Summer Reading - MBLC (2024)

FAQs

What age is the Summer Reading Challenge for? ›

Who is it for? The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children from 4-11 years old. It supports this age group and their families by: Preparing children to get back to the classroom in the autumn.

Research shows us that summer reading programs really do improve kids' reading skills and increase their desire to read. Additionally, according to the School Library Journal, those who participate not only mitigate any summer learning loss, but they even show gains.

You'll collect special stickers and rewards for your reading. You can take part online by signing up here, on the official Challenge website. You'll set up a profile with a reading goal and log your books. When you reach your goal, you will unlock a virtual badge and certificate.

Drawbacks of Summer Reading

In the summer, students typically work in isolation. Without the expertise and support of teachers, it can be hard to make meaning of unfamiliar texts, especially ones that include less accessible language or a greater degree of complexity.

The aim of the Summer Reading Challenge is to read at least six library books, but it's also up to your local library service to decide how to give out the stickers. The best thing to do is ask at your local library, as they will be able to let you know how many stickers you will get for each book or library visit.

SUMMER READING TRENDS TO WATCH AMONG KIDS

Thirty-two percent of kids ages 15–17 said the number of books they read over the summer was zero, up sharply since 2016 (22%). The trend line among kids ages 9–11 also needs to be watched: the percentage who read zero books over the summer has doubled since 2016 (7% to 14%).

You can use any books you like to complete your Challenge: fiction, fact books, poetry, joke books, picture books, audio books and comics all count! You might have books at home you'd like to read.

Join us as we get into reading, get creative and fire up our imaginations to enjoy a whole new Summer Reading Challenge. This year the theme is “Marvellous Makers”. For more information visit the Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge website.

Research shows that children who don't read over the course of the summer typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do at the beginning. It's easy to minimize the impact of a few months off.

Why do schools make you do summer reading? ›

Participating in a summer reading program can help children sustain and sharpen their focus and concentration. By breaking up their action-full summer days with periods of concentrated reading time, children can maintain their ability to focus so they are ready to return to school in the fall.

According to research cited by the National Education Association, giving kids 12 books to read over the summer is as effective as summer school in raising the students' reading scores!

Experts say that most children learn to read by age 6 or 7, meaning first or second grade, and that some learn much earlier. However, a head start on reading doesn't guarantee a child will stay ahead as they progress through school.

This is not a young adult novel, yet half of the book does focus on Percy and Sam as teenagers, and those chapters reflect their age. They could be read as YA meant for older readers, but they work equally well as an adult looking back on life during those tumultuous years.

Example Goals: Find time to read every day ● Read at least 140 minutes a week ● Read 10 books ● Choose all your books from a specific genre or a mix of genres: (historical fiction, adventure, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, memoir, biography, history, informational, poetry, etc.)