Choose a Great Book with Book Trailers

Have you ever watched the previews at the movies and thought, "Wow! I can't wait to see that!"

With book trailers, you can get the same experiences. Book trailers help you to preview titles and see what amazing stories lurk beneath those covers.

Here is a playlist that I made to showcase some great book trailers.



Like what you see? Stop by your local library to pick up a title or two. And sign up for the summer reading program at the same time!

If you have a favorite book, why not try to make your own book trailer?

Poetry for Summer Reading

Ah, summer--a great time for sitting around the campfire and watching the flames flicker. Summer is also a great time for reading poetry with kids. Poems can be short, bite-size reading experiences that are just perfect for sharing together. Around a campfire, around the kitchen table, or even around the backseat of a car, poetry makes for unforgettable reading experiences. Here are some of our favorites.


The Great Frog Race by Kristine O'Connell George

Doesn't the cover of this book just look like summer? We love the poems in this book because they just capture the feeling of a summer night. When families read poems together, you can try passing the book around, letting each person read a poem of their choice. You could also leave a book of poetry on the kitchen table all day for family members to read at their leisure, and then share favorites over dinner.

Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs by Douglas Florian

The poems of Douglas Florian are filled with fun word play. This book highlights different reptiles and amphibians. 

One great aspect of poetry books is that readers can skip around until they find a poem that speaks to them. If you are sharing this book with your kids, you might notice that they gravitate to specific poems. This brings up a great discussion point--which poems do you like, and why? It's always interesting to hear that different perspectives.

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman

Kids who love animals will enjoy this book, which pairs poems about night creatures with short informational texts about the different animals. This would be a great book to enjoy on a camping trip!


Poems on Video
Performance is an important aspect of poetry. Listening to poems read aloud is a good way for kids to become familiar with the sounds of poems. Disney has made a series of poems read aloud called "A Poem Is..." You can find the poems beginning at about the 30 second mark in each video.



These are fun to watch together. Adults and kids can talk about how the video selected to go along with the poem impacts your understanding of the poem. Do you like the video, or do you think it detracts from the poem?

What poems have you discovered that make you think of summer?

Hmm...what should I read?

Summer is a great time to try new books--or settle back and relax with familiar favorites. If you're not sure of what to try, use these resources to find some great selections.

Booklists by Grade: This resource from the Montgomery County, MD library system offers a wide selection of choices for different grade levels. You can use this list to help you plan a trip to your own local library.

Tails and Scales: This list from Guys Read includes books about animals, and it's sure to appeal to all readers.

Book-A-Day Almanac: Each day, Anita Silvey highlights a different book. Some are old and familiar, while others are new. A great blog for families and children to share.

Graphic Novels: Excited to try more graphic novels? This page from the ALA highlights graphic novels by grade level.

Welcome!

Summer is a great time for students to develop their literacy skills! Studies have shown that, when students choose what to read over the summer, they can improve as readers.

This plan is designed to give students engaging, fun choices of ways to build their literacy skills over the summer. Some goals, like reading chapter books, are probably familiar. Others, like reading pamphlets and maps, are designed to make the most of ordinary summer activities. There is learning everywhere—and it can be relevant, fun, and engaging for students and their families.

As you and your child complete the Summer Literacy Plan, discuss what else will be happening over the summer. Perhaps you can join a summer reading program at a nearby library. Maybe you have plans to visit family or travel. These experiences can become part of the literacy activities. After all, learning is all around us!