It may feel like school is just around the corner for Sant Bani School families, but there are still several weeks of summer left. How will you be spending them – will you hike in the White Mountains, kayak in the Lakes Region, or hit the beaches on the seacoast? Whatever you are up to, we want to make some recommendations for that all-important aspect of your summer break: summer reading! Kari Allen ‘98, P ‘24 ‘27, our Second Grade teacher, published author, and resident expert on all things books, has some advice to share. Like any skill, reading takes practice! Summertime is a wonderful opportunity to pick books that pique your child’s interest to build strong reading habits.
Looking for a way to get the whole family on board? Kari suggests forming a family book club. Libraries are a great way to find several copies of the same book to read together. Kari says, “Kids will be motivated to be the first to find out what happens! And you’ll hear a lot of ‘did you get to this part yet?’”
If your family is doing some traveling this summer, use it to your advantage. “Pick books that take place near, or are similar to, where you are going. This helps to deepen both the travel and reading experience.” Another tip, especially if you are taking some long road trips or plane rides, is audiobooks! Listening to audiobooks activates the same parts of our brains that reading does. Make sure to check your local library for their audiobook selections!
Sometimes, it can be a challenge to keep the momentum going when it comes to summer reading. Kari’s advice? Get hooked on a series! “Series reading is one of the best ways to grow confidence as a reader. Who else read 87 Baby-Sitters Club Books?”
Looking for summer recommendations? Kari has you covered.
Picture Books
- Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Cátia Chien
- Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Bonus: this one’s from a series!)
- Hot Dog written and illustrated by Doug Salati
- Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
- Hello Lighthouse written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
- Iggy Who Breathes Fire by Carrie Kruck, illustrated by Erika Menza
Early Readers
- Worm and Caterpillar are Friends by Kaz Windness
- Maddie and Mabel Series by (our very own) Kari Allen, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
- Dirt and Bugsy Series by Megan Litwin, illustrated by Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn
Bridge Books – transitioning readers from picture books to chapter books
- Here’s Hank Series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
- Bibsy Cross Series by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dung Ho
Middle Grades
- Skandar Series by AF Steadman
- Impossible Creatures Series by Katherine Rundell
- The Conjurers Series by Brian Anderson
- Amari and the Night Brothers Series by B. B. Alston
- The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly