A Taste of Summer Reading

Our kids have required summer reading in grades 3-5. We provide them with amazing lists of classics for each of those grades. The lists are long which is good in one way, but overwhelming in another. I decided to have book tastings in grades 2-4 so that the kids could get an idea of which books they might like to read this summer. We had so much fun!

I divided each class into 4 groups. One group checked out books, and the other three went to Tasting Tables. We rotated through the four places during library time. On each table I put a picnic-checked tablecloth, a number, a vase of felt flowers, and an LED votive candle in a glass. There were also two bowls of candy on each table. (They were instructed as to how many pieces they could each have.) I put 5-6 books on each table depending on the size of the class. Each student had a clipboard. On the clipboard was their tasting record sheet. They were instructed to select their favorite and least favorite at each table and give one reason for their choices.

Before we began, we talked about how to "taste" a book as compared to actually reading it. I told them they'd have about 6 minutes at each table and would have to taste quickly. These are some of the ideas we came up with to look at to help with "tasting:"

• title/cover
• blurb on back
• table of contents
• pictures
• genre
• author
• series?

They were able to take their recording sheets home to help their parents in selecting their summer reading books in a month or so. I was very pleased with the activity and plan to repeat it next year for the same grades.

Some other "ambience" things I did were:

• turn off half of the lights in the library
• play Italian pizzaria music (pizzaria music)
• gave out tickets to teachers the day before tasting (Next year I am going to scan the tickets when they enter)
• welcomed each group to their original table by saying, "Your table is ready. Come right this way.)

Fun activities like this keep me lovin' it in the library!