Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading Program Dear Parents and Students: Research tells us that when students don’t read for two months their skills regress. Reading is a skill which requires practice, just like baseball or math facts. Summer reading helps students of all ages keep their skills sharp so they are ready when school begins again in the fall. Reading throughout the summer not only enhances basic reading skills of young students, it creates unique opportunities for learning, exploring, and growing. The Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading Program is designed to promote reading and learning as enjoyable activities. The following is a suggested guide to authors, resources and activities for children to share their reading experiences. Please choose any title that may interest you from any other sources. Magazines, graphic novels, audio books and eBooks also provide valuable educational experiences. We strongly encourage parents to read aloud, including to those children who are already independent readers. In addition to being a wonderful family activity, children increase their listening vocabulary which improves their comprehension. It also allows them to develop interests beyond their reading levels. This summer there is one requirement: Students entering grades 1­5 are required to complete one sharing activity which will contribute to the first term grade in literacy. The directions and pages for this activity are attached along with a summary and an example of the product. During the first two weeks of school in September, the children should return the assignment to their new teacher (by September 11); their projects will be displayed in their classrooms. A special school recognition will be awarded to any student who participates in this program. The Walpole Public Library offers a summer reading program and events to celebrate reading. Check out the schedule at http://www.walpolelibrary.org/events.asp The Showcase Cinemas at Patriot Place offer free story times every week during the summer. The schedule is at http://www.patriot­place.com/cinemadelux Barnes and Noble book store at the Walpole Mall offers weekly story events as well: https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2935 Join the Summer Reading Triathlon and win a free book! http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer­reading/_/N­rs9 Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading 2016 Happy Reading! Resources for Summer Reading Walpole Public Schools District Home Page (http://www.walpole.k12.ma.us). Contains online copies of the author list, activity sheets and reading log. Links to all are provided on the district home page. Walpole Public Library: Search for books, access programming information, and learn about their summer reading program at http://www.walpolelibrary.org/. If readers are participating in the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading, or the Texas Roadhouse programs, those books count towards our program, too! Feel free to “double dip”. Park Street Books on Main Street in Medfield also has the Walpole Public Schools summer reading lists. Websites to explore: http://www.ala.org American Library Association: Includes Newbery and Caldecott award winner lists. http://www.battleofthebooks.org/book­list/ America’s Battle of the Books. This site provides lists of books for students in grades 3­5 that are used for Battle of the Books competitions within the schools. http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/childrens/booklists/children_booklists.html Monroe County Public Library Booklists of Children’s Literature: This Indiana Public Library has a well organized list of titles suited for many age levels. http://nancykeane.com/ Nancy Keane’s Children’s Literature Webpage: This website contains booklists and book reviews written by children. http://www.guysread.com/ Jon Scieszka’s Guys Read website: The popular author of The Time Warp Trio series and Stinky Cheese Man created this website especially for boys who are reluctant readers. http://www.kidsreads.com/ KidsReads: Kid­friendly site with book reviews, books made into movies, and upcoming titles to be published. http://pbskids.org/lions This is the website for the show Between the Lions. It has easy to read stories you can read on line (or printable), and games that go with each story plus more suggestions for stories to check out at the library. Also Word Games to play on­line, or to print out and play, and songs and video clips from the show. http://pbskids.org/zoom/ Based on the TV show Zoom, this website has directions for activities you can do at home that were featured on the show. Science, “magic” phenomena, arts and crafts, songs, puppet plays, recipes and games are explained with easy to follow directions to try at home. http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html Mad­Libs to fill in, and web­books and comic books to read on­line http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/ Reading Is Fundamental is a website where you can write stories with other kids around the country, listen to Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading 2016 and read along with stories and songs, draw like your favorite illustrator, and browse book lists to find a good book. http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp Tumblebooks are animated storybooks for younger readers. This website also has audio books, puzzles, and games for children to play as well. Other great websites for children: www.scholastic.com www.eduplace.com www.discoverykids.com www.janbrett.com www.randomhouse.com www.starfall.com Websites for Parents: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile­app­lists/best­book­apps­kids Common Sense Media is a trusted source for media recommendations for kids. This link will take you to their “Best Book Apps for Kids” recommendations. The apps are rated for learning and organized by age group. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/15218/ This link will take you to a great article entitled, “Summer Reading Loss”, written by Maryann Mraz and Timothy Rasinski which discusses the affects of summer loss on student achievement and what can be done to help curb summer reading loss. http://www.readingrockets.org Reading Rockets: Tips for parents of kindergarteners, first graders, second graders, and third graders (written in English and in ten other languages.) Help your child learn to read and read to learn. http://www.trelease­on­reading.com/ Home page for Jim Trelease, author of the best­selling Read Aloud Handbook, is a great resource for information on reading. Look for these books: They provide excellent ideas for children’s books. Great Books for Girls: More Than 600 Books to Inspire Girls and tomorrow’s Women by Kathleen Odean Great Books for Boys: More Than 600 Books for Boys 2 to 14 by Kathleen Odean Suggested Authors (and major themes) for Summer Reading Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading 2016 Elementary K­3 New and Notable Books Title Author Library Mouse series Daniel Kirk Marty McGuire Kate Messner Lunch Lady Jarrett Krosczka Star of the Week Caroline Adderson Gooney Bird Lois Lowry The Buddy Files Dori Hillestad Butler The Ladybug Girl David Soman Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth Jane O’Connor Frog and Friends Eve Bunting Sticky Burr John Lechner The Flying Beaver Brothers Maxwell Eaton Bad Kitty series Nick Bruel. Squish Jennifer L. Holm Benny and Penny Geoffrey Hayes Dragon Breath Ursula Vernon Outstanding Picture Book Authors Jan Brett Eric Kimmel (folktales) Marc Brown Leo Lionni Eve Bunting Robert Munsch Eric Carle Patricia Polacco Lauren Child Peggy Rathmann Amy Krouse Rosenthal Peter Reynolds Peter Brown Melanie Watt Tomie DePaola H.A. Rey Lois Ehlert Rosemary Wells Ian Falconer Dr. Seuss Denise Fleming David Shannon Bob Graham William Steig Kevin Henkes Jan Thomas Pat Hutchins Mo Willems Ezra Jack Keats Beginning Readers David Adler Young Cam Jansen (mystery) Tedd Arnold Fly Guy Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading 2016 Alyssa Capucilli Biscuit (series) Denys Cazet Minnie and Moo Doug Cushman Inspector Hopper Paula Danziger A is for Amber (series) Elissa Haden Guest Iris and Walter James Howe Houndsley and Catina Mary Labatt Sam (series) Arnold Lobel Frog and Toad Peggy Parish Amelia Bedelia (series) Cynthia Rylant Henry and Mudge (series) Cynthia Rylant Poppleton (series) Cynthia Rylant Puppy Mudge (series) Marjorie Weinman Sharmat Nate the Great (mystery series) Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie Early Chapter Books and Series Books Tony Abbott The Secrets of Droon (fantasy series) David Adler Cam Jansen and Bones (mystery series) Annie Barrows Ivy + Bean Marion Dane Bauer The Blue Ghost Beverly Cleary Mouse and the Motorcycle Kate DiCamillo Mercy Watson James Howe Pinky and Rex (series) Mary Pope Osborne Magic Tree House (series) Barbara Park Junie B. Jones (series) J. Prellar Jigsaw Jones (mystery series) Ron Roy A to Z Mysteries (series) Jon Scieszka Time Warp Trio (series) Geronimo Stilton Geronimo Stilton (series) Various Authors Star Wars Charise Mericle Harper Just Grace Betty G. Birney The World According to Humphrey Alexander McCall Smith Harriet Bean Kimberly Willis Holt and Christine Piper Reed Davenier Ellen Miles The Puppy Place Hadley Higginson and Lisa Perrett Keeker Nonfiction Books & Series Jim Arnosky Any title Selby B. Beeler Throw Your Tooth on the Roof Joanna Cole Magic School Bus (series) Walpole Public Schools Elementary Summer Reading 2016 Douglas Florian Poetry Gail Gibbons Any title Steve Jenkins Any title Jack Prelutsky Poetry Shel Silverstein Poetry Seymour Simon Any title Additional Non­fiction Titles K­3 Prosek Bird, Butterfly, Eel Baines A Den is a Bed for a Bear Pinnington Discover More: Animal Babies; Discover More: My Body Arlon Discover More: See Me Grow; Discover More: Penguins; Discover More: Planets Hickman It’s Moving Day Hoberman All Kinds of Families! Lomas Garza Family Pictures Skutch Who’s In a Family? Sweeney Me and My Amazing Body Davies Dolphin Baby Guiberson Into the Sea Halfman Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish Slade The House That George Built Maestro The Story of the Statue of Liberty Levine Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad Rappaport Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr.