Summer Reading: Top Kid's Picks

When you pack up the beach or pool bag this summer, don't forget to include books for your elementary or preschool reader.

Patch's new weekly feature will showcase a different selection from the Babylon Public Library children's department. The books, part of the summer reading club program, each reflect this year's theme: "A Reading Safari."

This week's selection is for older readers who can manage short chapter books. Recommended for grades four through seven, "The White Giraffe" by Lauren St. John tells the story of a young South African orphan girl who, at age 11, must move to a wildlife sanctuary to live with her grandmother.

The tale unfolds amid an exciting backdrop of wild animals, African folklore, and the classic theme of a young person who must fend for herself in a sometimes harsh world. Kids will identify with the heroine, who as "the chosen one" must try to save the mythical and rare white giraffe from poachers. The fast pace and cliff-hanging chapter endings will hook in young readers who won't even realize they are learning about nature, a new culture, and the complexities of family and ethics.

Check back next week for our next summer must-read.