Believe it or not, summer is a great time to share a book with your school-age child. Although there's always plenty to do, we need to make time to read aloud to our children whatever their ages.

A child benefits greatly from sitting and listening to a book being read aloud. And the older they get, the fewer opportunities kids have to hear an adult read to them.

Reading aloud to children helps them develop and improve literacy skills, and because school days are even busier than summer vacation, reading aloud is not often a part of the routine in schools once children can read on their own.

Most importantly, when children see adults reading and enjoying books they value the act of reading more.

So, now the question is: what to read? New writer Ingrid Law brings us "Savvy" (Dial Books, $16.99, ages 9-11), a charming and funny family story perfect for sharing with a school-age child.

Mississippi "Mibs" Beaumont comes from a very unusual family. Each member gets a "savvy" once he or she turns 13. A savvy is a magical power that makes each Beaumont special and unique.

Mibs' Grandpa Bomba moves mountains and her mother does everything perfectly. Her two older brothers already have their savvies. Rocket is a walking electric current and keeps the family clunker running. Fish causes storms to brew whenever he loses control of his emotions.

Now Mibs is about to turn 13. She dreams of getting a powerful savvy like X-ray vision.

Then her father is in a terrible car accident that puts him in a coma in hospital several miles away from his family. Mibs begins to dream of a different sort of savvy; one that can help her father.

As perfect Momma and older brother Rocket head to the hospital to take care of Poppa, Mibs is left with Grandpa Bomba, Fish and her younger siblings, Samson and Gypsy. Mibs feels helpless being so far away from her Poppa. If only she can get to the hospital all the way down in Salina, Kan.

The preacher's wife, having taken it upon herself to cheer the family up, throws Mibs a big birthday party at the church.

The preacher's children, Bobbi and Will Jr., are also involved in the party, and Will Jr. gives Mibs a pen set as a birthday present. Bobbi's gift is a little different. The small angel tattoo on Bobbi's back turns to Mibs and begins talking to her.

Despite the angel tattoo telling her what is on Bobbi's mind, Mibs thinks her savvy is waking up people and believes she can help her father.

She sees a pink school bus outside the church with the words Heartland Bible Supply Company and Salina Kansas on it. Thinking this is serendipitous, she stows away on the bus, followed by the preacher's kids well as her brothers Fish and Sampson.

Thinking the bus was headed to Salina the children are dismayed to discover the bus heading in the opposite direction.

Mibs begins to doubt her savvy: Can she really wake up Poppa? Is Bobbi's tattoo really talking to her? And what will happen when the bus driver discovers them?

"Savvy" is a remarkable first novel that opens with charm and ends with warmth. Law's writing is quirky but accessible. Her word play ("itch and scritch of birthday buzz" and "fizzgiggly girls") adds to the delight of the adventurous plot.

The plot twists and turns like the pink bus on the highway and builds to an exciting and tender conclusion.

This imaginative and lively story is sure to please parents and children looking for a fun summer read.