Embedded Files
Kindergarten
Kindergarten
Go on a Book-nic
Go on a Book-nic
Make room in the picnic basket for books! Choose a theme around your favorite family foods.
Hidden Treasure
Hidden Treasure
Hide a special book for your child. Write out simple clues and have a scavenger hunt to find the book.
Book Swap
Book Swap
Refresh your home library! Organize a kids’ book swap for your neighborhood or block.
Trip Planner/Journal
Trip Planner/Journal
Share books with your child about places you're going over the summer to get them excited about your trip... and about reading. After the trip ends, have your child record their memories of the experience!
Understanding the News
Understanding the News
Read a newspaper story together. Ask open-ended questions like "What do you think?” or “Why did that happen?" to build critical thinking skills.
Favorite Author
Favorite Author
Research all the books by your favorite author. See how many you and your child can read together over the summer.
Nature Journals
Nature Journals
Become an explorer in your own backyard or park! Keep a nature journal of drawings, artifacts and observations.
Record It
Record It
Create your own audio books. Kids can choose a favorite story and record themselves reading it aloud using a cell phone.
Magazines for Kids
Magazines for Kids
Check out the magazines for kids at your public library, or, give “Highlights for Kids” a try! This magazine offers fiction, history, and science content in an easy format.
Reading About the Real World
Reading About the Real World
Introduce your child to nonfiction books! Many kids who don’t like to read actually love learning about real people and how things work.
Wordless Wonders
Wordless Wonders
Include a wordless picture book in your next stack from the library. Wordless books make for great conversation!
“Literati” is a subscription-based service that sends families and children a curated set of 5 books each month for a low price- including free returns! Build your library of the best children's books based on your child’s age and interests. Artful extras create literary magic and promote lifelong learning.
Family Story Time with John Burningham
First Grade
First Grade
Record It
Record It
Create your own audio books. Kids can choose a favorite story and record themselves reading it aloud using a cell phone.
Magazines for Kids
Magazines for Kids
Check out the magazines for kids at your public library, or, give “Highlights for Kids” a try! This magazine offers fiction, history, and science content in an easy format.
Reading About the Real World
Reading About the Real World
Introduce your child to nonfiction books! Many kids who don’t like to read actually love learning about real people and how things work.
Trip Planner/Journal
Trip Planner/Journal
Share books with your child about places you're going over the summer to get them excited about your trip... and about reading. After the trip ends, have your child record their memories of the experience!
Understanding the News
Understanding the News
Read a newspaper story together. Ask open-ended questions like "What do you think?” or “Why did that happen?" to build critical thinking skills.
Book Swap
Book Swap
Refresh your home library! Organize a kids’ book swap for your neighborhood or block.
Go on a Book-nic
Go on a Book-nic
Make room in the picnic basket for books! Choose a theme around your favorite family foods.
Favorite Author
Favorite Author
Research all the books by your favorite author. See how many you and your child can read together over the summer.
Hidden Treasure
Hidden Treasure
Hide a special book for your child. Write out simple clues and have a scavenger hunt to find the book.
Wordless Wonders
Wordless Wonders
Include a wordless picture book in your next stack from the library. Wordless books make for great conversation!
Nature Journals
Nature Journals
Become an explorer in your own backyard or park! Keep a nature journal of drawings, artifacts and observations.
“Literati” is a subscription-based service that sends families and children a curated set of 5 books each month for a low price- including free returns! Build your library of the best children's books based on your child’s age and interests. Artful extras create literary magic and promote lifelong learning.
Family Story Time with John Burningham
Second Grade
Second Grade
Start a journal for a “written conversation”
Start a journal for a “written conversation”
A written conversation is all about fun and connecting, no worries for spelling or grammar - just as long as it’s written. To start, get a notebook and a pen or pencil. Date the top of the page, write a question to your child - avoid “yes or no” questions, hand the journal and pen to your child. No words, just enthusiastically wait for them to reply. You can start with, “How was your morning?” Once the project takes off, it can be wonderful to look back over the entries - for years to come! Happy writing!
Use this template to make a summer reading plan, or make your own summer reading journal.
Create a Cozy Place for Reading
Create a Cozy Place for Reading
Play Summer Reading Bingo
Play Summer Reading Bingo
Use this bingo board, or make your own!
A fun way for a group of any size to engage in story-telling
Family Story Time with John Burningham
Bookbinding
Bookbinding
Learn how to bind your own books!
Third Grade
Third Grade
Start a journal for a “written conversation”
A written conversation is all about fun and connecting, no worries for spelling or grammar - just as long as it’s written. To start, get a notebook and a pen or pencil. Date the top of the page, write a question to your child - avoid “yes or no” questions, hand the journal and pen to your child. No words, just enthusiastically wait for them to reply. You can start with, “How was your morning?” Once the project takes off, it can be wonderful to look back over the entries - for years to come! Happy writing!
A fun way for a group of any size to engage in story-telling
Apples to Apples, Junior (Mattel)
Family fun that fosters elaborating
Collaborative Writing with The Mysteries of Harris Burdick - Partner- write a story using one of the evocative, provocative illustrations by Chris van Allsberg
Create a protest sign.
Family Story Time with George Shannon’s Stories to Solve
Write a letter to your local representative about something that you want to see changed in your community. Find your local representative here.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade
Start a journal for a “written conversation”
A written conversation is all about fun and connecting, no worries for spelling or grammar - just as long as it’s written. To start, get a notebook and a pen or pencil. Date the top of the page, write a question to your child - avoid “yes or no” questions, hand the journal and pen to your child. No words, just enthusiastically wait for them to reply. You can start with, “How was your morning?” Once the project takes off, it can be wonderful to look back over the entries - for years to come! Happy writing!
A fun way for a group of any size to engage in story-telling
Apples to Apples, Junior (Mattel)
Family fun that fosters elaborating
Collaborative Writing with The Mysteries of Harris Burdick - Partner- write a story using one of the evocative, provocative illustrations by Chris van Allsberg
Write a letter to your local representative about something that you want to see changed in your community.
Find your local representative here.
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