This summer, Puffin have launched their #StartaStory Summer reading campaign to encourage as many children as possible to get reading! They’ve put together a short list of suggestions for the best books for each age group, and have put together reading inspiration over on their website, where you can also sign up for the #StartaStory newsletter to get ideas direct to your inbox.
I’ve loved reading since I was very young, so it’s really important to me that my children get to know the magic of encouraging a good book too.
During the summer holidays, I’ve encouraged reading by getting new books for the kids, both fiction and non fiction. We were sent a brilliant bundle from Puffin including their suggested reads for each age group, which was great too as there’s something for everyone! More about Puffin’s suggested titles in a minute!
We’ve also been writing our own stories, which I find goes hand in hand with reading, and the more the children read the more they pick up exciting and interesting language for their own stories. One fun way the boys have been making stories this week is typing them up on the laptop, and illustrating them by taking pictures on the webcam, to add into the story. They’ve been bringing teddies to the camera to act out the different characters. This was their own idea so I pleased to see them come up with that!
Another simple way we get stories in to our day is by having a book on the go as a family. Although they each read their own books to themselves, I always like to have one book that their dad or I will read aloud to all of the kids together. We’ll either snuggle up on the sofa to read, or if we’ve had a busy day and are running late then I’ll read it in the kitchen while they drink milk and eat a snack before bed.
Having the boys read stories to their baby sister is another lovely way to share stories as a family, and to get Baby N excited about story time from a young age.
I have been thinking about reading nooks too, as we’ve been doing a bit of a garden make over this summer and I’d like to make a little reading nook in the empty space under the climbing frame. There’s nothing more relaxing than sneaking in somewhere quiet and comfy to have a read, so I think that would definitely give us some more opportunities to enjoy stories. There are more ideas for reading nooks over on the Puffin StartaStory page too.
Now… on to the book bundle I mentioned before!
Puffin have put together these suggestions for children aged 0-9+…
0-5 (and more suggestions for brilliant 0-5 books here)
The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson
5-9 (and more suggestions here)
The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop by Clare Balding
George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
9+ (and yet more super suggestions here!)
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter (The Making of The Long Haul) by Jeff Kinney
Wave Me Goodbye by Jacqueline Wilson
All of the books can be bought via Amazon. You’ll find direct links to each one via the age suggestion pages on Puffin website linked above.
Giveaway
Puffin are offering one lucky reader this bundle of brilliant books for their family. Enter via the Gleam widget below for your chance.
Good luck, and happy reading!
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
amazing giveaway
We try to get into longer stories because we’ve got more reading time with no school
We try to do activities that we can then see in books. Like going on a bear hunt in the woods etc.
I try shorter stories but more if them if we stick with the same book for to long they get bored
wow some cool books
Read books in the garden or during a picnic. Read more non-fiction books about nature and go on nature hunts!
read in the garden – rain permitting
Make sure to read at least five short stories every day.
lovely prize xx
i like to read in the garden x
i just find any excuse to read!
I like to read next the the swimming pool (when we are on holiday!) and I load plenty of books in my Kindle!
Take lots of books on holiday
Making reading part of the daily routine is key; that and plenty of choice.
My son loves his books!
I love reading so think it should be a daily thing, even if its just a few pages
We have a 30 mins reading time before bed, it helps calm everything down for the day and the kids actually look forward to it now.
we read everywhere…even in the supermarket trolley. love reading before bed . Finishes the day off perfectly.
We are choosing books together at the library each week. We always choose a long book that we can read together as night
We like to read in the garden.
both my son and daughter are books worms hoping my 3 year old follows in this interest x
We have put a reading tent up in the garden, with cushions and bean bags to make it fun and comfortable !
We love visiting the library, but equally have loads at home that the kids can pick from at bedtime xx
I loved Roald Dahl books so much as a kid, glad that kids today are still reading them
have a good selection for them to choose from also have plenty of illustrations on the pages ( less words)
Spend some time reading in nature, its a wonderful experience!
Spend time sitting in the garden and read with your children
My kids love reading fiction and also activity books
Book clubs with friends is a great idea 🙂
Make it as natural as possible – ask your kids to read the information labels at the zoo, encourage them to read books on the places you visit!
Visit your local library once a week and let your children choose some books to read.
we read together every day, in the summer we make extra trips to the library.
We like to read in the garden.
i like reading in the garden
Using the library reading trail to encourage children to read differnet types of books
Make use of your local library and the wonderful free reading and story-telling sessions they offer.
My daughters and I read every night before bed. We have so much fun going to the library over the summer and choosing books. My 6 year old has gotten really involved in the libraries bookathon
Reading before bed is a great habit as it calms you down before sleep.
Make it a group activity, like reading aloud together
Dear Anna, I really love your idea of participating your kids to book reading from such an early age. Growing up I really loved reading books from Roald Dahl. I would eagerly wait for the library at my school to open up every morning to get new books issued.
I must say I am quite amazed by the idea of your little boys writing a book with their Teddy as characters! Creative children I must say!
Keep up the great parenting. Happy reading! XX
My daughter hates reading and will gladly not pick up a book during the summer as she doesn’t have to so reading these tips will hopefully help me
Fantastic prize, Thank you for the opportunity, I have always read to my children and now to my grandchildren
Share your tips for reading over the summer . . . . . take a mixture – some short stories with some longer ones
The local library usually has a summer reading challenge, if not set your own
Read after lunch to calm down for a bit
Many local libraries run a book reading challenge for children over the school holidays. It’s always worth popping along to see if they have one on near you. x
Make reading fun, read something of interest or short stories to keep entertained.
Take half an hour out at least per day to read a book or books.
We always have a quiet time at home as a family when the tv is switched off and we all get our books out and read. My son loves reading and also starts the day reading a book before he gets out of bed.
i think its great if the children join their local library and most do a readathon over the holidays and other activities with reading x
We have plenty of bedtime books for my bookworm niece.
we read every single night, me and my girls, but when it rains in the summer holidays (which is everyday!) we try and have half hour together, keeps my girl on her toes and learning at same time x
we like the i-spy books, making reading fun is the trick with mine 🙂
We read a story before bed every night.
My tips for reading over the summer was to do it on long car rides with the children.
be consistent read every day at the same time and try and get your child to read a few words if they can
My daughter liked me to read a chapter or 2 a day of something like a Famous 5, and she would read shorter books to herself. She didn’t get really into reading until Harry Potter, so quite late really. Was almost a worry to me, I have always loved reading, from a very young age.
I think you need to look around and try to find the book which would be the most interesting for your child… there are many from fairies to dinosaurs, but there is a book somewhere which would encourage reading!
Try to get outside to the great outdoors, for plenty of summer reaading
I’ve been buying my daughter magazines of things she likes e.g pony magazine, because it’s not a schoolbook she is a lot happier reading. One of them also cam with the book black beauty which she hasn’t put down
My son likes reading books in the garden and after dinner time when relaxed
We read after lunch and at bed time every day
if its warm outside i suggest the kids take a book and sit in our hammock
I take my children to the charity shop and let them choose some books each.
Trip to the library to pick up some books and enjoying reading in the garden.
Check our your closest library for summer activities, our one has quite a lot going on for children.
Make sure it is a book you enjoy. Children and adults alike will soon loose interest if they do not enjoy what they are reading
Always get in some reading time before bed. It helps you unwind and means you always get some reading in. Way better for you than more screen time
lovely prize
My little one loves to read
It’s not really a tip, but I find I have to let her pick the book to read. Even when the book she picks has been read to her 500 times, and I have bought her new books, she will not entertain anybody else’s choice.
The Library reading schemes are really good.
Have a reading list to guide choices, including both easier and more challenging reads.
Nice comfy relaxing area with no technological distractions lol usually best when energy has been spent and it’s time to let the imagination fly!
we always have story time at bed time and use our local libary my oldest loves getting books out
we like to read books as a family 🙂
talk about books and read stories together
Find a nice shady spot and wear sunglasses to avoid eye strain
Read together every day as a family.
little and often helps my little gir who dislikes reading, my other 3 love reading.
We take turns to read a sentance each in books and also we take reading outside unser the shade on a blanket!
Check your library 🙂 a lot of them run summer reading schemes and that’s a great incentive to encourage children to read!
Read in quirky places!
We are doing the summer reading challenge, The kids love it at the library! they get a prize at the end x x
My little boy enjoys the reading book challenge that they have at local libraries over the summer break.
I love reading too, and I am so happy my kids seem to love it just as much
Stories set in places we have travelled to can be a winner!
I’ve made my daughter read signs and things when out and about
Going to the library to choose their books 🙂