Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone, which can only mean one thing. The end of June is right around the corner (hang in there teachers!).
Now, we are all well aware of the importance of having access to books and the harmful effects of the slippery slope that is the summer slide.
- Children in low-income households fall behind an average of 2 months in reading during the summer.
- Summer learning loss accounts for about 2/3’s of the ninth grade achievement gap in reading.
- For every one line of print read by low-income children, middle-income children read three.
So, to keep the kids reading all summer long, LEE & LOW has put 
together a Diverse Summer 2016 Reading List for Grades PreK-8 and printables which you can freely download here or find listed below. Each list contains books that not only highlight different grade-appropriate interests, such as sports, music, sci-fi/fantasy, and the environment, but also explore diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions.
- LEE & LOW Diverse Summer 2016 Reading List Grades PreK-8 (complete PDF)
- LEE & LOW Diverse Summer 2016 Reading List Grades PreK-2
- LEE & LOW Diverse Summer 2016 Reading List Grades 3-5
- LEE & LOW Diverse Summer 2016 Reading List Grades 6-8
- LEE & LOW Summer Reading Log
- LEE & LOW Summer Reading Certificate of Achievement
These lists are not only an excellent tool to help you include diverse books in your summer suggested reading lists, but a way to begin diversifying the books available to students in your classroom libraries. It is important to remember that diverse books are not only for diverse readers. Reading books featuring diverse characters and communities mirror experiences in their own lives, allowing children to see themselves reflected in the stories they love, but they also provide windows into other life experiences to understand and be more accepting of the world around them.
- Debunking 3 Common Myths About Diverse Books
- Checklist: 8 Steps to Creating A Diverse Book Collection
- Where Can I Find Great Diverse Children’s Books?
- How Common Core’s Book Choices Fail Children of Color
- The Diversity Gap in Children’s Publishing, 2015
Finally, there are many great organizations compiling and creating Summer Reading Book Lists and offering free, exciting programs for the summer. Be sure to check out your local library as well as the following groups for additional summer reading tips, suggestions, and ideas:
- Anti-Defamation League-Tips for Summer Reading
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) 2016 Summer Reading Lists
- Colorín Colorado- Summer Reading Resources
- First Book- Books Beat Summer Slide Infographic
- The Horn Book-Summer Reading Recommendations
- NYPL Summer Reading Challenge 2016
- Reading is Fundamental (RIF): Summer Learning
- Reading Rockets-Summer Reading Tips for Parents
- School Library Journal Summer Reading Resources
- We Need Diverse Books Summer Reading Series
Veronica has a degree from Mount Saint Mary College and joined LEE & LOW in the fall of 2014. She has a background in education and holds a New York State childhood education (1-6) and students with disabilities (1-6) certification. When she’s not wandering around New York City, you can find her hiking with her dog Milo in her hometown in the Hudson Valley, NY.