With the weather beginning to warm up and the end of the school year in sight, it’s a great time to start thinking about activities to keep the kids engaged and learning during the long summer days and prevent the dreaded “summer slide.”
Image from The Three Little Howlers
One way to keep students busy is by reading! Choosing books that coincide with the local library’s summer reading theme is fun. These themes are enjoyable, foster a love of reading, and help children appreciate the value of books.
Reading Themes & Book Recommendations
Here are some bilingual book recommendations to go with the summer reading themes you might find at your local library:
In conjunction with this year’s Collaborative Summer Library Program theme, we recommend our Living in Harmony collection featuring Be Kind, We Can All Be Friends, and Who Are We?
Image from Who Are We?
This three-book series uses colorful illustrations and simple text to explain the concepts of kindness, friendship, and unity. Images include diverse characters and settings from around the world, allowing children to see themselves in the book and learn about the world around them.
Maybe your library is participating in iREAD® 2023: Find Your Voice! / ¡Encuentra tu voz! We suggest our Language Lizard Explore collection that engages young readers as they explore nature, medicine, sports, and much more. These non-fiction topics with engaging illustrations and astounding facts appeal to younger and older language learners.
The titles in the Language Lizard Explore collection include:
Coral Reefs, Deserts, and Tropical Rainforests
Each book in this Habitat series explores some of the earth’s most diverse biomes: Coral Reefs, Deserts, and Tropical Rainforests. The books feature vibrant illustrations and incredible facts while discovering the plants and animals that call these places home.
Image from Coral Reefs
Musical Instruments from Around the World
This title takes the reader around the world to learn about unusual and fun instruments from diverse cultures and locations.
Amazing Sports from Around the World
Tuna Toss? Ostrich Racing? This book explores unusual and fascinating sports from diverse cultures and locations located around the globe. This title is perfect for all ages, especially for older language learners.
Image from Amazing Sports from Around the World
Written by a health professional, this beautifully illustrated resource explains how vaccines work, their history, and why they are important.
Wherever you live, and no matter the theme, it’s essential to keep the kids reading and learning this summer!