Tag day trips

The photograph shows children and a dog outdoors, silhouetted against a purple and red evening sunset.

Reading + Adventure = Summer

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The photograph shows children and a dog outdoors, silhouetted against a purple and red evening sunset.
Photo by Rene Bernal on Unsplash.

by Jean B.

It’s an equation for fun! Add an extra dimension to your summer days by connecting books from the library to a fun adventure in our region. Here are some ideas to get you started — each plan includes a picture book for everyone, a chapter book for family read alouds, and an outing within an hour’s drive.

Word Play

Meet Stegothesaurus (E HEO), the dinosaur with an incredible (inspiring, impressive) vocabulary and encounter an amazing array of words as well as a frightening, formidable, fearsome allosaurus…uh-oh, what’s another word for “trouble”?

Enter a magical library where the books aren’t just full of words, they’re actually alive! In The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings (CHILDRENS PRI, print and digital audiobook), Alex must learn how to battle the ancient magic in these books and save himself, the library and the kingdom. It’s anything but a quiet day at the library!

Journey to Planet Word, an interactive museum in Washington, DC. You’ll find walls alive with words; a library with a secret door and hidden surprises; and rooms to sing, tell jokes and give a speech.

925 13th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005; Admission free, suggested $15 donation.

History Mysteries

Time travel with Calvert the Raven in The Battle of Baltimore (CHILDRENS FUQ) for a bird’s-eye view of the battle that inspired our national anthem in 1814, right here in Baltimore. Fast forward into the present with the thrilling Capture the Flag (CHILDRENS MES) in which the original Star Spangled Banner has been stolen from the museum! It’s up to Anna, Henry, and Jose to muster all their courage and detective skills to get this historic national treasure back.

Visit the Fort McHenry National Monument, site of the famous battle, where you can explore the historic battlements, cannon, and walls, interact with living history guides, or just have a picnic and enjoy the spectacular view of the Baltimore Harbor.

2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230; open 7 days a week, kids 15 and under are free.

Explorers of the Wild

For an uncharted outdoor adventure, get inspired by Baltimorean Matthew Henson, whose determination led him to be one of the first to find the North Pole. I, Matthew Henson, Polar Explorer (CHILDRENS B HENSON W) offers a breath of cold, Arctic air this summer! Or share the adventure of friends Augie and Wyatt, as they build a fort then face the challenges of living in it with ingenuity, perseverance, and humor, in Fort (CHILDRENS DEF, print and e-audio).

Head to Cunningham Falls State Park, to hike to a waterfall, swim and canoe in a lake, camp, picnic, and fish.

14039 Catoctin Hollow Road, Thurmont, MD 21788; 8 am to sunset, April-October. See website for daily admission fees and campground/ cabin reservations.

Jean B. is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Central Branch who loves reading books for all ages when she isn’t enjoying the outdoors.

Be part of HCLS’ Summer Reading Adventures.

The cover depicts the title character, author Parker Curry, looking up at the portrait of Michelle Obama that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Literary Day Trips with Kids

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The cover illustration shows Benjamin Banneker with a timepiece in the palm of his hand; he has opened the cover of it and is examining its inner gears.

by Jean B.

Books can take you anywhere – you can discover all kinds of places and people from the comfort of home. But books can also lead you OUT into real life adventures. This summer, check out some of these children’s books with local connections then take a family excursion to live it yourself!

Interested in ingenuity? For an adventure in Howard County’s backyard, read TickTock Banneker’s Clock by Shana Keller. Learn about the African American colonial scientist Benjamin Banneker, then explore the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park in Oella. Tour his restored colonial cabin and gardens, hike woodland trails, and participate in fun summer programs with nature and colonial history themes.

The cover depicts the title character, author Parker Curry, looking up at the portrait of Michelle Obama that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Fascinated by famous faces? Read Parker Looks Up by Parker and Jessica Curry. Visit the National Portrait Gallery to see the portrait of Michelle Obama for yourself, as well as those of many other interesting Americans of the past and present.

The cover is an illustration of baseball player and home run king Babe Ruth.

Seeking sports glory? One of baseball’s legends, Babe Ruth, grew up in Baltimore. Explore his childhood story and how he was introduced to the game – you may be surprised! – with the book Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares. Then visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, or go to a baseball game at Camden Yards or Bowie.

The book cover depicts a boy carrying two lanterns and looking over his shoulder, with the masts of ships in the background and a knapsack slung over his back.

Intrigued by history’s mysteries? Take a drive to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and you’ll find the quaint waterfront town of St. Michael’s. Before your visit, check out the picture book by Lisa Papp, The Town that Fooled the British: A War of 1812 Story, to uncover the clever trick that saved St. Michael’s from destruction 200 years ago.

The book cover depicts a grinning skeleton in a blue wash, almost as if at the bottom of the sea.

For the ambitious, a trip to Jamestown, Virginia could be like a true crime investigation when combined with the award-winning nonfiction book, Written in Bone by Sally M. Walker. This fascinating (and sometimes gruesome) account shows how forensic scientists are studying skeletons found in Jamestown’s colonial ruins to decipher exactly who these bones belonged to, how they lived, and how they died.

Jean B. is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Central Branch and loves reading books for all ages when she isn’t enjoying the outdoors.