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Whether we're at home or on vacation, we all love to read. Here's a peek at the books we've been enjoying this summer!  

1. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

2. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin

3. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

4. Empire Falls by Richard Russo

5. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

6. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

7. To the New Owners: A Martha's Vineyard Memoir by Madeleine Blais

8. Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman by Peter Korn

9. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters

10. Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

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Spring has finally sprung in Boston and we are so excited to see flowers, sunshine, and even (the occasional) spring showers. Aside from celebrating the appearance of tulips and lilacs, this week we're raising a book to the 98th anniversary of Children's Book Week. So in a nod to the arrival of this hopeful season and to readers everywhere, here are a few of my favorite books to read aloud at this time of year.

And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano and Erin Stead perfectly captures the agony and amazement of growing plants in the early springtime. The waiting! The wondering! The worrying!

Fogliano's beautiful text, an ode to green thumbs young and old, comes alive with Stead's neat rendering of the perils of planting. The playful story (beware of bears!) is a year round favorite for this reader but feels especially satisfying now that green is creeping back into the cityscape.

The Night Gardener by Terry and Eric Fan deserves a place on this list primarily for the beautiful shades of green within its pages. But if you come for the color, stay for the mysterious story about a town where the trees are being sculpted into delightful creatures overnight.

The delightful shapes and the mystery behind the person responsible for the topiaries will enthrall readers of all ages. 

For little readers who prefer baby animals to flowers, the Gossie & Friends series by Olivier Dunrea provides an almost endless source of reading joy.

The little goslings in Dunrea's bright and colorful illustrations caper about in various treasured boots and hats, play constantly, and inspire laughter!

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In case you didn't already know, International Children's Book Day is coming up (April 2)! While I like to celebrate children's books any and every day, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share a few of my favorite picture books from authors and illustrators across three continents.

I first came across the Big Wolf & Little Wolf books by Nadine Brun-Cosme when I worked as a bookseller. Olivier Tallec's illustrations, at once vibrant and whimsical, perfectly capture the emotion and humor in each picture book about the unlikely friends.

Brun-Cosme and Tallec, both of whom hail from France, have collaborated on other picture books but these remain my favorite. After all, who can resist a little blue wolf? Not this reader.

Every once in awhile I come across a picture book so perfectly poignant, beautifully illustrated and wonderfully diverse that it sticks in my mind long after the first read through. Australian artist Bob Graham's The Silver Button is such a book. The myriad of things that happen when little Johnathan takes his first step illustrate the beauty of our wide world and serve as a reminder to cherish the small, everyday moments we take for granted.

I saved my new favorite for last! Not Quite Narwhal by New York City resident Jessie Sima is, to be honest, the kind of picture book you need to make some time for whether or not you have kids to read to.

Kelp, the sweetest little illustrated creature I've seen in awhile, can't figure out why he doesn't quite fit into his undersea community. It is only when he journeys beyond the ocean that he discovers the joy of family and fitting in aren't always what we expect.

Head on over to an older post I wrote for more wonderful children's books. Happy reading!

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Given the myriad connections to the children's book world here at Smudge Ink, it’s no surprise that all of us have been very excited about the highly anticipated debut of Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color. This charming new picture book is authored and illustrated by Emily's good friend, Julia Denos.

(image: Julia signing books for Abigail and Avery)

In the book, Swatch is a fierce, creative color tamer. She finds shades like Bravest Green and In-Between Gray and directs them to dance and do magic. And although she runs wild with the colors, she soon learns to trap and collect them. But what will Swatch do when she finds a color that doesn’t want to be tamed? Go get a copy of Swatch and find out! It is a beautifully written tale filled with riotous swaths of color and unexpectedly quiet moments of kindness.

(image: Emily, Ari, and George having fun in the Swatch photo booth)

Last Friday Porter Square Books hosted Julia’s book launch party, complete with face painting and a photo booth. Following a reading, Julia took us behind the scenes of creating the book, a long process that ultimately hinged on the story finding Julia. My favorite part of the presentation was Julia’s reminder to be open and to listen to what the world is telling you because that is how stories find us. And, in what was certainly a nod to Swatch and her love of color, there was a downpour minutes before the event that resulted in a beautiful double rainbow visible from the bookstore.

(image: a real reading rainbow!)

Congratulations to Julia, and best wishes to Swatch on many more adventures full of color!

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August is pretty much a mad dash to cram as many last minute summer activities in as possible. As a book nerd, mine includes making headway on my reading list. Coupling this with a trip to the beach or shady retreat, and you’ve got my all-time favorite summer pastime. For those of you looking for some great books to pack in your beach bags, here are some suggestions:

This first recommendation may as well be titled Confessions of a Binge Reader because, since the end of June, I’ve read six books by Elin Hilderbrand. Appropriately designed to lure in those of us dreaming of summer escapes, the novels (including "Summer People") never disappoint. Hilderbrand perfectly illuminates the drama of family life, friendships and love affairs against the backdrop of beautiful Nantucket Island. These books make me laugh, cry and stay up way too late to finish just one, or maybe three, more chapters!

My summer reading usually includes rereading one or two favorite titles. My choice this year is "The Historian," a most excellent and creepy novel that delves into the origins of the Dracula myth. From Amsterdam to Budapest and beyond, Kostova sends her characters on a whirlwind adventure that will bring a chill to even the hottest summer days.

My recommendation list would not be complete without at least one spy book! You can’t go wrong with any of Olen Steinhauer’s novels, but "The Cairo Affair" is a perfect page turner (or Kindle swiper). Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Arab Spring, this book has it all: murder, spies, and secret love affairs. No one is who they seem to be and the multiple points of view keep the reader guessing right up until the final surprise.

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