Yesterday, I shared a Summer Reading List for Girls. Today, the boys take a turn at sharing their favorites. However, in case you haven't read the other list, I'd like to share again what I said at the beginning of it:
Summer reading is full of fun and fascination.
At times, it seems like summer reading is less important.
Aside from reporting titles or time to optional summer reading programs, children typically don't have to do anything with the books they read. We require little to no narration, book reports, or literature guides. In fact, our children are free to enjoy the books just for the sake of enjoyment! Perhaps this is the most important kind of reading then. {Reading to enjoy books, novel idea, eh?}
Which leads me to believe that maybe...
Summer reading is more important.
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My boys, who are in the early elementary and middle school years, enjoy books, which makes this book-lovin' momma happy. The following listing is a variety of books within a wide range of reading levels. Since my youngest is not quite reading extensively on his own yet, my oldest son's favorites dominate the listing. However, he is a veracious reader with many books to share.
All of the books have been found on our bookshelves, our friends' bookshelves, or the local library.
Classics & Good Books
- King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, by Roger Lancelyn Green
- The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann Wyss
- Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
- Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne
- Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham
- The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper
- Swift Rivers, by Cornelia Meigs
- The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
Biographies
- David Livingstone: Africa's Trailblazer, by Janet Benge
- George Washington Carver: Man's Slave Becomes God's Scientist, by David Collins
Book Series
- Sugar Creek Gang series, by Paul Hutchens
- The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis
- Lord of the Rings trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Hardy Boys, by Franklin W. Dixon {Our sons read the older versions, not the newer.}
- Viking Quest series, by Lois Walfrid Johnson
- Concord Cunningham: The Scripture Sleuth, by Mat Halverson
Picture Books
- Miss Nelson Is Missing, by Harry G. Allard, Jr.
- Doctor Desoto, by William Steig
- Do Like a Duck Does, by Judy Hindley
- The Biggest Bear, by Lynd Ward
- Ellison the Elephant, by Eric Drachman
- Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
Personal Favorites:
Though they recommend all the books on this listing, these are the current favorites in our household.
- Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
- Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne
- Sugar Creek Gang series, by Paul Hutchens
*Links provided for further investigation, not affiliate links.
*Parents should provide guidance in children's reading choices. What is acceptable to one family, may not be to another.
Do you let your kids pick their own summer reading list? I have one that doesn't enjoy reading and will almost always pick comics to read. I have let him pick in the past, but didn't feel that went well. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Meredith. The short answer: We do a combination. They are allowed to select up to seven library books each visit. I encourage 7 different kinds of books, but am not too strict on it. I do approve for content. I then select a variety of books I think they will like (going by their interests) - mostly nonfiction and classics. These sit in a basket in our family room and for the most part, the children will go through and read them (usually after they have finished their selections).
DeleteSometimes, there is one I really think they will like, but no one wants to read it on their own. Then, I throw that one into our read aloud pile. This usually works (we have had some serious busts - Gulliver's Travels was one). If they enjoy it as a read aloud, they return to it to read it by themselves.
Also, we allow audio books to count. Our reluctant reader is very much into listening to the book.
If your son likes comics, the classics are available in comic form. Perhaps, it could be a way to help him become familiar with the storyline and characters and then maybe move on to the actual book version. {Classic Illustrated Graphic Novels is one series which is in comic version.}
I have compiled the list of my friends' recommendations for chapter books. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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