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!
August 10, 2017 @ 9:42 pm
amazing giveaway
August 10, 2017 @ 10:33 pm
We try to get into longer stories because we’ve got more reading time with no school
August 10, 2017 @ 11:21 pm
We try to do activities that we can then see in books. Like going on a bear hunt in the woods etc.
August 11, 2017 @ 12:02 am
I try shorter stories but more if them if we stick with the same book for to long they get bored
August 11, 2017 @ 12:26 am
wow some cool books
August 11, 2017 @ 3:58 am
Read books in the garden or during a picnic. Read more non-fiction books about nature and go on nature hunts!
August 11, 2017 @ 8:32 am
read in the garden – rain permitting
August 11, 2017 @ 8:48 am
Make sure to read at least five short stories every day.
August 11, 2017 @ 9:11 am
lovely prize xx
August 11, 2017 @ 10:03 am
i like to read in the garden x
August 11, 2017 @ 12:14 pm
i just find any excuse to read!
August 11, 2017 @ 2:17 pm
I like to read next the the swimming pool (when we are on holiday!) and I load plenty of books in my Kindle!
August 11, 2017 @ 4:02 pm
Take lots of books on holiday
August 11, 2017 @ 4:30 pm
Making reading part of the daily routine is key; that and plenty of choice.
August 11, 2017 @ 4:35 pm
My son loves his books!
August 11, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
I love reading so think it should be a daily thing, even if its just a few pages
August 11, 2017 @ 6:27 pm
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.
August 11, 2017 @ 7:31 pm
we read everywhere…even in the supermarket trolley. love reading before bed . Finishes the day off perfectly.
August 11, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
We are choosing books together at the library each week. We always choose a long book that we can read together as night
August 11, 2017 @ 8:39 pm
We like to read in the garden.
August 12, 2017 @ 7:54 am
both my son and daughter are books worms hoping my 3 year old follows in this interest x
August 12, 2017 @ 9:06 am
We have put a reading tent up in the garden, with cushions and bean bags to make it fun and comfortable !
August 12, 2017 @ 9:13 am
We love visiting the library, but equally have loads at home that the kids can pick from at bedtime xx
August 12, 2017 @ 11:46 am
I loved Roald Dahl books so much as a kid, glad that kids today are still reading them
August 12, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
have a good selection for them to choose from also have plenty of illustrations on the pages ( less words)
August 12, 2017 @ 3:37 pm
Spend some time reading in nature, its a wonderful experience!
August 12, 2017 @ 4:47 pm
Spend time sitting in the garden and read with your children
August 12, 2017 @ 5:02 pm
My kids love reading fiction and also activity books
August 12, 2017 @ 5:41 pm
Book clubs with friends is a great idea 🙂
August 12, 2017 @ 5:51 pm
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!
August 12, 2017 @ 7:13 pm
Visit your local library once a week and let your children choose some books to read.
August 12, 2017 @ 8:41 pm
we read together every day, in the summer we make extra trips to the library.
August 12, 2017 @ 9:03 pm
We like to read in the garden.
August 13, 2017 @ 10:54 am
i like reading in the garden
August 13, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
Using the library reading trail to encourage children to read differnet types of books
August 13, 2017 @ 4:49 pm
Make use of your local library and the wonderful free reading and story-telling sessions they offer.
August 13, 2017 @ 11:57 pm
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
August 14, 2017 @ 6:39 am
Reading before bed is a great habit as it calms you down before sleep.
August 14, 2017 @ 11:45 am
Make it a group activity, like reading aloud together
August 14, 2017 @ 12:35 pm
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
Ushmana Palmo Rai recently posted…Vitamix 6300 Vs 7500 – Which Blender Should You Buy?
August 14, 2017 @ 12:55 pm
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
August 14, 2017 @ 1:21 pm
Fantastic prize, Thank you for the opportunity, I have always read to my children and now to my grandchildren
August 14, 2017 @ 2:16 pm
Share your tips for reading over the summer . . . . . take a mixture – some short stories with some longer ones
August 15, 2017 @ 11:25 am
The local library usually has a summer reading challenge, if not set your own
August 16, 2017 @ 8:53 am
Read after lunch to calm down for a bit
August 17, 2017 @ 11:28 am
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
August 18, 2017 @ 4:39 am
Make reading fun, read something of interest or short stories to keep entertained.
August 18, 2017 @ 11:44 am
Take half an hour out at least per day to read a book or books.
August 18, 2017 @ 6:56 pm
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.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:58 pm
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
August 19, 2017 @ 9:52 am
We have plenty of bedtime books for my bookworm niece.
August 20, 2017 @ 9:58 am
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
August 20, 2017 @ 12:46 pm
we like the i-spy books, making reading fun is the trick with mine 🙂
August 20, 2017 @ 7:46 pm
We read a story before bed every night.
August 21, 2017 @ 3:06 pm
My tips for reading over the summer was to do it on long car rides with the children.
August 21, 2017 @ 7:08 pm
be consistent read every day at the same time and try and get your child to read a few words if they can
Competitions Ending August 30th – Love Competitions
August 21, 2017 @ 7:51 pm
[…] Puffin Book Bundle – http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2017/08/10/startastory-puffin-win-book-bundle/ […]
August 21, 2017 @ 9:51 pm
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.
August 22, 2017 @ 9:32 pm
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!
August 25, 2017 @ 2:03 pm
Try to get outside to the great outdoors, for plenty of summer reaading
August 26, 2017 @ 10:28 am
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
August 26, 2017 @ 2:42 pm
My son likes reading books in the garden and after dinner time when relaxed
August 26, 2017 @ 5:03 pm
We read after lunch and at bed time every day
August 26, 2017 @ 9:21 pm
if its warm outside i suggest the kids take a book and sit in our hammock
August 26, 2017 @ 9:54 pm
I take my children to the charity shop and let them choose some books each.
August 27, 2017 @ 10:21 am
Trip to the library to pick up some books and enjoying reading in the garden.
August 27, 2017 @ 7:45 pm
Check our your closest library for summer activities, our one has quite a lot going on for children.
August 28, 2017 @ 5:40 am
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
August 28, 2017 @ 2:41 pm
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
August 28, 2017 @ 2:45 pm
lovely prize
August 28, 2017 @ 4:49 pm
My little one loves to read
August 28, 2017 @ 6:14 pm
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.
August 28, 2017 @ 7:07 pm
The Library reading schemes are really good.
August 29, 2017 @ 10:49 am
Have a reading list to guide choices, including both easier and more challenging reads.
August 29, 2017 @ 1:13 pm
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!
August 29, 2017 @ 1:17 pm
we always have story time at bed time and use our local libary my oldest loves getting books out
August 29, 2017 @ 2:11 pm
we like to read books as a family 🙂
August 29, 2017 @ 5:50 pm
talk about books and read stories together
August 29, 2017 @ 7:04 pm
Find a nice shady spot and wear sunglasses to avoid eye strain
August 29, 2017 @ 8:18 pm
Read together every day as a family.
August 29, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
little and often helps my little gir who dislikes reading, my other 3 love reading.
August 30, 2017 @ 9:59 am
We take turns to read a sentance each in books and also we take reading outside unser the shade on a blanket!
August 30, 2017 @ 2:41 pm
Check your library 🙂 a lot of them run summer reading schemes and that’s a great incentive to encourage children to read!
August 30, 2017 @ 2:59 pm
Read in quirky places!
August 30, 2017 @ 3:01 pm
We are doing the summer reading challenge, The kids love it at the library! they get a prize at the end x x
August 30, 2017 @ 3:12 pm
My little boy enjoys the reading book challenge that they have at local libraries over the summer break.
August 30, 2017 @ 6:14 pm
I love reading too, and I am so happy my kids seem to love it just as much
August 30, 2017 @ 6:30 pm
Stories set in places we have travelled to can be a winner!
August 30, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
I’ve made my daughter read signs and things when out and about
August 30, 2017 @ 9:41 pm
Going to the library to choose their books 🙂