Summer books for kids

June 15, 2004

The top 10 recommendations from Book Sense, an organization of 1,100 independent bookstores in America:

1. HEARTBEAT, by Sharon Creech, HarperCollins, $15.99, ages 9-12.

2. DUCK FOR PRESIDENT, by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin, Simon & Schuster, $15.99, ages 4-8.

3. LIONBOY, by Zizou Corder, Dial, $15.99, ages 9-12.

4. A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY, by Libba Bray, Delacorte, $16.95, teens.

5. KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON, by Kevin Henkes, Greenwillow, $15.99, ages 4-8.

6. THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE, by E.L. Konigsburg, Atheneum, $16.95, ages 9-12.

7. HALIBUT JACKSON, by David Lucas, Knopf, $16.95, ages 4-8.

8. SAVING SAMANTHA, by Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen, illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, Sleeping Bear, $17.95, ages 9-12.

9. CHASING VERMEER, by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist, Scholastic, $16.95, ages 9-12.

10. A SPREE IN PAREE, by Catherine Stock, Holiday House, $16.95, ages 4-8.