Tag Archives: summer reads

Summerween: When fall is so close and you need a tide-me-over

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New this year to my home decor, my own Pine-O-Lantern. And yes, that’s a Pennywise rubber duck beside it and yes, he floats.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of things I like about summer. The slow sunny vibes. Not having to deal with snow. The sense of vacation and rest and time spent outdoors and pools and parties. Plus strawberries (my favourite fruit).

One thing I cannot stand about summer? The heat! My gosh, the heat! If the temperature stays between 20 and 25 degrees that’s pretty perfect. Over that, especially when it’s humid out? It’s miserable and sweaty and hard to sleep in or work out in.

OK, rant over. Why am I bringing this up? Well, because as much as there’s lots to love about summer, there is, in my opinion, an even better season following it. Fall.

*happy sigh* Ah fall, my favourite. Cool breezes, beautiful colours, you can still spend time outside without melting or freezing, pumpkin spice everything, delicious food in general. And, what may be best of all, HALLOWEEN! Yes, I am a Halloween fangirl. Have been my entire life. Horror and creepy things in general are my jam, not anything too extreme though, fun scary (though your mileage may vary on that), and Halloween is when we celebrate all of it. And after a long year of snow and rain and heat, we Halloween Heads are ready to embrace it. But we have a few more weeks to go and summer can still be fun.

But did you know there’s a compromise? A way to soak in the summer sun and still feed that need for scary season? If you haven’t been properly introduced to Summerween yet allow me to be the first to do so.

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Explore Vaughan with StoryWalks!

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It’s almost officially summertime, and StoryWalks are back! In partnership with the City of Vaughan’s Department of Parks, Forestry and Horticulture and five Canadian publishers to bring a selection of picture books to local Vaughan trails, where park visitors will be able to piece together stories one page at a time as they make their way along the trails. It’s a great way to explore the great outdoors while fostering a love of reading. You’ll find one picture book in each of Vaughan’s five wards, plus a sixth book at the Kortright Centre!  Read on for a taste of what to expect this year at our local parks. 

Ward 1: Mackenzie Glen District Park 

Little readers can follow the friendship journey of Emma and Frank at the Mackenzie Glen District Park, where we’ll be reading Friends for Real by Ted Staunton and illustrator Ruth Ohi (IG: @ruthohi / Twitter: @Ruth_Ohi). Mackenzie Glen is the perfect place to meet a new friend, whether it be on the soccer field, at the splash pad or playground, or maybe at one of the many concerts and events that take place on the park grounds (see The Caverners: Tribute to the Beatles on July 26!). This relatively flat parkland means it’s easy and accessible for families with little ones, and a parking lot and onsite public washrooms make picnicking a breeze. As part of the Bartley Smith Greenway (a 15 km trail running from Steeles Ave all the way up to Teston Rd) the park also has easy trails situated conveniently within a subdivision. 

Friends for Real is provided by Scholastic.

Ward 2: Nort Johnson District Park 

In Sometimes I Feel Like a River by Danielle Daniel (IG: @danielledaniel) and illustrator Josée Bisaillon (IG: @joseebisaillon), readers can follow short poems about nature that invite mindfulness as they stroll through the park. Young readers are encouraged to use all their senses to fully experience the world around them and connect with nature. With the poems spread throughout Nort Johnson District Park, travel the easy 1.5 km trail along the Humber River and focus your attention on the rushing water, the trees, the sunshine, and the birdsong as you make your way through the book. Located near the Woodbridge Pool & Memorial Arena, pop by Nort Johnson District Park after a swim for a picnic, or hit up the Woodbridge Village Farmers Market throughout the summer! Parking is available at the arena.  

Sometimes I Feel Like a River is provided by Groundwood Books.

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September Reading Challenge

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September Reading Challenge: Read a book by an author you’ve never read before

You know at first, I was pretty stumped on how to make a list and post for a challenge so…subjective. After all, no matter how well-known a book might be, there are always plenty of people who’ve never read it before, which means theoretically, I could talk about any book.

Thankfully my coworker had the fantastic suggestion to list books by debut authors as well as newly translated books, so here we go! As per usual, all the titles featured in this post will be available at Vaughan Public Libraries, though as they are new, many are on order. Get your holds in now!

DEBUT AUTHORS

Cover of When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

A mythic love story set in Trinidad & Tobago, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s radiant debut introduces two unforgettable outsiders brought together by their connection with the dead.

A masterwork of lush imagination and immersive lyricism, shot through with the rhythm of the island, When We Were Birds is a spellbinding novel about inheritance, loss and love’s seismic power to heal.

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