Summer Activities Day 2: Library Summer Reading Program

As a homeschooler, the library was always one of my favorite places to be. I remember while my mom stayed with my younger siblings in the children's section, I would peruse the Non-Fiction isles looking at books on historic figures and events and then go to the Fiction isle and check out the next book in the series I was reading. I have such wonderful memories at the library! Now it's such a blessing to see my son get excited to hear that it's library day.

Most libraries have a summer reading program. You receive a chart that you color in for every hour of reading and return it for prizes. This was created to help encourage kids to read, but if you are like my family, we read all the time! A reading program is basically getting coupons for something we already do :)  

Not only does the library normally offer some sort of summer program, but they normally offer classes as well. My siblings and I have gone for things like crochet, arts and crafts, music, history, etc. Check your library's schedule to find out more. They also host library books sales, where I've gotten many of the classics for very cheap. 

If you are signed up for a reading program, here are some of my favorite series books to read aloud as a family:

Little House on the Prairie

These books are called classics for a reason. Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura,  Carrie and Grace all felt like family to me as we read the series. I felt like I was within the four walls of the shanty, and could relate to Laura's sense of adventure whenever they moved. We are using the Playful Pioneers this year and I am looking forward to introducing him to these books. Get to know this pioneer family and learn what it was like to live during this time! 

Little Britches

A lot of people aren't as familiar with these books as the Little House books. With this book series you get to see a little boy in the early 1900s grow up to be a man. Just like in the Little House books, there are so many life lessons to be learned as you read about this real life little cowboy (just like in the Little House books, the books are about the author-writing about his life as an adult).  I will warn you, that there is some mild language in these. My mom would just skip over some of the words as she read these aloud to us. 

Chronicles of Narnia 

As a preteen/early teenager this was my favorite series of all time. I remember getting The Magicians Nephew  when I was 12 and having the world of Narnia come alive. This series introduced me to the world of magic and dragons, dwarves and a not-very-tame-lion named Aslan. Watch your child become wide eyed with wonder as they discover these lands for the first time. This was my gateway to other magical lands as I am a huge Tolkien fan as well!

Anne of Green Gables

Allow your imagination to grow as you discover a kindred spirit in Anne -with an e. Learn about this orphan who found a home in a strange place, and won the hearts of all who met her. She's smart, spunky, and a little vain, and she learns many life lessons as she grows up in Prince Edward Island. Young and old alike will love this series!