School’s out and summer will soon be here. How do you ease your kids into a summer routine that keeps them engaged and learning, but doesn’t feel like summer school?
Make weekly trips to the library part of their routine.
Most kids receive summer reading lists at the end of the school year. Each time you go to the library, have them pick at least one book from the list and let them choose other books that catch their interest.
Talk about the kinds of books that interested you when you were their age, and look for online reading recommendations like our monthly lists. The lists should include recommended ages for each book, but consider letting your kids tackle a harder book or even occasionally reading something for younger readers if the subject or characters interest them.
When my kids were little, I read to them constantly. Sometimes I’d feign being tired and ask them to read to me. It’s a great way to see how they’re doing, and it lets them be in charge of story time. For our June reading recommendations, we selected kids’ books about summer and a couple of love stories for YA readers. Enjoy!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Summer by Eric Carle – Join caterpillar and friends as they experience the sights and sounds of summer. Listen to noisy bugs, fell the warmth of the sun, smell the flowers to the delicious aroma of a cookout. For ages Baby-2
Hot Dog by Doug Salati – This hot dog is tired of the hot sidewalks burning his feet, dodging crowds of people and wailing sirens in the city. When he plops right down in a crosswalk refusing to move, his owner gets the message, and they head for the beach to cool this fellow off and let him run in the surf. For ages 2-6
The Watermelon Seed by Gary Pizzoli – Who would believe a crocodile could be afraid of swallowing a watermelon seed? If it happens will watermelon vines grow out of his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Crocodile’s wild imagination will entertain young children and adults. For ages 2-5
Pete the Cat at The Beach by James Dean – Pete the Cat is having fun at the beach collecting shells and building sandcastles, but what happens when he gets too hot? Will Pete be able to overcome his fear of the water, so he can cool off? For ages 3-6
It Began with Lemonade by Gideon Sterer – What’s a girl to do when every other kid in her neighborhood sets up a lemonade stand on a hot summer day? She sets off on a quest to find just the right place to sell her lemonade and ends up with some unusual customers. For ages 4-8
Summer in the Forest by Rusty Finch – Kids will enjoy the story of Bear and her cubs having fun in the woods climbing trees, eating blueberries, checking beehives for honey, and playing in the pond. For ages 5-6
Summer of The Monkeys by Wilson Rawls – While fourteen-year-old Jay is hiking through the Ozark Mountains, he finds a tree full of monkeys. Where did they come from ? When Jay learns the monkeys escaped from a traveling circus and there’s a reward for capturing and returning them to the circus. His family could use the money, so Jay sets off to capture them. The more time he spends chasing the monkeys, the more he realizes how much they enjoy their freedom. Will he be the one to take that from them? For ages 8-11
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt – Ally has been able to fool the teachers at all her old schools. She’ll gladly accept the label of troublemaker instead of being the girl who can’t read. But Mr. Daniels at her new school sees right through her act. He knows she’s a bright girl and he knows why she’s having trouble. Ally has dyslexia, and he refuses to let Ally think it’s something to hide or be ashamed about. For ages 9-11
Forever by Judy Blume – High school students Katherine and Michael are in love. They vow to stay together forever and decide to have sex. When their parents insist they spend the summer apart, forever becomes a murky concept. Does having sex with someone cement your relationship for all time? Blume explores desire, young love, and the risks of having sex before you’re emotionally equipped even if you are responsible enough to have safe sex. For ages 9-12
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park – Based on true events, Park intertwines the story of Salva in 1985 with the story of Nya in 2008. Salva becomes one of the “lost Boys” of Sudan who cover the African continent on foot searching for family and s safe place to stay. Nya is a girl who must walk two hours each way to fetch water for her family twice a day. Their stories intersect in an astonishing way that highlights the struggles in Sudan for safety and life-giving water. For ages 10 and Up
The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore - After his brother’s death, a boy in Harlem tries to a safe path through life in the projects. The answer focuses on community and celebrating its strengths. For ages 10-13
I Have a Bad Feeing About This by Jeff Strand – All sixteen-year-old Henry’s worst fears are realized at survival camp when armed killers try to take over the camp. For ages 12-16
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch – Lina is spending the summer in Italy, not because she wants to experience its wonders. She’s there to honor her dying mother’s wish for Lina to spend time with her father. What kind of father doesn’t visit his daughter at least once in sixteen years? When she is given one of her mother’s old journals, Lina discovers a world of secrets that might change her perspective about a lot of her childhood. For ages 12 & Up
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Powell – Eleanor and Park are two star-crossed lovers trying to figure out if being in love is worth the risk of falling out of love. For ages 14 & Up