Reading is always a big part of our life, but especially during the summer months. I curb screen time by rallying the kids for a fun read aloud and on long road trips we listen to audiobooks as often as we singalong to our favorite Spotify station.
As you build your summer reading list and fill out all those reading challenges (be sure to join the one at your local library, Barnes & Noble, and Libro.fm), consider adding a few of our recent favorites to your “to read” list:
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Get ready for some summer laughs with Mr. Popper’s Penguins! In this classic the Poppers become proud owners of a penguin, and then another, and then ten more. You can imagine the silliness and adventure of a home filled with penguins! Be sure to research this husband wife author team, it is both tragic and sweet how Mr. Popper’s Penguins came to be through their joint effort.
Finish your read aloud with a penguin craft project, chilly snack, and the 2011 film adaption available for rent on Amazon Prime.
Love this one? Try Henry Huggins or Stuart Little
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
For a year now my big kids and I have been working our way through The Land of Stories series on audio. They are captivating! Follow twins Alex and Conner Bailey as they toggle between modern day and a fairy tale world with familial connections.
Pair The Land of Stories with classic fairytales stories for context and have your children illustrate their favorite characters as you read or listen. You’ll end up with a whole portfolio of fun sketches!
Love this one? Try Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers
The BFG
Oh, Roald Dahl, how to pick just one of your books? The BFG is a classic first Dahl experience complete with adventure, awful giants, and the book’s namesake … the Big Friendly Giant! You’ll fall in love with this sweet character and his partner in adventure, Sophie, as they attempt to save the day.
Inspired by the film help your children set up their own Dream Potion Lab, study a bit about England, and watch the 2016 movie for a compare and contrast conversation.
Love this one? Try Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (another Roald Dahl) or The Wild Robot