Heave Ho! by Jose Lucio is a fun book about a worm trying to come up from underground with a little help from his friends (and a twist at the end!). It's a book about teamwork that appeals to a wide spectrum of ages.  

My Review: My first impression is that the book is printed on very high quality paper and bound nicely. It feels sturdy enough to survive countless readings with young hands, despite being a paperback. The illustrations are engaging and expressive and the story itself is very appealing. I wasn't sure if I was rooting for the worm or the opposition, but both sides showed innovative thinking and teamwork.

Kids' Review: Each of the kids enjoyed reading this book several times. It's a bit young for Jack (age 9), but he likes to read to his brother and sister, so it was a great book for that. All of the kids squealed with the twist at the end and agreed that it was their favorite part. They had fun choosing sides to root for! The animal illustrations are so fun - the kids loved them as much as the storyline. We all highly recommend this book! If you'd like to purchase this book, it is available here.

Now the fun part: The author was kind enough to provide two copies of this book for a giveaway! Enter via Rafflecopter below for a chance to win your own copy at no cost to you. :)

*We received a copy of this book from the author, but the review is purely our own.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Heave Ho! by Jose Lucio is a fun book about a worm trying to come up from underground with a little help from his friends (and a twist at the end!). It's a book about teamwork that appeals to a wide spectrum of ages.  

My Review: My first impression is that the book is printed on very high quality paper and bound nicely. It feels sturdy enough to survive countless readings with young hands, despite being a paperback. The illustrations are engaging and expressive and the story itself is very appealing. I wasn't sure if I was rooting for the worm or the opposition, but both sides showed innovative thinking and teamwork.

Kids' Review: Each of the kids enjoyed reading this book several times. It's a bit young for Jack (age 9), but he likes to read to his brother and sister, so it was a great book for that. All of the kids squealed with the twist at the end and agreed that it was their favorite part. They had fun choosing sides to root for! The animal illustrations are so fun - the kids loved them as much as the storyline. We all highly recommend this book! If you'd like to purchase this book, it is available here.

Now the fun part: The author was kind enough to provide two copies of this book for a giveaway! Enter via Rafflecopter below for a chance to win your own copy at no cost to you. :)

*We received a copy of this book from the author, but the review is purely our own.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Busy Dizzy by Dr. Orly Katz is about that little voice in our heads that makes us doubt ourselves or our abilities. The story is set in a classroom, led by teacher Mrs. Young, where various kids are plagued with being shy, embarrassed, or being afraid to lose. Mrs. Young recognizes these doubts and teaches the kids about the "Busy Dizzies", describing them as:

 "...creatures that no one can see...some make you feel angry, some make you feel shy, some make you embarrassed and some make you cry...Busy Dizzies say words that JUST AREN'T TRUE! Busy Dizzies make you think there are things you can't do!"

Mrs. Young has the kids draw what they think their Busy Dizzies look like and teaches them a song to sing when they feel their Busy Dizzy close to get it to go away and get their confident selves back.  

My take: I really like the concept of this book. I like that it gives kids the opportunity to give name to their self doubts and gives them the power and the tools to get rid of them in a fun way. When a situation arises, I'll be interested to see if my kids recall this story and can give name to their own "Busy Dizzy"! We read the e-book version of this book and I'm not entirely sold on the format. I have been mostly reading e-books for myself, but this is the first that I've read with the kids. I think it was a bit more difficult to allow all three kids to see the "book" at once, and there are really fun pages in the back of the book where the reader can name and illustrate their own "Busy Dizzy", but those sort of get lost in the e-book format. That said, my kids thought it was really cool that they had a book on their Kindle Fire (that, I'm not going to lie, they use mostly for Minecraft!). The intended audience of this book is ages 4-8 and I agree that it is an appropriate age range, although Jack enjoyed it as well and he's slightly older than that at nine.  

Jack's take: Jack is actually the one who read this story aloud to the rest of us on his Kindle Fire. He is nine and had no trouble with any words or with the flow of the story. His favorite part of the story was the silly looking "Dizzies" - some of them look like little monsters and some of them look like exaggerated versions of their owner. As I said before, he was pretty excited to have the book on his Kindle and despite my own reservations, really enjoyed reading this story in the e-book format.  

Colin's take: Colin was less interested in the story, but he is also less interested in abstract concepts like feelings and self-doubt, so this didn't surprise me. Like Jack, he did love the illustrations of the kids' "Dizzies" and the silliness of it all. They definitely made him giggle!

You can find this book on Amazon (not an affiliate link) in e-book format ($1.99) as well as paperback ($12.57). If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read this book for free! We recommend that you check it out!

*We received a copy of this e-book from the author, but the review is purely our own.

 

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Busy Dizzy by Dr. Orly Katz is about that little voice in our heads that makes us doubt ourselves or our abilities. The story is set in a classroom, led by teacher Mrs. Young, where various kids are plagued with being shy, embarrassed, or being afraid to lose. Mrs. Young recognizes these doubts and teaches the kids about the "Busy Dizzies", describing them as:

 "...creatures that no one can see...some make you feel angry, some make you feel shy, some make you embarrassed and some make you cry...Busy Dizzies say words that JUST AREN'T TRUE! Busy Dizzies make you think there are things you can't do!"

Mrs. Young has the kids draw what they think their Busy Dizzies look like and teaches them a song to sing when they feel their Busy Dizzy close to get it to go away and get their confident selves back.  

My take: I really like the concept of this book. I like that it gives kids the opportunity to give name to their self doubts and gives them the power and the tools to get rid of them in a fun way. When a situation arises, I'll be interested to see if my kids recall this story and can give name to their own "Busy Dizzy"! We read the e-book version of this book and I'm not entirely sold on the format. I have been mostly reading e-books for myself, but this is the first that I've read with the kids. I think it was a bit more difficult to allow all three kids to see the "book" at once, and there are really fun pages in the back of the book where the reader can name and illustrate their own "Busy Dizzy", but those sort of get lost in the e-book format. That said, my kids thought it was really cool that they had a book on their Kindle Fire (that, I'm not going to lie, they use mostly for Minecraft!). The intended audience of this book is ages 4-8 and I agree that it is an appropriate age range, although Jack enjoyed it as well and he's slightly older than that at nine.  

Jack's take: Jack is actually the one who read this story aloud to the rest of us on his Kindle Fire. He is nine and had no trouble with any words or with the flow of the story. His favorite part of the story was the silly looking "Dizzies" - some of them look like little monsters and some of them look like exaggerated versions of their owner. As I said before, he was pretty excited to have the book on his Kindle and despite my own reservations, really enjoyed reading this story in the e-book format.  

Colin's take: Colin was less interested in the story, but he is also less interested in abstract concepts like feelings and self-doubt, so this didn't surprise me. Like Jack, he did love the illustrations of the kids' "Dizzies" and the silliness of it all. They definitely made him giggle!

You can find this book on Amazon (not an affiliate link) in e-book format ($1.99) as well as paperback ($12.57). If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read this book for free! We recommend that you check it out!

*We received a copy of this e-book from the author, but the review is purely our own.

 

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Miracle Miles by Brian J. Hunt and illustrated by Luke Flowers is the story about miracles, in all shapes & forms.  Miles, the smallest Cannon Commander at the Miracle Factory, is charged with saving the Factory from the evil Corbin, helped along the way by his friend Bridget.  The story proves that miracles happen in many different ways and that anyone can be a hero.

The Miracle Factory has launched billions of miracles around the world.  According to the story, "a miracle is the special ingredient that makes a star glow.  When a star is ready to become a miracle, it falls out of the sky toward Earth.  Once the star is on the ground, the Miracle Workers rush over to it and harvest out the Glow".  The greatest enemy of miracles, however, is the factory owner himself, the evil Corbin.  When he sabotages the factory, it is up to Miles and Bridget to save the day.

What I thought: First, know that this book is a bit deceptive because it looks like it will be a typical length story.  However, when you open it you realize that the type is somewhat small and there are a lot of words on each page.  That being said, it is divided by chapters so it could easily be read over several days.  The age range for Miracle Miles is seven to twelve and I think that is a accurate assessment.  I think the story jumped around a bit, especially in the beginning, but overall it was an enjoyable read and had a good message.  The illustrations are fabulous!  Very detailed and expressive and flow with the story quite well.


What Jack thought: Jack is seven and a half and is right on the lower end of the target age range.  He wasn't interested in reading this book himself, but wanted me to read it to him (I'm thinking he got a bit overwhelmed with the number of words on each page, something an older child wouldn't be fazed by).  He loved the story though.  He got very invested in Miles' adventures at the Factory and looked forward to me reading a chapter to him every night.  Jack would definitely recommend this book to his friends!

Would you like to win a copy of this book for your child?  The author, Brian J. Hunt, was kind enough to provide a signed hardback copy for me to share with my readers.  Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  United States mailing addresses only, please.  Winner will be contacted via email on Sunday, November 24th.

You can also read more about the author at http://brianjameshunt.com/

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Miracle Miles by Brian J. Hunt and illustrated by Luke Flowers is the story about miracles, in all shapes & forms.  Miles, the smallest Cannon Commander at the Miracle Factory, is charged with saving the Factory from the evil Corbin, helped along the way by his friend Bridget.  The story proves that miracles happen in many different ways and that anyone can be a hero.

The Miracle Factory has launched billions of miracles around the world.  According to the story, "a miracle is the special ingredient that makes a star glow.  When a star is ready to become a miracle, it falls out of the sky toward Earth.  Once the star is on the ground, the Miracle Workers rush over to it and harvest out the Glow".  The greatest enemy of miracles, however, is the factory owner himself, the evil Corbin.  When he sabotages the factory, it is up to Miles and Bridget to save the day.

What I thought: First, know that this book is a bit deceptive because it looks like it will be a typical length story.  However, when you open it you realize that the type is somewhat small and there are a lot of words on each page.  That being said, it is divided by chapters so it could easily be read over several days.  The age range for Miracle Miles is seven to twelve and I think that is a accurate assessment.  I think the story jumped around a bit, especially in the beginning, but overall it was an enjoyable read and had a good message.  The illustrations are fabulous!  Very detailed and expressive and flow with the story quite well.


What Jack thought: Jack is seven and a half and is right on the lower end of the target age range.  He wasn't interested in reading this book himself, but wanted me to read it to him (I'm thinking he got a bit overwhelmed with the number of words on each page, something an older child wouldn't be fazed by).  He loved the story though.  He got very invested in Miles' adventures at the Factory and looked forward to me reading a chapter to him every night.  Jack would definitely recommend this book to his friends!

Would you like to win a copy of this book for your child?  The author, Brian J. Hunt, was kind enough to provide a signed hardback copy for me to share with my readers.  Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  United States mailing addresses only, please.  Winner will be contacted via email on Sunday, November 24th.

You can also read more about the author at http://brianjameshunt.com/

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Moka Becomes a Water Dog by Jeff Stevenson is about a very special family dog named Moka.  She spends lots of time playing with her family in their mountain cabin.  The book is part of "The Dog On My Feet" series and focuses on Moka's first time in the water and how her family helps her learn to love it.  This book is special in that there are fun activities at the end of the book, including a word search, a maze and several coloring pages.  We all loved that the book is based on a real family and their beloved dog.

What I thought: This was a fun story to read.  The writing was large and simple enough for my first grader to be able to read it with some help, yet engaging enough to keep him interested.  The illustrations are fun, I just wish they were a bit bigger.

What Jack thought: Jack was super excited about the activities at the end of the book.  "You mean I can write in this book"?  :)  He was shocked!

What Colin thought: Colin fell in love with Moka.  He loves dogs and really enjoys reading books with a dog as the star of the show.

You can buy this book for yourself on Amazon in both paperback and kindle version (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

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Moka Becomes a Water Dog by Jeff Stevenson is about a very special family dog named Moka.  She spends lots of time playing with her family in their mountain cabin.  The book is part of "The Dog On My Feet" series and focuses on Moka's first time in the water and how her family helps her learn to love it.  This book is special in that there are fun activities at the end of the book, including a word search, a maze and several coloring pages.  We all loved that the book is based on a real family and their beloved dog.

What I thought: This was a fun story to read.  The writing was large and simple enough for my first grader to be able to read it with some help, yet engaging enough to keep him interested.  The illustrations are fun, I just wish they were a bit bigger.

What Jack thought: Jack was super excited about the activities at the end of the book.  "You mean I can write in this book"?  :)  He was shocked!

What Colin thought: Colin fell in love with Moka.  He loves dogs and really enjoys reading books with a dog as the star of the show.

You can buy this book for yourself on Amazon in both paperback and kindle version (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

Add a Comment

Moka Becomes a Water Dog by Jeff Stevenson is about a very special family dog named Moka.  She spends lots of time playing with her family in their mountain cabin.  The book is part of "The Dog On My Feet" series and focuses on Moka's first time in the water and how her family helps her learn to love it.  This book is special in that there are fun activities at the end of the book, including a word search, a maze and several coloring pages.  We all loved that the book is based on a real family and their beloved dog.

What I thought: This was a fun story to read.  The writing was large and simple enough for my first grader to be able to read it with some help, yet engaging enough to keep him interested.  The illustrations are fun, I just wish they were a bit bigger.

What Jack thought: Jack was super excited about the activities at the end of the book.  "You mean I can write in this book"?  :)  He was shocked!

What Colin thought: Colin fell in love with Moka.  He loves dogs and really enjoys reading books with a dog as the star of the show.

You can buy this book for yourself on Amazon in both paperback and kindle version (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

Add a Comment

Moka Becomes a Water Dog by Jeff Stevenson is about a very special family dog named Moka.  She spends lots of time playing with her family in their mountain cabin.  The book is part of "The Dog On My Feet" series and focuses on Moka's first time in the water and how her family helps her learn to love it.  This book is special in that there are fun activities at the end of the book, including a word search, a maze and several coloring pages.  We all loved that the book is based on a real family and their beloved dog.

What I thought: This was a fun story to read.  The writing was large and simple enough for my first grader to be able to read it with some help, yet engaging enough to keep him interested.  The illustrations are fun, I just wish they were a bit bigger.

What Jack thought: Jack was super excited about the activities at the end of the book.  "You mean I can write in this book"?  :)  He was shocked!

What Colin thought: Colin fell in love with Moka.  He loves dogs and really enjoys reading books with a dog as the star of the show.

You can buy this book for yourself on Amazon in both paperback and kindle version (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

Add a Comment

For a small change of pace here, I thought I'd post a review of one of my daughter's books, a board book actually.  Our little girl, Amelia, is seven months old and already loves to listen to our voices as we read to her.  She also loves to listen to big brother Jack read his school books to her.  Awww!

We received Haiku Baby by Betsy Snyder from a dear friend over the holidays.  Each page features a different haiku in a nature theme.  For example, rain, moon, sun, etc.

My favorite haiku is titled, "Moon", and goes like this:


    in silver moonlight,
    whale sings a soft lullaby-
    good night, little bird



What Amelia thinks:  We like to read this story close to bedtime when she is fairly calm and relaxed, that way she is less grabby at the book.  ;)  She enjoys listening to my voice reading the haikus and overall seems to enjoy the experience.

What I think:  I love this book.  I've always loved haikus, so naturally I love haikus written with children in mind.  The illustrations that accompany the words are beautiful and thoughtful as well.

You can buy Haiku Baby for yourself here or see if your local library carries it.

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For a small change of pace here, I thought I'd post a review of one of my daughter's books, a board book actually.  Our little girl, Amelia, is seven months old and already loves to listen to our voices as we read to her.  She also loves to listen to big brother Jack read his school books to her.  Awww!

We received Haiku Baby by Betsy Snyder from a dear friend over the holidays.  Each page features a different haiku in a nature theme.  For example, rain, moon, sun, etc.

My favorite haiku is titled, "Moon", and goes like this:


    in silver moonlight,
    whale sings a soft lullaby-
    good night, little bird



What Amelia thinks:  We like to read this story close to bedtime when she is fairly calm and relaxed, that way she is less grabby at the book.  ;)  She enjoys listening to my voice reading the haikus and overall seems to enjoy the experience.

What I think:  I love this book.  I've always loved haikus, so naturally I love haikus written with children in mind.  The illustrations that accompany the words are beautiful and thoughtful as well.

You can buy Haiku Baby for yourself here or see if your local library carries it.

Add a Comment

For a small change of pace here, I thought I'd post a review of one of my daughter's books, a board book actually.  Our little girl, Amelia, is seven months old and already loves to listen to our voices as we read to her.  She also loves to listen to big brother Jack read his school books to her.  Awww!

We received Haiku Baby by Betsy Snyder from a dear friend over the holidays.  Each page features a different haiku in a nature theme.  For example, rain, moon, sun, etc.

My favorite haiku is titled, "Moon", and goes like this:


    in silver moonlight,
    whale sings a soft lullaby-
    good night, little bird



What Amelia thinks:  We like to read this story close to bedtime when she is fairly calm and relaxed, that way she is less grabby at the book.  ;)  She enjoys listening to my voice reading the haikus and overall seems to enjoy the experience.

What I think:  I love this book.  I've always loved haikus, so naturally I love haikus written with children in mind.  The illustrations that accompany the words are beautiful and thoughtful as well.

You can buy Haiku Baby for yourself here or see if your local library carries it.

Add a Comment

For a small change of pace here, I thought I'd post a review of one of my daughter's books, a board book actually.  Our little girl, Amelia, is seven months old and already loves to listen to our voices as we read to her.  She also loves to listen to big brother Jack read his school books to her.  Awww!

We received Haiku Baby by Betsy Snyder from a dear friend over the holidays.  Each page features a different haiku in a nature theme.  For example, rain, moon, sun, etc.

My favorite haiku is titled, "Moon", and goes like this:


    in silver moonlight,
    whale sings a soft lullaby-
    good night, little bird



What Amelia thinks:  We like to read this story close to bedtime when she is fairly calm and relaxed, that way she is less grabby at the book.  ;)  She enjoys listening to my voice reading the haikus and overall seems to enjoy the experience.

What I think:  I love this book.  I've always loved haikus, so naturally I love haikus written with children in mind.  The illustrations that accompany the words are beautiful and thoughtful as well.

You can buy Haiku Baby for yourself here or see if your local library carries it.

Add a Comment

Moses Jones And The Case of the Missing Sneaker by N.T. McQueen is the story of Moses Jones and his faithful feline companion, Finkle, who go on an epic search for Moses' missing sneaker.  With one sneaker on, they search the grocery store, the music store and the hardware store.  I won't give away where they end up finding the sneaker, but it is in the most unexpected of places!

This book is a fun story, especially for kids ages 4-8 (in my opinion).  The illustrations are bright and engaging, but the story also stands well on its own.  I have to say, that for us, Finkle the cat steals the show.  He is so expressive and is always doing something funny.  He's a perfect companion to Moses Jones and a great accompaniment to the story overall.

What Jack liked:  Jack loved this story.  I know because he asked me to read it more than once!  His favorite page is the very first one, where Finkle the cat is sitting on the toilet.  Always stealing the show!



What Colin liked:  Colin loved when Moses found his missing sneaker.  I won't give it away, but Colin loved the silliness!

We all loved this book and look forward to more adventures with Moses Jones and Finkle the cat.  You can purchase a copy of your own here on Amazon (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

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Moses Jones And The Case of the Missing Sneaker by N.T. McQueen is the story of Moses Jones and his faithful feline companion, Finkle, who go on an epic search for Moses' missing sneaker.  With one sneaker on, they search the grocery store, the music store and the hardware store.  I won't give away where they end up finding the sneaker, but it is in the most unexpected of places!

This book is a fun story, especially for kids ages 4-8 (in my opinion).  The illustrations are bright and engaging, but the story also stands well on its own.  I have to say, that for us, Finkle the cat steals the show.  He is so expressive and is always doing something funny.  He's a perfect companion to Moses Jones and a great accompaniment to the story overall.

What Jack liked:  Jack loved this story.  I know because he asked me to read it more than once!  His favorite page is the very first one, where Finkle the cat is sitting on the toilet.  Always stealing the show!



What Colin liked:  Colin loved when Moses found his missing sneaker.  I won't give it away, but Colin loved the silliness!

We all loved this book and look forward to more adventures with Moses Jones and Finkle the cat.  You can purchase a copy of your own here on Amazon (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

Add a Comment

Moses Jones And The Case of the Missing Sneaker by N.T. McQueen is the story of Moses Jones and his faithful feline companion, Finkle, who go on an epic search for Moses' missing sneaker.  With one sneaker on, they search the grocery store, the music store and the hardware store.  I won't give away where they end up finding the sneaker, but it is in the most unexpected of places!

This book is a fun story, especially for kids ages 4-8 (in my opinion).  The illustrations are bright and engaging, but the story also stands well on its own.  I have to say, that for us, Finkle the cat steals the show.  He is so expressive and is always doing something funny.  He's a perfect companion to Moses Jones and a great accompaniment to the story overall.

What Jack liked:  Jack loved this story.  I know because he asked me to read it more than once!  His favorite page is the very first one, where Finkle the cat is sitting on the toilet.  Always stealing the show!



What Colin liked:  Colin loved when Moses found his missing sneaker.  I won't give it away, but Colin loved the silliness!

We all loved this book and look forward to more adventures with Moses Jones and Finkle the cat.  You can purchase a copy of your own here on Amazon (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

Add a Comment

Moses Jones And The Case of the Missing Sneaker by N.T. McQueen is the story of Moses Jones and his faithful feline companion, Finkle, who go on an epic search for Moses' missing sneaker.  With one sneaker on, they search the grocery store, the music store and the hardware store.  I won't give away where they end up finding the sneaker, but it is in the most unexpected of places!

This book is a fun story, especially for kids ages 4-8 (in my opinion).  The illustrations are bright and engaging, but the story also stands well on its own.  I have to say, that for us, Finkle the cat steals the show.  He is so expressive and is always doing something funny.  He's a perfect companion to Moses Jones and a great accompaniment to the story overall.

What Jack liked:  Jack loved this story.  I know because he asked me to read it more than once!  His favorite page is the very first one, where Finkle the cat is sitting on the toilet.  Always stealing the show!



What Colin liked:  Colin loved when Moses found his missing sneaker.  I won't give it away, but Colin loved the silliness!

We all loved this book and look forward to more adventures with Moses Jones and Finkle the cat.  You can purchase a copy of your own here on Amazon (not an affiliate link).

We were provided a copy of this book by the author, but the review is purely our own.

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and still reading!  Having our third child really threw me for a loop for a while even though she is a very easy baby in general.  I will be working to get caught up here in the next week or so.  We even made it to the library yesterday and the baby didn't make a peep until we were almost out the door.  I think she liked it there!

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and still reading!  Having our third child really threw me for a loop for a while even though she is a very easy baby in general.  I will be working to get caught up here in the next week or so.  We even made it to the library yesterday and the baby didn't make a peep until we were almost out the door.  I think she liked it there!

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and still reading!  Having our third child really threw me for a loop for a while even though she is a very easy baby in general.  I will be working to get caught up here in the next week or so.  We even made it to the library yesterday and the baby didn't make a peep until we were almost out the door.  I think she liked it there!

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and still reading!  Having our third child really threw me for a loop for a while even though she is a very easy baby in general.  I will be working to get caught up here in the next week or so.  We even made it to the library yesterday and the baby didn't make a peep until we were almost out the door.  I think she liked it there!

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I used to love participating in the local library summer reading program as a kid and now I'm so excited that my kids get to have the same experience.   Especially since Jack is a new reader, I'd like to encourage him to keep reading this summer and not "lose" any of his reading skills before he starts first grade this fall.

I've been searching for different programs to choose from since it seems that many bookstores also get in on the action these days.  The following is a list of programs that I've found out there - hopefully one of them fits with your family!

Barnes and Noble - This one is aimed towards kids in the first through sixth grades.  All you need to do is download the reading journal on their website and record eight books that your child reads this summer.  In return, your child can choose a free book from a predetermined list aimed at their grade level.  *The link takes you to the program from last year - need to keep checking back to make sure they are offering the program again in 2012.

Scholastic Summer Challenge - This program is aimed towards kids of all ages.  This program runs between May 1 and August 31.  Parents can help their child log into the website and enter their daily minutes read for a chance to win prizes and help set a world record - there's even an app to log minutes read on the go!  I highly recommend downloading the Family Participation Guide - it contains detailed instructions as well as a reading pledge, reading log and fun coloring pages.

Pottery Barn Kids - This is another program aimed at kids ages 10 and younger and runs between 5/17 and 8/22.  Visit the website to download the booklist, progress tracker and certificate of completion.  Bring your progress tracker to your local store by the end of the promotion period to receive a free book!  

Your local library - Don't forget to check out your local library's summer reading programs - most will have them.  I've linked to our local library, it looks like they have an entire summer's worth of events planned to keep kids engaged.

If all else fails, you can implement your own summer reading program!  I found several good links on Pinterest for downloadable reading trackers and more.  You could offer an incentive for minutes read or books read, perhaps a trip to the park, ice cream shop, alone time with Mom or Dad (for those families with more than one child - always a challenge to give one-on-one time!) - really the possibilities are endless.

I hope you find a program that works for you and have as much fun this summer reading as we do.  I plan to have Jack read to his new baby sister - I think she'll enjoy hearing his voice and he'll feel like a big kid.  :-)

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I used to love participating in the local library summer reading program as a kid and now I'm so excited that my kids get to have the same experience.   Especially since Jack is a new reader, I'd like to encourage him to keep reading this summer and not "lose" any of his reading skills before he starts first grade this fall.

I've been searching for different programs to choose from since it seems that many bookstores also get in on the action these days.  The following is a list of programs that I've found out there - hopefully one of them fits with your family!

Barnes and Noble - This one is aimed towards kids in the first through sixth grades.  All you need to do is download the reading journal on their website and record eight books that your child reads this summer.  In return, your child can choose a free book from a predetermined list aimed at their grade level.  *The link takes you to the program from last year - need to keep checking back to make sure they are offering the program again in 2012.

Scholastic Summer Challenge - This program is aimed towards kids of all ages.  This program runs between May 1 and August 31.  Parents can help their child log into the website and enter their daily minutes read for a chance to win prizes and help set a world record - there's even an app to log minutes read on the go!  I highly recommend downloading the Family Participation Guide - it contains detailed instructions as well as a reading pledge, reading log and fun coloring pages.

Pottery Barn Kids - This is another program aimed at kids ages 10 and younger and runs between 5/17 and 8/22.  Visit the website to download the booklist, progress tracker and certificate of completion.  Bring your progress tracker to your local store by the end of the promotion period to receive a free book!  

Your local library - Don't forget to check out your local library's summer reading programs - most will have them.  I've linked to our local library, it looks like they have an entire summer's worth of events planned to keep kids engaged.

If all else fails, you can implement your own summer reading program!  I found several good links on Pinterest for downloadable reading trackers and more.  You could offer an incentive for minutes read or books read, perhaps a trip to the park, ice cream shop, alone time with Mom or Dad (for those families with more than one child - always a challenge to give one-on-one time!) - really the possibilities are endless.

I hope you find a program that works for you and have as much fun this summer reading as we do.  I plan to have Jack read to his new baby sister - I think she'll enjoy hearing his voice and he'll feel like a big kid.  :-)

Add a Comment

I used to love participating in the local library summer reading program as a kid and now I'm so excited that my kids get to have the same experience.   Especially since Jack is a new reader, I'd like to encourage him to keep reading this summer and not "lose" any of his reading skills before he starts first grade this fall.

I've been searching for different programs to choose from since it seems that many bookstores also get in on the action these days.  The following is a list of programs that I've found out there - hopefully one of them fits with your family!

Barnes and Noble - This one is aimed towards kids in the first through sixth grades.  All you need to do is download the reading journal on their website and record eight books that your child reads this summer.  In return, your child can choose a free book from a predetermined list aimed at their grade level.  *The link takes you to the program from last year - need to keep checking back to make sure they are offering the program again in 2012.

Scholastic Summer Challenge - This program is aimed towards kids of all ages.  This program runs between May 1 and August 31.  Parents can help their child log into the website and enter their daily minutes read for a chance to win prizes and help set a world record - there's even an app to log minutes read on the go!  I highly recommend downloading the Family Participation Guide - it contains detailed instructions as well as a reading pledge, reading log and fun coloring pages.

Pottery Barn Kids - This is another program aimed at kids ages 10 and younger and runs between 5/17 and 8/22.  Visit the website to download the booklist, progress tracker and certificate of completion.  Bring your progress tracker to your local store by the end of the promotion period to receive a free book!  

Your local library - Don't forget to check out your local library's summer reading programs - most will have them.  I've linked to our local library, it looks like they have an entire summer's worth of events planned to keep kids engaged.

If all else fails, you can implement your own summer reading program!  I found several good links on Pinterest for downloadable reading trackers and more.  You could offer an incentive for minutes read or books read, perhaps a trip to the park, ice cream shop, alone time with Mom or Dad (for those families with more than one child - always a challenge to give one-on-one time!) - really the possibilities are endless.

I hope you find a program that works for you and have as much fun this summer reading as we do.  I plan to have Jack read to his new baby sister - I think she'll enjoy hearing his voice and he'll feel like a big kid.  :-)

Add a Comment