Arts

Author Jon Scieszka is intent on producing books that are an antidote to the dusty titles that populate summer reading lists. Here, kid-lit characters come to life when a summer reading list from school is accidentally put inside a magic book.

This latest book in the "Scientists in the Field" series, recommended for fourth through sixth grades, explores how and why researchers study the biggest and hairiest spiders on Earth, taking readers from the rainforests of French Guiana to a tarantula-filled laboratory.

When a creaking ship, its bowsprit carved in the shape of a snarling rat, pulls into San Diego harbor it carries with it a 12-year-old cabin boy whose only desire is to get home to his family. Reviewer John Kelly calls the story, set in 1846, a "rousing, swashbuckling tale."

Jackie Mitchell's father told her she could accomplish anything, including playing baseball. The message sunk in. During an exhibition game in Tennessee, the 17-year-old southpaw struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Read an excerpt from this recommendation for young readers.

The author draws on primary sources for this nonfiction book recommended by Washington Post columnist John Kelly, evocatively describing the medical missteps and political infighting that characterized an outbreak of yellow fever in 1793.

Reviewer John Kelly recommends this title for readers in first through third grades, the story of a real dog who lived in Tokyo and faithfully waited for his master at the train station, even when the owner could not come to meet him.

Tech guru Omar Wasow of Blackplanet.com offers up gift ideas for the tech geek in your life. Wasow follows up last week's suggestions for the technophobe in your life.