Summer Reading Guide 2025

Dear Wolcott Families,

As the school year comes to a close, I want to remind you of the importance of summer reading. Studies have shown that children who read during the summer months are better prepared for the next school year. In fact, children who do not read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress.

To help your children maintain their reading skills over the summer, the West Hartford Public Library is offering a summer reading program with themed activities and lots of great books including ebooks and audiobooks to read for free over the summer. The summer reading programs are for students returning to or entering Wolcott and students entering middle school in the fall. The public library is there to encourage children to read for pleasure and to help them discover new books and authors over the summer. Please see the WHPS Summer Reading website for more information on the summer programs at the WH Public Library.

All West Hartford students are expected to read for pleasure during the summer and complete a reading log that you turn into the West Hartford Public Library.

Have a wonderful summer and happy reading! I have started my summer reading with the Nutmeg Book Award Nominees for grades 4-6.

Sarah Lynch

Wolcott School Librarian, National Board Certified Teacher

Want to be a part of our back to school Wolcott Library summer reading display and be entered into a raffle? Then do the following steps.

1. Send the library a postcard to tell me about your summer. Buy it from anywhere you visit or make one at home. (Many museums and amusement parks sell postcards.)
2. Write a note telling one great book you have read and/or something fun you have done so far this summer.
3. Bring or mail the postcard by September 5, 2025. Mail the postcard to:

Sarah Lynch

71 Wolcott Rd.

West Hartford, CT 06110

All West Hartford Middle School students are expected to read for pleasure during the summer. Students will be expected to share their reading and bring a record of books they read when they return to school. Track your thinking by logging your reading in the reading tracker so you can talk to you ELA teacher about at least one book in the fall.

Purpose for Reading

As you are reading, think about what is most engaging for you as a reader. Do you like a specific genre, character type, conflict, or author?

Ways to do this:

• Use sticky notes to record your thinking
• Highlight passages or write in the margins
• Use your reading tracker to record your ideas

Find all the info you need for summer reading and summer reading programs at the West Hartford Public Library by visiting these websites: Sedgwick or Bristow and West Hartford Public Library Teen Summer Reading program that is open to incoming 6th graders.

Read a book or come to summer programs to earn tickets and enter to win one of our awesome prizes, including the Grand Prize: a chance to “Color Your Soles” by designing your own custom pair of shoes. We will draw winning tickets at the Ice Cream Social Summer Reading Wrap-Up Party on 8/25!

Be sure to participate in the many activities that are available to you at the West Hartford Public Library this summer! Some examples of summer programs are: Pride Bracelet Making, Bad Art Competition, play Dungeons and Dragons, learn to crochet, Paint Night, Tye-Dye, and don't miss the Bookwyrm Fest!

• Farmington Public Library
• Newington Public Library
• New Britain Public Library
• Hartford Public Library