Greetings, fellow travelers! Today is the day! We are hitting the road, starting out on an an adventure full of reading, sharing, and growing together with books.
Are your bags packed? Got the bug spray and sun screen? Don’t forget your shades and a picnic blanket for those pleasant times reading out in the grass!
But especially, don’t forget to head to the library, book store, or your own shelves to plan for a summer of reading fun! Click the image below to download the road map. If your kiddos color this map, we’d love to see it!
Here’s our itinerary at a glance, in case you want to plan ahead and put some books on hold at your library:
June 5: Hit the road! Today we are sharing some books about going places. Feel free to interpret this theme (and the rest) as loosely as you wish! Keep reading for this week’s featured book and more reading recommendations.
June 12: Open Country. We’ll be sharing books about things you might see on a stretch of open country on a road trip. Farms, rolling hills, wildlife, cows, etc.
June 19: Construction Zone. It’s inevitable on a road trip, right? This week we’ll be sharing books about construction, whether it’s the kind of construction that happens on the road or anywhere else. Interpret this theme any way you like!
June 26: Scenic Overlook. There are lots of natural (and man made) wonders in the world, so this week we’ll be sharing books that feature picturesque scenes. This could be books about landmarks, impressive or unique places in the world, or really anything else that you think of when you hear the phrase “scenic overlook.”
July 3: Adventure Mountain! It’s adventure time this week. Whether that’s a hiking or camping trip or some spooky cave exploring, we’ve got you covered.
July 10: Rest stop! Take a break with some quiet books or get cozy and dozy with some bedtime stories.
July 17: Museum. The focus this week will be on nonfiction and other educational books. Art, science, math, history…you name it!
July 24: Amusement Park. This week we’ll be sharing books that we love just because they are so FUN. Read some books that make you laugh or that you want to experience again and again, just like your favorite amusement park ride!
July 31: At the shore. At last, we’ve reached out destination! Not really. This road trip has been more about the journey! But this week we’ll be sharing books about water. Bodies of water. Water parks. Rain. Take some time to refresh in the water after your long journey!
August 7: Back at Home. The Reading Road Trip is over, so we’ll take this day to share some of our favorite reads from the summer (we hope you’ll share too) and announce the winner of the Summer Reading Prize Pack. Make sure to fill out this form to be eligible to win a pack of books to add to your home library!
Featured Book: Bearplane! by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Sam Wedelich
Read: Bearplane! is a charming story about a little bear’s first time traveling via airplane…I mean bearplane. Told in Deborah Underwood’s signature rollicking rhyme, this book is a delight to read aloud. And the pictures are just as delightful! This book would be especially appropriate to read and discuss before heading to the airport, especially if it’s a little one’s first trip. But it’s a fun read-aloud for any time.
Discuss:
Have you ever taken an airplane anywhere? If so, where did you go? How did you feel before the plane took off? Nervous? Excited?
If you could take a plane anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Is there someone special you would like to visit?
At one point in the book, one of the bears at the bearport has “suitcase trouble.” Have you ever had trouble with a suitcase or maybe a backpack?
Does reading this book make you more or less interested in air travel?
Do: Make a paper airplane! Here’s a video tutorial showing you how to make a basic paper airplane:
When you’re finished, give it a design if you want. Then test it out! If you’re with siblings or friends, consider having a paper plane distance contest.
More “Hit the Road” Reading Recommendations
Trains Don’t Sleep by Andria Rosenbaum, illustrated by Deirdre Gill. This is a simple rhyming text all about trains. It’s a fun and quick read-aloud and will be sure to please everyone, especially the young train enthusiasts. It includes a page a back matter that describes the different kinds of trains featured in the book.
Journey by Aaron Becker, a wordless picture book about a magical adventure.
The Fox and the Wild by Clive McFarland. This vibrant book is the story of an unsatisfied fox and his journey to find a wild place beyond the city.
Penguin Sets Sail by Jessica Linn Evans. Another wordless book, this one tells a story of adventure and friendship, with a little danger mixed in!
For more recommendations, check out this post from the 2023 Summer Challenge.
We hope you will join us next week for a drive through Open Country!
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