Summer vacation for students will be here in just over three short weeks. And that means that the library summer reading program for kids gets underway May 31. “Dream Big, Read!” is this year’s theme. I will be visiting classes the next couple of weeks and talking with students about our programs this summer and encourage them to spend time each day reading. Your students have worked hard this school year improving their reading skills. Don’t let them lose that progress! Research shows that not reading in the summer can cause a student to lose up to three grade levels of reading ability, one for each month. So begin planning now for daily reading time and include time that you read to them.
Another valuable way to encourage your kids to keep reading is for them to see you reading. So join the adult summer reading program “Between the Covers” beginning Monday, June 4. And finally, start a list of titles that you think may interest your child or children and let them add to it. Summer is the time to read anything and everything, just READ!
Here are some possible titles to consider this summer. The Minnesota Twins by Mark Stewart explores the history of the club, introduces its greatest moments and players and includes inspiring quotes and fun stories. Green Berets by John Hamilton is one of the titles in the series “United States Armed Forces” and includes basic information about history, training and skills needed.
The Olympics will be held this summer and we are ready with new titles about the Olympics including The World’s Greatest Olympians by Michael Hurley. Learn about the barefoot marathon runner, swimmer Michael Phelps and more.
If your kids prefer action then be sure and take a look at Stunt Crews: Death-Defying Feats by Jim Pipe for an amazing look at what is involved in creating stunts in movies. And while they are pumped about movies why not encourage them to make their own. They can start with still photography (and the library has four cameras that can be checked out) and the books Setting Up the Shot, Taking the Shot, and Displaying the Shot by Jason Skog which outlines the basics of good photography. Then follow that up with Make Your Own Action Thriller by Jonathan Quijano.
A couple more books to encourage kids to get their hands dirty and do whatever interests them. How to Draw Soldiers by Mark Bergin and includes information about perspective and showing action. Or maybe you prefer your action in 3-D, then The Robotics Club: teaming up to build robots by Therese Shea may be for you and your child.
Do you remember the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books? They are back and we have a number of new titles, including The Abominable Snowman by R.A. Montgomery. More fun titles might be Squish: super amoeba by Jennifer and Matthew Holm or Big Nate on a Roll by Lincoln Pierce.
