Summer Days-- Days for relaxing, sleeping late, gardening, riding bikes, playing and watching baseball, seeing the moon rise, and the stars and fireflies shine. Who appreciates Summer more than Wisconsinites? Who could? Days that include time to read are the most precious gift of all. Since a reward for things you would do anyway is always appreciated, here are summer reading programs for the children. At Hoover School, the children each receive a bag of books and a reading log at the end of the school year. Every child that reads ten books, records them in the reading log, and returns the log in September will receive a free book and an entry into the raffle drawing. Younger children will be able to participate by having Mom or Dad read to them over the summer.
Other reading programs abound over the summer and we hope the children will take advantage their time off to read the summer away. Both West Allis and New Berlin Public Libraries have a program called One World, Many Stories. The children can earn passes to many Milwaukee attractions including the State Fair and the Zoo by reading.
The West Allis Public Library link: www.ci.west-allis.wi.us/library/summer_reading.aspx
The New Berlin Public Library link: http://www.newberlin.lib.wi.us/
Half-Price Books and Barnes and Noble also have programs in which children can earn new books by keeping track of their reading. Details are available on their websites.
Half-Price Books: www.hpb.com/community/fyb
Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp
Challenge your child to read this summer--more than you do. Keep a posted list of each other's reading on the 'fridge. Record minutes read rather than number of books to keep things equal. Set goals at points during the summer, times when a mini celebration can take place; Fourth of July, Bastille Day, and the beginning of State Fair, when a special treat--something as simple as an ice cream cone at Copps or Oscars--rewards you both. Plan a bigger reward for the end of summer. Can you both read a thousand minutes over the summer? What a wonderful bond you will build with your children reading and talking books.
