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Summer reading. You just knew I couldn't go without posting about it, didn't you? After all, as I've posted before, research has shown that kids can lose up to 60% of what they've learned if we take a complete break. Wow! I want my kids to GROW as readers this summer, not regress.

This summer, like most summers, we are keeping a reading log. But this go 'round, I thought we'd try something new since my kiddos love to color. I created a reading log that my kids can color in. For each book they read, they can color in a book on the "shelf". {FREE printable at the end of this post.}

*This post contains affiliate links.

A Reading Log Kids Can Color

While this might look like a printable just for young kids, I will be using it with my 3rd grader, too! On the printable are 3 shelves, filled with 10 books each {30 books total}, like you can see below.

You can set the goal. How many books will he need to read this summer? Older kids may enjoy helping you set their summer reading goal. I know my 3rd grader will be. And if you'd like to add in a reward system for goals met {as some kids respond well to those} go for it!

My daughter was highly motivated the moment I showed it to her and went to town "reading" some books so she could start coloring in her reading log. To me, that's the best kind of motivation...from within. {Reluctant and struggling readers, like my 3rd grader, often lack this kind motivation, so having an outside motivator can sometimes help a little.}

By the way, this printable pack also has pages labeled, "Reading Log" that you can use any time of year as well! 🙂

More Reading Log Ideas:

Follow This Reading Mama's board Summer Theme on Pinterest.

Follow This Reading Mama's board Reading Resources and Tips on Pinterest.

Download this FREE Read & Color Reading Log HERE.

~Becky

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Summer reading. You just knew I couldn't go without posting about it, didn't you? After all, as I've posted before, research has shown that kids can lose up to 60% of what they've learned if we take a complete break. Wow! I want my kids to GROW as readers this summer, not regress.

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Amazing resource with themed books & reading logs

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Join us in some live, interactive fun this summer!

RIF is thrilled to offer two virtual book clubs this summer where your child can watch a read-aloud and then join in a discussion about the book.

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Join us in some live, interactive fun this summer! RIF is thrilled to offer two virtual book clubs this summer where your child can watch a read-aloud and then join in a discussion about the book.

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Inspire your kids with this free printable summer reading log that encourages them to read books from different genres!

Do your kids have a favorite book? I'm sure they do!

In our house, Are you My Mother? was a huge fave for a while -- it was the only book my son wanted us to read each night ... for weeks on end!

Sometimes kids find just the right book and it becomes the ONLY book they want to hear or read. As as beneficial as it is to re-read a beloved story (it really is a good thing!), it can get tiring to read the same book over and over again.

So this summer, challenge your child to listen to or read at least one book from each of the different genres!

In literature, a genre is a category of books -- mystery, biography, fantasy, animal fiction. By reading books from these different categories, kids will hear and learn a variety of words, writing styles and formats. And they may find a new favorite book or type of story that they love.

Summer Reading Book List

Here are some recommended picture books and chapter books for each of our genre categories -- these are just a guide to get you started and help kids to recognize the different types of literature they enjoy reading. I've also included affiliate links for some of the items so you can easily learn more about the books on our list.

Animal Fiction
Charlotte's Web Skippyjon Jones Poppy (Tales from Dimwood Forest)Geronimo Stilton Spacemice #1: Alien Escape The Dinosaurs Of Waterhouse Hawkins Miss Nelson Is Missing! The Missing Mitten Mystery Nate the Great Cam Jansen: The Birthday Mystery I love that the story can change each time you read it! Have the kids 'tell' the story as you move through the pages.
Chalk Journey The Secret Box Flotsam Tuesday The Polar Express Where the Wild Things Are The Cat in the Hat James and the Giant Peach The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy) Some of our favorite non-fiction books are great series! There are so many books that fall into this category so be sure to visit this area of your library and browse around! 25 Nature books & Field Guides for Kids Eric Carle's Animals Animals Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature It's Raining Pigs & Noodles Duck, Duck, Moose! Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School The Monster at the End of This Book (Sesame Street) Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day Fancy Nancy and the Too-Loose Tooth (I Can Read Book 1) Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Rules Usually set in the future or focusing on space or time travel, these are fantasy books with a science/technology theme. Boy and Bot Baloney (Henry P.)The Iron Giant The Homework Machine Set out on an adventure in the pages of a book! Jumanji The Great Alaska Adventure! A Little Prairie House The Knight and the Dragon Boxes for Katje Locomotive Short stories about magical beings and lands. Fables are also included in this genre/group. The Elves and the Shoemaker The Princess and the Pea Jack and the Beanstalk You may not think of reference books as good reads but I'm always amazed at how much kids love the pictures and factual information! DK First Encyclopedia National Geographic Kids Beginner's World Atlas Merriam-Webster Children's Dictionary National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia: 2,500 Animals with Photos, Maps, and More! One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale Tikki Tikki Tembo Vintage Summer Reads for Kids
Biography

Yes, you can find great biographies for young children!

Mystery

Wordless Picture Book

Fantasy

Non-fiction

Cat in the Hat Learning Library is one of our favorite beginner non-fiction series! It introduces kids to history, science, nature and more great things about the world.

Magic School Bus series is wonderful for elementary school kids (and they also have a great easy reader series and chapter books too!) -- a must for your budding scientist

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures - yes, the same Ms. Frizzle travels the world to explore cultures and geography.

Poetry

Humor

Fun list of Fractured Fairy Tales ( traditional fairy tales with humorous twists)!

Realistic Fiction

Wonderful booklist for the first day of school by grade (for all ages!)

Science Fiction

Adventure

Book series that help kids explore the world right from their own backyard!

Historical Fiction

Fairy Tales

Reference

Folktales

Use this free printable bingo-themed printable chart to introduce your child to books from across the various genres.

The printable can be used with kids of all ages (or help adults who read aloud to kids find different books to share). Whether your child enjoys picture books or chapter books, a genre challenge is a way to help them branch out to new areas of literature that they may not have read yet!

And yes, many books can fit into more than one genre -- for example, the story Tuesday by David Weisner is a Wordless Picture Book and also a great example of Science Fiction for young children.

In order to maximize your summer reading, try to only list a book in one of the categories even if it fits into more than one genre. There are so many wonderful books out there that I'm sure the kids will find quite a few they are excited to read. I'm also including a fun booklist below with recommendations for each category!

This post is part of the 13 Days of Learning Printables For Kids series.

Between May 7th to May 26, 13 of us kid bloggers will be sharing a learning printable with you. There are some pretty fun printables in this series so be sure to check them out!

| Life Over C's | The Measured Mom | Preschool Powol Packets | Itsy Bitsy Fun |

| The Connection We Share | Teaching Mama | Lovely Commotion |

| 3 Dinosaurs | Edventures With Kids | This Reading Mama | Mama Miss |

| A Moment In Our World | The Mommy Talks | Ingles360 |

You might also like:

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Free Summer Reading Log: Printable Genre Challenge

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Inspire your kids with this free printable summer reading log that encourages them to read books from different genres! Do your kids have a favorite book? I'm sure they do! In our house, Are you My Mother? was a huge fave for a while -- it was the only book my son wanted us to read each night ...

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Many lists back to 2008

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Encouraging children to read while school is out will help prevent the "summer slide" and build background knowledge to support reading comprehension. Our booklists can be a springboard for helping your kids choose books on topics that pique their curiosity - that's what really motivates children to want to read.

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This post may contain affiliate links.

It's time for summer reading lists, reading programs, and reading challenges! Get your kids, ages 5 to 18, reading with book recommendations from these up-to-date summer reading lists. These summer reading book lists are for every grade level, preschool, early elementary school, upper elementary school, middle school, and high school!!

Over the summer months, choose summer books from the grade level list the child will be entering in the fall. (Unless you know that your child needs modifications. Meaning- if your child is below or above grade level, check different grade level lists - lower or higher. The grade level isn't as important as helping children read daily, so they grow in their reading skills. Just as long as their reading, am I right?)

Reading-lots and lots of reading-is the only way to keep kids growing as readers...unless a learning disability is interfering. But kids need lots of good books. That's why I've made these summer reading book lists.

You'll find both familiar favorites and newly published children's books, as well as a variety of genres and subjects from which to choose. Not only that, many of these recommendations are books in series. (Because aren't book series the best!?)

I've read all the books on the elementary and middle school lists - and recommend them based on my experience as a former teacher, a parent, and a book blogger. The lists do not include book reviews, but you can find all books with reviews elsewhere on Imagination Soup. Either search the title using the search bar on the top left side of Imagination Soup or search for the book to see which grade level list it's on.

2023 Summer Reading Lists of Books for Kids

What are the best summer reads for your children or students to read during the long, hot days of June, July, and August? These summer reading lists include familiar favorites, newly published titles, and popular book series of the best books for kids organized by age, genre, and including a topic/theme label.

Summer Reading for Preschoolers (Ages 3, 4, and 5)

If you're like me, you always want to read aloud new picture books to your preschool-age children- whether nonfiction or fiction. That's why I've also made a summer book list with fun summer reads for your preschoolers. (And you! Because as the adult reading aloud the book, it helps so much if you love the book you're reading.)

Get read aloud tips here.

Remember, young readers at this pre-reading stage can "read" the sequence of the story by retelling what happens in the pictures. This is an important literacy skill-building foundational strategy!
Picture Book List for Pre-Readers
Summer Reading for Kids in Elementary School Grades
(Kindergarten, Grade 1 - 6)

These book lists for elementary school books share the most engaging chapter books and middle grade books for every reader, no matter what genre or interest they have.

When you visit each elementary school book list, you can download a printable list of books to read for each grade level. (Free!) NOTE: If you don't see the printable sign up, clear your cache and try again.
Pre-Reader Book List 1st Grade Reading List (age 6 - 7) 2nd Grade Reading List (age 7 - 8) 3rd Grade Reading List (age 8 - 9) 4th Grade Reading List (age 9 - 10) 5th Grade Reading List (age 10 - 11) 6th Grade Reading List (age 11 - 12)

Summer Reading for Middle School Kids and Students
(Grades 7 and 8)

Download a list of books to read for your middle school children and students. These summer book recommendations range from realistic to graphic novels to historical fiction - with a variety so every reader has options.
7th Grade Reading List (age 12 - 13) 8th Grade Reading List (age 13 and up / teen)
P.S. Are you doing a summer reading program? Find good summer reading programs through your local library, Scholastic, or Barnes and Noble. Some schools offer incentives for summer reading, as well! Click here to see the 2023 free summer reading programs.

Tips to Make Reading Reading Happen

1. CHOICE

Let your kids choose the books that they read. Simple as that.

KIDS NEED TO PICK OUT THEIR OWN BOOKS! Whether or not you think their choices are the best summer reads, PLEASE give your child choices of books. Picking out a chapter book or middle grade book will give the reader ownership and motivation. Use the list of books I'm providing you to allow your kids or students to pick what they want in their pile of summer books.

That being said, if your reader isn't making book choices that are comprehensible, choose some just-right books for them from which they can decide. Maybe show them six books and ask them to pick the one they want to start with first.

2. BOUNTY

Fill your house with lots of books. More books = more chances for your children to find a fantastic, amazing, very good book that they can't put down.

Recently, we set a new money-spent record at the bookstore. Gulp. I shouldn't tell you, but it was well over $300. There's something magical about your mom taking you to the bookstore where you can pick all the books you want to read. (Magically expensive. But worth it.)

Of course, we visit the library weekly, and it's much more economical.

3. LIBRARY

Visit your local library as often as you can. Let your kids go WILD and check out lots of books! Bring a big book bag and fill it up. (Because why limit books?!)

4. TIME

Kids need chunks of time and opportunities for reading. So, make sure they're not filling all their time with TV, video games, and iPad time.

5. TECHNOLOGY

Don't forget about audiobooks, Kindles, iPads, and Nook reading. Ebooks and audiobooks count as reading, too. (See: audiobooks for tweens & audiobooks for teens.)

6. READABILITY

Make sure your child is reading books that he or she can comprehend. When choosing a book, use the 5 finger test to decide if it's a just-right book and not too hard or too easy.

Ask your child to tell you a little about the story during and after reading. If you haven't read the story, read the back cover blurb and ask questions related to that back cover summary.

Make sure your child understands what he or she reads - and that he KNOWS IF HE DOESN'T. For more clarity about reading comprehension, visit this post about reading strategies or this post about reading comprehension.

7. COZY READING SPACE

Kids LOVE a cozy book nook. It doesn't have to be fancy, but it does need to involve the kids. Find a corner - those work best. Let your child help you to add pillows, lamps, books, stuffed animals, a headlamp, or flashlight, to create a special reading space.

Read more tips on how to make a kid-friendly book nook.

8. DOWNTIME

Kids need margins (time) just like we do. We all need unscheduled time to rest and relax. Kids especially.

Remember to make time during the day for rest and for summer reading. That means you'll probably need to monitor screen time, so the screens don't compete with books. (Unless your child is reading online books or in a book app.)

9. MORE SUMMER READING TIPS FROM AUTHORS, LIBRARIANS, & TEACHERS

NEXT STEPS FOR SUMMER READING

1. Go to your child's grade level list. Order or check out as many books as you can!

2. Use the free printables on Imagination Soup to support your young readers' summer reading.

What else can you do for summer reading?

Try this Reading Bucket List. Add your own bucket list ideas in the notes section.

More Summer Reading Book Lists by Genre and Topic
Adventure Books for Kids Fantasy Books for Kids Funny Books for Kids Graphic Novels for Kids Magazines for Kids Mystery Books for Kids Nonfiction Books for Kids Science Fiction Books for Kids Short Middle Grade Books Summer Vacation Themed Chapter Books

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2023 Summer Reading Lists of Best Books For Kids

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Get your kids reading with summer reading book lists recommendations for kids at every grade level: preschool, elementary, middle school and up.

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30 books starring girls who love the outdoors

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30 books starring girls who love the outdoors

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A Mighty Girl's top picks of books for kids -- and their parents -- on the joys of outdoor play, exploration, and discovery!

For many kids, there's nothing more fun than the chance to play outside! The winter's thaw has already provided plenty of opportunities for puddle jumping and planning this year's garden, and soon nicer weather and the end of the school year will soon provide more opportunities for hiking, beach trips, and lots of outdoor playtime. Best of all, it's good for them: research shows how much benefit kids get from unstructured play outside.

To celebrate the joys of the great outdoors, we've collected many of our favorite Mighty Girl books about all the wonders that outdoor play has to offer. The Mighty Girls in these stories have plenty of imagination, along with bundles of energy, and the end result is lots of outdoor fun. We've also included a selection of books for parents about just how important it is to let your kids get out in the sun, sand, and dirt of outdoor games and ideas on how to build more outdoor time into your family's busy schedule.

For books that celebrate the arrival of spring, especially the fun of gardening, check out our blog post 30 Mighty Girl Books Celebrating Springtime & Gardening.

For more books for children and teens that celebrate the wonders and joys of nature, visit our Nature & Environment section.

Mighty Girl Books About Playing Outside

There's something about enjoying the outdoors with a child that makes even the ordinary magical! These books highlight the wonderful, creative - and sometimes messy - fun that Mighty Girls can have outside.

Get Them Outside: Parenting Books About Outdoor Adventure

Playing outside is fun, but it's also important for mental, physical, and emotional development! These parenting books highlight the benefits of outdoor play - and how you and your children can enjoy them together.

Encouraging your Mighty Girl to go outside - or heading outside yourself - seems like such a simple step, but it really can make a world of difference. Whether you end up digging in the backyard, exploring hiking trails, watching the living creatures around you, or building sandcastles at the beach, we hope these stories will inspire you and your Mighty Girl to find your special place in the great outdoors.

Additional recommended Resources

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30 Books Starring Girls Who Love the Great Outdoors

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A Mighty Girl's top picks of books for kids -- and their parents -- on the joys of outdoor play, exploration, and discovery! For many kids, there's nothing more fun than the chance to play outside!

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Summer reading programming and and incentives!

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The Lynchburg Public Library has been proudly offering the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program since May 2017!

This program is open to any child, including county residents, and you do not have to have a library card to participate. The program is ongoing and new participants are welcome to join at any time. Why not today? The Youth Services staff will be happy to help you get started.

We are very thankful to our sponsor, The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundationand founding sponsor, The Junior League of Lynchburgfor making this program possible!

Why 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is important:

This program is a nationwide, evidence-based, early literacy initiative that encourages caregivers and families to read with their young children. Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen their language skills and build their vocabulary-two vital steps toward kindergarten readiness. Children who are exposed to books and stories before entering school are more likely to succeed academically early on, and those who develop a love of reading at an early age are more motivated to continue learning to read once enrolled in kindergarten.
How 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Works:
You can watch this brief video, or keep reading below.

The concept is simple; the rewards are priceless. Read a book-any book-to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books before your little one starts kindergarten. (Yes, you can repeat books!) Does it sound difficult? It's not, if you think about it: If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years! Books read to your child during storytimes count as well. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you may have more time than you think.

We have an exciting reward system in place to keep families and children motivated on their journey to 1,000 books. For each book read, the child or caregiver tracks progress by coloring a numbered circle in the child's personal copy of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Keepsake Reading Log. For every 100 books read, your child earns a corresponding milestone sticker to be placed in their log. In addition, the special 500-book reward is a drawstring book bag featuring the official 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten logo.

In celebration of reaching the 1,000 book goal, the final prize is a classic children's book to keep. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten log itself is also meant to be a keepsake, with its log of achievements marking a significant time in your child's life. The record includes space to write titles of favorite books read and to illustrate favorite scenes. The final page of the record is a certificate to be signed by LPL Youth Services staff. With guardian permission, each child who completes the challenge will also have their photo added to the "wall of fame" in the Youth Services department, and displayed on the Library's Instagram account.

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The Lynchburg Public Library has been proudly offering the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program since May 2017! This program is open to any child, including county residents, and you do not have to have a library card to participate. The program is ongoing and new participants are welcome to join at any time.

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Get unlimited access to 40,000 of the best books, audiobooks, videos, & more for kids 12 and under. Try it free.

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Use public library card # to access thousands of audiobooks!

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hoopla digital: audiobooks, ebooks, movies, tv and comics.

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hoopla is a groundbreaking digital media service offered by your local public library that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone - and even your TV! With no waiting, titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later.