What We’re Reading: Summer Scavenger Hunt

Download our free reading scavenger hunt, discover new books, and earn rewards all summer long. 

Summer is here! ☀️ Bedtimes get later, kids spend more time outside, and days fill up with park trips, lake days, family visits, and trying to enjoy every bit of summer while it lasts. For a lot of families, reading starts to slip a little during the summer months as routines change – and that’s okay!  

Summer looks different for a lot of us, which means our reading routines will too. 

Reading doesn’t have to feel strict or structured. A book before bed counts. Reading outside on a picnic blanket counts. Looking at pictures together and listening to your child tell a story from memory count, too. Small moments like these help keep reading part of everyday life. They also help children feel more confident and ready when school starts again in the fall. 

Make It a Scavenger Hunt 

To make summertime reading even more fun, Way to Grow created a free Summer Reading Scavenger Hunt for kids ages 4–8! Share with any child in your life to help combat the summer slide and to enjoy one of our favorite pastimes.  

The scavenger hunt is filled with simple and playful ways to read all summer long, such as… reading outside under the sun; turn on the flashlight and read a campfire tale; have your child read to their best (stuffed!) friend; read something that has you both rolling on the floor with laughter; and read curled up in a cozy spot during a summer storm. 

The possibilities are endless! The goal isn’t to finish quickly, it’s to keep reading. 📖 

And if you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate all that reading, Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT Program is just the thing. The program has been helping kids fall in love with reading since 1984. Kids from preschool through 6^th grade can set a reading goal, track their pages in the free BOOK IT app, and earn a free pizza every month all summer long, from June through August. It’s a great little reward to look forward to, and a good reason to keep turning pages.

Pizza Hut President Carl Loredo puts it well: the program has inspired more than 70 million children to discover the magic of books over the past 40 years. “We’re excited to invite readers of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading — one book (and pizza) at a time.”

Learn more and sign up at bookitprogram.com!

Why Summer Reading Helps 

There’s a good reason to keep books in the mix this summer while classrooms sit empty. Children can lose reading skills over the summer when they don’t practice regularly. Researchers call this the “summer slide,” and it’s more common than most people realize. By the time school starts in the fall, some kids spend the first few weeks catching back up instead of moving forward. 

This matters most in the early years. From birth through age 8, children’s brains are growing in important ways around language and reading. They’re learning to hear the sounds in words, connect letters to those sounds, and understand how stories work. Children’s brains are growing and making connections all the time, which is why reading at home helps keep that momentum going. 

The good news is that reading support at home doesn’t need to be complicated. Just ten to fifteen minutes a day can make a real difference!

Reading Can Happen Anywhere 

Summer reading doesn’t need to happen at a desk, and it doesn’t need to feel like a lesson. Way to Grow’s Family Educators know what it’s like to keep kids engaged with a book. If you’re looking for ideas to make sure your child is ready for the classroom this fall. 

Here are some ideas to help your reader at every age:  

For babies and toddlers (ages 0–3) 

Choose books with bright pictures, simple words, and repetition. Point to pictures as you read. Encourage your child to turn the pages. Hearing words again and again helps babies and toddlers learn new words and build language skills. Young children learn that reading together is a time to slow down, connect, and enjoy a story. And without even realizing it, they’re learning how books work. 

We recommend checking out: 

For preschoolers (ages 3–5) 

Let your child choose which books to read. It’s a small act of independence that can have ripple effects. Ask simple questions while you read together: What do you see? What do you think happens next? Let them tell the story from the pictures if they want to. This kind of play helps children learn new words, think through stories, and understand how language works. All of these things together make learning to read easier. 

Young readers will love these books: 

For early elementary children (ages 5–8) 

As your child builds their reading skills, take turns reading and talk about the story together. Ask how a character felt or what your child would do in the same situation. At this stage, kids are moving from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn. Your child’s confidence will grow through regular practice. Every page matters. 

Get ready to turn the page with these great reads: 

Reading in Your Home Language 

Be sure to read in your home language if your family speaks Spanish, Somali, Hmong, or another language at home. Stories in every language help children grow and develop their literacy skills. They also help children feel proud of who they are and the languages that are part of their family. 

And if your child wants to read the same book again and again, let them! Repetition is not a sign that they’re stuck, it’s enthusiasm and joy. Celebrate your child’s favorite books right along with them. 

Where to Find Books This Summer 

You don’t have to break the bank to keep books in your home this summer. 

Hennepin County Library and Saint Paul Public Library both offer free summer reading programs for children. Families can check out books, attend story times, and participate in reading activities throughout the summer. 

Big Hill Books and Magers & Quinn are two local independent bookstores with staff who love books. They’re happy to help families find something just right for readers of all ages. 

Little Free Libraries are another great option. Families can take a book, leave a book, and discover stories right in their own neighborhood. 

You’re Already Doing More Than You Know 

If you read with your child, even once in a while, you’re doing something that matters. You’re helping your child learn new words and fall in love with stories. You’re also showing them that books are a part of life. When you spend time reading together, you build a foundation that carries beyond any one book or summer reading program. This is how readers are made! Not in one big push, but in all the small moments you share together. 

If you want support along the way, Way to Grow Family Educators work one-on-one with families from pregnancy through third grade. They can help with early learning, school readiness, and connecting your family to helpful resources. 

Learn more about Way to Grow’s home visiting program →