Inspire your kids with this free printable summer reading log that encourages them to read books from different genres!
Do your kids have a favorite book? I’m sure they do!
In our house, Are you My Mother? was a huge fave for a while — it was the only book my son wanted us to read each night … for weeks on end!
Sometimes kids find just the right book and it becomes the ONLY book they want to hear or read. As as beneficial as it is to re-read a beloved story (it really is a good thing!), it can get tiring to read the same book over and over again.
Summer Reading: Free Book Log
So this summer, challenge your child to listen to or read at least one book from each of the different genres!
In literature, a genre is a category of books — mystery, biography, fantasy, animal fiction. By reading books from these different categories, kids will hear and learn a variety of words, writing styles and formats. And they may find a new favorite book or type of story that they love.
Summer Reading Book List
Here are some recommended picture books and chapter books for each of our genre categories — these are just a guide to get you started and help kids to recognize the different types of literature they enjoy reading. I’ve also included affiliate links for some of the items so you can easily learn more about the books on our list.
Animal Fiction
This is a genre most kids will graviate to and who can blame them – these animal friends are entertaining!
Poppy (Tales from Dimwood Forest)
Geronimo Stilton Spacemice #1: Alien Escape
Biography
Yes, you can find great biographies for young children!
The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos
The Dinosaurs Of Waterhouse Hawkins
Mystery
Not so scary reads for kids — be a sleuth this summer!
Cam Jansen: The Birthday Mystery
Older kids will love the Carole Marsh mystery series
Wordless Picture Book
I love that the story can change each time you read it! Have the kids ‘tell’ the story as you move through the pages.
Fantasy
Books that kids WANT to be true!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Non-fiction
Some of our favorite non-fiction books are great series! There are so many books that fall into this category so be sure to visit this area of your library and browse around!
Cat in the Hat Learning Library
Magic School Bus series
Ms. Frizzle’s Adventures
25 Nature books & Field Guides for Kids
Poetry
A very hard genre to introduce but there are some excellent authors who do a great job with poems.
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature
Humor
Laugh out loud — you’re probably hear your kids using lines from these stories over and over.
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School
The Monster at the End of This Book (Sesame Street)
Fun list of Fractured Fairy Tales (traditional fairy tales with humorous twists)!
Realistic Fiction
So many books fall into this genre — basically if it can happen in your child’s life but is not a true story, then it’s realistic fiction. These are great stories to use when kids are going through a transition in their life – it helps them identify with others.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day
Fancy Nancy and the Too-Loose Tooth (I Can Read Book 1)
Wonderful booklist for the first day of school by grade (for all ages!)
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Science Fiction
Usually set in the future or focusing on space or time travel, these are fantasy books with a science/technology theme.
The Invisible Fran (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist)
Adventure
Set out on an adventure in the pages of a book!
Book series that help kids explore the world right from their own backyard!
Historical Fiction
Made-up stories about real life in the past — these would include ancient cultures, events that took place and things your grandparents might remember.
Fairy Tales
Short stories about magical beings and lands. Fables are also included in this genre/group.
Reference
You may not think of reference books as good reads but I’m always amazed at how much kids love the pictures and factual information!
National Geographic Kids Beginner’s World Atlas
Merriam-Webster Children’s Dictionary
National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia: 2,500 Animals with Photos, Maps, and More!
Folktales
Stories originating in a culture and usually passed on by word of mouth (until someone writes them into a book!)
One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox: The Great Pancake Adventure
Use this free printable bingo-themed printable chart to introduce your child to books from across the various genres.
The printable can be used with kids of all ages (or help adults who read aloud to kids find different books to share). Whether your child enjoys picture books or chapter books, a genre challenge is a way to help them branch out to new areas of literature that they may not have read yet!
And yes, many books can fit into more than one genre — for example, the story Tuesday by David Weisner is a Wordless Picture Book and also a great example of Science Fiction for young children.
In order to maximize your summer reading, try to only list a book in one of the categories even if it fits into more than one genre. There are so many wonderful books out there that I’m sure the kids will find quite a few they are excited to read. I’m also including a fun booklist below with recommendations for each category!
This post is part of the 13 Days of Learning Printables For Kids series.
Between May 7th to May 26, 13 of us kid bloggers will be sharing a learning printable with you. There are some pretty fun printables in this series so be sure to check them out!
| Life Over C’s | The Measured Mom | Preschool Powol Packets | Itsy Bitsy Fun |
| The Connection We Share | Teaching Mama | Lovely Commotion |
| 3 Dinosaurs | Edventures With Kids | This Reading Mama | Mama Miss |
| A Moment In Our World | The Mommy Talks | Ingles360 |
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