Watching a child lost in the pages of a book they love is a treat, and something parents hope to see over the summer when reading is for pleasure. Reading without the pressures of school and homework doesn’t just help foster a love of books though. It’s important to academic progress to maintain the skill throughout the summer.
Even a little reading goes a long way. “At the Chicago Public Library, we know that just 20 minutes of reading a day starts kids on a path to reading success. Read all through the day with a young child, take turns reading with a new reader and have independent readers read aloud to you,” says Elizabeth McChesney, director of system wide children’s services at the Chicago Public Library.
Summer reading success often depends on picking the right books, so we asked McChesney, the staff at Scholastic and Amanda Blau, children’s librarian at the Naperville Public Library, to recommend fantastic books your kids won’t want to put down this summer.
Early Childhood to Pre-K
“Kids love language play and animated read-aloud stories. Experiment with different character voices, playful accents and heighten the drama as the story progresses,” suggests Liza Baker, editorial director of Scholastic. “Invite the child to chime in and read along with a familiar refrain or rhyme — or guess what word comes next.”
Baker also advises taking the time to “read” the pictures in a picture book. “Kids are keen observers and taking in all of the visuals. This is such an important step and one of the building blocks of early literacy and fostering a love of reading,” she says.
- “Frog on a Log” by Kes Gray and Jim Field
- “Emma and Julia Love the Ballet” by Barbara McClintock
- “Zoom! Zoom! Sounds of Things That Go in the City” by Robert Burleigh
- “Airplanes: Soaring! Turning! Diving!” by Patricia Hubbell
- “ABCs on Wings” by Ramon Olivera
Early Elementary School
Getting into a series can be a great way for kids to develop skills as independent readers, and once they’re hooked, kids become motivated to keep reading. “Kids quickly become familiar with the characters and situations that continue from book to book. And that familiarity helps them focus on the individual stories,” says David Allender, editorial director, Scholastic Reading Club. “The characters become friends and the stories are the latest news about their lives.”
- “Elephant & Piggie” series by Mo Willems (for early elementary readers)
- “Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne (for second and third graders)
- “Mercy Watson” series by Kate DiCamillo
- “Anna Hibiscus” series by Atinuke
Late Elementary School
“Summertime is ideal for exploring — whether the world outside or the world inside a book! A rich, multi-faceted story makes a great read-aloud or a shared reading,” says Allender. “One of the great joys of literature is that it encourages kids to think beyond our ‘sound bite’ culture and to find new and deeper understanding of people — from a Frodo to a Professor Snape.”
- “Upside-Down Magic” by Sarah Mlynowski
- “Wings of Fire” by Tui T. Sutherland
- “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling
- “The Detective’s Assistant” by Kate Hannigan
- “Map to Everywhere” by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis
- “Life of Zarf” by Rob Harrell
Middle School
Visuals aren’t just for early readers. “Graphic novels are a great way to keep kids engaged with reading over the summer. They’re high-interest, but at the same time instill important skills such as textual literacy and visual sequencing,” says Preeti Chhibber, senior editorial manager of the Scholastic Reading Club. Popular books that tie into movies and pop culture are also especially appealing to this age group.
- “The Amulet” series by Kazu Kibuishi
- “Smile” and “Sisters” by Raina Telgemeier
- “Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle” by Rick Riordan
- “The Maze Runner” by James Dashner
Parents
Don’t forget to pick up a book you love this summer. “If you want your kids to believe that reading is important, walk the walk. One of the most important ways to raise a reader is for your kids to see you with a book. Kids learn by example. Share independent reading time together when you’re both reading books you enjoy,“ says Allender.
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