Summer vacation — a time for families to enjoy road trips, splashing in the pool, camping under the stars, and backyard barbeques. It’s also a great time to get lost between the covers of a book. Many public libraries host fun and inspiring summer reading programs. The only question is which books, out of the thousands available, to choose?
My kids and I are avid readers, and we’d like to share some of our favorite books with other Baby Gizmo families. I have organized them into three categories: Books for Early Readers (approximately grades 1-3), Books for Intermediate Readers (approximately grades 3-6) and Teen Reads (approximately grades 7 +). Categorizing books by age or grade level can be misleading, though, as kids have varying comprehension abilities and maturity levels.
I find there is much overlap between categories, and many books are ageless. If you have concerns about the difficulty or content of a book, do a little research to find out if it’s right for your child. Also, keep in mind that a book that is too advanced for your child might be the perfect one to read aloud to her. Conversely, an advanced reader might really enjoy the comfort and simplicity of a well-written children’s story.
This link will take you to an excellent article by author and educator Jim Trelease about “the hidden benefits of reading aloud–even for older kids.”
Do not adhere too tightly to prescribed reading levels. Read together. Read independently. Read above and below your actual level. All of the books we’ve listed will take you to exciting new worlds this summer. Just choose one and embark on your adventure!
Great Books for Early Readers:
The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne
A to Z Mysteries series by Ron Roy
The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
The Arthur Chapter Books series by Marc Brown
The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park
Great Books for Intermediate Readers:
The American Girl series by various authors
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maude Montgomery
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss
The Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng
Smells Like Dog, Smells Like Treasure, and Smells Like Pirates by Suzanne Selfors
The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The You Wouldn’t Want to Be . . . series by various authors
A Tale of Two Castles and The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
The 39 Clues series by various authors
Ida B. . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
Hoot and Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Tuesdays at the Castle and Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George
The Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows
Great Books for Teens:
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Ranger’s Apprentice series and The Brotherband Chronicles by John A. Flanagan
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Copernicus Legacy series by Tony Abbott and Bill Perkins
Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicker