Children's Summer Reading

One of my favorite ways I used to get my kids reading was to find a great book and read together. It’s been a couple of years since we’ve done this since my kids are “too old.” Both of my kids are plowing through books on their own and don’t have time to sit and let mom read with them 🙂

While I miss those days, I am also really excited that they are fully functional readers! Not only that, but they love reading! Our biggest problem most days is finding enough books that are appropriate and them staying up too late at night reading!

These days with having two teens, when we read together, we all read the same book at the same time. Then, when we’re all done reading it we are able to talk about it together. It’s a fun solution for this period of our lives.

Why Read Together

“Once a mainstay of American family life, the activity of reading together as a family has dropped precipitously, often due to the onslaught of electronic distractions, dual working parents, the rise of single-parent homes, and a general lack of awareness of the vital need for reading at home with children, particularly among impoverished households. Meanwhile, the crucial window of opportunity to develop high reading proficiency levels among young children passes by all too quickly, with lifelong detrimental results. Despite this fundamental need, less than half of young children in the United States are read to each day.” (1)

Developmentally it’s important for you to read to and with your child.

Some Benefits of Reading Together

Pointing out the words you’re reading to your new reader helps them with sight recognition
Your child will be able to hear harder books than their reading level when you read to them

You can show your child proper inflection and pace of a story by reading together
Reading is a life long skill – children who are reader become adults who are thinkers!
Reading together is a lovely way to spend time together

There are some great tips for reading with your children at this website…enjoy!

Some great books to read together

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo – This is a beautiful story of a ceramic rabbit’s adventures. May not be great for younger children. A must read!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – I love this one, and it’s a lot of fun to read with your kids! (Check out my Family Reading Guide and Activity Workbook to go along with this book!)

Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr – This is a fun, adventurous book
Most of Roald Dahl’s books – Matilda, Charlie, and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan – Action, adventure, and Greek gods!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio – This is another must-read, in my opinion. A beautiful story of a disfigured boy going out into the world.
You could go old-school with Little House on the Prairie, Pippi Longstockings, Tom Sawyer
Read some favorites from your childhood!

There are so many great books out there! Ask your local librarian for recommendations. Or go to your local bookstore and ask! So many great resources 🙂

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons to read together with your children! It will help your children become better readers and it’s just fun spending that time together enjoying a book! So, pick out a book you know you both will enjoy and set some time aside. You will both enjoy it!