Bring Stories to Life: Creative Ideas for Summer Reading Programs

5 ideas that will help spark excitement around summer reading

Summer has officially started and with that kids will splash into pools, visit new places and people and enjoy all the beauty of the summer season. The hope is also that children will invest in reading and maintaining the growth that they experienced in the school year that they just completed. Many libraries, cities and communities host Summer Reading Programs over summertime. If you local community does not happen to have one of these programs you and some of your friends, colleagues or neighbors can get together and create your own idea for a reading program of your own.  

1. Suitcase Reading Log

To start out on this journey it helps to have a plan of how to track or log the books that your child is reading. This could be as simple as writing them down on a piece of paper but if you really want to spark some fun and excitement in your kids you can make this a creative project. Sit your kids down at the beginning of the summer and present their summer reading as an enjoyable challenge. Your energy level with this can really help get the children invested. Explain that every book they read is a way to travel to new places, explore new learning and build new friends with the characters that they read about. Then show them an example of your own Suitcase Reading Log. Let them know that they are going to get to create and build their own log over the summer. To make this reading log you will need to grab out your  MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine. Using bright colorful paper can be a simple way to get your kids interested because they get to choose the fun colors they like for their reading log. Cut out the suitcases using the Luggage Die Cut and have them ready for each child to pick out when they complete each book. Use a binder ring to put the books together. To showcase their reading you can have them write the book name, author, illustrator, and a favorite fact or element from their book. They can also rate the book out of 5 stars.   

2. “Shhhhh… I’m Reading in Here” Door Sign

Making reading time a sacred time is a great way to promote how special this time can be. Using a designated time of the day each day for reading is a nice way to make reading predictable and routine for your kids. Setting aside 20 to 30 minutes daily during the summer break when kids can read independently, with a sibling or even with a parent is a great way to encourage reading every day in the summer. This is a nice way to get some quiet time for their brains as well. For kids reading independently, assign them a space such as a room. They can make one of these door signs to let people know they are not to be disturbed while they are reading. To make them use the MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine as well as Door Hanger #1 Die Cut  for each of your kids. They can decorate them with markers and elements from different die cuts that you have. The one used in this image was the Test Tube Die Cut.  Let the kids be creative and unique with what they want the sign to say as a way to make it their own. 

3. Invite your Friends

When you start this exciting reading program for the summer you might want to have a launch party or a blast off bash to get started. This is another great way to get the kids excited and challenged to read as much as they can during their time off from school. To let people know about the get together you can have your kids create these adorable invitations that will be sure to get others interested in attending. Make these invitations by using your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to cut out the Bookworm #2 Die Cut for each invitation. Use construction paper or cardstock to cut out any shape of what you would like for the card to be. Add the details of the party, glue on the bookworm and pass them out. Make sure to extend the reading theme in fun ways for your party. Make cupcakes and line them up to look like a bookworm. Use stacks of books for the decorations and then present the summer reading program as something that will be fun and helpful for them to participate in. This is a way to make reading a community based activity and it will be something the kids can connect on and explore throughout the summer months. 

4. Reading Star Pockets

When your kids have books that they LOVE you can have them add them to a Reading Star Pocket, this is like a collection of favorites that they can come back to and share with others. After having a launch party you can also organize and plan several other hangouts throughout the summer to have the children share about their reading. An afternoon at the park, a mid-morning tea party, a movie night that is an adaptation of a book are all ways to bring the kids together and get them talking about reading. Each child who participates would get one of these star pockets and they can bring them to the event to share a few of their favorite books by pulling out a few stars. To create these get out your MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to use when cutting out both the Folder Slash Die Cut and the Star #1 Die Cuts. Start by  cutting one slash pocket folder for each child.  Next, cut one small star and several large stars for each child as well. Then fold the pocket on the perforated lines and use glue to adhere the small star on the folder with the kid’s name.  Then as students read books that they would say is a 5 star book, ask them to write title and the author on large star and insert in pocket folder.  

5. Repeat the Facts

One of the great things about reading books is the knowledge that is gained from within their pages. Finding a fun way to note interesting facts or to highlight amazing characters and events in stories is a wonderful way to keep the books alive for kids. These parrots are an amazing way to write down these important elements from their reading. Make these birds by using the MARK 5 Die Cutting Machine to cut out the Circle- 5” Die Cut, and the Circle- 7” Die Cut. Begin by cutting out three 7" red circles for the body and four different colored 7" circles for the tail. Cut one red circle and the four different colored circles in half. Then use the 5" circle die to cut out white and black paper. Next, cut the black circle in half and use that for the beak of the parrot. You can use a small circle punch for the eyeball. Once everything is cut out, assemble your parrot. Get creative and use different colors for your own unique parrot and embellish with crayons once assembled. As your child reads their story they can add details and facts to the tail of the parrot. This is something they can bring to share at the end of the summer hang out if you plan one. 

These simple projects and crafts will create excitement around summer reading and it will bring kids together to talk about what they are reading and will help prevent the summer slide that can happen for so many kids over the summer months. 

Written by Amy Pinegar