Tackling Mid-Summer Boredom with Books and Activities

Book Buzz is a blog produced in collaboration with neighborhood librarians from Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library and the Bellaire Library.

July - the midpoint of summer, when the temperatures are high and the school year still seems ages away. For my recommendations, I tried to focus on books that will (hopefully) keep mid-summer boredom away both for kids and adults by including an activity that can be partnered with the book.

My first book recommendation is Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (ages 8-12). Around this age, most kids garner some level of interest in puzzles, mysteries or games. This book is perfect for any inquisitive young mind! A famous game-maker, Mr. Lemoncello, opens a library that goes beyond the realms of imagination. As part of the grand opening, he lets 12 children sleep overnight in the library and they must solve a series of clues, riddles and games to get out. The first to escape wins a grand prize.

An activity to accompany the book is simply visit your local library; although none in Houston compare with Mr. Lemoncello’s, you can find a variety of libraries throughout the city. Make sure to register for the Summer Reading Program, where you get prizes for reading! Another activity that requires a bit of work is a Literary Riddle Quest (aka a scavenger hunt) but a Literary Riddle Quest incorporates books. You can either do it in your home or expand it out into your neighborhood. An example clue would be “This famous bear loves to eat his favorite sweet! Follow your tummy to this sticky treat!” Answer: Winnie the Pooh, who loves to eat honey. Then the next clue would be by wherever you keep your honey and so on and so on. This is a very critical age for reading and imagination. Be creative and keep your children excited not only about reading but about all the adventures they can have.

My next suggestion is Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. Mysteries and puzzles string together the story of Petra and Calder. They search for the truth in several mysterious happenings including the disappearance of a priceless Vermeer painting. The case has stumped the FBI, but Petra and Calder find more pieces to the puzzle and are on the trail! This book even has a secret puzzle within the illustrations by Brett Helquist (Series of Unfortunate Events). A fun activity to coincide with this book is a trip to the Museum District. Go explore the extensive art collections and possibly even spot a Vermeer!

My last suggestion is Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, and a Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans. The only thing that makes a mystery better is a magic mystery. Stuart has recently moved and with no school or friends to occupy him he comes across the mystery of his great uncle Tony, a magician who disappeared many years ago but seems to have left clues as to his whereabouts. Stuart follows the clues finding himself on a grand adventure to answer the question that itches at all of us every time we see a magician . . . is it merely a trick or is it actually magic? An associated activity with this book would be to attend a magic show or, if you care to try your hand at magic, there are plenty of books in the library that do reveal some magicians’ secrets. Then have your own magic show to showcase your skills!  

Author Alice Hoffman said, “Books may well be the only true magic.” A sad yet inspiring statement. You will see your child slowly lose their naiveté, where they roll eyes at magicians and scoff at the idea of a mystery; it is a sad part of life to grow up and stop believing in magic but, as Hoffman said, books truly are magic.

Anything is possible in a book. Movies, TV shows, video games and even computers all have their limitations, but books are infinite. Try to show your child the enchantments that books possess and even though they will grow to learn magic in real life is just a trick, they can always believe in a book's magic.