Talking summer reading strategies with U of M

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (06/05/2023) — Summer learning loss is a concern for many parents and educators as students finish the school year and spend time away from the classroom during summer break. Lack of access to reading materials and continued education are two factors that can contribute to this loss of learning, but families can take steps on their own to support reading development this summer.Lisa Von Drasek, curator of the Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature at the University of Minnesota, answers questions about how to keep kids engaged and reading all summer long. Q: How can I help my child change their perspective to see reading as an enjoyable activity for breaks and vacations, instead of just as a homework assignment during the school year? Von Drasek: I hope that families see reading and reading aloud as a fun activity all year long. Summer reading is just an extension of that joy. I suggest caregivers and parents integrate reading for all ages in their activities — cooking, letter writing, sign making, mapping and poetry slams are all creative ways to embed reading into everyday life.Q: What suggestions do you have for incorporating reading with outdoor activities?Von Drasek: Think about any outdoor plans. Are we visiting parks? Is the family traveling? Let's prepare for the trip by reading maps. Can we make a map of our own highlighting the spots we want to visit and activities we are anticipating, like hiking and nature watching? Are there books like field guides that would heighten the experiences?Q: What resources are available to help students access reading materials over the summer break? Von Drasek: Do you know about Ebooks Minnesota? It's a free online ebook collection for all Minnesotans. The collection covers a wide variety of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction, for readers of all ages. The titles are searchable by authors, series or topics. The collection development librarians have focused on providing high interest topics and formats from dinosaurs to science to comics. Another great resource that can be downloaded for free is Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection in Libraries, which is full of literacy activities and includes writing prompts to inspire poems, maps and recipes. All you need to do is have paper and pencil, markers and cardstock ready to engage with the prompts. Try to find a StoryWalk near you, a movement where counties or libraries deconstruct a story book and place each page of the story on a poster along an outdoor walking path in an effort to encourage both reading and movement. If there aren't any near you, consider making your own! The Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport has one right now.And, of course, get to know your local public library's children's librarian and sign up for summer reading programs at your library.

Q: Are there any specific books or series you recommend? Von Drasek: I recommend the following books for summer reading. Ages 3+

Grades K-1

Grades 2-3

Grades 4-6

Grade 6-8

High School

For Parents and Teachers

Q: How does your work at the Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature intersect with the community? Von Drasek: The Kerlan Collection is an open access collection of materials related to children's literature. Anyone who makes an appointment for a visit to the Andersen Library can hold in their hands the original picture book art of Wanda Gág's "Millions of Cats," or page through the preliminary sketches of James Marshall's "George and Martha," or read Jean Craighead George's field journals where one can see her original sketches that were the inspiration for her award-winning novel, "My Side of the Mountain." We have had visits from classes studying "Love that Dog" and writing their own poetry in response — as well as third-graders reviewing Kate DiCamillo's editor's notes on her first book, "Because of WinnDixie." Kerlan staff, volunteers and friends are often invited to present lectures and workshops at public events like the Twin Cities Book Festival and the Children's Literature Festival in Red Wing, Minnesota.Lisa Von Drasek is the curator of the Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature. The Kerlan, an internationally recognized resource in the field of children's literature, contains six core collections and several smaller collections. Von Drasek has lectured on the topics of Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection in Libraries, Emergent Literacy, Diversity in Children's Literature, Comics and Literacy, the New Adult, What Makes an Award Winning Book, and Children's Choice Awards. She also conducts community workshops on creative writing, reading aloud and selecting books for children and young adults.About "Talking...with U of M""Talking...with U of M" is a resource whereby University of Minnesota faculty answer questions on current and other topics of general interest. Feel free to republish this content. If you would like to schedule an interview with the faculty member or have topics you’d like the University of Minnesota to explore for future "Talking...with U of M," please contact University Public Relations at [email protected]