig, and Duck. They all set off to find the perfect place to sit outside -- until they see Bull coming! A short-lived chase segues into a gentle interactive text as the friends wend their way from an idyllic outdoor world to a welcoming house on a hill. In a charmingly understated tale with child-friendly illustrations and a hint of sly humor, John Burningham evokes a perfect summer day with a fresh new picture book. The renowned John Burningham is in classic form with a simple story of a boy, a girl, and some animal friends that invites the child listener to join in.

«"Burningham's trademark sketchy insouciance, with broken black outlines and dappled marker coloring, establishes a playful, sunny tone that's perfect for a day in the spring-green countryside."- Booklist (starred review)

Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble by Megan McDonald; illustrated by Erwin Madrid

9780763670276 ? February 2014 ? Paperback ? $4.99 ? 64 pages ? Ages 4-6

With her birthday coming up, Jessica hopes that, just maybe, her present will be a real-live potbellied pig. Jessica can hardly wait for her party with Judy Moody and all their friends. But Judy Moody is acting like a pig-head, and Jessica UN-invites her from the party. To make matters worse, Jessica has snooped around the house and has found zero sign of a pig present. Could her birthday be any more of a disaster? Geared to newly independent readers, this story will have Judy Moody fans in pig heaven.

"McDonald gives emerging readers their own series that offers the same realism and zany humor as her previous "Judy Moody" books." - School Library Journal

Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis

9780763660512 ? February 2014 ? Hardcover ? $14.99 ? 288 pages ? Ages 8-12

He doesn't like to pull rank. To reveal that he's this guy: Timmy Failure, founder, president, and CEO of the greatest detective agency in town, perhaps the nation. But he is. And he's about to crack the biggest case of his generation: a school competition to find a stolen globe. It's his ticket to bringing home a $500 prize, which is guaranteed to set him up for life. But someone is clearly trying to game the system. Hoodwink. Con. Defraud. So it's up to Timmy Failure, with the dubious help of Total, his lazy polar-bear partner, and his unlikely new ally, eccentric Great Aunt Colander, to find a way to avenge these shenanigans. Defeat this injustice. If he can only get his entry form in on time.

"Pastis has a knack for comic timing, and the interplay between cartoon, text, and the absurdities of the story should continue to attract readers who wish they could shake their fists at the world with such inept panache." - Booklist

Three Bird Summer by Sara St. Antoine

9780763665647 ? May 2014 ? Hardcover ? $16.99 ? 265 pages ? 10 years and up

Every year since he can remember, Adam has spent his summers at his grandmother's rustic cabin on Three Bird Lake. But this year is different. Dad won't be with them, and there's a new girl next door. Alice looks just like the aloof popular girls back home. But she's nice and easy to talk to, and she doesn't mind acting silly or being quiet and dock sitting. And when Adam's grandma starts to leave strange notes in his room -- notes that hint at a hidden treasure somewhere at the lake and a secret love from long ago -- Alice is the one person Adam can rely on to help find answers. An introspective boy and an adventurous girl uncover a poignant family mystery during a summer on the shores of Three Bird Lake.

"Rich in descriptive detail, readers will be able to fully visualize the characters and the lush setting of this well-written novel." - School Library Journal

"This spirited novel seamlessly combines endings and beginnings against the beautiful backdrop of a lake in summer." - Kirkus Reviews

Swim That Rock by John Rocco and Jay Primiano

9780763669058 ? April 2014 ? Hardcover ? $16.99 ? 304 pages ? 12 years and up

When his dad goes missing in a fishing-boat accident, fourteen-year-old
Jake refuses to think he may have lost his father forever. But suddenly,
nothing seems certain in Jake's future, and now his family's diner may be repossessed by loan sharks. In Narragansett Bay, scrabbling out a living as a quahogger isn't easy, but with the help of some local clammers, Jake is determined to work hard and earn enough money to ensure his family's security and save the diner in time. Told with cinematic suspense and a true compassion for the characters, Swim That Rock is a fast-paced coming-of-age story that beautifully and evocatively captures the essence of coastal Rhode Island life, the struggles of blue-collar family dynamics, and the dreams of one boy to come into his own.

"An affable coming-of-age novel." - The New York Times Book Review

"The rich imagery of life in a fishing town, combined with action that primarily revolves around intense quahogging expeditions, makes this a refreshingly unique read." - School Library Journal

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

9780763667917 ? May 2014 ? Hardcover ? $16.99 ? 304 pages ? 12 years and up

When Gloria sets out to spend the summer before her senior year at a camp for gifted and talented students, she doesn't know quite what to expect. Fresh from the heartache of losing her grandmother and missing her best friend, Gloria resolves to make the best of her new circumstances. But some things are proving to be more challenging than she expected. Like the series of mysterious clues left by a certain Professor X before he even shows up to teach his class, Secrets of the Written Word. Or the very sweet, but very conservative, roommate whose coal-industry family champions mountaintop removal. Not to mention the obnoxious Mason, who dresses like the Mad Hatter and immediately gets on Gloria's nerves -- but somehow won't escape her thoughts. Beautifully told by debut author Sarah Combs, this honest and touching story of growing up is imbued with the serene atmosphere of Kentucky's natural landscape.

"This debut novel is a gem. It captures and holds the sweet essence of those fiercely intense relationships that often blossom during the enforced intimacy of sharing rooms and assignments. It handles literature, friendship, heartbreak, and joy with equal tenderness. ... This is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel with characters so detailed readers feel that they know them and dialogue so natural, readers feel as though they said it." - VOYA