A Summer of Books: Part 2

In last week's post, we gave some recommendations for great summer reading for middle and high schoolers. This week, we'll be giving some suggestions for reads your younger ones will love diving into this summer.

For younger readers who need more pictures than words

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‘Good Night’ books - From Hong Kong and the Taj Mahal, to trains and unicorns, just about every kid will find something they want to say “good night” to. Modeled after the original Goodnight Moon, the simple language and vivid drawings captivate young readers.

Pete the Cat - Between Pete’s lovability and the author’s subtle humor, both kids and adults love these books and the shenanigans Pete gets into.

Jellybeans - This series begins with four students meeting in a dance class and becoming friends even though they don’t have much in common. It sends an important and powerful message about people pulling together despite differences.

Little Elliot books These books tell heartwarming tales of an adorable polka-dotted elephant who goes on various adventures and always learns something by the end. Any child who loves cute animals will fall in love with Little Elliot.

For The History Buffs (and those who like adventure)

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Who Was… These books provide digestible biographies of many of history’s most important people, with the express purpose of appealing to kids.

Magic Treehouse If your child seems ready to transition to chapter books, but neither of you is sure where to start, give this series a try. The worlds Jack and Annie travel to are filled with magic, fantasy, and true historical facts. Most kids can’t put these books down.

Little Leaders books This short collection specifically celebrates important black historical figures, many of whom are not taught in history books (and should be).

If you Lived… These books teach about periods of history that might feel boring and unrelatable to some kids, and present the facts in a high-interest, super relatable way.

For the Reluctant Reader

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Mercy Watson An endearing series about a pig who has joined the Watson family, and gets into all kinds of innocent mischief.

Dogman books (and many other graphic novels for young readers) These books, and many like them, have turned sour readers into book aficionados, because sometimes when you’re reading a comic, you can forget that it’s actually also a piece of literature.

Miami Jackson Series Not only is the main character super relatable and charmingly imperfect, but many 4th graders will also find it easy to connect with its content.

Luis Sachar books Aside from his most famous novel, Holes, which most kids who read absolutely love, his series Wayside School is uniquely comprised of “chapters” that each tell its own mini-story, but which together tell a larger tale about the characters in the series. And for any child who appreciates comedy, Luis Sachar’s writing is filled with kid-approved hilarity.

Other tips for cultivating a relationship with reading

Besides encouraging your child to read books on their own, there are other steps you can take to help them build a positive relationship with reading. When your busy schedule allows it, take the time to discuss books with your kids. This could include something as simple as asking them their favorite part, or can be as complex as asking them what feelings are elicited by a particular moment or theme in the book. You can even talk to your kids about what (age-appropriate) parts of your books you find most interesting!

Getting kids to actually sit down and read is often more than half the battle, but if you can go the extra mile to help them think through their experience with the book, they will be even more likely to develop confidence, improve their comprehension skills, and fall in love with reading.

For more book ideas for young and emerging readers, click here. And for further summer learning opportunities, sign up for one of our Smarter Summer workshops, running now through the rest of the summer.