The unofficial start of summer
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. It's got a serious side that should not be forgotten: to honor those who have died in service to our country.
But the start of summer represents another important period — when children's learning begins to drop off .
Making books and reading an important part of children's summer activities can prevent reading loss — and may even improve it.
Libraries are a great place to start. They're likely to have a summer reading program — and the materials to support it.
If your child is going to camp, find out if books and reading are built into the schedule — no matter what the camp's focus is. From general to specialized, books fit well into daily activities — even if the camp is in your own backyard.
It's always fun to read about this season and its special goings-on.
I like the humor in A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever and the wild ride on a Roller Coaster (both Harcourt and both by Marla Frazee).
There's humor in the old camp songs that are probably still sung, vibrantly illustrated by Frane Lessac in Camp Granada: Sing-Along Camp Songs (Holt).
And there are sweet memories of summers past in books like Donald Crews' Bigmama's and Shortcut (both Greenwillow) in which the author/illustrator recalls summer visits (and adventures) to his grandparents' Florida home. Lynne Rae Perkins evokes equally warm memories from a very different time in Pictures from Our Vacation (Greenwillow).
No matter where children spend their summer, here's hoping books and reading are a part of it!