Summertime is the perfect time to inspire a child's love of reading. Unlike regimented school reading, summer reading shouldn't be imposed or scheduled, but brought into activities they already enjoy. 

Of course, our very favorite reading suggestion is to make books more fun with a great puppet friend. Puppets make great read-aloud partners either as an excellent audience or as the storyteller themselves while the child or parent moves the puppet's mouth. There's nothing like having a cow read Ferdinand to you.

Check out our wonderful book gift baskets for children for fun and creative ways to get the summer off to a great reading start!

Here are our favorite 10 Tips for Summer Reading from the experts.

1. Combine activities with books.
Summer is full of fun things to do and see. Encourage kids to read a book about their favorite activities first. If you're going to a baseball game, suggest your child read a book about his or her favorite player beforehand. In the car or over a hot dog, you'll have lots of time to talk about the book and the game. The zoo, the beach and the park also offer great opportunities to read about it first. Your imagination is the limit!

2. Visit the library.
If your child doesn't have a library card, summer is a great time to sign up. In addition to a wide selection of books to borrow, many libraries have fun, child-friendly summer reading programs. Plan to spend at least an hour while the kids browse, explore and choose.

3. Create a reading journal.
Keep track of the  authors and books that each child wants to read and save room for a one or two line review of each book. It can also be fun to post reviews online on book sites such as  RIFs Reading Planet, Amazon.com, Purple Crayon, or The Internet Public Library.

4. Read aloud with kids.
Become your child's favorite storyteller. Children enjoy enthusiastic read-alouds no matter what their age. Make the story even more interesting by improvising different voices or wearing a silly hat. Create a reading festival by reading aloud several books by one particular author. Don't forget to let them read to you, too.

5. Start a book club.
Start a mother/daughter or family book club. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say. Book clubs with a few friends are also a lot of fun. Help them write a list of things to talk about for each book and make themed snacks to serve during the book club meeting.  "What's Cooking in Children's Literature" has hundreds of book-related recipes.

6. Outside the book.
Storybooks aren't the only thing that kids can read for fun. Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World. Sunday newspapers usually have a special section for kids with articles and games. Have fun reading signs, billboards or recipes, too!

7. Lead by example.
Don't make kids "finish what they start"! It will not build their love for books. Instead, set a good example by reading all the time. Read the newspaper at breakfast. Read while you are waiting for the carpool. Read while you are sitting with the TV off. Read when you're at the pool. Tell them about what you're reading. Make it safe and fashionable to talk about books, about reading, about authors, and about literature.

8. Help kids find time to read.
Summer is a busy time filled with camp, music lessons, sports and vacations. When planning summer activities with children, remember to leave some time for reading. Convenient and flexible times may be before bedtime, in the car or over breakfast. 

9. Relax the rules for summer.
During the school year, children have busy schedules and often have required reading for classes. Summer is a time when children can read what, when, and how they please. Don't set daily minute requirements or determine the number of pages they should read. Instead, make sure they pick up books for fun and help find ways for them to choose to read on their own. 

10. Use books to break the boredom.
The excitement of summer inevitably fades to boredom. Books that teach kids how to make or do something are a great way to get kids reading and keep them occupied. Encourage them to write and put on a play about their favorite book and perform it with friends or puppets. Don't forget to take your kids' favorite reading series along on long road trips to cut down on the are-we-there-yets. 

Be sure to select books that are appropriate for each child's individual reading level. Book lists and publishers usually include a suggested age range. To check specific books for reading level, try a simple five finger exercise. Ask a child to read aloud a page from the book. Every time he stumbles or skips a word, have him curl up a finger. If all of a child's fingers are curled up by the end of the page, this book is probably too difficult. If the child wants to read it anyway, turn it into a reading experience for the two of you. After all, even the best books are better when shared. 

Sources for recommended reading

Award-winning children's books

Suggestions have been excerpted and adapted from Reading Is Fundamental Exchange Show #407 by  Laura J. Colker, Ed. D., "How to Get Your Kids to Read This Summer" by Gwynne Spencer, and recommendations from The Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities.

Copyright 2005 La Vie en Rose
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