We all know summer is a great time for changing the routines of the school year and slowing down a little. It’s also the perfect time to encourage or indulge in a love of reading.
Our friends at Books of Wonder have shared their go-to summer reading list! Check out some of these great titles and authors!
Step into Your Power
By Jamia Wilson
Work It, Girl: Oprah Winfrey – Run the Show Like a CEO
By Caroline Moss
Ground Breaking Guys
By Stephanie True Peters
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices
By Cheryl Willis Hudson
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
By Stacy McAnulty
The Third Mushroom
By Jennifer L. Holm
Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel
By Chris Grabenstien
The Stars Beneath Our Feet
By David Barclay Moore
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
By Karina Yan Glaser
Knights & Dinosaurs
By Matt Phelan
Bob
By Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead
The Lost Rainforest: Mez’s Magic
By Eliot Schrefer
Spy School
By Stuart Gibbs
The Inquisitor’s Tale
By Adam Gidwitz
The War that Saved My Life
By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Thing About Jellyfish
By Ali Benjamin
The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and Kingdom Beyond #1)
By Sayantani Dasgupta
The Best Man
By Richard Peck
The Night Diary
By Veera Hiranandani
The First Rule of Punk
By Celia C. Pérez
One Crazy Summer
By Rita Williams-Garcia
Two Naomis
By Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick
Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World
By Ashley Herring Blake
New Kid
By Jerry Craft
For these titles and so many more, check out Books of Wonder today!
In addition to creating a life-long love of literature, summer reading is critical for students to retain knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year. A win-win!
Here are a few tips to keep your child engaged:
1. Allow kids to read what they like. Allow them to pick book topics that relate to their interests.
2. Offer a variety of publications (magazines, newsletters, books, etc.) so kids can make their own literary choices.
3. Encourage your kids to read everything and read aloud – food labels, movie disclaimers, street signs, store names, music lyrics, restaurant menus, etc.
4. Ensure books are always on–hand. Keep books in each car, at the house, at the homes of family members, etc. This ensures that a child can amuse himself or herself if a sibling’s sports practice is running late or if you are caught in traffic.
5. Schedule “library time.” Just as a family schedules swimming practice, set a specific time aside for visiting the library.
6. Write your name in your books. When children write their names in their books, it gives the child ownership. Store the books in a special place to create a personal library.
7. Read before bedtime. Reading is relaxing. Allow your child to stay up 15 minutes later each night – as long as he/she is reading.
8. Read aloud to your children. No matter the age of the child, reading together can create a lasting family memory.
