5 must-reads for your children this summer

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Perhaps some of us may have heard the quotation from publisher Emilie Buchwald that “children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” Children practise what they see, so if they see us reaching for books - novels, stories, plays or poetry - then bit by bit it becomes an interest and enjoyment for them too.

Following on from one of our recent podcasts, Our Favourite Children’s Books - How to Get Your Child Reading, the Hearts+Minds team have put together some ideas for summer reading with your children. Not just for them to read alone however but rather to read aloud together, either one on one or with the whole family. Reading aloud has tremendous benefits in terms of increasing reading fluency, enriching vocabulary and sustaining focus.

So settle in and find a comfy spot: here are 5 must-reads for your children this summer!

Let’s start with Each Peach, Pear, Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg - one for the toddlers! As each page turns we are carried along by Ahlberg’s notorious rhythm and rhyme and introduced to a character from a well-known nursery rhyme until they are all brought together for a delicious plum pie in the orchard. The story is enriched by Janet Ahlberg’s warm and cosy illustrations which children gravitate to, time and time again. Perfect for ages 1 - 3 years.

Summer Story from The Brambly Hedge Collection by Jill Barklem is such a sweet and endearing story - in fact, every book in the collection is a treat! The whole collection follows a little community of mice who live, work and play together and each book has the ability to transport you to a magical world, where you really do believe these little creatures are living self-sufficient and idyllic lives in the hedgerow! The illustrations are what make these books so special: gloriously detailed and painstakingly intricate. For ages 5 - 8 years old.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is one book every child should read and is often referred to as one of the greatest children’s stories ever written - definitely one to add to your summer reading list. It tells the story of Fern and the runt pig Wilbur, whom she saves from the litter. Despite being rescued once, Wilbur faces a dreadful fate. It’s only when he is offered the help and friendship of Charlotte the spider, is he saved from that fate and comes to realise the power of friendship and sacrifice. This is a delightful read, especially for its glorious depictions of summer. For ages 5 - 9 but older than this can still enjoy this story!

Even if you aren’t a cat person, the cats in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliot are hard to dislike! This is a magical collection of poetry and makes a great read-aloud for children. The collection recounts the tales and deeds of a number of cat characters who all have their own personality and story to tell. If you can manage to get your hands on Axel Schleffer’s illustrated edition, then buy it. His illustrations add even more comedy and liveliness to Eliot’s already joyful rhymes. Recommended for ages 5 -7 although every age can really enjoy these poems. Younger children may find it hard to concentrate on the longer passages, but they will enjoy the rhymes so you could be selective with the poems you read for them.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is an absolute classic and no other children’s book screams adventure like this one. This is a great read-aloud for older children who also benefit greatly from reading along with their parents - reading aloud isn’t just for toddlers on laps. The Hobbit follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, as he joins a quest to win back the home and treasure of thirteen dwarves from the dragon Smaug. Alongside the wizard Gandalf, Bilbo reluctantly journeys from his home in The Shire to The Lonely Mountain and on the way grows in maturity and virtue, becoming the unlikely hero of the tale. For those of you who’d like to ‘listen’ along as well as read, there is a fantastic audio version available on Audible read by Andy Serkis, the voice of Gollum from the recent movie adaptations. For ages 8 upwards if reading aloud and if you have a strong reader, then ages 10 or 11 for reading alone. They will need help with trickier vocabulary and passages, however, in order to get the most from Tolkien’s writing.

If you plan to read any of our picks, let us know in the comments or on social media. And let us know if there are any we should add to our list. Happy summer reading!