Mrs Ficken, our Junior School Librarian, is passionate about helping families keep the reading habit alive over the summer. In this blog, she shares her top tips for making reading a fun and engaging part of the holidays.

We all know that while the idea of keeping children reading throughout the summer is wonderful, actually managing it can be a bit tricky. So here are a few thoughts and ideas to help keep books - and the joy of reading - part of your family’s summer rhythm.

However, before continuing with that, I would like to share with you just how fantastic it is to work in the Junior Library. As the children’s reading skills develop, and their enthusiasm for a particular series, topic or author grows, they become more and more excited about coming to the Library. The children become more confident in choosing the new books they wish to borrow, or in asking for advice on what to read next. 

This brings me to the first top tip… 

Our younger pupils, P1-P3, will usually be happy to follow advice, or suggestions on what to read. From P4 onwards, the children increasingly want to choose for themselves. This is the number one piece of advice that children’s publishers and booksellers share: let them choose what to read. Allow them to pick books they’re interested in, even if the book is popular fiction or not really to your taste. 

On this point, last weekend I found myself comparing the cost of a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book (£6.99)  with a Lego magazine (£5.50). I have bought many Lego magazines over the years, but never a Wimpy Kid book. Yet my son adored Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He read every book available in the Library, week after week after week. Eventually, he moved on to a new author (I think it was David Walliams), and from there, the whole world of books and reading opened up before him.

Children often go through phases with their reading. Some of the series currently proving hugely popular for P2-P3 pupils include: Wigglesbottom Primary, Rabbit & Bear, Claude in the City, Beast Quest, Isadora Moon, Secret Agent Sam Stalwart, Horrid Henry, Dotty Detective, Dog Man, and Cat Kid. By P4, many children are enjoying series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates. Allowing children to immerse themselves in  these series will help develop an enthusiasm for reading. From P4 onwards, they will often begin branching out, listening to their friends’ recommendations, and start discovering new authors and series for themselves.

Another tip shared by those in the book industry is to keep reading to your children, even after they have learnt to read independently. Children really value your attention and your interest in what they are reading. You could also try taking it in turns to read a paragraph or a page, or even a chapter each.

It is easy to recommend this, but sometimes really hard to do when our lives are so busy. I confess, I’ve been trying to read the last book in the Harry Potter series to my son for over a year now. We are just over half way through (a delayed flight at Easter was a big help), and I am determined that we will finish it this summer!

Other ideas for supporting reading at home include encouraging children to create a den at home specifically for reading - a cosy corner, an indoor tent, perhaps even decorated with Christmas lights! You might also try an audio book, which is perfect for long car journeys or rainy days at home. And don’t forget to visit your local charity shops for some fantastic book bargains! 

Many public libraries run reading challenges during the holidays:

• On 21st June, The Reading Agency launched its annual Summer Reading Challenge called “Story Garden”. Dozens of libraries throughout the UK are participating, including many across Scotland. You can visit the libraries in person or participate online, making it accessible to everyone.
• Aberdeen City and Shire are running their own “Aberdeen Reads Challenge”, which links with the Tall Ships Race and features Library Bear, who is setting sail on adventure across the Seven Seas. Pop into any local library to find out more. The FAQ page above is really useful - you don’t need to be a registered library member already, and there are incentives, rewards, and events planned.

Finally, where to go for ideas for new books? The Book Trust  has lots of book recommendations, grouping book suggestions by age, from toddlers to teens, and ranging from newly-published books to classics. Similarly, bookshops’ and publishers’ websites can also be useful sources of inspiration when looking for something good to read. The Waterstones Blog  includes articles on their Book of the Month, the current and previous annual Waterstones Prize Winning Books, as well as thoughts and top tips for reading aloud to your child. 
So, to conclude, I would like to wish you all a very happy time over the summer holidays, with long sunny days of fun and excitement, and also the occasional rainy day and perhaps even a slightly delayed flight, to help everyone keep going with their reading!