Regardless of how you feel when you’re told to read over summer, this blog should shift the “overwhelming chore” into an immersive pastime that focuses entirely on the experience. Find out how to create a customized list of amazing books that are sure to make even the most reluctant reader read. I believe my advice will help you make the most ultimate-est reading list!
Summer Reading Expectations
If you ask the experts, they will tell you that you should try to read about one book per week over summer. Oof! My math brain immediately starts processing. Ok, that’s about 10-12 books, right? Or, wait, does the number of pages matter? Hmmm, maybe I’ll just grab some picture books and finish up in an hour. Reading hack!
No matter how you crunch the numbers, there’s just nothing motivating about that kind of goal. It sounds like a chore. It sounds like school is trying to creep into your vacation. Your creative, imaginative brain immediately finds ways to get around it.
We need a new approach. We need to use our creative, imaginative brains to our advantage. Because, as I discussed in my last blog, reading is a critical aspect of you becoming the best version of yourself! So let’s explore how we might solve the summer reading problem.
Motivation To Read
One creative strategy to solve any problem is to take an idea from one field and apply it to another. A great example of this is when origami master, Robert Lang, used folding techniques to develop airbags in cars! That’s right, the art of making paper cranes can also be applied to solving engineering problems. Or how about Tabbitha Babbitt, an expert fabric weaver, who revolutionized the lumber industry by mounting a circular saw to her spinning wheel. This sort of ingenuity is so inspiring! Let’s channel that type of thinking to solve our reading problem.
Ever heard the rhyme “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?” If not, I bet your parents have. The oldest written record of it comes from London’s St. James Magazine back in 1871. It refers to what a bride should wear on their wedding day for good luck. But we aren’t talking about weddings, we’re talking about reading. So why bring this up? Well, just like we can use origami folds to design airbags, I propose we use this rhyme as our summer reading hack.
Something Old
If you’ve ever watched Thomas And Friends, Shaun The Sheep, or Arthur, then you’ve experienced entertainment from the world’s leading public broadcasting service, The BBC. But they do more than just TV shows. Back in 2023, they put out a list of the 100 greatest children’s books of all time. The Tales of Mother Goose, written over 300 years ago, is on there. So is a book from 2020, A Kind of Spark. Some of my personal all-time favorites are on there, too! I challenge you to choose “something old” from this curated list to read this summer. Old could be just 5 years or 300 years. You decide!
Something New
Of course, modern authors write great books. And then they write more great books! For example, the author of the Hunger Games (2008) just released her 5th book in the series. So, one way to find an exciting new book is to go back to a book you already love and then find more books by that same author. I’d also recommend using online resources like The School Library Journal for curated lists of books for your age. For example, here’s a fairly new article that summarizes the best middle grade books of 2023. Whether it’s new to you or new to the world, let curiosity lead you.
Something Borrowed
Yes, the BBC knows a thing or two about good books. So does the School Library Journal. But neither knows you! You are unique. And you have preferences, interests, and passions that shape your choices. But I bet there’s people in your life that know you pretty well – parents, friends, aunts and uncles, teachers, even siblings. So, why not ask them what books you should read? I guarantee they’ll light up with ideas. Sharing is so much fun! It’s possible that if you ask, you shall receive. I know I’ve lent books to my people. But even if they just share a title, you’re still “borrowing” the idea of a good book to read.
Something Blue
Traditionally, brides wore blue jewelry or shoes to symbolize the peace we feel when we gaze upon blue waters or into blue skies. Obviously we’re not getting married, we’re just trying to find books. So, let’s get uber creative. Maybe blue is the color of the book. Or maybe you find a book that takes place in the sky (I’m thinking dragons, birds, or airplanes). Maybe you think of blue as sadness so you find a book that deals with loss. Or maybe blue is the color of something in the story. Didn’t Anakin Skywalker yield a blue lightsaber?
Beyond The Rhyme
Ok, my math brain has a question. Isn’t that only 4 books? Maybe. But when you’re searching for “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” you’re bound to find more than one book under each category. Create a list. First write down those 4 categories. Then write down titles as you discover them. Lastly, head to the library or bookstore to get some books and start reading!
You can rotate through the categories or stay in one for several books. The idea is to mix it up to ensure you’re reading a variety of fun, interesting books. Hopefully this feels less like a chore and more like a treasure hunt.
Beyond the rhyme categories, consider fiction versus nonfiction. Also include books that directly teach you something. For example, let’s say you choose to read a Star Wars novel. Did you know Star Wars was based on the “hero’s journey” by mythologist Joseph Cambell? I found a book called The Hero’s Guidebook: Creating Your Own Hero’s Journey from a quick library search. Maybe after you finish the novel, you’ll crack open the guidebook. This might lead you to other books with similar story lines. You might even try to write one yourself!
Another example might come from your choice to read, say, Harry Potter since he deals with loss (i.e. something blue). Now you’re curious about real-life wizardry and magic. This leads you to Escape: The Story Of The Great Houdini. Don’t stop there! Also grab a book on how to perform simple magic tricks!
Dog Days Of Summer
When the star Sirius is visible just before sunrise, the ancient Greeks knew to expect sweltering heat. Sirius, part of the “Greater Dog” constellation, signifies the dog days of summer! Unless you’re swimming, you’ll probably want to retreat to cooler spaces. That’s the absolute perfect time to relax with a good book. What will it be? Something old or new? Something borrowed or blue? Or maybe a project or two?
This spring, if you follow my advice, you should have a collection of treasures to choose from for a rich summer reading experience. And if you’re not married to the categories I suggested, then create your own. Ultimately the goal is to immerse yourself in books rather than check them off, one by one. Definitely discuss with your family how you all will prioritize reading over summer in a way that’s fun and relaxing. Where I live, the weather is perfect each morning to make a cup of coffee, pull out a camp chair to my patio, and read outside with the birds, squirrels, rabbits, and fresh breeze. The animals seem to accept my presence and continue with their morning chores, undisturbed. And, yes, I have my 7th grade son join me! Where’s your happy place? Where can you take a deep breath, shut out the world, and engage in a great story?
References:
Beasley, E., et al. (2023, November 21). Best middle grade books 2023 | SLJ best books. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/best-middle-grade-2023-slj-best-books
Cunnane, S. (2023, May 22). The 100 greatest children's books of all time. BBC Culture. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230522-the-100-greatest-childrens-books-of-all-time
Krill, D. (2025, March 12). How to motivate middle school students to read more. Rise. https://rise.crimsoneducation.org/articles/how-to-motivate-middle-school-students-to-read-more
Lang, R. J. (n.d.). Airbag folding. Lang Origami. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://langorigami.com/article/airbag-folding/
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