Summer Book Reviews: Part 5

Do you love to read? TFK Kid Reporters do too! Lucy Sandor and Gabri Blankson shared their reviews of two of the summer’s most interesting books. This is the last installment in our five-part series. We hope you’ve enjoyed TFK’s Summer Book Review roundup. Happy reading!

Title: Time Capsule

Author: Lauren Redniss

Reviewed by: TFK Kid Reporter Lucy Sandor

What is the book about? It’s about a girl making a time capsule. The jar contains the many trinkets that make up her life. She includes a pair of lucky dice and a ring from her grandmother. The story is like an illustrated guide to making time capsules! Who will find them in the future? What will they think of our objects?

How do the pictures add to the story? Time Capsule is a beautifully illustrated book. The pictures have different styles and patterns, and bold colors. They represent the strong feelings the girl has about each object in the time capsule.

Who would like this book? Any kid ages 4 to 8 would love this book. It makes readers wonder about the future while thinking about the present. The end of the book includes a fascinating history of time capsules.

How would you rate this book? Why? I would rate this book a 10! It looks simple. But the ideas behind it are complex. The book is like a time capsule itself. It tells a story for the future through actions in the present.

Title: The World Belonged to Us

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: Leo Espinosa

Reviewed by: TFK Kid Reporter Gabri Blankson

What is the book about? A young girl from Brooklyn enjoys summer fun with friends. The book is based on the author’s life. As a girl, Woodson spent long days outdoors. She played hopscotch. She jumped rope in the street. Night and day, she and her friends were making memories.

How do the pictures add to the story? They bring the story to life. They show all the fun the author and her friends had in Brooklyn during the summer. Pictures are a great way for younger readers to piece the story together. The pictures show that even boring things like old soup cans can be repurposed and made into amazing toys, like water shooters.

Who would like this book? It’s a great book for children who love sharing summer memories.

How would you rate this book? Why? I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. That’s because it’s harder for kids who don’t live in Brooklyn to relate to the story. Overall, though, the book has a great takeaway. It tells readers that no matter the circumstances, the temperature, or the problem, summer fun can never be stopped.