There are so many good books to choose from for story time with your family this summer!
Scholastic’s On Our Minds (OOM) blog about books and the joy of reading, recently released new lists of books:
30 Books That Amplify Black Voices – Today and always Scholastic wants to amplify the voices of Black creators by sharing their incredible stories. Featuring books by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Walter Dean Myers, Varian Johnson, and more, there’s a book for every reader!
Take a look at Scholastic’s 100 Greatest Books for Kids list below and see which ones your child has read. Can they finish the list before school starts? Find the age group that matches your child’s age and see which books you can add to your reading list! Don’t miss out on the reading tips below!
Ages 0-3
Goodnight Moon
Where the Wild Things Are
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Pat the Bunny
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Corduroy
The Little Engine That Could
Black on White
The Runaway Bunny
Freight Train
Moo, Baa, La La La!
Good Night, Gorilla
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Sylvia Long’s Mother Goose
Smile!
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes…
My Truck is Stuck!
Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book
Are You My Mother
Peek-a Who?
Llama Llama Red Pajama
No No Yes Yes
Grumpy Bird
What Shall We Do With the Boo Hoo Baby?
Gossie
First Words
Ages 4-7
I Took the Moon for a Walk
An Egg is Quiet
Interrupting Chicken
Yoko
Hi! Fly Guy
Owl Moon
Blackout
Birds
The Lion and the Mouse
Dear Juno
The House at Pooh Corner
Martin’s Big Words
Not a Box
What Do People Do All Day?
Zen Shorts
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
Swimmy
The Mitten
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
The Dot
Madeline
The Giving Tree
Green Eggs and Ham
The Snowy Day
Ages 8-10
Animalia
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Puss in Boots
Ivy + Bean
Tea With Milk
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks
Diary of a Worm
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
Living Sunlight
Sarah, Plain and Tall
The Composition
Matilda
The Secret Garden
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
The Phantom Tollbooth
Where the Sidewalk Ends
When Marian Sang
The Wind in the Willows
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Charlotte’s Web
Ages 11+
Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
A Single Shard
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon
Rules
A Wrinkle in Time
The Diary of a Young Girl
Anne of Green Gables
Tuck Everlasting
Bud, Not Buddy
The Giver
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
The Hunger Games
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Hatchet
The Lightning Thief
Through My Eyes
The Bad Beginning
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Esperanza Rising
Bridge to Terabithia
Holes
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Lincoln: A Photobiography
Reading Tips
With these tips, you and your child will be enjoying reading together regularly in no time!
Set a Reading Routine
Setting a routine with your child will help them expect the experience and look forward to reading with you. Be animated! Use sound effects! This will captivate your child and spark their imagination. Young children cherish the time you spend together.
When you read with your child, they learn that reading time is special because it is shared with you. Read your child’s favorite book over and over again! Children love repetition and learn from it. Eliminate distractions such as television, music, and phones.
Make Reading A Conversation
Before you begin reading the book, look at the cover and title and ask your child what they think the story is about. Pause periodically and ask your child questions about the pictures and what is happening in the story:
Did the character do the right thing?
What would you have done different?
Tell me what is happening in this picture. Where is the character going? What is the character doing?
Make up an alternative ending to the story. What do you think would have happened if…?
Writing Develops Readers
Writing is fun and helps children learn names and sound out new words – important steps for reading skills. Make it easy for your child to write throughout the day. Set up a space where your child can go on his or her own and use writing materials. Provide pencils, crayons, or markers of different sizes – use unlined paper. When your child is ready to write letters, begin with uppercase letters.
Create A Special Reading Space
Have a comfortable space for your child to look at books. Include a chair or pillows and a small shelf or basket for favorite books. Make sure the books are easy to reach. Include stuffed animals so your child can read a book to a favorite stuffed pal.
Help Kids And Families Build Their Home Libraries
You and your family can help other families in our community build up their home libraries by building book-in-a-bags and dropping them off at Valley of the Sun United Way for delivery.