Keep Your Kids Reading During the Summer

by Donna Huber

Image by Виктория Бородинова from Pixabay

A local literacy organization that I support is committed to ending the "summer slide" by providing students in low-income areas with books that they take home at the end of the school year. Studies have shown that children can lose a grade-level or more in reading comprehension in what is known as "summer slide". However, reading every day can prevent this slide and can even improve a student's reading ability. (Learn more about Books for Keeps and how you can support them, too).

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

I have always enjoyed reading and loved the summer reading program at the local library as a kid. I didn't always get to go to all the activities (I don't even know if we had a lot of activities), but I remember the reading log and turning it in at the end of the summer. If you haven't checked out the program at your library you should. It is a fun way to help keep kids reading.

And it isn't just school-aged children that need to keep reading during the summer. Reading with preschool children helps them develop language skills and helps instill a love of reading. I recently reviewed two beginner reader books. I don't have young children but I like seeing new books that are coming out to entice children to read.

Both of these books were fun reads. And with normal schedules possibly out of whack with summer activities, these would be great books to share a little quiet time with your little ones.

Will God Still Find Me? by Vikki Walton

If you have an anxious child that doesn't like to be away from you, then this may be a good book to read with them. In a colorful story with a fun rhyming scheme, the main character explores various careers but wonders if God will still find him. It will be fun to talk about various jobs with your child as well as provide an opportunity to discuss fears of being away from you. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't an explanation of why the child, after asking multiple time "Will God still find me?", suddenly decides that everything will be okay and God will always find him. I guess it is left up to the parent who is reading the book to assuage the anxiety of their child.

Buy Will God Still Find Me? at Amazon

The Day That A Ran Away by B.C.R. Fegan

This is a great book to keep the alphabet fresh in the mind of your preschool and early school children. The child, when asked why he hasn't written the alphabet, comes up with a story that is much more inventive than "my dog ate my homework." The pictures are creative to provide an excellent visual companion to the alphabet. There's even a lesson to learn at the end -  a creative excuse will not get you out of the work and procrastination has consequences.

Buy The Day That A Ran Away at Amazon


If you are needing new reading material for your young child, then these books would be a great choice.

Also, remember that as important as it is to share books with your child it is as important for them to see you enjoying books of your own. Many libraries also have a summer reading program of sorts for adults if you need some accountability to keep reading yourself.

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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