Inspire a summerful of reading - motivating children to read during the summer

Instructor, May-June, 1998 by Judy Freeman

every year at this time, teachers and parents are faced with the task of motivating kids to read over the summer. To give you a helping hand, I have compiled the Super Summer Reading send-home book list on the following pages. The titles are an assortment of recently published works, all chosen for their fast pace, riveting story lines, high-interest subject matter, and great appeal to children.

Reasons to Keep Up the Good Reading

Discuss with students why it's important to read over the summer.

* The more we read, the smarter we get and the better we become as readers. Fortunately, practicing reading with the rifles on this list will be fun!

* Books can take children on vicarious adventures to imaginary and real-life places without leaving town.

Whet Student Appetites

* Give students a small taste of a few books from the list. Just a page or two should get them hooked.

* Ask students to brainstorm criteria they use to choose books. Write their suggestions on chart paper to display for future reference.

Give a Gentle Push

There's nothing like a challenge to motivate students.

* Coordinate a Summer Reading Challenge. Draft a pledge sheet for children and their parents to sign:

I, -----, pledge to read ----- books this summer. I will keep a list of the books I read and bring my list to school after vacation.

* Urge students and parents to join summer reading clubs at the local public library. Share the list with the librarians - perhaps they could create a special display of the books on the list.

When the school year starts anew, children can bring their favorite summer books to class, prepare a read-aloud selection that demonstrates why that book was so compelling, draw a picture of a favorite scene or character, or prepare a book commercial to get other children interested in the books. Compile a classroom chart of the Best Books of Summer, and don't forget to let them know about the children's books you discovered, too.

Book Giveaway

Judy Freeman, Instructor's Book Talk columnist, is a librarian at Van Holten School in Bridgewater, New Jersey. She is the author of numerous books, including Hi Ho Librario: Songs, Chants, and Stories to Keep Kids Humming, a book and audiotape cassette package for teachers and librarians. To win the set, send a postcard with you name, home address, and grade you teach to Hi Ho Giveaway, Instructor, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. To order a copy for yourself ($39.95 for book/CD, $34.95 for book/cassette), call Rock Hill Press at (888) ROCKHILL.

RELATED ARTICLE: SUPER Summer Reading

When you think of summer vacation, you probably think of swimming, riding your bike, burgers on the grill, family trips, and the like. Don't forget to think about reading. Through books, you can have all sorts of adventures - you can experience an earthquake, run for president, hang out with fairy folk and dolphins, travel to ancient Egypt, run the Iditarod, and much more. And the best thing about summer reading is you can choose whichever books you want to read!

Here is a list of terrific books guaranteed to give you some adventure, some laughs, and some amazing facts. So take it home, read it through, and choose some that tickle your fancy. Then, after a visit to your local library or bookstore, find yourself a comfortable spot, settle in, and read up a storm. Most of the authors listed have written other wonderful books that you will also enjoy. (S) means this book is one in a series.

Realistic Fiction

Alphabet City Ballet by Erika Tamar (HarperCollins, 1996). New York City girl Marisol wins a scholarship to the Manhattan Ballet School.

Bad Girls by Cynthia Voigt (Scholastic, 1996). Two fifth-grade girls, Margalo and Mikey, become classroom friends while they cause trouble all around them. (S)

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman (Clarion, 1996). Living in gold-crazed California of 1849, Lucy yearns for the civilized life she once led in Massachusetts.

A Boy and His Bear by Harriet Graham (McElderry, 1996). To save a bear cub from death, Dickon agrees to tame it and teach it to dance.

Countdown by Ben Mikaelsen (Hyperion, 1996). While on a mission on the space shuttle Endeavour, 14-year-old American Elliot makes radio contact with Vincent, a boy from Kenya.

Crash by Jerry Spinelli (Knopf, 1996). Superjock Crash Coogan finds he can't always get his way.

Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehret (Cobblehill, 1996). A peaceful island camping trip becomes an exercise in survival for Jonathan and his disabled younger sister.

For Your Eyes Only! by Joanne Rocklin (Scholastic, 1997). Sixth-grade classmates Lucy and Andy have opposite opinions on their new substitute teacher, Mr. Moffat.

Forever Amber Brown by Paula Danziger (Putnam, 1996). Amber's mother is planning to remarry, and Amber wants to pay a visit to her old best friend, Justin. (S)

Jip: His Story by Katherine Paterson (Lodestar/Dutton, 1996). At a Vermont town's poor farm in 1855, Jip's life changes forever when he is finally allowed to attend school.

Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook by Barbara Park (Random House, 1997). America's favorite kindergartner wants to keep the pen she found on the floor. (S)