Milwaukee City Wire

As summer approaches, families may seek ways to keep children engaged and learning. Reading has been identified as an effective method to maintain and enhance reading skills and vocabulary during the summer months. Studies indicate that students who read in their free time tend to be better readers, possess a larger vocabulary, achieve higher test scores, and have greater content knowledge.

The phenomenon known as "summer slide" is a significant concern for students across all grade levels. Research suggests that students can lose up to a month of learning over the summer break. However, those who read at least six books during this period are more likely to retain their academic skills.

MPS Reads provides monthly lists of recommended books suitable for all ages, covering a wide range of multicultural topics relevant to students. Many of these titles are available for free to MPS students through the Sora app at https://soraapp.com/library/milwaukeewi/collections. For past and upcoming book recommendations, individuals can visit the MPS Reads web page.

Additionally, the Milwaukee Public Library is hosting its Super Reader summer reading program again this year. More information can be found at https://www.mpl.org/summerreading/. The program is open to children, teens, and adults. Libraries will also offer various fun and free activities throughout the summer to encourage family reading.

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