25 great summer reads for kids of all ages

FOR PRESCHOOLERS

This is a perfect opportunity to share classic stories, such as: "The Three Little Pigs" by James Marshall, Paul Galdone or Stephen Kellogg "Three Billy Goats Gruff" by Stephen Carpenter or Paul Galdone "The Little Red Hen" by Byron Barton, Jerry Pinkney or Paul Galdone

Once your child is familiar with the original stories, try mixing it up a bit with retellings, such as: Three Little Pigs:

"The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig" by Eugene Trivizas "The Three Little Tamales" by Eric Kimmel "Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark" by Will Grace

Three Billy Goats Gruff: "The Three Cabritos" by Eric Kimmel "The Three Silly Girls Grubb" by Ann Hassett "The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Mean Calypso Joe" by Cathrene Vale Youngquist

The Little Red Hen: "The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza)" by Philemon Sturges "With Love, Little Red Hen" by Alma Flor Ada "The Little Red Hen" by Barry Downard

AGES 5 to 8

Stop by the library and check out the folk and fairy tales in the nonfiction collection; help children explore the rich literary heritage that inspired the Disney movies and show them the world through the eyes of other cultures: "Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China" retold by Ai-Ling Louie and illustrated by Ed Young. "Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella" by Paul Fleischman "Little Gold Star" by Joe Hayes (a Spanish Cinderella)

Or just for fun, share a parody or retelling such as "Cinderella's Rat" by Susan Meddaugh "Cinder Edna" by Elllen Jackson "Prince Cinders" by Babette Cole

Rediscover some of your favorite fairy tales in fiction, such as The Princess Tales series by Gail Carson Levine: "The Fairy's Mistake" "The Fairy's Return" "The Princess Test" "Cinderellis and the Glass Hill" "Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep"

AGE 9 to 12

"Bound" by Donna Jo Napoli -- a Chinese Cinderella story, albeit not your familiar comfortable "Disney-fied" version. There are no magic wands, pumpkin coaches, or happily ever afters here -- instead, Napoli explores Chinese cultural traditions. Napoli has revisited other fairy tales, as well: Hansel and Gretel in "The Magic Circle," Beauty and the Beast in "Beast," Rupunzel in "Zel," and Jack and the Beanstalk in "Crazy Jack."

"I Was a Rat" by Phillip Pullman -- So claims the tattered boy who appears at the door of a kindly shoemaker and his wife. The couple take him in and raise him as their own, but the process isn't without its share of mishaps. Pullman's clever word-play and biting satire make this lively romp with fairy tale roots a fun read for adults as well as children.

"The Jack Tales" by Richard Chase -- a collection of folk tales from the southern Appalachians that center on the irrepressible Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk fame).

SUMMER READING CLUBS

Summer reading clubs at Cape Girardeau Public Library begin June 1 and continue through July 31. Children will set reading goals and keep track of their progress toward those goals. Read books, earn prizes and have fun.

Special programs include:

June 4 - Elsen Peter Marionettes --"The Sleeping Beauty" 11 a.m.

June 10 and July 8 - Family Fun, Fridays, after hours, 6 to 8 p.m.

June 11 and July 2 and 23 - Drop-In Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Storytelling workshops and video recording -- children learn to tell stories, then put what they have learned into practice. Videos will be posted on the library webpage at capelibrary.org.