Summer Reading
Summer Reading Blogpost 2021
Our school year 2020-2021 was one for the (history) books! Virtual and hybrid school presented unique challenges for students, families and staff but we made it to the last day of school! Parents are transitioning to summer plans for their children and thinking about the pool, camps and fun. As we do that, let’s make sure to keep literacy alive this summer and engage with our kids around great books.
Summer slide is what happens when a child leaves the school year reading at one level and returns several levels below. Our brains are a muscle and they need a work out to stay strong. So, whether students are reading easy books or challenge books, comics, graphic novels or a series of books or even audiobooks, encourage them to keep going! Any reading is real reading - even if there are pictures or listening involved! Keep it engaging and fun and your kids will want to keep reading!
What can you do as parents to help? Start here first:
- Visit FHES staff at our summer bookmobile and take home some free books June 22nd, July 6th, July20th, and Aug 3rd from 10:00-11:00 at Idlywood Village West at the corner of Los Pueblos and Pimmit Run Streets in Falls Church.
- Visit the library or a bookstore and encourage them to pick a book they’ll enjoy
- Participate in a summer reading log program (see below for more information)
- Let your children read whatever age-appropriate books they want
- Offer to read part (or all!) of a book with them or to them - we’re never too old to listen to a read aloud
- Read the book then watch the movie https://imaginationsoup.net/childrens-books-adapted-movies/
- Encourage your child to start a bookclub with a few friends
- Listen to a great audiobook during a family road trip. There are lots of adventure stories out there that will interest the whole family! https://www.rd.com/culture/family-audiobooks/
- Flexibility can be key to keeping reading happening in the summer so let your kiddos “ear” read and listen to audiobooks on their own too
- Most importantly, talk to your children about what’s happening in the stories you read together and what it might meana
Looking for even more ideas? Take at look at these:
Use Imagine Language and Literacy (previously known as Imagine Learning) 20 min a day before playing video games. Kids will have access to their Imagine Learning most of the summer. https://freedomhilles.fcps.edu/digital-learning-tools This adaptive site customizes your child’s activities to their working reading level. Be sure not to help your children in the activities beyond clarifying directions or the program will customize itself to the parents working reading level and frustrate your child!
Read on myon! Students will have access to their myOn account most of the summer. https://freedomhilles.fcps.edu/digital-learning-tools
Fairfax County Public Library’s summer reading program:
https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/summer-reading
Finish reading the required number of books by August 13th and go to a library branch to pick up your coupon book which has a variety of free prizes and discounts.
- Earn badges for reading through the Fairfax County Public Library’s Beanstack website
- Calendar of library events: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events
B&N summer reading program (read and earn a book!)
Fill out the B & N Journal in English or Spanish
James Patterson’s book recommendations for kids by age:
http://www.readkiddoread.com/reviews
WETA and Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Website with the ability to find books by topic and lots of great summer reading ideas: https://www.startwithabook.org/
Please feel free to reach out to our reading specialist, Mrs. Rossman or our librarian, Mrs. Trott with any questions before June 14th.
Here are book lists by reading level:
DRA Levels A-4
|
Title |
Author |
|
Boats (Step-Into-Reading, 1) |
Shana Corey |
|
Little Sister |
Robin Mitchell |
|
Little Bear |
Diane Namm |
|
Train Song |
Harriet Ziefert |
|
Do You Want to Be My Friend? |
Eric Carle* |
|
Have You Seen My Cat? |
Eric Carle* |
|
Count and See |
Tana Hoban* (series) |
|
One Hunter |
Pat Hutchins |
|
Rain |
Robert Kalan |
|
Brown Bear, Brown Bear |
Bill Martin (series) |
|
Have You Seen My Duckling? |
Nancy Tafuri* |
|
Brian Wildsmith’s ABC’s |
Brian Wildsmith* |
|
Bathtime for Biscuit (series) |
Alyssa Satin Capucilli* |
|
I Went Walking |
Sue Williams |
|
Any simple nursery rhyme |
Various Authors |
|
Any ABC Book |
Various Authors |
|
Now We Can Go |
Ann Jonas |
*Look for other books by this author.
DRA levels 6-10
|
Title |
Author |
|
Have You Seen My Cat? |
Eric Carle* |
|
Count and See |
Tana Hoban* |
|
Go, Dog, Go |
P.D. Eastman* |
|
Mouse Count |
Ellen Stoll |
|
I am a Seed |
Jean Marzollo |
|
Rosie’s Walk |
Pat Hutchins* |
|
Soccer Game |
Grace Maccarone |
|
Ten Black Dots |
Donald Crews* |
|
A Bug, A Bear, and A Boy |
David McPhail (series) |
|
Cookie’s Week |
Cindy Ward |
|
Five Monkeys Jumping On The Bed |
Eileen Christelow |
|
The Foot Book |
Dr. Seuss* |
|
Just Like Daddy |
Frank Asch |
|
Biscuit and the Little Pup (series) |
Alyssa Capucilli* |
|
Inside, Outside, Upside Down |
Stan and Jan Berenstain |
|
Morris the Moose |
Bernard Wiseman (series) |
|
Machines at Work |
Byron Barton* |
|
Cars |
Ann Rockwell* |
|
Harry Takes A Bath |
Harriet Ziefert |
|
Amy Loves the Snow |
Lillian Hoban (series) |
|
Where’s Spot? |
Eric Hill (series) |
*Look for other books by this author.
DRA levels 12-14
|
Title |
Author |
|
Elephant and Piggy |
Mo Willems (series) |
|
Itchy Itchy Chicken Pox |
Grace Maccarone |
|
The Carrot Seed |
Robert Krauss* |
|
Bread, Bread, Bread |
Ann Morris |
|
“What is That?” Said the Cat |
Grace Maccarone |
|
Biscuit Wants to Play |
Alyssa Capucilli (series) |
|
My Dog’s the Best! |
Stephanie Calmenson |
|
Wake Me In Spring |
James Preller |
|
Danny and the Dinosaur |
Syd Hoff* |
|
Put Me In the Zoo |
Robert Lopshire |
|
Horray For The Golly Sisters |
Sue Truesdell (series) |
|
One Fish, Two Fish … |
Dr. Seuss* |
|
Flying |
Donald Crews* |
|
A Picture For Harold’s Room |
Crockett Johnson |
|
George Shrinks |
William Joyce |
|
Three Kittens |
Mirra Ginsburg* |
|
Titch |
Pat Hutchins* |
|
I’m A Caterpillar |
Jean Marzollo* |
|
Little Critter Sleeps Over |
Mercer Mayer* (series) |
|
Morris the Moose |
Bernard Wiseman* (series) |
|
Sheep in a Jeep |
Nancy Shaw |
|
Sammy the Seal |
Syd Hoff* |
|
Gus and Grandpa |
Claudia Mills (series) |
*Look for other books by this author.
DRA levels 16-18
|
Title |
Author |
|
Are You My Mother? |
P.D. Eastman* |
|
Fix It |
David McPhail |
|
Fancy Nancy (I Can Read) |
Jane O’Connor |
|
The Peace Book |
Todd Marr* |
|
Little Bear |
Else Minarik (series) |
|
Mrs. Brice’s Mice |
Syd Hoff* |
|
Hattie and the Fox |
Mem Fox* |
|
The Little Red Hen |
Paul Galdone* |
|
Who’s Afraid of the Dark? |
Crosby Bonsall |
|
Fox and His Friends |
Edward Marshall (series) |
|
Green Eggs and Ham |
Dr. Seuss* |
|
Henry and Mudge |
Cynthia Rylant (series) |
|
Kick, Pass, and Run |
Leonard Kessler* |
|
Zelda and Ivy |
Laura McGee Kvasnosky (series) |
|
Mr. Putter and Tabby |
Cynthia Rylant (series) |
|
Young Cam Jansen |
David Adler (series) |
|
Mouse Soup |
Arnold Lobel (series) |
|
Poppleton |
Cynthia Rylant (series) |
|
Ten Apples Up On Top |
Theo LaSeig |
|
Apples and Pumpkins |
Ann Rockwell* |
|
The Missing Tooth |
Joanna Cole* |
|
Moris and Boris |
Bernard Wiseman (series) |
|
Arthurs’ Back to School Day |
Lillian Hoban (series) |
|
Digby and Kate |
Barbara Baker |
|
Fly Guy |
Tedd Arnold (series) |
|
Dragon Tales |
Dav Pilkey (series) |
*Look for other books by this author.
DRA levels 20-24
|
Title |
Author |
|
Pinky and Rex |
James Howe (series) |
|
Frog and Toad |
Arnold Lobel (series) |
|
Owl At Home |
Arnold Lobel (series) |
|
Amelia Bedelia |
Peggy Parish (series) |
|
A Pet For Me: Poems |
Lee Bennett Hopkins |
|
Whales: The Gentle Giants |
Joyce Milton |
|
George and Martha |
James Marshall (series) |
|
Dolphins! |
Sharon Bokoske |
|
Amazing Gorillas! |
Sarah Thomson |
|
Grandmas at Bat |
Emily Arnold McCully (series) |
|
Snowshoe Thompson |
Nancy Levinson |
|
The True Story of Balto |
Nathalie Standiford |
|
Lights Out! |
John Himmelman |
|
The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy |
Jane Thayer |
|
Any “I Can Read Book” Level 3 |
Various Authors |
|
Mercy Watson |
Kate DiCamillo (series) |
|
Nate the Great |
Marjorie Sharmat (series) |
|
High Rise Private Eyes |
Cynthia Rylant |
|
A is for Amber Brown |
Paula Danziger |
|
Tales of Oliver Pig |
Jean Van Leeuwen (series) |
|
Commander Toad in Space |
Jane Yolen (series) |
|
Cam Jansen |
David Adler (series) |
|
Houndsley and Catina |
James Howe (series) |
|
Ready, Freddy Series |
Abby Klein |
|
Amy Namey |
Megan McDonald (series) |
|
Minnie and Moo |
Denys Cazet (series) |
|
Space Dog |
Natalie Standiford (series) |
DRA levels 28-30
|
Title |
Author |
|
Marvin Redpost |
Louis Sachar (series) |
|
AtoZ Mysteries or Capital Mysteries |
Ron Roy (series) |
|
Magic Tree House |
Mary Pope Osbourne (series) |
|
The Littles |
John Peterson (series) |
|
Horrible Harry |
Suzy Kline (series) |
|
Flat Stanley |
Jeff Brown (series) |
|
The Amazing World of Stuart |
Sara Pennypacker |
|
Finding the Titanic |
Robert Ballard |
|
Tut’s Mummy |
Judy Donnelly |
|
Hurricanes |
Lorraine Jean Hopping |
|
Puppy Place |
Ellen Miles (series) |
|
Ballpark Mysteries |
David Kelly (series) |
|
Ivy and Bean |
Annie Barrows (series) |
|
Freckle Juice |
Judy Blume |
|
Picture Book of Jackie Robinson |
David Adler (series) |
|
Who Was Walt Disney? |
Whitney Stewart (series) |
|
The Pain and The Great One |
Judy Blume (series) |
|
The Lucky Baseball Bat |
Matt Christopher (series) |
|
Mice and Beans |
Pam Munoz Ryan |
|
Judy Moody and/or Stink Series |
Megan McDonald (series) |
|
Ready, Freddy Series |
Abby Klein |
|
Amy Namey |
Megan McDonald (series) |
|
Minnie and Moo |
Denys Cazet (series) |
|
Space Dog |
Natalie Standiford (series) |
|
Gooney Bird Greene |
Lois Lowry (series) |
|
Geronimo Stilton, Secret Agent |
Geronimo Stilton (series) |
|
Secrets of Droon |
Tony Abbott |
|
7x9 = Trouble |
Claudia Mills (series) |
|
Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Series |
Various Authors (nonfiction series) |
|
Phoebe G. Green |
Veera Hiranandani (series) |
DRA levels 34-38
|
Title |
Author |
|
Amber Brown Series |
Paula Danziger * |
|
Hamster and Cheese (Guinea Pig, Pet Show Private Eye Series) |
Colleen Venable |
|
Clementine Series |
Sara Pennypacker |
|
The Mouse and the Motorcycle |
Beverly Cleary* |
|
Jake Drake Series |
Andrew Clements* |
|
The Mad Scientist Academy Series |
Matthew McElligott |
|
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Series |
Betty MacDonald |
|
Baby Sitters Club Mystery Series |
Ann Martin |
|
Batman: An Origin Story |
John Sazaklis |
|
Ramona Series |
Beverly Cleary |
|
Bad Kitty Series |
Nick Bruel |
|
Captain Underpants Series |
Dav Pilkey |
|
Bunnicula Series |
James Howe |
|
Thea Stilton Series |
Thea Stilton |
|
Jake Maddox Series |
Jake Maddox |
|
Encyclopedia Brown Series |
Donald Sobol |
|
The Wayside School Series |
Louis Sachar |
|
Dark Night, The Batman Under Cover |
Paul Weissburg |
*Be sure to check out other books by this author!
DRA level 40
|
Title |
Author |
|
Sarah, Plain and Tall |
Patricia Maclachlan (series) |
|
Mr. Popper’s Penguins |
Atwater |
|
Little House on the Prairie |
Laura Ingalls Wilder (series) |
|
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
Roald Dahl* |
|
American Girl Series |
Various Authors |
|
Anastasia Krupnik |
Lois Lowry (series) |
|
Zooman Sam |
Lois Lowry |
|
Charlotte’s Web |
E.B. White |
|
The Terrible Two |
Jory John and Mac Barnett |
|
Frindle |
Andrew Clements |
|
Bunnicula |
James Howe (series) |
|
Sideways Stories |
Louis Sachar |
|
Dear Mr. Henshaw |
Beverly Cleary |
|
Homer Price |
Robert McClosky |
|
Dexter the Tough |
Margaret Peterson Haddix |
|
Love, Ruby Lavender |
Deborah Wiles |
|
Lucy Rose |
Katy Kelly (series) |
|
Babe and Me |
Dan Gutman (series) |
|
39 Clues |
Various Authors |
|
Hardy Boys |
Franklin Dixon |
|
Nancy Drew Mysteries |
Carolyn Keene |
|
My Father’s Dragon |
Rith Stiles Gannett (series) |
|
Pippi Longstockings |
Astrid Lindgren |
|
The Sisters Eight |
Lauren Baratz-Logsted |
|
Dork Diaries |
Rachel Renee Russell (series) |
|
If The Shoe Fits (Whatever After) |
Sarah Mlynowski (series) |
|
Melonhead |
Katy Kelly (series) |
|
Hank Zipzer |
Henry Winkler (series) |
|
Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) |
Lisa Yee |
|
The World According to Humphrey |
Betty G. Birney (series) |
*Look for other books by this author.