Summer Reading Lists

Summer Reading Lists

​Do you remember long summer days as a kid, reading for hours in a tent as the breeze blew through the screen? Do you remember swinging in a hammock with that novel you just couldn't put down? How about reading that comic book on the couch to the family dog?

There is nothing better than a summer of reading. Studies show that reading and storytelling with children promotes brain development and imagination, develops language and emotions, and strengthens relationships (Farrant). We also know that reading aloud helps children learn sounds, words, and speech and builds literacy skills (Farrant). In addition, when kids read for pleasure, at any level, "they acquire, involuntarily and without conscious effort, nearly all of the so-called "language skills" many people are so concerned about they will become adequate readers, acquire a large vocabulary, develop the ability to understand and use complex grammatical constructions, develop a good writing style, and become good spellers" (Krashen).

Who doesn't want these things?!

We hope your family loves reading as much as we do. We wanted to share some great reading lists as you step into summer...

Celebrate Black Authors Kids Books
Teen Books by Indigenous Authors 
Children's Book by Indigenous Authors and Illustrators 
K-9 Recommended Reading Lists: Austin Waldorf School
Reading Brightly: PreK to age 13+ book lists

And, of course, we encourage you to visit your local library and leave with armloads of books. Happy reading!

 Works Cited:
Krashen, S. (1993). The Power of Reading. Englewood, Col.: Libraries Unlimited, Inc
Farrant, B.M., & Zubrick, S.R. (2013). Parent-child book reading across early childhood and child vocabulary in the early school years: Findings from the longitudinal study of Australian children. First Language, 33(3), 280-293. 

---