Most news companies and book publishers have a “summer reading list” of book titles guaranteed to keep us reading from June to September. They roll out list after list, from books to read on the beach, to books for a rainy summer day, to the perfect reads before drifting off to a summer night’s dream. There’s a list for almost everything associated with summer.
I’m overwhelmed by all these choices, drawn first to one title and then the next. The book promoters are professionals at making the books so appealing—from the book covers to the captivating blurbs—that I could easily spend several summers reading my top selections and still have plenty of material for fall and winter reads.
So, what to do?
My wife, Lori, has been taking our 7-year-old granddaughter (who is going into second grade) to a summer reading program taught by a friend, Mrs. Lois Jean Patton, a first-grade teacher. It fills a need: teaching children to read books is becoming a lost art.
Mrs. Patton introduces the children to books, beginning with lessons on the basics of reading, a core phonics survey, and phonological awareness and comprehension. She has a knack for getting the kids interested in books, the result, I suppose, of her unique combination of expertise in and enthusiasm for reading. We noticed an immediate effect: our granddaughter is more excited about reading. That in itself is a win for the summer.
Lori, who taught reading in primary school for years, reminds me that children should learn several basics about reading. For one, it’s essential to read daily to be a better reader. Twenty minutes a day would be great. Then, find a “good-fit” book for the child (one that interests them). Something else: select books that build confidence in reading skills and comprehension. That’s not easy. It requires knowing the child’s capabilities, likes, and dislikes while awakening them to new vistas of learning. But it makes good sense to me.
So, what can we learn from that?
Read every day. Even for adults, twenty minutes a day is a wonderful goal. Then, find challenging books and some that are “good-fit” books. Lastly, read something that builds confidence by conquering challenges.
With that in mind, I made a list. My goal is to continue the habit of reading for at least twenty minutes every day.
Then, I made my “challenging” list for the summer, including one book I’ve already read this summer but adding one more. Finally, I chose one “good-fit” book plus one memoir.
That’s a manageable list. If I finish before summer’s end, I can add more reads, maybe purchasing one or two as a personal reward.
There is one book I read every summer but never finish. It’s part of my reading curriculum each summer. This book checks all the boxes, meeting the requirements for good reads: it’s challenging, and it’s a “good-fit” book that also builds confidence.
I’m referring to the Bible.
From Genesis to Revelation, the 66 books of the Bible contain epic stories of heroes and villains, murderers and saviors, people falling from grace only to receive it again, people promoted to the pinnacle of success and then plummeting to the valley of despair, individuals rising from the pit of slavery to the palace of royalty. It contains accounts of events that have changed the course of history, not to mention words of wisdom and poetic literature, collections of songs, prophetic visions, and romantic literature. It’s all arranged in one book collection, the Bible.
I’ll keep my summer reading list but continue with my summer-to-summer read of the Bible. It’s a book for all seasons. I can take it to the beach or, as I prefer, read it in the comfort of my study. And there is no need to hurry through. Twenty minutes a day, and I know its Author a little better with each read.
Now, that’s a challenge and the perfect “good fit” for anyone interested in reading this summer.