Skip Navigation
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, provide ads, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Celebrate a nation of diverse readers with these recommended books, authors, and teaching resources.
Join us
Toolkit

Get Serious About Summer Reading

Use these ideas and resources to put good books into kids’ hands and connect them to vibrant summer learning adventures.
A girl reads a book while lying in the grass
Published: January 28, 2021 Last Updated: June 7, 2023

When it comes to summer, reading may not be the first thing—or even in the top 10 things—kids have in mind! But reading can be the ideal summer activity. It’s fun, portable, can involve the whole family, and will help your child academically. Use these resources to launch a summer of reading.

Summer Reading: What the Research Says

Summer Reading and Summer Activity Resources

  • Start a summer reading club. Book Club Basics from NEA’s Read Across America has ideas to help launch a summer book club for kids focused on reading fun and diverse book choices.
  • Head to Start with a Book for free themed toolkits featuring five days of reading and learning fun with dozens of carefully chosen fiction and nonfiction book recommendations, hands-on activities, writing ideas, and apps and websites to deepen learning.
  • Check out Summer of Adventure from PBS KIDS for Parents.
  • Join Reading is Fundamental summer reading field trips and have kids spend their summer exploring their surroundings through reading adventures.

Ways to Challenge Kids to Read this Summer

  • Visit your local library to find out about summer reading programs in your community.
  • Teachers, librarians, and parents can register kids for Scholastic’s Summer Reading on Home Base where they are able to read books and stories; attend author events; interact with their favorite characters; play book-based games and activities; join dance parties; and more.
  • In this summer reading and writing contest, middle and high school students are invited to tell The New York Times what articles they’re reading in The Times and why. Judges from the Times newsroom and The Learning Network pick favorite responses to publish.
  • When kids complete a summer reading journal for the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program, they earn a free book after reading eight books.
  • Do some Summer Reading Together with Learning Ally and win prizes.
  • Sign up for Pizza Hut’s Camp BOOK IT! and reward reading all summer long.
  • Chuck E. Cheese’s offers 10 free tokens to kids who read each day. Just print the reading calendar and redeem at a restaurant when complete.

Summer Reading Recommendations for Kids

Reading Tips

Great Web Resources to Help Raise Readers

  • AdLit.org supports the parents and educators of struggling adolescent readers and writers with multimedia information and resources.
  • Colorín Colorado provides resources for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs) in grades PreK-12.
  • NAEYC for Families helps parents understand how children ages 0-8 learn and offers creative learning ideas to try at home.
  • National Summer Learning Association focuses on closing the achievement gap through high-quality summer learning for all children and youth.
  • Reading Rockets offers strategies, lessons, activities and ideas designed to help young children learn to read.
  • ReadWriteThink provides access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction.
  • Understood helps the millions of parents whose children, ages 3–20, are struggling with learning.
  • We Need Diverse Books works to make sure more books featuring diverse characters get into the hands of all readers.
Celebrate a nation of diverse readers with these recommended books, authors, and teaching resources.

Are you an affiliate?

Jump to updates, opportunities, and resources for NEA state and local affiliates.
Librarian leans over seated students at the library who are reading a book

Education News Relevant to You

We're here to help you succeed in your career, advocate for public school students, and stay up to date on the latest education news and trends. Browse stories by topic, access the latest issue of NEA Today magazine, and celebrate educators and public schools.
National Education Association

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.