Hi Reader,

If you've got a reluctant reader, you might wonder how you'll be able to get them to do any reading this summer without tears or grumbling.

Believe me, I get it. My kiddo (though now that he's 14 I should probably stop calling him a kiddo 🤭) has always been a reluctant reader. He does however, love being read aloud to. I think a lot of his hesitancy stems from his ADHD and a learning disability.

I'm sharing what's worked for our family in case in can help yours:

Remember that everything counts

If your child only enjoys graphic novels, they count. If they are only willing to read chapter books with pictures, it counts. If your kid only wants to listen to audiobooks, audiobooks ARE books. If they just want you to read aloud to them, it's still reading.

Engaging in any or all of these types of reading still builds your child's vocabulary and literacy skills. Most importantly, if it helps your child love books, it will help them learn to enjoy other types of reading in the long term.

Try shared reading

When I have wanted my child to read on his own, either for homeschool work or to gently improving his reading skills, I've found that shared reading almost always works.

Usually, I will read the first 2 or 3 chapters. This gives his ADHD brain a chance to absorb who the characters are, the setting, and other basic info without having to struggle through reading at the same time. It also gives him a chance to get interested enough in what's happening to want to read on his own.

After that, we can switch off every other chapter.

Don't worry about grade levels

As an anxious mom, I know that is easier said than done. But really, try not to worry.

The same age children can be in very different places in their reading abilities, and that is just fine. I remember my son's 2nd grade teacher telling me that she never worries about whether a child will improve their reading abilities if they come from a home where a love of books is encouraged.

Consider whether rewards could help

This one is a little tricky for me. We were a Montessori family throughout preschool and elementary, and I really believe that learning is its own best reward. I didn't even start giving my son grades in our homeschool til this past year, and that's only been to get him ready for high school, when grading is required.

However, I've also learned a lot in the past few years about ADHD, both from reading and observing all four members of our family (we are all neurospicy). People with ADHD need more external sources of reward and stimulation than neurotypical kids.

I've found that the past few years, offering my kid some rewards for summer reading has helped motivate him to pick up books and has not diminished his enjoyment.

Whether you have a reluctant reader at home or a voracious one, I'd love to help you diversify the books you offer kids for summer reading.

​My 2026 Summer Reading Guide is now available, and I can't wait for you to dive in.

I spent this spring reading and reviewing as many recently published diverse books as possible that I knew would hold kids' interest over the summer months.

(I read just under 7,900 pages in about 6 weeks! I fully expect to need a new prescription next time I got to the optometrist.)

The guide includes in-depth reviews of more than 40 recently published books from a variety of genres including contemporary fiction, comedic books, mysteries, books about animals, fantasy and sci fi, historical fiction, and mythology.

Maybe you're wondering why you would pay for my Summer Reading Guide when you could look online for free resources.

What makes my guide worth its modest cost is:

📕the in-depth nature of each individual book review (usually 3 paragraphs) plus all the valuable info in the annotation. You can get a preview of the reading guide and sample book reviews here.

📘 I review RECENT books, not ones that have been around for decades that you’ve probably already heard of. Most of the titles in the guide were published in 2025 or 2026. There are several new book series for you to discover, multiplying the number of books your readers can enjoy!

📗The guide prioritizes diverse & inclusive books and authors in a time when we need these stories – and the people who create them – more than ever.

📙You'll find flexible age recommendations. Especially in the lower elementary grades, children’s reading levels can vary widely. While I do have books organized by suggested grade level, each book also has a recommended age range that indicates which kids would likely resonate with the content of each book. Almost all of the books can be read by kids in multiple grades.

Two final things to keep in mind:

⭐ I'm donating 15% of the proceeds to The Equity Alliance, a Black-led organization in my home state of Tennessee that has been organizing against the suppression of the Black vote for years.

⭐ About 90% of the book lists and other content I create is freely available to everyone. When you purchase the 2026 Summer Reading Guide, you help make those free resources possible.

Happy reading,

Rebekah

Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice​