Reading over the summer really does make a difference. Many students and families think of the summer break as just that – a break from learning. But research shows kids who never open a book during the summer fall behind in reading. Don’t let that happen! Use our fun and FREE resources to make this an EPIC summer of reading for your kiddos.

Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza unites kids, parents, educators, librarians, community partners, and booksellers in a nationwide campaign that celebrates reading for fun while improving access to books during the summer.

Bring the joy of reading home with a Read-a-Palooza Virtual Book Fair! It’s a super simple way to provide students with access to affordable, new books while school’s out. They’ll find all of their favorite characters, series and collections to keep them reading all summer long. All orders are delivered direct to home and shipping is FREE on book-only orders over $25*. Plus, all purchases benefit your school, earning 25% in Scholastic Dollars™.

Scholastic Home Base is a fun, safe, and completely free online destination where kids can create their own avatar, interact with their favorite Scholastic characters, play games, and read books. Home Base is moderated 24/7. Kids can visit a special Summer Read-a-Palooza zone where they can keep track of their reading streaks to earn special rewards, as well as download and print a report of their reading progress to share with their parent, educator, librarian, or group leader. 

LitCamp at Home Children’s Read-Aloud Series is a collection of free literacy-focused videos to keep families reading this summer. The entertaining videos feature learn-at-home activities and fun read-alouds from Scholastic authors, including Andrea Davis Pinkney, Lauren Tarshis, and Rebecca J. Gomez. Available on scholastic.com/summer and Scholastic’s YouTube channel, each episode highlights a different theme based on the “7 Strengths” social-emotional literacy learning framework: belonging, curiosity, friendship, kindness, confidence, courage, and hope.

Children’s publisher Nosy Crow released Coronavirus: A Book for Children, a free ebook that breaks down the pandemic in an easy-to-understand way. The book answers key questions, such as “What is the coronavirus?” and “How do you catch it?,” in simple language that’s appropriate for kids ages 5 through 9. You can download a copy of the book here.

Keep your kids thinking and moving with Scholastic Extra Credit at Home, a free and open collection of the best learning experiences and activities for kids, curated by the editors at Common Sense Media and organized by grade band and subject.

Dav Pilkey, author and illustrator of the bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, collaborated with the Library of Congress to offer online resources for children and families during the pandemic. Dav Pilkey at Home features how-to-draw demonstrations from PIlkey himself, along with engaging read-a-louds and inspiring resources from the library’s collections.
 

Tune in for Book Joy Live on Facebook every Thursday at 3pm EDT with Scholastic’s Ambassador for School Libraries, John Schumacher (“Mr. Schu”) and an all-star lineup of authors and educators. During each half-hour livestream, John and his guests celebrate and encourage reading, share free resources, and spotlight entertaining and important new books.

Some of our favorite authors read aloud from their own stories on the Scholastic YouTube channel. Watch Claribel Ortega (Ghost Squad), Carmen Agra Deedy (The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet), Lauren Tarshis, (I Survived series), and other popular children’s authors read from their bestselling books.