Encouraging A Summer Reading Habit For Your Young Learner

Ahhhh, summer. The kids are out of school and ready for three months of outdoor fun. Unfortunately, a study by NWEA found that kids in 3rd through 5th grade, on average, lose about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading during summer break. Summer reading can help students retain and expand the knowledge they gained over the school year. 

Benefits of reading

Reading provides a host of benefits, increasing vocabulary, creativity, empathy, critical thinking skills, and memory retention. Books introduce readers to new perspectives, writing styles, and groups of people, reducing prejudice against stigmatized groups. 

Not only does reading improve literacy, it also improves concentration. Today’s learners are familiar with all sorts of electronic teaching methods. There are great educational television programs, smartphone apps, and video games out there. But, screen time can be detrimental to development.

How to make reading for pleasure a habit

One way to encourage reading for pleasure is to make sure that kids always have books to choose from. Keep books in all rooms of the house. This doesn’t mean you have to buy a ton of new books- the library is free and a great resource! 

Work with your learner to create a summer reading list and talk about what stories interest them. Keep track of their progress and determine an activity to do together when they finish, or reward them with a book of their choice. 

If you’re a reader yourself, there’s no better way to encourage a habit than by leading by example. Make sure to make reading a part of your daily routine. If reading excites you, your child will pick up on it. 

As mentioned earlier, reading doesn’t have to be expensive. Take trips to the library- it’s a great place to find new books for free. Many libraries also have story times or other summer literacy programs for kids. If you live in the Twin Cities, check out the summer events at the Hennepin County libraries. BlueSky’s library system, Sora, can be linked to most public library systems, so users can search within both libraries at the same time.

Above all else, a great way to encourage reading is to let kids read what they want. They will get the most out of reading if they enjoy the story.

Books for middle schoolers

Beloved classics: 

• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Fantasy novels:

• Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians series 

Historical fiction:

• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
• The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

New perspectives and voices:

• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
• Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
• Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Books for high schoolers

Unlike middle schoolers, high schoolers tend to have busier summer schedules. Whether they have a part-time job, sports practices, family obligations, or an active social life, it can be hard to encourage older students to make time for reading. While younger readers may feel accomplished by reading as many books as they can over the summer, it may be more beneficial for your teen reader to focus on quality over quantity. Find a list of summer reading books that will challenge your high schooler.

Essential classics to sharpen reading skills:

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzerald
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

New perspectives and voices:

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

YA graphic novels:

• American Born Chinese by Gene Lueng Yang
• El Deafo by Cece Bell

For more options, check out these lists from NPR, Goodreads, and the New York Public Library.