Keep Kids Reading This Summer: Fun Ideas for Families Across New England
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
Summer is finally here in New England. Schools are letting out, everyone is grabbing their Del’s (or whatever frozen treat people outside of Rhode Island drink), and heading toward any body of water that looks even slightly swimmable.
In Rhode Island, that usually means East Matunuck, where the waves show up like they’ve got something
to prove and immediately knock your flip-flops into another timezone. In Massachusetts, it might be a ferry out to Martha’s Vineyard, where the ride itself feels like a vacation… until you remember you packed as if you were moving there permanently. In Maine, it’s York Beach, where the water is cold enough to make you briefly reconsider all your life choices, but the lighthouse photos make it worth it. In New Hampshire, it’s Lake Winnipesaukee, where boats multiply like they’re part of the local ecosystem and someone is always grilling something slightly too ambitious on a dock. In Connecticut, it’s a shoreline day along places like Hammonasset, where the beach is calm, the parking lot is its own endurance sport, and everyone somehow arrives within the same 10-minute window. And in Vermont, it’s Lake Champlain, where everything feels calm enough that you start thinking you could probably just move there and become a person who says things like “I prefer the quiet season.”
You pack your bags for the beach:
Towels? Check.
Sunscreen? Check.
Snacks? Check.
Beach chairs? Check.
After schlepping all of your gear across the sand and finding the perfect spot, close enough to the water but not so close that high tide will carry away your cooler, you finally sit down to relax. You pull out your phone, scroll for a few minutes, and quickly realize you've seen enough social media for one day. Time to read.
Except...you forgot your book at home.
Summer reading for adults: 0.Watching kids build sandcastles: 1.
It's not the end of the world, but having a good book within reach can completely change a summer day.
As schools across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire let out for the summer, parents start asking the same question:
How do I keep my kids reading all summer long?
The good news is that summer reading doesn't have to feel like homework. Instead of constantly asking, "Did you read today?" try making books part of the fun. Here are a few simple ideas that can help keep kids engaged with reading all summer long.
Have a Backyard Reading Campout
Pop up a tent in the backyard and pile it high with blankets and pillows. Bring along some favorite books, flashlights, and maybe even a few snacks.
The novelty of reading inside a tent can make even reluctant readers excited to crack open a book. During the day, it becomes a cozy reading nook. At night, add lanterns or flashlights and turn it into a reading adventure.
Set a family goal to read for an hour, then celebrate with a campfire and s'mores.
Create a Mystery Book Day with Friends
Gather a few friends and host a mystery book swap.
Find books your family has already finished, wrap them in plain paper, and write a few clues about the story on the outside.
Some examples:
A kid discovers a secret hidden in their town.
Features dragons but isn't a fantasy novel.
Takes place during the American Revolution.
Will make you laugh out loud.
Everyone picks a wrapped book and heads home with a new summer read.
Best of all? It costs nothing and gives books a second life.
Create a Summer Reading Bingo Card
Need a little extra motivation?
Create a reading bingo card filled with fun challenges such as:
Read under a tree.
Read at the beach.
Read a book about an animal.
Read with a flashlight.
Read a book featuring a historical figure.
Read for 20 minutes before bedtime.
Read a book recommended by a friend.
When your child gets Bingo, celebrate with a small reward like a trip for ice cream, a family movie night, or a new book.
The goal isn't perfection. It's making reading feel like an adventure rather than an assignment.
Utilize Your Local Library
Public libraries across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont put a tremendous amount of effort into creating summer reading programs that keep kids engaged all season long.
These programs often include reading challenges that turn pages into small victories, family events that
bring the community together, craft activities that tie stories into something hands-on, and story times that make books come alive. Many libraries also offer prizes and incentives that add a little extra spark of motivation, along with thoughtfully curated reading recommendations tailored to different ages and interests.
If you haven't explored your local library's summer reading program yet, now is the perfect time to jump in.
Librarians are experts at helping kids find books they'll actually want to read.
Let Kids Choose Their Own Books
Reading doesn't always have to happen in a quiet corner with a stack of books. Summer is full of opportunities to read without even thinking about it.
Let kids read the recipe while making popsicles, sticky fingers and all. Have them help navigate on a family day trip (and yes, the slightly chaotic art of printing directions and reading them at stoplights still counts as bonding). Ask them to read the instructions for a new board game before family game night kicks off. Leave magazines scattered on the porch like casual invitations, bring field guides along on nature walks, or turn road trips into a game by spotting and reading every funny sign or unexpected bumper sticker along the way.
When reading becomes part of everyday adventures, it feels a lot less like schoolwork and a lot more like a tool for exploring the world around them.
A Summer Full of Stories
Summer memories are made from beach days, campfires, ice cream runs, and family adventures. Books can be part of those memories too.
Whether it's a backyard reading campout, a mystery book swap, or a visit to your local library, a little creativity can help keep kids reading all summer long.
And who knows? Maybe while the kids are busy reading, you'll remember to pack your own book for the beach.
Donate Books in Massachusetts and New England
If your family is finishing up a stack of summer reading books, Bay State Book Company helps keep those books moving forward instead of collecting dust on shelves or heading to recycling. We work with communities across Massachusetts and New England to make sure donated books find their next reader.
From children’s books and paperbacks to full home collections, we make it simple to pass books along so they stay part of someone else’s story.
