
Nothing helps kids pick up good habits as much as being a role model! Be sure to be a reading role model this summer with these awesome reads and lists.
Summer is a busy time for everyone, but it’s important to keep up learning as well. The great thing about reading is that it fosters self-directed learning, critical thinking skills, and it’s also inexpensive and easy entertainment! If your children don’t tend to gravitate towards a good book, perhaps you should consider making sure that you’re being a good reading role model yourself!
Here are some tips:- So be sure to set up situations where the whole family can kick back and read, whether it’s family couch time, or outdoors enjoying the fresh air under a tree.
- Make sure you understand where your younger child is at with their reading level, before you direct them to appropriate books.
- If your child doesn’t “love” a book, make sure you explain that they don’t have to love it just because it’s a book. It’s perfectly okay to stop reading a book you don’t find interesting… as long as you look for and try another!
- Be sure that you follow your own advice, to read regularly!
On that last point, let’s make sure that you’re set up with some great reads, mom and dad! Show your kids that reading is fun and important for everyone, and experiment with different sorts of genres!
There are already some awesome pre-curated book lists on many sites, but here are some hot new books to check out:
Exciting Fiction
Act Your Age, Eve Brown – From Amazon: In Talia Hibbert’s newest rom-com, the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.
Project Hail Mary – From the NYT: From the author of The Martian, a lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this “propulsive” (Entertainment Weekly), cinematic thriller full of suspense, humor, and fascinating science—in development as a major motion picture starring Ryan Gosling.
The City of Tears – From Pan MacMillan: A breathtaking historical novel of revenge, persecution and loss, The City of Tears by Kate Mosse follows on from her Sunday Times number one bestseller, The Burning Chambers.
The Four Winds – From Raincoast Books: From the number-one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them.
Timely Nonfiction
The Premonition – From Indigo: Michael Lewis’s taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Call Me Indian – From Indigo: Fred Sasakamoose, torn from his home at the age of seven, endured the horrors of residential school for a decade before becoming one of 120 players in the most elite hockey league in the world.
Happy reading!
Related Articles View All
The Forest of Reading: Cultivating a Love of Literacy with Meredith Tutching
In our exclusive interview with Meredith Tutching, Director of the Forest of Reading®, we explore how this beloved Canadian literacy program empowers young readers to choose their favourite books, supports Canadian authors, and celebrates a love of reading through an electrifying festival experience. Perfect for educators, librarians, and parents alike, this is your inside guide to inspiring the next generation of readers.
More Than a Scare - How "Haunted Canada: Four Terrifying Tales" Sparks Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Literacy
Spine-tingling tales meet powerful learning tools in Haunted Canada: Four Terrifying Tales, a graphic novel that brings Canadian ghost stories to life while sparking imagination and literacy in young readers. We chat with author Joel A. Sutherland about the creative process, the value of spooky storytelling, and how eerie legends can become unforgettable educational experiences.
Helping Children Navigate Change, Complex Emotions, and Build Resilience in If You See a Bluebird by Bahram Rahman
Picture books like If You See a Bluebird by Bahram Rahman open the door to important conversations with children about change, emotional growth, and resilience. Nominated for the 2025 Blue Spruce Award, this tender story follows a boy’s journey as he adjusts to a new home while longing for the one he left behind. In our exclusive interview, Rahman shares how stories can help children express big emotions and develop empathy.