Summer Reading

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum- summertime! Summertime is a great time to read to your child.   Picture books, chapter books, novels, and poems. Biographies, National Geographic, the newspaper, or a comic book. There is no limit to what you can read with your child.

It doesn’t matter if your child can read or not or even how young or old your child is. They will most likely enjoy reading with you, even infants.

Read for fun. Read for pleasure. Read to learn. Read to explore. Read something that makes you laugh. Read something that makes you cry. Read something that challenges you and your child.

Have fun using different voices. Be creative with different accents. You may be surprised how much your child enjoys the world that books create.

After reading, talk to your child about what happened in the story. Describe how it makes you feel and ask your child to talk about their feelings. Talk about the scene. Ask about the characters.

Reading a series of books is a fun thing to do. Start with the first book, and make your way through the series.

Invite a friend over to read with your child, or maybe even a group of friends.  You could even make a game of reading a book as a group and then acting out the characters.

Here are a few ideas for some fun picture book series you and your child might like to read: Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sesame Street, The Magic School Bus, and Dr. Seuss’ books. Would you enjoy reading chapter books such as Magic Tree House, Boxcar Children or Arthur? There are higher-level chapter books/novels like Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Find a series that you and your child enjoy.

Of course, the perfect spot to find an endless supply of books and things to read is the public library. Many libraries have summer reading programs that offer incentives for reading books. The programs are usually for all ages. Call your local library or check the library website for information.

Some book stores offer summer reading programs, too. Search online for summer reading programs for more information. You can also ask the school librarian for information.

Most libraries have audio books and books on tape or CD. Audio books are helpful for people with vision impairment or lower reading levels.  The Texas Talking Book Program provides unabridged books in alternative formats free of charge for Texans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical, or reading disabilities.  Learning Ally also offers audio books for those who are eligible.  There is a fee to join, but a waiver may be available for those who qualify. 

Take a moment to go to the Find Services, Groups & Events page on this website and look for more resources that provide support for people who struggle with print.

There is no better time than the summertime to read books together. Grab a book, get comfortable, and dive right in!