Summer reading

Summer is a time for planting and growing. This applies to our children as well as to our gardens. A warm summer of games and activities will do much for physical development but unless reading is nurtured during vacation, children may lose some of their skills before the school bells ring in the fall.

• Some books about spring and plants are a good beginning:

"Seeds" by Ken Robbins (Atheneum) is a gorgeous book showing the development of plants from seed to full-grown (all ages).

"Mouse's First Spring" by Lauren Thompson and Buket Erdogan (Simon & Schuster) takes our favorite mouse to explore the great outdoors (ages pre-3).

"Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers" by Kathi Appelt and Joy Hein (HarperCollins) celebrates former first lady Lady Bird Johnson and the Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas (all ages).

• For children starting school this fall, plan summer reading with concept picture books and beginning readers:

"Brand New Readers" (Candlewick Press) is a collection of single-line text with bright interesting pictures for different levels of learning (pre-6).

"Do You Have a Hat?" by Eileen Spinelli and Geraldo Valerio (Simon & Schuster) combines lyrical verse with a predictable plot just right for young listeners (pre-6).

• Plan a weekly trip to the public library this summer. Watch for story times and excellent reading lists. Two books about libraries:

"Please Bury Me in the Library" by J. Patrick Lewis and Kyle Stone (Harcourt) is everyone's dream — to be harbored with books for a full night (ages 5-10).

"The Libraries of Basra: A True Story from Iraq" by Jeanette Winter (Harcourt) tells of a librarian who tries to save her precious collection during wartime (ages 6-12).

• Have good adult models for reading in the home. Children will follow the lead if they are read to and see others reading.

• Plan summer trips with a book as a companion. Going to the zoo? Try books about favorite animals or the work of the zookeeper.

• Going on vacation? Books and maps can help set the pace or provide information about the place you are going. Keep a journal of your trip like "My Vacation Place: Memory Book" (Kids Can Press) or "Counting Our Way to Maine" by Maggie Smith (Orchard).