What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about spending the summer with your family and friends? Trips to the beach? Barbecues? Concerts? This summer why not make reading books and passing them along to loved ones part of your summer fun? Summer heats up when you add the excitement of a good book, and there are many ways to get your hands on a hot summer read. This year, summer reading goes digital, as there are a variety of e-readers to choose from. From the Nook to the Kindle and everything in between, there is more than enough ways to get a good reading fix. So why not do it when you’re laying out on the beach?
Visit your local library for summer reading programs, and get free downloads of eBooks for your Android, iPad, Nook, Kindle and more. Some local libraries are offering great summer reading contests, and are offering some cool prizes to those who win - be sure to visit your local branch for more details.
Teachers and learning experts agree that children of all ages should be read to or read by themselves during those three months of summer vacation. It helps strengthen their language skills and improve their reading fluency, while learning new vocabulary and reading concepts. But most importantly, children form a love for reading that will grow and last a lifetime.
Looking for reading recommendations for teens and adults? Be sure to check back later this week for additional installments of our Summer Reading Series featuring titles for all ages!
Looking for reading recommendations for teens and adults? Be sure to check back later this week for additional installments of our Summer Reading Series featuring titles for all ages!
Recommendations for Ages 3-5
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John
- Archambault
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
- How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff: What happens if you give a mouse a cookie? You’ll have to read and find out in this fun and delightful picture book that will have you smiling even after you finish the last page.
- Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
- Pete the Cat: I Love My White Socks by Eric Litwin
- The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Herbert
- Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Recommendations for Ages 6-8
- Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
- Flat Stanley Series (chapter books) by Jeff Brown
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein: In this beautifully written and illustrated picture book, an unlikely relationship emerges between a little tree and a little boy. But as the boy grows older, can the tree give him what he wants?
- Junie B. Jones Series (chapter books) by Barbara Park
- Magic Tree House Series (chapter books) by Mary Pope Osborne
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
Recommendations for Ages 9-12
- The Boxcar Children Series (chapter books) by Gertrude Chandler Warner
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: In this summer reading classic, a bond between two friends turns into a creation of a secret world of their own, as they use their imagination to create a magic kingdom called Terabithia. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, will this imaginary world be enough to keep them together?
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
- Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
- Smile by Raina Telgemeier
-
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
This is just the first installment of LongIsland.com's 2013 Summer Reading Series - be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming Teen Reading Guide and Adult Summer Reading Recommendations!
What book has been captivating you this Summer? A hot new title? A timeless classic? Let us know about it in our Summer Reading Discussion Forum!