2026 SummerReads ~ 5/6 by PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56 Celebrate 100 years of great reading! en-us 2026-05-27 17:41:33 UTC 2026-06-13 12:50:29 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/8.0/svg/2600.svg PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931760029
  • American Indian Youth Literature Award: honoring work by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives.
  • Asian/Pacific American Literature Award: honoring work about Asian/Pacific American heritage.  
  • Mildred L. Batchelder Award: outstanding book published internationally.
  • Pura Belpré Award: excellent portrayal of the Latinx experience. 
  • Randolph Caldecott Award: distinguished illustration. 
  • Theodor Seuss Geisel Award: distinguished book for beginning readers. 
  • Coretta Scott King Book Award: appreciation of African American culture. 
  • John Newbery Award: distinguished writing. 
  • Odyssey Award: best audiobook production.
  • Michael L. Printz Award: literary excellence in young adult literature.
  • Schneider Family Award: artistic expression of the disability experience. 
  • Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal: distinguished informational book. 
  • Stonewall Award: exceptional merit relating to the GLBT experience. 
  • Sydney Taylor Book Award: authentic portrayal of the Jewish experience.


    • ]]>     2026-05-27 17:41:33 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931760029     A heartwarming tale of friendship between a rescue dog and a cheetah cub who are part of a zoo conservation program. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761219 An animal story about the power of friendship from Newbery Honor-winning author Jasmine Warga. This moving chapter book is perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate's One and Only series.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:43:13 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761219     Basketball has changed a lot in 125 years! Learn about the story and key players in this illustrated history of the game. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761358 Features a comprehensive history and profiles of popular players all portrayed with powerful and engaging illustrations.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:43:25 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761358     An adventure-filled mystery about a young girl who finds herself at the center of a city's secrets. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761483 At the Midwatch Institute, Maggie and her friends receive secret training to help fight crime and uncover a mystery.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:43:36 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761483     What would it be like to live on the moon? PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761566 Leo gets the chance to join the very first Moon colony, but things aren't what they seem in space.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:43:43 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761566     "There is a secret world of dragons that lurks at the edges of our own. But dragons also live among us." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761756 A new action-packed dragon fantasy series that is perfect for fans of Wings of Fire!

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:44:00 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931761756     A fox and a badger team up to change their destinies! PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931762157 An illustrated chapter book that features a fox serving as the "usher of souls" who has his life upended when a mysterious badger soul appears. A 2026 Newbery Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:44:35 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931762157     Travel back in time to the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931762305 Will and his dad journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to stake their claim for land. Winner of the 2026 Coretta Scott King Award.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:44:43 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931762305     The true story of how a young Indigenous girl survives nine days lost in a snowstorm in Northern Canada. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931762545 A true story of survival set in 1944 in the unforgiving barrens of northern Canada. Perfect for fans of the I Survived series. A 2026 American Indian Youth Literature Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931762545     "He had no idea it would be so dangerous ... or so fun. " PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931766092 Oscar Aberdeen has a plan to save his home where he lives with his grandfather, but he isn't prepared for the wild adventure that it will entail! Perfect for fans of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:49:04 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931766092     Gonzalo has never considered himself the hero of his own story. Can a summer road trip change his mind? PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931767048 Over the course of ten epic days on the road, Gonzalo and his grandfather will slay demons, real and imagined, confront old stories to write new ones, and learn what it truly means to show up for your family. A 2026 Pura Belpré Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:49:50 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931767048     In 1941, the German armies have invaded Europe, but Iran remains a neutral country occupied by both British and Soviet forces. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931769760 An epic adventure of two siblings who must make their way across the mountains of Iran where they meet a Jewish boy hiding from a Nazi spy. A 2026 Newbery Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:52:56 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931769760     Two interconnected stories set in China in the year 731 and New York City’s Chinatown in 1931. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931772679 A story spanning more than 1,000 years! A historical fiction novel set in two different time periods from the author of the Vanderbeekers series. A 2026 Newbery Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 17:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931772679     "And may tomorrow bring you the second chance you deserve." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931878585 Elizaveta and her daughter, Dasha, are refugees from war-torn Ukraine who operate a toy shop — the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. Our narrator is a wily street cat, Zephyrina, the second-in-command of the toy “troops.” When she rescues a mysterious stuffed bear, everyone knows that he is something special. This is a lovely story about friendship and community that highlights the role of historic teddy bears.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 20:48:27 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931878585     "This year, for the first time in my life, I started thinking school could be fun." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931878684 The students in new teacher Mr. Terupt's class bond over fun projects until a class party day goes terribly wrong. Follow their ups and downs from 5th to 8th grade in the rest of the series. Local author Rob Buyea visited Pike in 2016.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 20:48:39 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931878684     Harper has never been interested in horses... until she meets Phoenix. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931885102 Harper moves to a new town near a riding barn. She ends up caring for a mistreated horse whom she eventually ends up riding.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 21:03:39 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931885102     This summer, beware of sharks... PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931885675 Kaylani is spending the summer Martha's Vineyard and is shocked to find herself involved in a dangerous mystery.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 21:05:03 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931885675     "A volcano erupts, a creature awakens, and the sun goes out." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931885779 A nonfiction account that explores how Mount Tambora's eruption in 1815 affected the world and inspired Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. A 2026 Sibert Informational Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 21:05:20 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931885779     An orphan during WWII finds the courage to save a racehorse and join the Resistance. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931886105 Set in France during WWII, orphan Lucas longs for freedom from the occupation as well as a chance to show his bravery. Perfect for fans of Alan Gratz.

    ]]>     2026-05-27 21:06:09 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3931886105     “Once upon a time, a very long time ago now, about last Friday, Winnie-the-Pooh lived in a forest...” PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480819 Winnie-the-Pooh and the Pike School share a birthday! The heartwarming adventures of Christopher Robin and his trusted animal friends are timeless, and are enhanced by E.H. Shepard’s iconic illustrations.

    ]]>     2026-05-31 02:25:07 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480819     The story of "Winnipeg," from a lonely train station and World War I training, to a London zoo, and finally, to the hearts and minds of children and adults everywhere. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480869 Did you know that A. A. Milne was inspired to write Winnie-the-Pooh after discovering a real bear at the London Zoo? Discover how veterinarian Harry Colebourn, Mattick’s great-grandfather, came to adopt a bear cub during World War I. Winner of the 2016 Caldecott Medal.

    ]]>     2026-05-31 02:25:21 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480869     Explore the stories behind your favorite foods while trying new recipes. A fabulous rainy-day activity! PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480915 Grace Lin explores legends and little-known facts about all kinds of American Chinese food. Watch her "One-Minute Myths" to have the stories come alive. Grace Lin, who lives in central Massachusetts, visited Pike in 2013.

    ]]>     2026-05-31 02:25:35 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480915     "Is it possible to live on a speck of an island constructed entirely by tiny sea creatures?" PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480960 This profile of thirteen unusual places is illustrated by amazing detailed cut-paper artwork. Fourth grade students chose this title as their 2026 Mock Sibert winner. Giles Laroche, who lives on the North Shore, visited Pike in 2016.

    ]]>     2026-05-31 02:25:54 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935480960     She serves lunch by day, and justice after she washes the dishes. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935481066 Hector, Terrence, and Dee help Lunch Lady and Betty solve crimes in this popular graphic novel series. Massachusetts author Jarrett Krosoczka has wowed the Pike community in multiple visits from 2007 to 2026.

    ]]>     2026-05-31 02:26:19 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3935481066     The true crime story of the great diamond hoax of 1872 in the Wild West! PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937203845 Travel back in time to a true crime story set in to the Wild West of the 1800s. Perfect of fans of The Mona Lisa Vanishes.

    ]]>     2026-06-01 17:22:28 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937203845     Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937210333 Nathan seems like a typical sixth grader, but he has a secret... his family is from another planet and they may have to leave Earth. He's starting to question everything he knows and how his family ended up on Earth.

    ]]>     2026-06-01 17:30:44 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937210333     "Anna sees ghosts. The spirits of her ancestors call to her from the shadows, and no matter where she is, Anna always answers..." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937261012 The appearance of a ghost named Ruthie uncovers family secrets. Winner of the 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Award.

    ]]>     2026-06-01 18:39:19 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937261012     Can Andrew survive school picture day? PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937262240 The day started off well - until the grape juice went everywhere! For fans of Raina Telgemeier's Guts. Winner of the 2025 Schneider Family Award.

    ]]>     2026-06-01 18:41:06 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937262240     Roberto becomes involved in the fight for the rights of his Mexican American community. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937267781 Based on a true story, this novel in verse follows Roberto as he challenges school segregation laws in 1931. A 2026 Pura Belpré Honor book and a 2026 Newbery Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-06-01 18:48:35 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937267781     "When you can fill the gym, you can share it!" PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937664084 It’s 1972, the year of the Title IX Supreme Court decision prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school. When Judi hears that her Indiana high school will start a girl’s basketball team, she is all in. Even indignities like not getting gym time like the boys, or having to make their own uniforms, don’t stop her and her teammates for advocating for a place on the court. Matt Tavares, Pike’s visiting author in 2009, based this graphic novel on actual events.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 01:52:43 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3937664084     When the unthinkable happens, will Abigail have the courage to speak up? PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938465408 In the year 1692, life changes forever for ten-year-old Abigail Faulkner and her family. In Salem, Massachusetts, witches have been found, and widespread fear and panic reign spread to Abigail’s home of Andover. Kathleen Benner Duble is also the author of Hearts of Iron, which takes place at the Saugus Iron Works. She visited with 4th grade students in 2005.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 11:48:55 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938465408     "The reason you remind yourself of the stupid stuff you've done in the past is so you don't do it again." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938466827 Jack has all kinds of plans for summer vacation - but after an unfortunate accident with his father’s World War II rifle, he is 100% grounded. Even so, his summer turns out to be full of hilarious adventures. In 2006, Jack Gantos was the first author to visit Pike as part of the library's new visiting author program. He was also a visiting author in young Jarrett Krosoczka’s elementary school, building Jarrett’s confidence as a young writer and illustrator.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 11:50:52 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938466827     How do you move an entire beehive? PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938468166 Follow along as a bee-rescue expert painstakingly relocates a mature hive of bees from a barn to a hive - all with no stings! Beautiful close-up photographs bring the action to life, and were a key consideration for 4th grade students when they voted this title their Mock Sibert co-winner in 2023.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 11:52:15 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938468166     Rachel’s seventh grade year is off to a fabulous start - until - PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938470936 she meets with a Boston specialist and he reveals a crushing diagnosis - scoliosis. This means wearing a back brace 23 hours a day in hopes that the abnormal curve in her spine will improve. She’ll just have to stay optimistic and be innovative in how she navigates her world. Pike alumna Alyson Gerber brings a unique authenticity - and plenty of Pike and Andover insider references - to her debut novel. Pike was lucky to host Alyson in 2024 as part of the release of her new mystery series, The Liars Society.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 11:56:17 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938470936     Travel back in time to France in the year 1242 for a magical adventure! PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938490935 It's a cold winter night at the inn, and all anybody can talk about is Jacob, William, and Jeanne, each of whom has a seemingly mysterious power. Are they miracle workers? (That could be dangerous...) The villagers all have their opinions and suspicions - but only one person has a darker mission. This intricate tale by Pike’s 2019 visiting author was a 2017 Newbery Honor book.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 12:10:14 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938490935     "Books help kids! What do they think will happen?!" PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938502849 Molly and her friends are psyched about their afterschool book club - until the club’s advisor is disciplined and “controversial” books are removed from her classroom library. They decide to take action and fight censorship. Massachusetts author Dana Alison Levy visited with Upper School students in 2024 to discuss this book, and the right to read.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 12:20:04 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938502849     "All living things, from the tallest trees and longest whales, to the smallest birds, butterflies, and bees, are made of cells - just like you." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938612609 Explore the realm of humanity, from the basic building blocks of our DNA to the vastness of the Milky Way and beyond through exquisite artwork and engaging writing.


    4th grade students voted The Universe in You as their 2023 Mock Sibert co-winner, and were thrilled to present Jason Chin a medal in person during his visit to Pike in the same year.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 14:03:15 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938612609     "The outside doesn't match the inside..." PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938638399 Kathy attends an international school in Bangkok, where speaking Thai is forbidden. She loves spending summers in Maine, but her family stands out there. This illustrated memoir is for anyone who wonders where they belong. Winner of the 2025 Asian/Pacific American Literature Award.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 14:28:35 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938638399     The only thing standing between the kids of Orange Grove Junior High and summer break is one party--and a whole lot of drama. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938654493 Six very different kids spend the day together at an unforgettable last day pool party in this hilarious graphic novel.

    ]]>     2026-06-02 14:44:35 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3938654493     Respecting the game is more important than winning. PikeSchoolLibrary https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3939121124 The new kid at a high-powered boarding school, Jake is excited to join the lacrosse team, but soon realizes that their approach conflicts with his values as an Iroquois. Joseph Bruchac and his son Jessie visited Pike in 2011.

    ]]>     2026-06-03 01:29:44 UTC https://padlet.com/pike5/26SummerReads56/wish/3939121124