When it comes to summer, reading may not be the first thing—or even in the top 10 things—kids have in mind! But reading can be the ideal summer activity. It’s fun, portable, can involve the whole family, and will help your child academically. Use these resources to launch a summer of reading.
Summer Reading and Summer Activity Resources
- Start a summer reading club. Book Club Basics from NEA’s Read Across America has ideas to help launch a summer book club for kids focused on reading fun and diverse book choices.
- Head to Start with a Book for free themed toolkits featuring five days of reading and learning fun with dozens of carefully chosen fiction and nonfiction book recommendations, hands-on activities, writing ideas, and apps and websites to deepen learning.
- Check out Summer of Adventure from PBS KIDS for Parents.
- Reading is Fundamental’s Summer Reading Camp offers a collection of downloadable activities and book recommendations.
- National Library Service, in partnership with the Braille Institute Library, offers programs for kids — as well as adults — to encourage reading via webinars and Narrated Soundscapes.
Ways to Challenge Kids to Read this Summer
- Visit your local library to find out about summer reading programs in your community.
- In this summer reading and writing contest, middle and high school students are invited to tell The New York Times what articles they’re reading in The Times and why. Judges from the Times newsroom and The Learning Network pick favorite responses to publish.
- When kids complete a summer reading journal in English or Spanish for the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program, they earn a free book after reading eight books.
- Kids can earn “Bookworm Bucks” and participate in fun activities through Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp.
- Do some Summer Reading Together on the Great American Reading Road Trip with Learning Ally and win prizes.
- Use the BOOK IT mobile app to set reading goals that earn kids a free pizza.
- Chuck E. Cheese’s Page Turning Pro Award offers 10 free play points to kids who meet a reading goal.
Summer Reading Recommendations for Kids
- Summer booklists from Reading Rockets for ages 0-12
- We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading List promotes books by Indigenous and People of Color (IPOC).
- Lee & Low Books’ Diverse Summer Reading list
- Summer Reading roundup of recommended reading from summer reading programs from TeachingBooks
- Summer Reading booklists for birth – 8th grade from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
- Summer Reading Lists of Best Books For Kids from Imagination Soup
