Most children have some sort of summer reading requirements during the months off school. While some schools require certain books, others allow students to choose books within a genre. Even if your child’s school does not require summer reading, I would encourage you as the parent to promote opportunities to read throughout the summer months.
Overwhelmingly, we hear from teachers and educational researchers that whether or not a child chooses to read as a leisure activity is the single most significant predictor of educational success. Books can be a great way to prepare for a trip, learn more about something introduced at camp, or for a little downtime from the heat. If your child isn’t yet able to read on their own, find time to read with them or look into an app (such as Epic!) which may offer reading aloud.
If you haven’t been given any guidance from your child’s school, start by finding a booklist that speaks to you and read some of their recommendations. Write down titles and authors that your child finds appealing and then head to your local library or independent bookstore.
Some of my favorite lists are:
WeAreTeachers.com: Best for ages 4-8.
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Book Award: Best for ages 4 - 8.
Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC): Best for birth - age 14.
Jane Addams Children's Book Awards: Best for ages 5 - 14.
The Week Junior: Best for ages 6-14.
Edutopia: Best for ages 14+.
Your local independent bookstores often have put together their own reading lists or keep the local school lists on hand.
Hummingbird Books – This new independent and female owned bookstore, opened at The Street Chestnut Hill last spring. Head to the children’s section or ask one of their extremely friendly employees for the Summer Reading Binder, where they keep the summer reading lists for almost every school district in the metro west area.
Newtonville Books – A wonderful bookstore which is no longer nestled in Newtonville but now in Newton Centre. If they don’t have it in stock, owner Mary Cotton will order it for you.
Brookline Booksmith – A local favorite, not only for the book selection and warm atmosphere but for the events they hold for the community. They also have several booklists posted on their website with the “100 Top Selling Kids Books” being my favorite.
While you are shopping for your children, you might as well grab a new summer read for yourself! Check out the suggested summer reads from two of my favorite reading lists for adults from The Washington Post and Newtonville Books.
Enjoy your summer and happy reading!
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