Reading in the summer? Students sometimes feel that summer is a time for fun and excitement, but not reading. Reading can and should be all of those things for kids. Aside from the entertainment and enjoyment, reading is vital for the continuous growth in children’s education.
A study recently done at John Hopkins University found that students typically loose one to two months of reading skills during summer break. This is known as a phenomenon called the summer slide. Teachers must spend as much as six weeks in many classrooms across the country reviewing previously learned materials.
Many schools are offering summer packets to parents and students with various review activities to help curb this trend of sliding backwards. Teachers make the packets with fun activities that encourage reading, writing and family bonding.
Local libraries are offering summer programs with many fun and exciting activities with incentives for reading. Many local businesses support the programs by giving the libraries various prize items and certificates for students that accomplish the set goals that the libraries have required. Ohio is very fortunate to have such progressive libraries with many opportunities. Take every advantage of free and educational programming.
Reading is a unique experience for children. Kids can discover continents that they have never seen or encounters trolls under bridges and maybe meet U.S. Presidents just by picking up a good book. Parents know their children better than anyone else does. Each child is unique with different interests. For reluctant readers, the libraries have low level books with high interest levels. A new trend in books that may help reluctant readers is the graphic novel. Children’s librarian Jen Welsh at the Lake Branch of Stark County Library has a display of the books available. Many books such as the Babysitters Club by Ann M. Matthews and Goosebumps by R.L. Stine are now available in comic book form. A new series entitled Baby Mouse by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm is also very appealing.
Getting a child interested in reading is the key to having children become successful readers. For book reviews and lists of engaging books visit www.scholastic.com and www.educationworld.com. Search summer reading lists.
Erika’s recommendations:
Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey
Itsy Bitsy Spider by Keith Chapman
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Snappy Little Zoo by Dugald Steer
You’re Too Small by Shen Roddie
Little Critter (series) by Gina & Mercer Mayer
What Makes a Rainbow? by Betty Schwartz
Let’s Go Visiting by Sue Williams
Curious George by H.A. Ray
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
No, David by David Shannon
Sylvester & the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
The Boy who was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris
Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Olympics! by B.G. Hennessy
Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow & Lenny Lipton
The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Purplicious by Elizabeth Kann
Beach Bugs by David A. Carter
Lily and the Purple Plastic Purse
Olivia (series) by Ian Falconer
Flotsam by David Weisner
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
Beginning Readers
Messy Bessey (series) by Patricia & Frederick Mckissack
McDuff (series) by Rosemary Wells
Biscuit (series) by Alyssa Satis Capucilli
Froggy’s Day with Dad by Jonathan Landen
I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
I’m Gonna Like by Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Correll
Guess How Much I Love You? By Sam McBratney
Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
Snow Day by Corinne Bliss
Frog and Toad (series) by Arnold Lobel
Diggerman by Andrea Zimmerman & David Clemesha
Henry & Mudge (series) by Cynthia Rylant
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin
If You Give a Pig a Pancake (series) by Laura Numeroff
True Books (series)
Maisy’s Bedtime! By Lucy Cousins
There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback
Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward
Mice are Nice by Charles Ghigna
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
You Read To Me. I’ll Read to You Fairy Tales by Marc Little
Hop on Top by Dr. Seuss
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Miss Spider’s Sunnypatch Friends (series) by David Kirk
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman and Betsy Lewin
Commander Toad (series) by Jane Yolen
The High Rise Private Eyes by Cynthia Rylant
Intermediate/Advanced Readers
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Babe, The Gallant Pig by King Smith
A Series of Unfortunate Events (series) by Lemony Snicket
The Chronicles of Narnia (series) by C.S. Lewis
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Welcome to Kit’s World – American Girls by Harriet Brown
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Holes by Louis Sachar
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Caribbean Pirates: Treasure Chest of Fact, Fiction and Folklore by George Beahm
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Pork
The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
The Strongest Girl in the World by Sally Gardner
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Invisible Boy by Sally Garndner
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth Speare
Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
Take Me Out To The Ball Park: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past and Present by Josh Leventhal
Sports, Sports, Sports by Lee B. Hopkins
Nancy Drew (series) by Carolyn Keene
Alfie the Apostrophe by Moira Rosa Donohue
Ramona Forever (series) by Beverly Cleary
The Last Safe House by Barbara Greenwood
Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Flat Stanley (series) by Jeff Brown
Junie B. Jones (series) by Barbara Park
The Recess Queen by Alexis O’neil
Matt Christopher sports (series)
Shredderman (series) by Wendelin Van Draanen and Brian Biggs
Shiloh by Reynolds Naylor
