Summer is an opportunity for students of all ages to explore new books, share old favorites, and read in a relaxed and leisurely setting. The Lower School reading lists are merely suggestions for materials and are made up of a variety of new and notable books and series to encourage students to find a new favorite or to try something unfamiliar.

Our goal at KCD is to keep your child reading. What they read isn’t as important as cultivating a love of reading. Hopefully within these lists your child will find materials to read on their own, or happily share alongside you or other family members. Remember, reading aloud to your child is still important in all of Lower School, even 4th grade. Feel free to explore the grade level lists above or below your child’s entering grade level to find books that are just right for your child to read or for you to read to your child. 

Why is Summer Reading so important for kids’ success? Summer reading...

A University of Tennessee, Knoxville, research study shows that children who don’t read over the summer lose at least two months of reading development, as in “the summer slide” or the “summer learning loss.” However, the study also shows that students who do read over the summer may gain a month of proficiency in reading. Reading over the summer is not a suggestion to keep kids busy; it’s a critical requirement to help students stay on track for their entire educational career and beyond.

Happy Reading!