Welcome

Good afternoon,

The last week of the school year is upon us. As you contemplate your summer plans, I would encourage you to make time to read during the summer.

And I would encourage you to remember these words from Kate DiCamillo – a renowned children’s author: Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.

Reading is important for all of us - young and old. But it is especially important for students. Students often experience what is called the "summer slide." The summer slide characterizes the learning loss that can occur when students are out of school and not using the skills they learn during the school year. The loss impacts our students when they return to school and have to "catch-up" after their summer vacation.

One way to combat the summer slide is to make plans to read. 

And to help with that here are some suggestions. Suggestions for both our students and for adults.

The Lion's Run by Sara Pennypacker

Lucas lives in an orphanage in Nazi occupied France. He wants to stand up for himself and his country but often lacks courage or insight into how to do that. He rescues a litter of kittens and this forces him to learn to stand up. He takes them to an abandoned stable and meets a stranger that will upend his life. 

This is a great story that late elementary and middle school students (and their parents) would enjoy.

Telephone of the Tree by Allison McGhee

Ayla loves trees. So did her best friend Kiri. An accident took Kiri and Ayla struggles with grief and her longing for her friend. It is a tender story about the power of healing and the lessons to be learned so that we can move on. 

Read it with you late elementary or middle school student.

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga

A wonderful story about friendship, a ghost, a missing painting, and a turtle named Agatha. The painting is missing inside a museum. Rami and Veda try to solve the mystery. It touches on themes of belonging, fitting in, and knowing who you are.

Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows

Ingrid is trying to navigate being thirteen. Middle school friends have proved challenging. This book explores the complicated life of middle school. It touches on friendship, online gaming, and the power of books to touch middle school students.

The Magician’s Elephants by Kate DiCamilla

A magician conjures up an elephant and a young boy’s world suddenly is full of possibilities and adventure. Peter longs to find his sister and wonders if the elephant is the key. It is a book full of longing and hope. It is a great read for students in late elementary.

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Moss

A mysterious free little library changes the lives of two young friends – Evan and Rafe. It’s a mystery about the town they live in and their quest to find the truth. It explores finding your way and the power of books. Great for late elementary and middle school.

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

Finn takes on a summer challenge. The challenge is presented to him as an alternative way to make amends for something he did. It is a great story told in verse for middle school students. It is a story about family and friendship and finding your way.

And Then Boom! By Lisa Fipps

Joe’s life is a mess. He can’t depend on his Mom. His grandmother cares for him but then tragedy strikes. He tries to navigate on his own but things don’t go well. It is a story that deals with important themes of finding yourself, friendship, caring for each other, and, ultimately, hope. Great for middle school students.

The Inheritance Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Avery inherits a fortune but it comes with unexpected twists. It is a book filled with intrigue and twists. A great story for high school and above.

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

Tom Hazard ages so slowly that he spans time. It is his secret and he struggles to find his way. It is a story about finding yourself, identifying what is important in life, and coming to terms with mortality. Great for high school students and adults.

Midnight on the Potomac by Scott Ellsworth

A great book about the last year of the Civil War. It explores in depth the decisions that were made and how conspiracies and spies and secret agents helped bring the war to an end. It is a great book that exposes history in a new way.

The Gales of November: the Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon

A book that explores the impact of great lakes shipping on the world and what life was like on a boat that sailed the Great Lakes. The book’s center is the tragedy of the boat the Edmund Fitzgerald but it reveals more about America’s economic boom and how sailors helped fuel it.

The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery by Siddharth Kara

The Zorg was a boat that was part of the slave trade, but it came to be part of a tragic story for dozens of slaves and it fueled the push to end slavery worldwide. An intriguing read.

I hope that you have read great books this year. Continue reading with your children this summer. Modeling reading for your children is a powerful influence to help them continue to develop their skills, but, more importantly, develop a lifetime love of reading.

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews, Superintendent

Rockford Public Schools