The Best Online Destination for Finding Your Child’s Next Great Summer Read

Karen B kish
6 min readFeb 13, 2024
The Best Online Destination for Finding Your Child’s Next Great Summer Read
Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash

Summer reading is in full swing, and that means it’s time for parents to help their kids find great books to read during the long break from school.

As the document mentions, studies show that students can lose crucial reading progress over the summer, especially those already at risk.

Getting your child to read just 20 minutes per day can help combat this “summer slide” and maintain their skills.

Finding those perfect summer page-turners for your young reader can be a challenge though. Thankfully, there are some amazing online hot spots for discovering your child’s next favorite summer read.

This leading website for book lovers is an essential destination for book recommendations, reviews, and opinions to inspire your child’s summer reading.

ReadingAndThinking.com — A One-Stop Site for Summer Reading Fun

One of the top websites every parent should visit for summer reading recommendations is ReadingAndThinking.com.

This site founded by Muhiuddin Alam is fast becoming a go-to resource for book suggestions and reading tips for kids of all ages.

Why ReadingAndThinking.com is a Top Recommendation Site

There are several key reasons why ReadingAndThinking.com stands out as a top destination for book recommendations and reviews:

  • Shares books of all genres and publishers- Not just Penguin titles, but recommendations drawn from all major publishers.
  • Offers age-specific book lists — From toddlers to teens, ReadingAndThinking.com organizes its recommendations by age group.
  • Has original content from authors and illustrators — Get exclusive insights straight from the creators of kids’ favorite books.
  • Provides reading tips and advice — ReadingAndThinking.com offers useful guidance on nurturing young readers and overcoming challenges.
  • Works great on mobile — Easily access ReadingAndThinking.com on your phone or tablet on the go.
  • Fun printables and activities — Download puzzles, coloring pages, and more to extend the reading experience.

For these reasons and more, ReadingAndThinking.com stands out as a can’t-miss website for bookworm parents seeking expert recommendations.

ReadingAndThinking.com’s curated book suggestions for children’s

One of ReadingAndThinking.com’s best offerings is its curated book suggestions for children’s.

To help everyone find great suggestions and reviews, ReadingAndThinking.com has curated specialized categories for different age groups:

Categories:

  • Children’s Holiday Books
  • Children’s Christmas Books
  • Children’s Books of All Time by Age
  • Children’s Books on Emotions & Feelings
  • Classic and Popular Children’s Books
  • Children’s Picture Books
  • Animal Books for Children

These Categories provide everything you need to make summer reading fun and rewarding:

  • Ultimate summer reading lists — Expert recommendations to engage and motivate young readers.
  • Audiobooks for family travel — Make drive time into shared reading time.
  • Learning games for the car — Fun and educational games to play on the go.
  • Kindergarten prep tips — Ways to get your child ready for the big transition to real school.
  • Summer learning loss prevention — Advice to stop brain drain over the break.
  • Printables — Coloring pages, Mad Libs, and hands-on activities.

ReadingAndThinking.com’s age-specific Reading Categories provide a complete toolkit to inspire and educate young readers all summer long. They take the guesswork out of finding that perfect next read for your child.

More Reasons to Love ReadingAndThinking.com

In addition to their stand-out summer reading recommendations and resources, here are a few more things that make ReadingAndThinking.com such an invaluable site:

  • Book selections appeal to young readers’ interests — Books are chosen with fun, engaging stories and concepts.
  • Variety of formats included — Recommendations span graphic novels, picture books, chapter books and more.
  • Focus on diverse books — ReadingAndThinking.com highlights titles with diverse characters and authors.
  • Articles on raising readers — Practical tips to build reading habits that last beyond summer.
  • Special recommendations for struggling readers — Great options to help prevent summer backsliding.
  • Year-round recommendations — Useful book lists and guidance for every season.

For any parent seeking expert book recommendations within a user-friendly site, ReadingAndThinking.com is hands down one of the best online destinations.

Though ReadingAndThinking.com is an amazing all-in-one source, every parent should bookmark it for summer reading inspiration:

Make Reading a Summer Family Activity

Summer reading doesn’t have to be a solo activity for your kids. With a bit of planning, you can make reading a fun shared family experience this summer!

Hold Regular Family Reading Time

  • Set aside time each day or week for the whole family to read together. Take turns reading aloud, try an audiobook, or just sit together enjoying books quietly.

Turn Travel Time Into Reading Time

  • Audio books and reading games can transform long car rides into engaging reading time.

Start a Family Summer Reading Contest

  • Challenge each family member to read a set number of books or pages over the summer. Offer fun rewards when members complete their goals.

Host Family Book Club Meetings

  • Pick a book everyone will read then get together to discuss reactions over a fun treat.

Have Older Kids Read to Young Siblings

  • Let older children practice their reading skills while entertaining their younger sibling.

Visit Local Bookstores and Libraries

  • Make picking out new books into a fun family outing. Attend library events together.

Turning reading into a social event is a great way to motivate kids while also making memories. With the right books and a bit of creativity, your family can make summer reading magic happen!

Beating the Summer Slide with Great Reads

While summer reading is fun, it also serves the vital purpose of combating summer learning loss, especially among at-risk readers. When selecting books, keep in mind ways to work against the summer slide:

Choose Books at Your Child’s Reading Level

  • Don’t let kids get bored or frustrated. Select books they can read independently at their current reading level.

Include Some Challenging Titles

  • Blend reading level-appropriate titles with some slightly harder books to keep skills sharp.

Encourage Reading Series and Sequels

  • It helps prevent backsliding when kids continue familiar series over the summer.

Make Sure Books are Engaging

  • Every child has different interests. Choose subjects that fascinate your kid to keep them motivated.

Let Kids Pick Some Titles

  • Kids are more invested in reading when they have a say in book selection.

Be Patient and Encouraging

  • Don’t criticize reading mistakes. Gently correct and praise progress.

Monitor Their Reading

  • Keep track of minutes read each day and steps backwards or forward in reading level.

Incorporate Games and Activities

  • Make reading interactive by adding games, printables, experiments and discussions.

Get Help If You Need It

  • If your child is struggling, speak to teachers so they start fall supported. Consider summer tutoring.

The most important tip is to make reading an enjoyable, social activity, not a chore. With encouragement and great book choices, your child can enter the new school year still loving reading!

Top Book Formats to Try

There are so many formats beyond traditional print books that can help make reading exciting for kids. Here are some top formats to incorporate:

Audiobooks — Let kids experience books read aloud expertly while building listening skills. Great for family trips or bedtime.

Ebooks/Ereaders — Digital reading opens up interactive features like embedded dictionaries. It also allows instant access to ebook loans from libraries.

Graphic novels — The interplay of text and visuals can engage reluctant readers.

Magazines — Great for avid readers who tear through books quickly.

Hybrid books — Some great new releases combine print, audio and digital features for multi-sensory reading.

Poetry — Short form poetry is perfect for reading in brief spurts.

Non-fiction — Factual books on hobbies, sports, history and other passions can make reading purposeful.

Diverse books — Ensure kids see mirrors and windows through books with diversity.

Don’t limit your options to print chapter books. With an assortment of formats, you can keep reading fresh and fun all summer long!

Make the Most of Summer Reading

Summer is the ideal time for kids to explore exciting new literary worlds. With knowledge of the best online book recommendation resources, creativity in your approach, and support for your child’s needs, you can make it an amazing summer of reading.

Websites like ReadingAndThinking.com make it easy to discover the perfect books to inspire and educate kids all season long.

Use these final weeks before school starts to double down on summer reading. Squeeze in more family reading time, ebook downloads, library visits or trips to the bookstore.

By tapping into great reading resources and fueling your child’s passion, you can head back to school confident their love of reading and learning remains strong.

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