Summer reading programs are a great way to get kids to read during summer vacation. Book clubs are a great way for children to share books together. By reading books and discussing them, children develop a love of reading and important language and literacy skills.
First up is the third annual Middle Grade Book Club (MGBC)! Led by Jenny at the Vermont Book Shop, this book group is for kids ages 8 to 12 who want to read fun, engaging contemporary middle grade books. Parents are welcome (but not required) to attend. Meetings are held in the bookstore, and pizza is served. Come to one or all three! It’s completely free to participate. Book club books can be purchased at the store with a 10% discount on paperbacks and 20% off hardcovers, but book purchase is not required. Email jenny@vermontbookshop.com to RSVP or for more information. Thanks to Nino’s for providing the PIZZA!
Wednesdays, 5-6 pm
June 28: The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm
July 12: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
July 26: Lemons by Melissa Savage
And check out the fun & free Summer Reading for Youth of All Ages! program Ilsley Public Library has organized. Kids will keep track of the number of days they read a significant amount of time. For every 5 days of reading, kids can fill out a raffle ticket. After 20 days of reading they get a creemee coupon and after 40 days participants will earn a book and mystery prize. Kids are also invited to Read Without Walls* by reading books outside of their comfort zone. By filling out a worksheet or writing a book review, kids can earn additional raffle tickets. The program runs from Monday, June 19th through Saturday, August 19th. Sign-up begins June 1st at 10am at the Library and continues throughout the program.
*The Reading Without Walls Challenge was created by the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yang. The challenge encourages readers, in three steps, to explore books of diverse voices, genres, and formats, a book outside your comfort zone:
- A book about a character who doesn’t look or live like you. Diversity comes in many forms: race, religion,
gender, geography, sexual orientation, class, ability, and more. - A book about a topic you don’t know much about. Explore your world with a STEM book (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). You don’t have to be an all-star athlete to dive into a book on sports. History isn’t all facts and dates. Immerse yourself in a memoir, historical fiction, or nonfiction title.
- A book in a format that you don’t normally read for fun. A picture book; a chapter book; a graphic novel; a book in verse.
And back at the Vermont Book Shop, CLUB READ is a reading motivational program that encourages kids to read and then review books. Kids read any book they choose (can be combined with Reading Without Walls challenge), pick up a book review template/guidelines and a Club Read card. Write a review, turn it in and get a hole punch for each qualifying review. When kids have filled their card with hole punches (written 10 reviews), they will get a $20 gift card to spend at the Vermont Book Shop.