On the First Day of Summer Vacation
Author: Tish Rabe
Illustrator: Sarah Jennings
HarperCollins
Ages: 4 to 8 years old
We have all heard of the “summer slide.” It is absolutely a real concern for anyone who has children at home or works with them in the classroom.
Ask any kid, and maybe even any grown up, what their favorite time of the year is and chances are the answer will be SUMMER TIME! Behind that answer, we are likely to find memories of Summer vacations, time spent with family and friends, sunny days, pool days, beach days, and fun days.
If you ask that question near the end of the school year, that same answer will probably come with a great deal of enthusiasm. For parents, and teachers alike, summer is both a great time and a reason for concern. We have all heard of the “summer slide.” It is absolutely a real concern for anyone who has children at home or works with them in the classroom.
One of the major issues facing kids and their parents during the summer months is keeping up with activities that will ensure they continue to learn and enjoy that learning even when school is out. Reading is fundamental for that to happen, so choosing Summer appropriate books gives parents a great start on keeping that learning momentum going.
In this story, Rabe very subtly gives us a great combination of reading fun and learning tools. The story takes us through the first twelve days of summer and includes the reader in twelve days of adventures and experiences that are the kinds of things every kid loves to do.
The characters enjoy riding their bikes, going on hikes, making castles in the sand, helping their team win, learning how to swim. going to the zoo, paddling a canoe, and several other summer specific experiences that engage kids as well as teach them.
Jennings makes the book a visually engaging experience by matching colorful, detailed pictures to building the story as she adds new elements from the story to the pictures on each page.
As we read, we notice the inclusion of ordinal numbers to identify the days, rhyming words to describe the activities and a story that builds so that children will enjoy repeating the elements that have already been included while adding new ones.
Written for children ages 4-8, this is a story that beautifully introduces Summer, gives parents ideas about activities that kids will enjoy, helps foster a love of reading and words, and creates a special opportunity to continue the learning process even when school is out.
On the First Day of Summer Vacation (Support an Independent Bookstore)
On the First Day of Summer Vacation (Hardcover at Amazon)*
More books for this Age Group can be found here.
Please, leave comments! I love a HEALTHY exchange of ideas. After all, critical thinking is essential to life.
*Amazon Associates earn from qualifying purchases.