My 6-year-old is reluctant reader. This summer, I aim to change that, so I’ve put some fun fantasies, lots of animal books, and some entertaining, danger-filled stories on his summer reading list.
Here’s a look at the books he’ll be reading.
1. Maybe a Fox, by Kathi Appelt (a wonderful story about sisters and a fox, illustrated by one of my favorite artists: Alison McGhee)
2. The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman (a short, sweet read about a spoiled prince and his brave whipping boy)
3. Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai (a wonderful story about an immigrant girl. It’s written in verse, which means it’ll make him feel like he’s reading fast.)
4. How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell (an imaginative story with dragons, Vikings, and brave children.)
5. Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (a heartwarming story about a boy and a special dog.)
6. Woof, by Spencer Quinn (a fun mystery with a girl, a dog, and a stolen prize marlin.)
7. The Tale of Despereax, by Kate DiCamillo (one of my favorite fantasies about a mouse who becomes a knight.)
8. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo (another of my favorite fantasies about a stuffed bunny who goes on a trip and rediscovers love.)
9. Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo (a beautiful story about a girl named Opal and a dog named Winn-Dixie.)
10. I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, by Lauren Tarshis (an adventurous tale of a kid who survived the sinking of the Titanic. The whole I Survived series would be great for reluctant readers.)
11. I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, by Lauren Tarshis (another adventurous story about a kid who survives the destruction of Pompeii.)
12. The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown (a wonderfully entertaining tale about a robot stuck on an island. Brown’s sequel to this one comes out this year!!!)
12. Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein (another of my favorite poetry books by Silverstein—because poetry is good for kids.)
You’ll notice that Kate DiCamillo makes quite a few appearances on this list. That’s not only because she’s one of my favorite writers but also because she has a way of wrapping a story around a kid that makes them feel like they’re not required to sit and read for an hour every day—they’re actually choosing to. And this is exactly what I want my 6-year-old to get from this summer’s reading list.
The books mentioned above have affiliate links attached to them, which means I’ll get a small kick-back if you click on them and purchase. But I only recommend books I enjoy reading myself. Actually, I don’t even talk about books I didn’t enjoy. I’d rather forget I ever wasted time reading them. (But if you’re curious whether I’ve read something and what I thought about it, don’t hesitate to ask.)
