Abby started the tradition of spending a week in Delaware with my parents when she was 5. Her sister joined her when she turned 5, too.
They spent two weeks with my parents in June, which is probably more of a vaction for them than for us. My Dad cooks whatever they want. There are multiple TVs in the house. It’s a kid’s dream.
Except…
When they left, I told them they had to read a book of their choosing. They both like to read, but in their own time and place. So, it was almost like “school” to them to read actual “books.”
Until they read them.
Abby read “Shiloh” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Camille read “Mrs. Piggle Wiggle” by Betty MacDonald because, as she told us in the store, she wanted a “magic” book. During their stay, each of them gave their books rave reviews. Abby even called and cried after she’d read a particular chapter.
The whole idea was to keep up the learning habit during the summer. I told them they also needed to do book reports on their stories, too. Unfortunately, I didn’t make them do the reports until today.
For Camille, I made up a little form for her to fill in the blanks. For Abby, I downloaded a form, but after looking at it more carefully, it wasn’t the best thing to use, but it did help her organize her thoughts.
Now it’s on to more summer reading …
What are some of your favorite summer reading books?
One Comment
Hi Herb,
When I was around 8 or 9 years old, my favorite books were:
the whole Little House series
the whole Ann of Green Gables series
the whole All-Of-A-Kind Family series (about a large family of sisters who were observant Jews — a great learning diversity experience I still remember)
Apparently I had a real thing for historical children’s fiction!