Turning the page: How to encourage Summer reading for K–12 students

Summer. For many students, it’s a time of rest, popsicles, pool days—and, unfortunately, the “summer slide.” As school librarians, we know that extended breaks can stall or even reverse reading progress, especially for students without regular access to books. But summer reading doesn’t have to feel like homework. With the right approach, it can feel like freedom.

Here are six realistic ways to keep students reading all summer long—without nagging, bribing, or assigning.

1. Let them read what they want

It’s the oldest trick in the book—and the most effective. Choice is everything.

Whether it’s graphic novels, audiobooks, fan fiction, or cookbooks, the best way to turn a student off reading is to tell them their choices “don’t count.” Instead, validate all formats. Listening to Percy Jackson while road-tripping to Grandma’s? Yes. Reading every Dog Man for the fifth time? Still yes.

Let’s stop pretending that only literary fiction builds literacy.

Try this:

Create a “Read What You Love” flyer for students and families with a list of formats and examples: audiobooks, web comics, series books, sports biographies, manga, and more.

2. Build a Summer reading culture, not just a program

Many summer reading initiatives die on the vine because they’re transactional: read X books, get Y prize. Instead, cultivate community.

Try this:

• Create a Summer Reading Padlet or Flip to post student book reviews.
• Start a “Postcards from a Reader” project—ask students to mail or email you a postcard with the title of something they read and loved. Hang them in the library in August.
• Host a “First Chapter Friday” preview event before the school year ends where you or student leaders read the first chapter of hot summer titles.

The goal is to connect kids through reading, not just to track them.

3. Equip families without overloading them

Parents and caregivers want to support summer reading, but they don’t need a packet.

Try this:

Send home a one-page Summer Reading Guide with three sections:

• Why it matters (brief and jargon-free)
• What counts as reading (see tip #1!)
• How to make it happen (like creating a consistent reading time—right after breakfast, or before bed)

Be sure to include links to your local library’s summer programming and free digital collections.

4. Remove barriers to access

Many students don’t read over the summer simply because they don’t have books. No agenda can succeed without access.

Try this:

• Host an end-of-year book giveaway with weeded or donated titles.
• Partner with your public library to help students sign up for cards before summer.
• Curate “take-home totes” with books by grade level—let students borrow them for the summer, no strings attached.

If we want students to read more, we have to put books directly into their hands.

5. Get staff (and yourself) involved

Students love seeing what teachers and librarians are reading.

Try this:

• Make a “What I’m Reading This Summer” poster or social media post for each staff member.
• Display teacher picks in the library the last few weeks of school.
• Record short booktalks or reviews and share them in your school’s LMS or newsletter.

You’re not just a librarian—you’re a reading role model.

6. Reframe the goal

Summer reading isn’t about checking a box. It’s about identity. Every book a student reads helps them see themselves as a reader. That’s what we’re building.

So instead of pushing reading logs, let’s invite students to keep reading lives.

Let’s keep it going!

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to showcase what students read. Host a “book tasting,” put their reviews on display, or let students recommend titles to incoming grades.

Summer reading doesn’t have to feel like school. It can feel like discovery. Agency. Joy. And as school librarians, we are perfectly positioned to make that happen. Good luck, and have a great summer!