Paralegal Shares Summer Reading Tips for Kids

Virginia paralegal and fiction editor of The Internet Review of Books Julie McGuire is like most moms. She wants to keep her kids reading when school's out, even if her kids are leaning toward the definition of "vacation" as a reading-free zone.

But Julie's got some summer reading tips that will keep our kids begging for books:

• Keep it simple. Maybe you're the type to read the classics while the rest of us are delighting in trashy romance novels at the beach. Don't expect your kids to have the same sense of refinement. Graphic novels, comic books, and magazines count.
• Keep it social. Find a book with a movie tie-in. Plan a family night to discuss the differences. Let the kids pick out some snacks, and maybe even allow them to put their feet up on the furniture.
• Keep it competitive. Kids love to win things. Many local libraries have pretty nice prizes-I've read about iPods and even laptops. Give prizes of your own.
• Keep it predictable. Kids may complain about routine, but most crave it. Set a daily reading time, or a weekly date at a local bookstore. Whatever the routine, stick to it. Kids like stability.
• Keep it handy. Keep piles of the latest must-reads in strategic locations. No need to point it out. The splashy covers will eventually catch their eyes.