By Maria-Nefeli Andredaki,
Summer is the perfect time for books! Endless hours on the beach, picnics, boats and hammocks provide countless opportunities to dive deep into fantasy or mystery worlds, learn and enjoy our surroundings, while the cicadas sing their joyous song. People on the beach with books in their hands are not an uncommon sight. But what about the children who are not so fond of running around all day? The ones who prefer the quiet and alone-time of the village or the typical bookworms? Well, in that case, and with the qualification of having been a bookworm-kid myself, here are a few recommendations that every member of the family can enjoy and bring along on their journey!
1) “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr Seuss
Starting off with our younger readers, Cat in the Hat is a great and simple read about a brother and a sister who are left at home with nothing to do. I am sure that many youngsters will relate, in one way or another, to the unavoidable boredom that one has to face during the three hottest months of the year. There is just so much time! Well, Sally and her brother are in for a surprise, since- completely out of the blue, a strange talking cat (wearing a hat!) comes to turn their house, quite literally, upside down! The book is written in anapestic meter and the text always rhymes, making the read melodious, exciting and ideal for the improvement of the child’s reading abilities and pronunciation.
2) “THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT” by Drew Daywalt
Have you ever wondered about how misplaced or overused crayons feel? Well, me neither, but apparently they are able to write letters of complaint to their owners! This book will have the whole family laughing with how humorous, imaginative, but also realistic some of these grumpy crayons actually sound. Who can blame Pink Crayon for demanding that Duncan’s sister stopped using it for a bit, or Brown Crayon for being the designated “poop color”? What about the crayons that are forgotten behind couch cushions or the ones that accidentally find themselves at the bottom of a pool? This book, with its short and smart letters, as well as the crayon-like pictures, will provide lots of entertainment on a slow day. It is also an opportunity to talk about feelings and empathy, which is highly educational.
3) “My Hero Academia” by Kohei Horikoshi
Manga is always a good idea, not only because it resembles the more familiar comics, but because there is a tremendously wide range of stories to choose from, depending on the reader’s age and interests. I have actually done some academic work on the value of manga in an educational, literature-related environment, so you can be sure that I’m a big supporter of children getting into manga. My Hero is a personal favourite because it narrates the story of Izuku, a kid who was born with no special powers, with the dream of becoming a powerful hero. A school for hero-training, a bunch of goofy teachers, friendships and, of course, lots of villains, sounds like the perfect summery read that will transport you to a new, exciting world. Its only downside is the fact that manga series tend to be a bit long so, provided that your small bookworm enjoys it, prepare your pockets for some financial damage!
4) Graded readers
If you have a knack for classics and want to introduce your child to this kind of genre, but you are not sure if they would be able to handle them, here is your solution! Graded readers are small retellings of classic books, such as Jane Eyre or The Great Gatsby, created by English textbook publishers and curated for each level. For instance, if your child is at an A2 CEFR level in their English-learning journey, you can easily search what classics are available and from which publishers. The text is usually accompanied by pictures, questions and quizzes, since their purpose is to supplement language-learning. I would personally suggest Shakespeare’s plays, since it is a good way for the younger ones to become more familiar with Shakespeare’s work, without the difficult vocabulary.
And remember, don’t pressure anyone into reading! While reading can be extremely beneficial and educational, we don’t get anything out of forcing books on children. Let them explore their interests and find something they will truly enjoy.
References
- Parent and Kid Reviews on The Cat in the Hat. Common Sense Media. Available here
- Parents’ Guide to The Day the Crayons Quit. Common Sense Media. Available here
