Summer reading inspiration for all ages

July 1, 2024 Tawny Morrison Leave a Comment

Looking for reading recommendations before going on a trip? Searching for books to keep young minds busy during summer break? PBS Wisconsin is here to help with reading inspiration for everyone!

Children’s books for summer fun

PBS KIDS for Parents has loads of themed booklists for kids. Get started with “Children’s Books for Summer Fun” for books about beaches, fireflies, amusement park rides and more. For more suggestions, check out “8 Children’s Books About Taking a Trip” or “Dog Tales for the Dog Days of Summer.”

Catch storytime online

Is your summer schedule clashing with your favorite storytime hour? Check out the Storytime collection on PBS LearningMedia! Dozens of videos feature contributors reading books that cover various topics, genres and experiences. Contributors also ask thoughtful questions to help kids develop comprehension skills.

Get started with The Dinosaur vs. the Library. Olisha James from the New York Public Library begins the video with dino-themed songs and games. Then, she reads a story about a roaring dinosaur who decides to pause the roars so everyone at the library can enjoy storytime.

Wisconsin Biographies digital books

Older kids may have outgrown storytime, but reading along while a book is read out loud can be helpful for blossoming readers. PBS Wisconsin Education’s Wisconsin Biographies collection includes digital books with accompanying audio files that are always free to access.

Discover the stories of people who made history in Wisconsin, like recycling revolutionary Milly Zantow, community builder Mahmoud Othman Atta, Menominee leader Chief Oshkosh and many more. Each story includes a short animated video, historical images and a digital book. Each book has audio files available on each page for listening along.

Discover literary faves with It’s Lit!

For teens and young adults starting to explore the countless genres, writing styles and perspectives the world offers, head over to the It’s Lit video collection on PBS LearningMedia. The series introduces readers to influential writers and books and explores why they made history. Some videos take a deep dive into popular genres, literary movements and reasons why we love to read.

Dive in with a video on the rise of manga in the United States, or discover iconic authors from the Harlem Renaissance.

Wisconsin First Nations booklists

The Wisconsin First Nations website was developed to provide educators with accurate and authentic educational materials for teaching about the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin, but don’t let that stop you from checking it out! It’s chock full of content for learning about the nations near you, including videos, websites and booklists.

The Wisconsin First Nations booklists are conveniently grouped by age, from little learners to grown-ups and educators. Each list includes additional information on each book, like author and illustrator names, page numbers and which nation or nations are represented. From memoirs and graphic novels to picture books and more, there are books for every reader to enjoy.

Reading PBS LearningMedia Wisconsin Biographies Wisconsin First Nations