Rare Sighting- Summer Reading!

We just got back from a 3 week road-trip. (From Utah, through  Canada- down through New York to Maryland (where I grew up) and then back to Utah!!)

The first day we were home- the kids rushed outside. Connected with friends, had a huge squirt gun fight with the neighbors and then slept soundly in their own comfortable beds.




This is what they looked like day two! I was shocked. They were reading without my nagging  motivational speeches. lol

AMAZING.

The son laying down is reading Harry Potter: Chamber of Secrets.
The other picked up a book he read before Summer of the Woods by Steven Smith.

While visiting cousins- my boys were introduced to an avid 11 year old coin collector! We didn't know this cousin was so interested, knowledgeable about coins. We came back to grandmas house after a day of touring Washington DC, and my sons took the coins out of their pockets to show him. (From the Metro we had gotten $1 coins as change- and this third son of mine had an old Susan B Anthony.) My nephew (their cousin) grabbed his coin collecting book and they learned it was valued at $60!

Well- needless -to -say that really sparked the interest of my sons. We've been checking our pocket change the rest of the trip. Coin collecting is so cool- it's like a treasure hunt with our own American money!! Summer of the Woods is about two brothers who find a rare Indian Head penny, that leads their summer vacation into a 60 year old mystery of a stolen coin collection in their town.

(You can click here to read our book club about it.) Even though he has read it before- he admitted he didn't remember much, and wasn't that interested. NOW that he is hooked on collecting coins... he wants to read it again! lol


Other Summer Reading ideas:
Calendar Mysteries Series- I am currently hosting a summer book club for my 8 year old with this series. Click HERE to see our book club activities.

Million Dollar Series by Dan Gutman is a really fun series for kids who love sports. Each book is centered around one sport; Million Dollar Shot (Basketball), Million Dollar Goal (hockey), Million Dollar Putt (golf). My second son did this entire series with his book club when he was in grade school. Book Club activities are pretty easy- simple play that sport!


If you have any family vacations planned- try finding a book that relates!
With our recent trip, I brought along a fun series called Capital Mysteries.


If you are having a Stay-cation this summer, Weird School is a funny series we did last year.

Books for Older boys that my sons have loved include:

Hatchet and Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen

If your kids have fallen in-love with the HOW To Train Your Dragon Movies- we did a few of these books as a book club, before the movies were made. (The movies don't follow the books faithfully- so it might be a fun book club to compare and contrast!)

Hope this list helps you find some great books your child will enjoy reading~!

Can you relate?

I have four sons.

All of them - reluctant readers.

 

I feel like it is a never ending task- trying to encourage them to read.

 

Like that Greek tragic character who spends his eternities pushing a boulder up a hill...

 You know that guy? When he is close to the top- he stumbles

 and the rock rolls/tumbles down the hill only to have the task start again. 

 

If I am lucky- I find a series that one of my sons gets hooked on.

He'll read the whole series! I feel, for a month or so, satisfied that "Finally! He has realized the joy, magic, satisfaction of reading!" But then the series is over and back to square one.

 

 It's okay.

 I mean, like I have said before, this is my "mommy mission".

And if you knew me, in person, you would know..

I'm  pretty tenacious.

 

Having illiterate children- just isn't acceptable.

 

{partly- because I HATED to read when I was a child and now I can see how being a poor reader really made schooling and other aspects of my life harder. But more importantly- NOW I love to read! It is something that can be learned!}

 

So - my current up hill battle? My second grader.

We held book club last summer and that really motivated him- yay!

(See what we did- by clicking HERE)

 

But there is no time during the school year to have book club.

He has now fallen in a rut.

Chapter books are just too daunting.

Nothing keeps his interest.

 

Every night was like pulling teeth to get him to read!

 

So- we have gone back to picture books.

 

 

I have decided (long ago) it is better that he reads-- regardless of what he reads.

He likes picture books.

He likes the satisfaction of finishing one, two , or three in one sitting.

He likes the pictures- who doesn't?

 

So while this may seem like a step backwards.. (regressing to picture books from chapter books)..

It's not. What is important is that kids read! And that they enjoy reading!

 

A cute series my second grader loves is..." The Night Before..." there are a few.

The Night Before Christmas,

The Night Before Easter,

The Night Before Halloween,

The Night Before St. Patrick's Day

The Night Before Summer Vacation...

 

I just wanted to share.

Don't give up on your reluctant reader!

It's a up hill battle - worth fighting.