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)

Where’s Spot by Eric Hil

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!

Puffin Book Bundle