Summer Reading Challenge

At The Cypress School, we believe that great books inspire imagination, curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our Summer Reading Challenge is designed to help students continue growing as readers all summer long while making reading joyful, cozy, and meaningful for the whole family.

Students are encouraged to read (or be read to!) throughout the summer through independent reading, family read-alouds, audiobooks, and shared reading experiences. Every minute counts!

Summer Reading Goals

PK/KB Students — 300 Minutes
Kindergarten Students — 500 Minutes
1st–2nd Grade Students — 700 Minutes
3rd–5th Grade Students — 1,000 Minutes

🏅 Students who complete their challenge will receive a special Summer Reading Medal during our FIRST chapel of the new school year!

⭐ The Top 10 readers in the school will also be featured on our “Summer Reading Hall of Fame” bulletin board in the library.

Download Your Summer Reading Log

DOWNLOAD READING LOG

Suggested Summer Reading Lists

We carefully selected books that:

  • foster imagination and wonder
  • encourage joyful reading
  • support strong language development
  • complement our Cypress curriculum
  • avoid repeating many core classroom novels and read-alouds

We also highly recommend exploring The Good and the Beautiful reading lists for additional wholesome, literature-rich book recommendations for children of all ages.

PK4 / Kinder Bridge

  • Blueberries for Sal
  • Corduroy
  • Owl Moon
  • Jamberry
  • Make Way for Ducklings
  • Madeline
  • Brambly Hedge Stories

Kindergarten

  • Little Bear
  • Henry and Mudge
  • Nate the Great
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins
  • The Velveteen Rabbit
  • Amelia Bedelia
  • Paddington

1st Grade

  • Ramona the Pest
  • Socks
  • Encyclopedia Brown
  • The Trumpet of the Swan
  • The Littles
  • Tumtum & Nutmeg

2nd Grade

  • Sarah, Plain and Tall
  • Homer Price
  • Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
  • Twenty-One Balloons
  • The Railway Children
  • All-of-a-Kind Family

3rd Grade

  • The Saturdays
  • Misty of Chincoteague
  • Heidi
  • The Borrowers
  • Cricket in Times Square
  • The Door in the Wall

4th Grade

  • Tuck Everlasting
  • Johnny Tremain
  • The Sign of the Beaver
  • Anne of Green Gables
  • The Phantom Tollbooth
  • Treasure Island

5th Grade

  • The Bronze Bow
  • The Westing Game
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
  • Refugee
  • Mara, Daughter of the Nile
  • Little Britches

Bonus Summer Reading Challenges

☀️ Read outside
☀️ Read under a blanket fort
☀️ Visit the library
☀️ Listen to an audiobook
☀️ Read with a flashlight
☀️ Read to a sibling
☀️ Read a nonfiction book
☀️ Memorize a poem or scripture verse
☀️ Read during a road trip
☀️ Read with grandparents

Send Us Your Reading Photos!

We LOVE seeing our Cypress students reading throughout the summer!

Families are encouraged to send photos of students reading at home, outside, on vacation, at the library, or anywhere their summer adventures take them. We will feature student reading photos on our Cypress Instagram page throughout the summer to encourage and inspire fellow readers!

Happy Reading!