Dig into Reading: Top 10 for Young Readers

Last month we learned that the theme for the 2013 summer reading program will be “Dig into Reading.”  As archaeologists who specialize in working with the public, we are excited about the potential of partnering with our local libraries.  In addition to sending out a list of our standard programs for youth and adults, we put together a top ten list of books they may want to consider adding to their catalog or pulling from the shelves for table top displays.  

1.       Archaeologists Dig for Clues by Kate Duke, HarperCollins, 1997.

2.       America’s REAL First Thanksgiving by Robyn Gioia, Pineapple Press , 2007.

3.       Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, Little, Brown,  2010.

4.       The Timucua Indians : A Native American Detective Story by Kelley G. Weitzel, University Press of Florida,  2000.

5.       Fort Mose: Colonial America’s Black Fortress of Freedom by Kathleen Deagan and Darcie MacMahon, University Press of Florida, 1995.

6.       Journeys with Florida’s Indians by Kelley G. Weitzel, University Press of Florida, 2002.

7.       Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1979.

8.       Shipwreck by Claire Aston and Peter Dennis, Fast Forward series by Barron's, 2001.

9.       Archaeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past by Richard Panchyk, Chicago Review Press, 2001.

10.   The Magic School Bus Shows and Tells: A Book about Archaeology by Jack Posner, Scholastic Inc., 1997.

Libraries: please help us promote the stewardship of Florida’s archaeological resources.  Our ethics do not allow for us to place monetary amounts on objects (artifacts are worth information, not money) or to encourage the public to dig unsupervised, as archaeology is a precise science with much more activity than just digging.  Sites on state—and often county and city—property are protected by law because of their fragile nature.  We want to encourage the public to learn about their past in an effort to protect these places for the future.

Have a favorite not on our list?  Share it with our readers in our comments section!

Text: Sarah Miller, FPAN staff. Image compiled from Google image search of titles.