One More Month of Summer
Back-to-school book recommendations! | Vol 1 No 8
Dear Reader,
We have about a month before our school starts and I’m not sad about it. This summer has been filled with trips and relaxation, but also with sickness and exhaustion. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy the warmer weather for sure, and spending more time with my kids while they’re out of school, but I’m looking forward to more stability, routine, and also all things fall (I love fall!).
With that in mind, I try to think intentionally about how I will incorporate reading with/to my children and my own reading time as the kids return to school in the fall. These include but are not limited to: designating a library day after school, reading before school (check out this newsletter for my experiment with reading to kids before school), reading during snack time, silently reading together, etc. With all the activities that my kids are signed up for, sometimes reading needs to be scheduled to make sure we do it.
I have a few book recommendations for all ages to get the kiddos (and you!) prepared for the fall - you can view the list on Bookshop here. I picked just one per age group (except for 9-11 year olds); feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments!
For the 3-5 Year Olds
For the 6-8 Year Olds
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Ruth Harper (Bookshop, Amazon)
For the 9-11 Year Olds
For the 12+ Year Olds/Young Adults
Yours in reading,
Emily
YOUR READING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
There were no reading questions sent this week, so please send them along! No question is too small. You can email onemorepage@substack.com or leave a comment below.
CURRENTLY READING
Read alouds with children
Counting to Bananas by Carrie Tillotson and illustrated by Estrela Lourenço (Bookshop, Amazon)
Too Pickley by Jean Reidy and illustrated by Geneviève Leloup (not available at Bookshop, Amazon)
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise (Bookshop, Amazon)
A book I’m reading
Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Bookshop, Amazon)
I’m listening to Book Lovers narrated by audiobook award-winning Julia Whelan, whose own book recently came out, Thank You for Listening (Bookshop, Amazon). I can’t wait to read (or listen to) it soon!
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS PAST WEEK-ISH
I’m trying out a new section of the newsletter where I recommend some other things: they may be an article, film, newsletter, or a miscellaneous thing. It may be related to reading or it may be random. I am a paid subscriber to Leslie Stephens’ excellent newsletter called Morning Person, where she curates recommendations and ideas, and she most recently spoke making “just one” recommendation, so I’m inspired to do that.
Just one article
How to Read to Children (Tip: Always Do the Voices) by Phillip Done from Lithub
I go back and forth between doing the voices with my kids while I read to them. To be honest, Matilda has requested that I stop doing the voices (maybe because I’m so bad at it) but my youngest still gets a kick out of it.
Just one newsletter subscription
Leslie Stephens’ Morning Person newsletter
Just one drink
Iced latte, made your way or try a new recipe
My latte sounds more complicated than it is, but here it is anyway: I make two shots of espresso via my Nespresso maker, put it in a cocktail shaker. Add spices (like cinnamon and vanilla extract) and some maple syrup, add ice and shake, shake, shake. Pour espresso mix into a glass (or tumbler) with ice. Put oat milk in Breville Milk Frother and push “cold stir.” Pour milk into glass and enjoy!
YOUR TURN
How do you intentionally plan for reading with your kids? Is there anything else you recommend for reading/drinking/eating/etc. this week? Leave your comments below!