It's summer! Time to read!

It's summer!

Time for baseball, hot dogs, amusement parks, water parks, bike riding, vacations, swimming, fishing, . . .  The list could go on and on. 

One thing to add to the list is reading. Summer is a great time to read.

For students, summer reading is critically important. 

Richard Allington, a reading researcher, suggests that young readers can actually go backwards in the summer.  By the end of 6^th grade this accumulated loss during the summer can create a reader who is up to 18 months behind where he or she should be. 

For the rest of us - we can be role models as we read in the summer. More importantly we can enjoy ourselves as we find great stories to entertain and inform.

If you are still hesitant - reading is actually good for you. Reading fiction makes you smarter. It increases your vocabulary and language skills and boosts your emotional intelligence. 

So really you have to read!

What should we read? I'm glad you asked. Here are four great choices. 

Technically these books were published for students in grades 4 - 8. But if you love great writing and engaging stories I would encourage anyone to read them. I enjoyed each of them.

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley. An all time favorite book. It is exceptional!

Miss Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson. A second all time favorite book. Again, exceptional!

Posted by John David Anderson. A just released novel great for middle school students. I loved it.

Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel. Story of friendship and learning about who you are. 

 

That should get you started.