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SUMMER ☀️ FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE: Summer Reading List

Keep Kids Reading All Summer Long!

By Snoqualmie Valley-Issaquah-Sammamish Macaroni KID July 9, 2023

With the plethora of screens vying for attention all around us, it’s no wonder that book reading takes a sideline during school breaks. Those of us who love reading look forward to being immersed in a lengthy captivating story, but kids might see this activity as boring or a bit of a chore. In addition to making the eyes focus and team up differently than other activities, book reading also requires a longer attention span, language decoding, imagination, and complex reading comprehension. It is a learned skill that can feel laborious if we fall out of practice.

Fortunately, there are several local summer reading programs available that can help keep kids reading well all year round. Check out our list to see if one might be a good fit for your family.


Pierce County Library – Summer Reading for All Ages - 2021

The PCL Libraries Summer Reading Program offers free events every week in all of Pierce County. The library has events appealing to all ages. 

Need some incentive? Kids and adults can register for the summer reading program and check out book recommendations at https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/kids-teens/summer-reading-landing/Default.htm

For inspiration, check out the  PCL summer reading list for kids.


Barnes & Noble Book Your Summer

Visit Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program for more information and staff picks for summer reading by grade level and genre.


Little Free Library Book Exchange

You may have noticed these little roadside libraries popping up around your community. They look like a large birdhouse or mailbox … only for books. People are encouraged to 'take a book, return a book' presenting an opportunity for neighbors of all ages to share their favorite stories. What does this mean for summertime reading? Easy access to some great material. Increased access provides people of all socioeconomic levels the opportunity at higher literacy rates, and that’s good for everyone. Discover more about Little Free Libraries by checking out our LOCAL Little Free Library Guide.


Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge

The Scholastic Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Challenge is a free program designed to be both educational and fun to help prevent the effects of the summer slide—the learning losses that can occur during the summer months. Over the course of 18 weeks, kids can enter their summer reading minutes online, unlocking digital rewards as they complete weekly reading challenges; and access book excerpts, videos, and other summer-exclusive content.

People enjoy reading for a variety of reasons – entertainment, enlightenment, adventure and escape – to name a few. But a 2015 article published by the New Yorker also suggests that book reading is linked to greater feelings of happiness and well-being. Children follow our example too, so what are you reading this summer?



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