Welcome

Good afternoon,

As this school year ends our thoughts turn toward summer. We think of all the wonderful things that we will do this summer.

One of the most important things you can do this summer is read.  

And the best way to ensure that we read is to make a plan.

Why is reading so important? Reading has positive, meaningful impacts on our ability to learn, our ability to interact with the world, our ability to make sense of ideas and events, and our ability to see and sense the feelings of others.

Adam Grant, a psychologist, has said:

Reading fiction isn’t just for fun. It has small but meaningful benefits for empathy. In 70 experiments on the impact of reading: concerns for and understanding of others grow more through reading than watching shows and movies. Immersion in words about imaginary worlds can help us see realities beyond our own.

In addition to the benefits of reading on developing empathy, research suggests that students who do not read return to school having experienced a summer slump in learning. Activities like family reading time, read-alouds (parents reading to children), and trips to our Krause Memorial Library - part of the Kent District Library, or to Epilogue Books, one of my favorite stores in Rockford, can ensure that our students reading and language skills continue to develop over the summer.

Our media specialists have created a summer reading guide to help: Summer Reading RPS 2025

I also have some recommendations for summer reading:

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat

• Picture book: 3- 7 years old (but adults will enjoy reading it)
• This is a fun picture book about a devious and suspicious fish.

Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? by Helen Yoon

• Picture book: 3- 7 years old (but adults will enjoy reading it)
• This is a clever picture book that details the struggles of a little girl who has lost her best friend – a dinosaur.

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

• Picture book: 3- 7 years old (but adults will enjoy reading it)
• A fun story about a young owl who wants to be a knight but he is so small. There are now two Knight Owl books. Both are great.

Mouse and His Dog by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

• Reading age: 7-12 years
• Last year I recommended Dogtown. This is a sequel that follows the adventures of a mouse who lives in the shelter that has real dogs and robot dogs. It is a story that focuses on friendship and caring for others.

Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

• Reading age: 9-11 years old
• A story that deals with finding your place, finding friends, and being brave. The cast of four main characters children will relate to and care about.

Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year by Rob Buyea

• Reading age: 8-12 years
• For Carter learning is a challenge. He is worried about his new 4^th grade teacher, but things start to go remarkably well. Then she leaves to have a baby, and Carter has to adapt to a new teacher. It is a story of resilience and friendship and finding one’s way.

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

• Reading age: Late elementary to middle school
• A very innovative story told from the perspective of a Mars rover. The story sees the world through the eyes of the rover as it is built, flown to Mars, and the experiences that it has on Mars.

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

• Reading age: Late elementary to middle school
• A story about living in Germany on both sides of the Berlin Wall. Greta, her mother, and her brother live on the East German side of the Berlin Wall while her father and middle brother are on the West German side. It is a tale of intrigue and suspense.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

• Reading age: Middle grades and up
• A story that focuses on 11-year-old Hank as he tries to navigate caring for his toddler sister when his mother doesn’t come home. It is a story about finding family and navigating adult challenges while still 11-years-old. It is a story of resilience and courage.

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

• Reading age: High school and up
• A deadly virus is spreading but those who survive discover utter contentment – or do they? It is a story of intrigue and politics and discovering how to navigate challenging and competing interests.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

• Reading age: High school and up
• Why would a billionaire give a complete unknown their fortune? It is a question Avery Grambs has to figure out while trying to survive the anger and suspicion of the billionaire’s family.

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John Barry

• Reading age: High school and up
• The fascinating true story of American history. It deals with science, politics, race, society all along the Mississippi River. It is a book that makes you think about our shared history in America.

I hope this summer you make great memories and that you find time to read.

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews
Superintendent
Rockford Public Schools