Like shells collected on the beach, Seashell is a treasure. Turning the pages of this collection of varied, softly illustrated shells leaves you as calm as a walk on a warm, sandy beach. Koster’s board book is a beautiful gift for children and grown-ups alike. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Welcome to the aquarium! Enjoy our fabulous exhibit on sharks. Take an interactive tour of the many fascinating species: catsharks that live down in the deep and glow in the dark, epaulette sharks that can move on land, and wobbegongs that camouflage themselves on the ocean floor waiting for prey. This chunky book is perfect for little hands learning to turn pages. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Told in first-person from the adult’s perspective, Off to See the Sea is an imaginative sea adventure wrapped up in one child’s reluctant bath time. Elizabeth Zunon’s stunning illustrations capture each magical moment of “waterfalls,” bubbles, watching the “ocean” swirl away, and toweling off like a slippery eel. Nikki Grimes’s delightful story will inspire even the most reticent children to reframe unfavorable activities in all sorts of exciting story-telling. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
The bird tree has a maximum occupancy of 100 birds. The bird monitor is in charge of the tree and sets the rules. He has many rules. Soon the tree is full but then an egg hatches and it’s twins! What is a monitor to do??? There are two too many birds. There must be a solution. Brightly colored, quirky birds give readers lots to look at in this delightful book of problem solving. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
A boy and his grandmother set sail on an old boat. They travel into deeper waters and farther on the journey of life. The boy becomes a man and comes ashore on a new island, a new home. Honoring the passage of time, this soft book is great reading for multi-generational families. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Oona is a mermaid with a passion for treasure who lets nothing stand in her way. Well, almost nothing. She covets a crown lost deep in a rift and no matter how hard she tries she- can't- quite- reach. It takes all her daring and encouragement from her friends to grasp her sparkly dream. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Walter and Milton are neighboring lobstahs, with very different landscaping styles. Conflict erupts when both of their gahdens start to fill with trash. Each one assumes that the other is to blame. This delightful story with an environmental message is the perfect read-aloud; not only will it give families a chance to showcase, practice, and perfect their Boston accents, it also provides the excuse we all need right now to shout out “Holy Whale Poop” during family reading. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
We have all heard of animals that hibernate but what about animals that estivate? These animals sleep in the summer to stay cool. Pixie frogs, yellow-bellied marmots, and leopard geckos are just some of the animals whose summertime sleeping habits are described in this delightful picture book. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Sabrina Sue is a chicken with a dream. She lives on a farm, but she longs to see the sea. The journey is bumpy and bouncy; she wonders if she will ever make it. When she finally arrives, the sea is just as glorious as she imagined! Now she has great stories to tell her. A fun early reader for everyone who loves the sea as much as Sabrina Sue. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
For young readers who love learning facts and are ready to read full pages on their own, Jellyfish! is an informative early reader. Learn how jellyfish move, eat, and develop. The text, which includes pronunciation guides for scientific terminology, is accompanied with beautiful, detailed photographs. Perfect for marine enthusiasts! ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Dive in with Turtle for a beautiful and fact-filled underwater journey of the ocean blue. Turtle has so much to tell us about how the Earth’s five oceans were formed, why these oceans matter, and what we can do to help preserve them. Learn about sea life in and around our oceans, from coastal habitats to the ocean floor, and so much more! ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Kiara, like many soon-to-be third graders, dreads the start of the year and the obstacles she might face making friends in a new classroom. However, unlike many soon-to-be third graders, Kiara has a little help (or maybe more of a headache) from a Genie. This sassy, funny twist on the classic tale of Aladdin is a perfect book for all emerging readers who appreciate a bit of mischief! ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Come aboard for a fascinating voyage of exploration! Learn about engineering, adventure, and the purpose of ships from ancient days and into the future! Lift the flaps to peer into cross sections and learn fun facts. From rowing boats to steamboats, sailing ships to submarines, and aircraft carriers to luxury liners, children and grown-ups alike will be captivated. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
All across the world, tales of mermaids and images of their elegant tails fill many childhood bedtime stories and imaginations. Mermaid Atlas combines magical facts about mermaids from countries across the globe, including Japan, Scotland, and the United States. Full of beautiful illustrations, maps, and stunning stories about mermaids, Mermaid Atlas is equal parts whimsical and educational. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is the first of three adventure books by Grace Lin. The stories perfectly combine realism and folklore elements to create a sense of normalcy in fantasy and infuse the fantastic in reality. Minli’s journey is filled with larger-than-life characters, and the beautiful color plates enhance the vivid settings. Companion titles include Starry River of the Sky and When the Sea Turned to Silver. Although the worlds and characters overlap, the three books can be read in any order or independently. Highly recommended as a family read aloud; readers of all ages will enjoy this phenomenal story. A classic! ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Arthur is a troubled 13-year-old whose anger over the death of his father leads to a violent outburst. His punishment is 120 hours of community service with the eccentric “Junk Man”. Arthur receives a grocery cart and a collection list of the Seven Most Important Things, but for what purpose? Along the way he learns that each item has personal meaning and that art is everywhere if you know how to look for it. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Set in 1983, Red, White, & Whole focuses on Reha, a 13-year-old Indian American girl struggling to keep her balance while straddling the ever-widening gap between her school and home life. Her parents’ unwillingness to acknowledge the dual nature of her identity ultimately drives a wedge between Reha and her mother. Gently exploring themes of grief and disconnection, this spectacular middle grade novel is a sensitive and honest portrait of familial love. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
In Twins, Maureen and Francine are starting 6th grade and experiencing lots of changes. Maureen desperately wants to stick together and is surprised to discover that Francine wants to shine on her own. When they end up running against each other for class president, their parents are determined to prioritize family while letting each sister figure out her own path. Their respective campaigns mirror each twin's struggle as well as what matters to them. True to form, Johnson has created a host of secondary characters that are just as interesting as the two protagonists and Wright's illustrations are pitch-perfect. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
10 Things I Hate about Pinky is a fun summer romance set on an unnamed island off of Cape Cod. Pinky and Samir are opposites. She’s passionate about social justice; he’s carefully planning for his future. When Pinky unexpectedly invites Samir to stay with her family for the summer, under the condition of fake dating to get her family off her back, the offer seems better than the alternative — going home and explaining that his summer internship fell through and his entire career path has been derailed. The arrangement is mutually beneficial, despite their differences, but what they both fail to remember is that sometimes opposites attract. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
In A Song Below Water, Tavia, a Black teenager living in the mostly white community of Portland, Oregon, encounters the unfortunately tumultuous reality of high school drama, sexism, and racism. She also harbors a secret. Unbeknownst to her peers, Tavia is a siren, a secret that she must hide to protect herself. Recommended for any passionate and imaginative teen, A Song Below Water serves as a reminder that no one deserves to have their voice silenced. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Heartbroken and humiliated, Seth ends his pain by diving into the frigid waters of the Pacific Northwest . . . And then awakens in his early childhood home a continent away. But this is not his home as he remembers it: the whole area is abandoned and derelict. Is this hell, an alternate universe, or something else entirely? Seth must reckon with his past as he grapples with the present . . . and he needs to hurry because something is lurking. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
On the first day of senior year, Chase Harding finally notices Lara. It’s about time. She’s been into him since middle school. Looks like this year is going to be everything Lara has dreamed about . . . until Jasmine unexpectedly walks in to school. Jasmine, who upended Lara’s entire world this summer and who definitely didn’t tell Lara she was moving to town. Lara has always convinced herself that Chase is her happily ever after, but what if she’s telling the wrong story? ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens is an international hit, delighting scientists, presidents, and historians alike. Harari has a knack for thoughtfully toeing the line between provocative and playful, and that balance is amplified by the brilliant artwork in this graphic novel version of his bestselling book. Sapiens: A Graphic History is a sweeping, conceptual history of humankind that prompts us to think critically about the way prehistoric humans lived and what we can learn from them. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Ida Pease, a portrait painter from Boston, has moved to Martha’s Vineyard with her husband, Ezra, to live on a sheep farm. 1898 is a year of advances and independence for women. The year is full of new challenges for Ida, including discovering her husband isn’t the man she thought he was. This new historical novel from beloved Cape Cod author Sally Cabot Gunning is not to be missed. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Set against the backdrop of a grand hotel in Moscow during a turbulent era in Russia, A Gentleman in Moscow details the history of a charming friendship that blooms between a Russian Count under house arrest and a young girl. The story is filled with intrigue, humor, and richly rendered scenes, making this a new favorite and a delightful surprise. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Lillian and Madison first meet at a fancy board school called Iron Mountain. Lillian is a scholarship student; Madison’s family is wealthy. When Lillian takes responsibility for Madison’s transgression, Madison’s father pays off Lillian’s mother to compensate for Lillian’s expulsion. Several years later, Madison needs a governess for her twin stepchildren who occasionally burst into flames, and she turns to the “best friend” she says she has ever had, Lillian. Nothing to See Here is a deeply touching story about love and family. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
When Jake Lacey shows up murdered on Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida’s property, she becomes the prime suspect. It doesn’t help that she was seen publicly airing her frustrations with him a few hours before. Mac is going to need all the help she can get from her cozy mystery book club, the “Cozy Capers,” to clear her name and uncover the secrets buried in her Cape beach town. This book is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries set on Cape Cod. Look for Murder at the Taffy Shop available now and for Murder at the Lobstah Shack coming in November. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Part cheeky murder mystery, part political satire, Carl Hiaasen's latest novel takes place in the most affluent neighborhood in Florida. While attending a gala at the Winter White House, wealthy socialite Kiki Pew vanishes and is later found dead. Angie Armstrong, wildlife expert and lovable protagonist, must navigate the political swamps of Florida to uncover the truth. Once again, Hiaasen successfully manages to combine laugh-out-loud humor with a murder mystery. Enjoy! ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Solutions and Other Problems contains the same hallmark hilarity as Brosh’s debut Hyperbole and a Half; nevertheless, this work contains more depth as it was written in the wake of immeasurable personal loss. It’s very difficult to write a comedy book about death, cancer, and divorce, but Brosh uses her razor-sharp prose and absurdist illustrations to do just that. The result is masterful, courageous storytelling that invites us to examine the ugly and challenging parts of our lives with candor and vulnerability. ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
Everything about this cookbook evokes the best of summer. The recipes feature peak summer produce in enticing eats from beach bites to casual gathering main dishes. The book also suggests an array of cocktails to fuel the fun. Clever beaching tips, including “99 Ways to Use a Sand Pail," delightful illustrations, and a fun sense of humor make this a great housewarming gift. Pack one in your beach tote, too! ~ Eight Cousins, Summer Picks 2021
