One of my favorite parts of summer as a child was participating in my local
library’s Summer Reading Program. (My other favorite parts were hot fudge
sundae trips with Dad and extra hours to play with my sheepdog in the
backyard, but I’ll stay focused here.) At the start of each summer, I’d step
up to the tall library circulation desk and receive my yellow chart and a
list of suggested titles to fill it with. It was like a scrapbook waiting to
be filled with the memories of all the adventures I would take, but I barely
had to leave my window seat to do it.
After I finished a set number of books, I could turn in that chart and win
prizes—for reading! That’s everyone’s dream, isn’t it? To be rewarded for
something you already love to do? I even knew kids who weren’t natural
readers who still loved the Summer Reading Program. It gave us a goal to
reach, which helped fend off the boredom of unscheduled summer hours.
Whenever I saw my friends on rare days at the park or the pool, we would
talk about the books we had read and how many prizes we had won so far.
Summer reading keeps kids connected and keeps their minds sharp for the
upcoming school year, so if you have kiddos at home this season, consider
enrolling them in a reading program in your area. Check your local library
for opportunities, like this one from the Dallas Public Library, or
try out the Barnes & Noble option. If your child
reads any 8 books
and records them in a Reading Journal—we have come a long way since little
yellow charts, apparently—he or she will earn a free book from Barnes &
Noble. I wish they’d let adults enroll…
Though there are countless contemporary series for your kids to tear through
this summer (The Unwanteds, The Worlds of Rick Riordan, Fablehaven, to name
a few of my favorites), I would like to recommend a few gems from my
childhood reading list that are still loved by children today.
LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS by Laura Ingalls Wilder
LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS
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As a girl growing up in the midwest, I
always felt connected to Laura Ingalls Wilder and her home near the great
plains. And who knows? Stories of this simple yet challenging era may
inspire your young reader to set aside the iPad and play in the "prairie" of
your own backyard. Recommended Ages: 8 to 12 years.
About: The book that started it all! This is the first
book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's treasured Little House series, which
was based on her life growing up as an American pioneer. Told from four-year-old Laura's point of view, this story begins in 1871 in
a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Laura lives in
the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their
trusty dog, Jack. Pioneer life is sometimes hard for the family, since they must grow or catch
all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But it is also
exciting as Laura and her family celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and
treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first
trip into town. And every night they are safe and warm in their little
house, with the happy sound of Pa's fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off
to sleep. And so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her
family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of
readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier history and a
heartwarming, unforgettable story.
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VAMPIRES DON'T WEAR POLKA DOTS by Debbie Dadey
VAMPIRES DON'T WEAR POLKA DOTS
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I devoured the Bailey School Kids
series as a child; it was a relief to know I wasn’t the only kid who thought
adults were peculiar enough to be vampires or sea monsters or trolls.These
books are fun, accessible, and great for reluctant readers. Recommended
Ages: 7 to 10 years.
About: The kids in the third grade at Bailey Elementary
are so hard to handle that all of their teachers have quit. But their new
teacher, Mrs. Jeepers, is different to say the least. She's just moved from
the Transylvanian Alps and she seems to have some strange powers that help
her deal with these mischief-makers. Her methods may be a little
unconventional, but, then again, Mrs. Jeepers may be just what the Bailey
School kids need.
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MUMMIES IN THE MORNING by Mary Pop Osborne
MUMMIES IN THE MORNING
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This is the third installment in the
Magic Tree House series, and it is my personal favorite. This
series will forever be a staple in my history as a reader, and it’s still
running today—book #53, SHADOW OF THE SHARK, releases on June 23, and I’m glad
today’s kids can still travel with Jack and Annie more than twenty years
after their first adventure. Recommended Ages: 6 to 8 years (though I
read them much longer).
About: Jack and Annie don't need another mummy. But that's what they get when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to
ancient Egypt. There they meet a long-dead queen who needs their help. Will
Jack and Annie be able to solve the puzzle, or will they end up as mummies
themselves?
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Cheers to a well-read tomorrow.
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