Fang Qi, a Chinese hostess, once mentioned in a program called Reading on the Island: The real meaning of reading is that we can have the opportunity to get close to each of the bright stars although we are not in the same space. We can meet them and talk to them in a common way in the book.
To cultivate our students’ habit of reading, XLIS teachers have prepared a special list of books to expand their minds during the summer holiday. We hope each of you can gradually build up the ability of aesthetic appreciation of art through the exquisite language in different books, foster the interest in reading as well as be able to dream freely in the world built by words.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
The Dot tells the story of a young girl named Vashti who thinks she can’t draw. With the help of her teacher, Vashti discovers her own artistic potential and learns about the power of creativity, self-expression, and perseverance.
The Water Princess by Susan Verde
Based on the childhood of supermodel Georgie Badiel, this book tells the story of a young girl named Princess Gie Gie, who must travel long distances to fetch water for her village. It highlights the importance of access to clean water and the resilience of individuals facing challenges.
Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
In this inspiring autobiography, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai shares her story as a young girl growing up in Pakistan and her belief in the power of education. The book encourages children to dream big, make a difference, and work towards creating a better world.
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
This delightful picture book follows the story of Rosie, a young girl with a passion for inventing. Inspired by her great-great-aunt Rose, Rosie learns to embrace failure as part of the creative process and never give up on her dreams of becoming an engineer.
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
This classic children’s book tells the tale of Ferdinand, a gentle bull who prefers smelling flowers to fighting in bullfights. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and celebrating individuality.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster & Jules Feiffer
For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason. Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams!
A Little SPOT of Honesty: A Story about Trust and Integrity by Diane Alber
This is a story about Honesty. Did you know being HONEST is MORE than just about telling the TRUTH? It helps you shows INTEGRITY and earn RESPECT, too. It also help build strong relationships and encourages people to be HONEST with you.
The Bad Seed by Jory John
This is a book about a bad seed. A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He’s been bad since he can remember! The Bad Seed: a funny yet touching tale that reminds us of the remarkably transformative power of will, acceptance, and just being you. Perfect for young readers, as well as anyone navigating their current world, The Bad Seed proves that positive change is possible for each and every one of us.
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein
You’ll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist.
Shel Silverstein’s masterful collection of poems and drawings stretches the bounds of imagination and will be cherished by readers of all ages.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
All the Mercy Watson books are fun for young readers. Mercy Watson, a pig, is much beloved by Mr. and Mrs. Watson, who sing her to sleep every night. One night, Mercy gets scared of the dark after they tuck her in. When she crawls into bed with Mr. and Mrs. Watson, her fear disappears and she feels as cozy as can be. However, the added weight of Mercy in the bed turns out to be just a little more than the floorboards can bear. As the bed begins to fall through a hole in the floor, endangering Mr. and Mrs. Watson, oblivious Mercy jumps out of bed in search of her favorite treat: warm toast with a great deal of butter on it. While the Watsons cry for help, Mercy encounters a neighbor who’s not particularly fond of pigs. Chaos ensues, and the fire department is called. Meanwhile, the Watsons are still falling, absolutely sure that their dear Mercy has run for help.
Holes by Louis Sachar (English Language Acquisition)
The story revolves around the resilient protagonist, Stanley Yelnats, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he is unjustly sentenced to Camp Green Lake, a harsh correctional boot camp located amidst the vast Texan desert. Falsely accused of theft, Stanley finds himself amidst a barren landscape that holds secrets from the past, which intertwine with his present journey.
Math With Bad Drawings by Ben Orlin (Mathematics)
Prepare for a side-splitting journey through the world of mathematics, filled with laughter, witty humor, and delightful stick figures. This entertaining and enlightening book offers a unique and joyous reeducation in the captivating realm of numbers, revealing the countless practical and marvelous ways in which math shapes and structures our world.
How to Be an Artist by Jerry Saltz (Visual Arts)
This book serves as a guiding light for individuals who are passionate about dedicating their lives to the pursuit of something they deeply believe in. It lays out a clear and inspiring path that empowers readers to chase their dreams with unwavering determination and commitment.
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hossieni (English language and Literature)
With its captivating narrative of treachery and redemption, The Kite Runner evoked a whirlwind of emotions within me, blending excitement and deep sentiment. This tale revolves around the inseparable bond of Amir and Hassan, who were not only the dearest of friends but also adept at the intricate craft of kite flying.
The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray (Science)
The Elements stands as a great source of entertainment, comprehensiveness, and visual splendour among books delving into the 118 elements of the periodic table.
Never let me go
Kazuo Ishiguro
Never let me go focuses on the story of young men and girls seeking the mystery of life in an educational institution that cultivates clones, and tells the story from the perspective of Kathy, the protagonist, about her as a clone, finishing the memories of the past at the last moment before she is about to become an organ donor.
Meditation of beauty
Jiang Xun
From ancient jade and bronze, the calligraphy and painting of Song and Yuan dynasties, to the rise of civil art in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, after time and again, art reveals the real value of time and space and the cultural significance it carries.
Nan Qiang Bei Diao: China in dialects
Zheng Zi Ning
Dialect is the carrier of regional culture, maintain the historical memory of all nationalities. This book extends each topic through the interpretation of linguistic principles, and clarifies the evolution of the same topic in different dialects. Behind each word and each sound are voluminous epics.
The Wizard of Oz
The little girl Dorothy was blown by a tornado to a strange country and went through countless hardships in order to return to her hometown. During the journey, she made new friends: a scarecrow who wanted wisdom, a tin man who wanted love, and a lion who wanted courage. The four companions had an incredible experience together and ultimately achieved their respective wishes.
Charlotte’s Web
In the barn of the Zuckerman family there lived a group of happy animals. Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider established a sincere friendship. However, a bad news broke the peace in the barn: Wilbur would be killed on Christmas and made into bacon ham! However, seemingly insignificant little spider Charlotte managed to save her good friend at this critical moment, but at the same time, Charlotte’s life also came to an end……
Adventure of Onion Head
Old Onion accidentally stepped on Lemon King’s foot and was imprisoned. When Onion Head came to visit the prison, Old Onion told him that the people imprisoned in this prison were all poor people, and they did not commit any crimes. However, the people who did evil were kept in the palace. Onion Head decided to rescue the kind-hearted people from prison, but unfortunately, he was also thrown into the black prison. With the help of Mrs. Mole, Little Cherry, and Little Strawberry, Onion and his friends finally escaped from the prison.Then they united and overthrew the rule of the Lemon King, gaining freedom finally.
A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen
The play concerns the fate of a married woman living in male-dominated world of Norway. It was a great sensation at the time, and caused a “storm of outraged controversy” that went beyond the theatre to the world of newspapers and society.
Only once in my life, Chang Young-hee
The book makes you realize the importance of life that we have forgotten while living our daily life. It not only reminds us that the world is still beautiful and worth living in, but also gives us the power to hope again.
The Dwarf，Cho Se-hui
The Dwarf is a work of social criticism which focuses on the forced redevelopment of Hangbook-dong in Seoul in the 1970s, and the human costs that accompanied it.
People called by history, people who made history，Jeong Seung-min
This book examines the nature of history, reflecting on numerous characters and events, classical and problematic works. The author explores the trajectory of human destiny and history across the East and the West, ancient and modern times with keywords such as power, greed, reason, rationality, and critical spirit.
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Recommended by:
Library, MYP, Whole School Counselor & Chinese Language Teachers
