Summer Reading - A Word for Parents

The lists are starting to appear and the children (and parents) coming asking for books on level *. Most of our schools will be sending out lists of books they recommend that the kids read over the summer. Some of the classes even have lists of 'must read' books for the up coming year.

While keeping the kids reading through the summer is a good thing, keep in mind that this is their vacation and be a bit flexible. If it's a book of recommended and not required list for school, let your child pick what they want to read and stress yourself less about making sure it's a classic or that it's hard enough or challenging enough.

Definitely keep an eye on what your child is reading!! This is especially important for parents of middle grade children (ages 10-13 or so). Both boys and girls in this age group have the reading skills to read older novels which may contain content you'd rather they didn't read. Most kids are eager to grow up and want to read about older kids. Pre-schools like reading about elementary school, the 4th and 5th grades want to read able middle school, middle school wants to read about high school and so on. Around the middle grades that might mean that your tween wants to read books with issues you'd rather they didn't confront at this time. If you have questions about series, I'm happy to answer, but remember that all families have different values and comfort levels. You know your child best and your the best one to monitor their reading habits.

The following are a couple articles on reading on or above grade level. Being an advanced reader is a great thing, but keep in mind that there is more to reading than the technical skill or even the cognitive ability to understand what is read.

Jen Robinson's Book Page - Reading ahead of grade level, No not

All in the Timing, Why reading ahead of your grade level isn't necessarily a good thing

While I agree with much of what is in both of the articles above, the truth is that there are kids who are reading above their grade level and ARE bored by shorter and less complex books. If your child is one of those readers check out this list compiled by a group of youth services librarians for readers who are reading above their level:

Book List for Gentle Readers

(children reading above grade level)
Compiled by childlit listserv

Fantasy

Starting Readers :
Ruth Styles Gannett’s My Father's Dragon
Tony Abbot’s The Secrets of Droon series
Patrick Catling, The Chocolate Touch
Sid Fleischman, McBroom stories and others
Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House Series
Jon Scieszka’s Time Warp Trio series

Growing Readers:
L.M. Boston, The Children of Green Knowe
Frank L. Baum’s The Wizard of Oz series
Edward Eager, Half Magic (and others)
Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstockings series
Betty MacDonald, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series
E. Nesbit, Five children and It. series

Solid Readers:
Cornelia Funke, Dragon Rider
Lloyd Alexander’s Prydian Chronicles
Brian Jacques, Red Wall series
C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe series
J.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings series
Patricia Wrede, Dealing with Dragons series

Realistic Fiction

Starting Readers:
Judy Blume, Freckle Juice
Ann Cameron, The Stories Julian Tells series
Johanna Hurwitz, Russell Sprouts series
Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones series
Cynthia Rylant, Coble Street Cousins
Louis Sacher, Marvin Redpost series

Growing Readers:
Beverly Cleary’s Klickitat series
Judy Blume, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Double Fudge
Eleanor Estes, both Pye and Moffat Family series
Arthur Ransome, The Swallows and Amazons series
Margaret Sidney, The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew series
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House series (These books mature with the heroines)

Solid Readers:
Frances Burnett, The Secret Garden / A Little Princess
Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks
Barbara Robinson, The Best School Year Ever
Johanna Spryi - Heidi
Mark Twain, Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Johann Wyss, Swiss Family Robinson

Adventure & Mystery

Starting Readers:
Patricia Reilly Giff’s Minnie and Max series
James Preller’s Jigsaw Jones series
Ron Roy, A to Z mysteries
Marjorie Sharmat, Nate the Great
Alexander McCall Smith’s Akimbo series

Growing Readers:
Gertrude Chandler Warner’s Box Car Children series
John Erickson’s Hank the Cowdog series
Bruce Hale, Chet Gecko series
James Howe’s Bunnicula series
Laura Lee Hope’s Bobbsey Twins series
Donald Sobol, The Encyclopedia Brown series

Solid Readers:
E.L. Konisburg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Jean Craighead George, Missing ‘gator of Gumbo Limbo
Kate Klise, Regarding the Fountain series
Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game
Willo Davis Roberts, View from the Cherry Tree

Animal Tales

Starting Readers:
Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Richard Atwater, Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Shel Silverstein, Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back
Randall Jarrell, Animal Family

Growing Readers:
Michael Bond, A Bear Called Paddington
Avi, Poppy
Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux; The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Dick King-Smith, Babe and other books
George Selden’s Cricket in Times Square series
William Steig, Abel's Island

Solid Readers:
Walter R. Books, Freddy the Pig series
Walter Farley, Black Stallion series
Carl Hiasen, Hoot, Flush

A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh series
Dietlof. Reiche’s I, Freddy series
E,B. White, Charlotte’s Web (beware the sadness factor) and others

Above all remember that reading, especially in the Summer while or while on vacation should be a thing on enjoyment. When your helping your child pick out some good books for their vacation, don't forget to pick up one or two for yourself!