1. Research shows that kids who do not read over the summer often suffer from
"summer slide" or "brain drain." This means that it can take longer to catch up and get in
the swing of things when the new school year starts and grades can suffer. Don't let this
happen! READ, READ, READ! If you need a little extra push or incentive to get you
reading, there are programs for little kids, big kids, and grown ups too (parents and
teachers, you need to be good reading role models!) Participate in the summer
reading program at the Lexington County Public Library; participate in the Scholastic
Summer Reading Challenge; or come up with your own summer reading challenge
(you could even join Mrs. Byrd Fort and challenge yourself to read a #bookaday this
summer)! Doesn’t matter how you do it, just as long as you READ!
Don’t know what to read? Check out this list of authors and resources! Mrs. Byrd
Fort will be sharing more ideas on the Learning Commons Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram pages throughout the summer – be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW the Learning
Commons so that you don’t miss out!
Valerie Byrd Fort, NPES Teacher Librarian
vfort@lexington1.net
Scan the QR code above to visit our webpage!
PS - Students who show Mrs. Byrd Fort their reading log by August 23 will receive a prize!
Authors/Illustrators for grades K-2
Best for K-2, but kids in 3-5 will like them too!
David Adler *Author of the Cam Jansen series
Tedd Arnold
Brod Bagert
Phil Bildner
Jan Brett
Marc Brown *Author of the Arthur series
Peter Brown
Eric Carle
Doreen Cronin
Tomie DePaola
Lois Ehlert
Anthony Fredericks
Gail Gibbons
Kevin Henkes
Steve Jenkins *Animal Non-fiction!
Ezra Jack Keats
Jon Klassen
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Leo Lionni
Robert Munsch
Jack Prelutsky *Funny poet!
April Pulley Sayre
Cynthia Rylant
Jon Scieszka
Dr. Seuss
David Shannon
Mo Willems
*Ask the librarians at the public library for more ideas! OR
email Mrs. Byrd Fort at vfort@lexington1.net
Authors/Illustrators for grades 3-5
Best for 3-5, but kids in K-2 will like them too!
Avi
Brod Bagert
Phil Bildner
Meg Cabot *Author of the Ally Finkle series
Matt Christopher *GREAT for sports lovers
Sharon Creech
Christopher Paul Curtis
Rahl Dahl
Margaret Peterson Haddix *Page-turners!
James Howe
Erin Hunter *Author of the Warriors series
Brian Jacques *Author of the Redwall series
Peg Kehret
Jeff Kinney *Author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Gordon Korman
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
*Author of Lunch Lady Graphic Novels
Lois Lowry
Megan McDonald
*Author of the Judy Moody and Stink books
Gary Paulsen
Dav Pilkey *VERY FUNNY!
Patricia Polacco
Rick Riordan
Ron Roy *Author of the A to Z Mystery series
Cynthia Rylant
Louis Sachar
Charles R. Smith, Jr.
Jerry Spinelli
R.L. Stine

2. Grown ups! Here are some titles and authors YOU might enjoy!
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Codell
Reading Magic by Mem Fox
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
Don’t forget! YOU can join the Public Library Summer Reading Program too!
Hope to see you at one of these Summer Reading KICK-OFF events!
StoryFestSC
http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/storyfestsc-2013
South Carolina State Museum, Saturday, June 1 9am – 4pm
Kick off summer reading with award winning authors Peter Brown and Will Hillenbrand!
Lexington County Public Library Summer Reading Kickoff Party
http://www.lex.lib.sc.us/children.asp
Lexington County Public Library, Main Library, Wednesday, June 5 3pm – 6pm
Try these ideas to keep you reading over the summer!
• Visit Comic Nirvana in Lexington for COMIC BOOKS!
• Read The State Newspaper (online or the print version) www.thestate.com
• See if your favorite book or author has an APP!
• Read a book on a Nook, Kindle, or iPad
• Visit the public library!
• Visit TumbleBooks (email Mrs. Byrd Fort for the password!)
http://www.tumblebooks.com/library
Visit these websites and blogs for MORE suggestions of
great books and activities you can do this summer!
• ReadKiddoRead - http://www.readkiddoread.com/
• GUYS READ - http://www.guysread.com/
• South Carolina Book Award Program (check out the Picture Book list and the Children’s
Book list) - http://scasl.net/awards/book-awards/
• Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge –
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2013
• Reading Rockets - http://www.readingrockets.org/books/summer/2013/
• DayByDaySC - http://daybydaysc.org