Summer vacation began for my kids this past Thursday and I don't know who was looking forward to it more: them or me. Why am I so excited? First and foremost, rigid schedules are gone! Next, I don't have to make lunches when my eyes are barely open. (And, yes, I have thought about making lunches the night before, but, no, that never happens.) I also love having the kids home--but, almost re-thought that one on their first day off. (One day I need to come up with a list of exactly how many things a pair of siblings can argue about in one given day.) Photo courtesy Photos8.com
I also love watching them bring home piles of books from the library each time we go. But, it's getting harder these days: My kids have fallen into a pattern of judging a book by the cover.
Me in the library: "What about this one?"
Kid 1 or Kid 2: "Nah..."
Me in the library: "Did you read the back or the inside jacket?"
Kid 1 or Kid 2: "Nah..."
Me in the library: "Umm...How do you know it won't be interesting."
Kid 1 or Kid 2: "The cover is a yucky color."
Me in the library: "Umm...oh...okay."
So, it occurred to me that if I can get them psyched about some titles before we get to the library, that maybe they'll want to seek out those books. They each got a reading list from school, and that should help, but they've read many of the books on those lists. And, for Kyle, his list involves assigned projects that he'll have to hand in at the start of the school year. So, right off the bat, he wants to find "his own stuff."
There's nothing like telling a kid who loves to read that he HAS to read to make him resist reading. I mean imagine if someone told you that you HAD to eat chocolate...wouldn't you....okay...bad example.
Anyway, in the interest of keeping kids reading this summer--yours and mine--here is a list of links to Summer Reading Resources:
Surf Net Kids (kids can find places to submit book reviews)
Summer Releases for Teens and Tweens!
If you find any books that make an impression on your kid this summer, please share it here!
