A guest post from Heather Moran, founder of The The Book Club!
We’ve all been there—June & July hit, the school routine is long gone, and that summer reading log is collecting more dust than books are getting opened. But here’s the thing: summer reading doesn’t have to feel like a chore (for you or your kids).
Here are five easy, creative, and actually fun ways to keep the pages turning all summer long:
1. Use a Summer Reading Passport
Instead of a basic reading log, give your child a passport for a reading adventure. Our Summer Reading Passport helps kids track the books they read by category—like “A book with an animal,” “A book that makes you laugh,” or “A book that takes place in a different country.”
Every book earns a new “stamp,” and by the end of the summer, they’ll have a passport full of stories and memories. (And you’ll have zero guilt about that dusty reading log.)
Click here to download your free Summer Reading Passport!
2. Let Them Pick
Kids are way more likely to read if they’re choosing books they actually want to read—not just our personal childhood favorites we are trying to push onto them. Take a trip to the library or bookstore and let them roam free (within reason, of course). Choice is a magical thing.
Pro tip: graphic novels, joke books, and audiobooks all count.
3. Make It Social
Start a low-key book club with neighborhood kids, siblings, or classmates. One book a month, popsicles during discussion time, and lots of giggles. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just consistent. Reading becomes way more exciting when there’s a social piece attached (and snacks).
4. Bring Books Everywhere
Keep a stash of books in the car, in beach bags, next to the sunscreen—basically, everywhere your kid might get “bored.” Waiting at a restaurant? Reading time. Rainy day? Reading Time. Snuggled up in a pile of clean laundry you just folded? That counts too.
5. Audiobooks for Summer Road Trips
Heading out on a road trip? Make the miles fly by with a great audiobook the whole family can enjoy. Think Matilda, The Wild Robot, or Charlotte’s Web—you’ll be amazed how quickly the ride goes when they are busy listening instead of asking “Are we there yet?” every six minutes.
Bonus: it’s screen-free entertainment and really amazing for listening comprehension. Win-win.
Whether you’ve got a reluctant reader, a bookworm, or a kid who falls somewhere in between, summer is a perfect time to build joyful reading habits.
Don’t forget to grab your FREE Summer Reading Passport here! Let’s raise readers—no nagging required.
