One of the best things about summer is having more time to read. As my family can tell you, I like nothing more than to sit by the pool, on the beach, or on the porch on a beautiful day (or really anywhere!) lost in a good book. Summer vacations and books are inseparable in my mind.
Summer vacation should be a time to stretch out in a hammock or curl up on the couch and dive deep into a fun, engrossing, fabulous read. Kids who spend time reading during the summer go back to school in the fall with their reading skills improved. This will help them in school, and help them later in life. But even more importantly, kids who read during the summer will form life-long memories and make powerful connections with books.
One of the most common types of questions I get is from a student, parent or colleague who is looking for something to read. Here are a few suggestions for finding a book:
- Ask yourself what kind of movies you like to watch. If you like to watch political thrillers or science fiction or fantasy, etc., you will probably enjoy books of the same genre.
- Always read the book before you see the movie. FYI — the Book is ALWAYS better!
- If you have a favorite author, and you have read everything that author has available, simply Google “authors like ….” It is a very simple way to find authors that you may have never considered before.
- Ask your friendly neighborhood librarian for suggestions!
Summer Challenge: Create a list of the top 20 books that you would like to read. Put the list somewhere conspicuous and mark off each book as you finish.
Stephanie Marks,
Director Of Instructional Media Center (library)