“The Week Junior” kicks off its first-ever Summer of Reading challenge — a six-week program helping kids ages 8-14 fall in love with reading, develop critical thinking skills and make connections that matter. The challenge encourages kids to read three books over the summer and recommends a 50-strong booklist to get them started.
The list includes authors such as Jeff Kinney, Jerry Craft, Kwame Alexander, Katherine Applegate and Linda Sue Park and has been curated by librarians, literacy experts and publishing professionals, alongside editorial team of “The Week Junior.” It is grouped into nine sections (amazing adventures, realistic and historical fiction, stories about school life, everything animals, family reads, books that have become movies, stories in verse, graphic novels and books filled with amazing facts), ensuring there is something to appeal to all types of readers and interests.
“Summer reading is always important, but it’s especially important this year given the challenges children and families have faced while distance learning,” says Andrea Barbalich, editor in chief of “The Week Junior.”
In addition to providing the book list, Summer of Reading hopes to help kids develop critical thinking, empower them to form their own opinions and discuss their thoughts with friends and family. Readers are encouraged to submit reviews of the three books they read and email them to “The Week Junior” team. A downloadable review form is available, and each reader who submits a review will be entered to win a prize pack of books from featured publishers.
The full book list and review form can be downloaded at theweekjunior.com/
Parents can try six issues of The Week Junior by signing up at theweekjunior.com.