It's important for our students to build summer reading lists too. Reading only three books during the summer can help students keep the reading growth they gained throughout the year. Here's some ways I'm finding books for my already growing summer reading pile. I know there will be more to come!
1) Use Great Websites to Check Out Authors & Genres You Love.
I just checked out the site for James Patterson, author of the I, Funny series & Middle School series, and found he has 15 books coming out this year, which it fairly insane. If you click on an individual title you will find a list of Similiar Books By Other Authors to check out too. Don't forget to look at the genres section on the home page if you'd like to explore topics that way.
Most authors also have their own websites & that is a great way to get lots of background information about them and their books. My family and I can't wait for Raina Telgemeier's Sisters to come out this summer. It's her follow up to Smile, her first original graphic novel.
2) Libraries Rock!
Don't forget you local independent book store. Our Blue Heron Books always has great books, displays & knows what hot reads are coming. Plus you can always order books you can't find, either in store or online.
3) Social Media
Twitter talks such as #titletalk, #bookaday, #YAlit & #litchat are interesting too. Participating in these talks is like a free teacher gold mine! You can even just search up the talks using the hashtags to find a number of insightful comments and book recommendations archived from past talks.
Don't forget Pinterest either. Again, follow a reader, an educator or a publisher & lots of good titles will land on your page. I just found a post with 95 YA books for summer reading from Upworthy. I'll be combing through that for reads & library purchases with my Goodreads site open on another tab, so I can collect great titles for the summer.
4) Never Forget Your Friends!
You know that the time its taken to build a reading community in a classroom is working when the students have taken charge of finding the books they like and are passing them through the group. It gives me hope that when this year is over and I no longer make the time for my students to read daily, show book trailers weekly and gossip with them about books that they will continue to read. By building our book lists through family and friends we are reinforcing the social aspect of reading as well and, hopefully, building a habit and community that will last us throughout the summer and beyond.
So share with me! What books are you planning on reading this summer?