Each year, I love putting together a reading list for my kids. I love letting them choose books they love, and summer is a great time for us to introduce a few new titles that they wouldn’t have considered otherwise. … Read More
Our family loves getting out in nature, whether it’s car camping or an intense day hike. While there’s plenty of outdoor gear for kids out there, depending on where you’re going or how often, you may not want to spend … Read More
For well over 15 years of my life, I used this very basic facial cleanser. It worked great on my skin! I only very rarely got any breakouts at all and it kept my face very clear. Anytime I tried … Read More
Dan and I have been fortunate to not only travel a lot with kids, but also to have had opportunities to take some of the best couples trips. In honor of our 13th wedding anniversary yesterday, here are 13 couples … Read More
There are so many amazing things to do in Mendocino, California, a quiet and ruggedly beautiful a few hours north of San Francisco. It’s the perfect area for a weekend getaway for a family or a couple, or to use … Read More
It’s been a while since I’ve done a favorite things post so I figured in advance of summer would be the perfect time. Here are 5 things I’ve been loving lately! One-Piece Wrap-Style Swimsuit + Cover Up It was 90 … Read More
Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting. Muslims taking part in Ramadan give up anything considered impure to the mind and body, including food, drink, and any thoughts. They abstain from these things during all daylight hours so they … Read More
Rocky Mountain National Park is definitely a bucket list destination. With tall peaks, alpine lakes, and tons of wildlife, it’s a dream for families, couples, and solo travelers. We loved experiencing the park with our 5 little ones, and want … Read More
Join us as we learn about Vietnam with kids! During this virtual tour of Vietnam for kids, we’ll enjoy fun and inspiring Vietnam activities. This Vietnam virtual field trip as part of the Global Children’s Book Club is a perfect … Read More
This post is sponsored by Sleep.com. We recently moved our 4 older kids all into one bedroom and needed to figure out a good sleep solution. We knew we wanted to make sure we created a clean, peaceful space to … Read More
Do you know what AAPI month is? Though we obviously talk a lot about global citizenship as well as representation and inclusion in our home, my kids didn’t know what those letters stood for the other day. Which speaks to … Read More
A couple months ago, we started doing our 2-week vegetarian capsule meal plan. Overall, it’s been nice, but honestly spotty. Between spending time in the RV on and off, getting back to in-person school and sports, and other life events, … Read More
Each year, I love putting together a reading list for my kids. I love letting them choose books they love, and summer is a great time for us to introduce a few new titles that they wouldn’t have considered otherwise. My kids love to read so it’s never felt pushy, and it’s super fun for me to find some new titles in genres that they love.
It’s also a chance for me to ensure they’re getting some diverse perspectives in their reading. Of course, I want reading to be fun and fulfilling for them. I also want it to be an opportunity for “windows” as well as “mirrors.” Since they do so much reading over the summer, anyway, it’s nice to include a few titles that either might not have crossed their radar or may be just a bit outside their comfort zones.
Here are the books I’ve chosen for our 2021 diverse summer reading list!
In addition to individual books, we always have a few family read alouds. They’re perfect for family book club discussions, to listen to in the car, or as bedtime reading. Here’s what’s on the docket for this summer!
We’ve truly loved every single chapter book we’ve read so far this year for the Global Children’s Book Club. If you haven’t yet read some of them, summer is the perfect time to pick them up, whether or not you’re interested in the accompanying activities.
For the 3 months of summer, we’ll be reading the following:
My 10 year old is an absolutely voracious reader who adores fantasy and light sci-fi. He also enjoys some historical fiction, but often prefers well-written nonfiction history instead. Here’s what I chose for him!
My 8 year old also always has her nose in a book, and especially loves Harry Potter. I’m excited to share some new-to-her titles that I think she’ll really enjoy.
My 6 year old is my more reluctant reader. He’s been a capable reader for a couple years now, but didn’t often choose it on his own. However, his reading really took off in terms of enjoyment and confidence when he started Savvy Reading a few months ago. Since then, he’s read tons of early chapter books of his own volition. It couldn’t make me happier! (Here’s more about our experience with Savvy.)
Still, he struggles with getting started with new books, so I’m planning to read the first few pages or chapter of these to get him going. He typically takes off reading after he’s hooked and I think these are ones he’ll really love.
To me, preschool summer reading is all about having fun and enjoying reading, even if it means reading certain books over and over and over. My 3 year old truly could be read to all day long so I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to join in with his siblings.
I’d love to hear – do you put together summer reading lists? Do you make suggestions or do your kids take the lead on all their reading? Or is it a mix like in our family? I’d love to hear (and please share any book titles you’ve loved recently!)!
