Our goal is for students to continue reading throughout the summer and to enjoy what they read. Our reading lists for each grade contain choices at many reading levels and lists divided by genre to help the selection process. We also hope that these lists can be great references for reading throughout the year.

        We heartily concur with the "Editor's Note" from the spring 2006 issue of School Library Journal.

The A-List: Putting the sizzle back in summer reading




       When I think of summer reading, I see myself on a beach, lost in a book I've been longing to read--or sitting on a chaise lounge, a how-to manual propped open, convinced that my wreck of a dining room chair will finally be fixed. I'd like to think that the phrase "summer reading" evokes equally pleasurable images in our students' minds. But as a parent and long-time public and school librarian, I've also seen the ugly side of summer reading--the required reading list.

      You know what I'm talking about. The one with limited choices, out-of-print titles, and nothing for students reading above or below grade level. What's wrong with this picture? Where's the list that's loaded with great selections of both fiction and nonfiction? The one chock-full of exciting new titles? The one that reflects our diversity? The one that sparks serendipity?
        We all know that students often lose academic ground over the summer, and that it's imperative to keep them reading. But what's our goal when we send them out the door with outdated or lackluster lists? If we want to create lifelong readers, we must be attuned to our students' interests, and put forward what the most talented authors and illustrators have to offer. We need summer reading lists that will entice our students with their variety, range, energy, and whimsy.
       Summer is an ideal time to break out of our routines, to learn something new, to go someplace different, to pursue our interests, and to have some fun--all experiences that your summer reading list can encourage...
      To top off your list,add books that your students have told you they enjoyed, and always leave room for them to make independent choices. If one of our goals is to develop lifelong readers, we need to provide students with opportunities to follow their interests and to make their own book selections. Our lists should guide, not dictate.
                                                                         --Daryl Grabarek, Issue Editor