Encourage Summer Reading with Books and S’mores Night
Use this fun books and s’mores night to encourage summer reading. Do you struggle to make reading interactive and engaging during the summer months? Why not create a tradition that makes reading fun for the whole family?
This summer my family started a new summer tradition with read alouds and s’mores around our backyard fire pit.
A read aloud around the fire has become our favorite way to spend a summer evening. Outside, together with nothing to distract us, surrounded by the sounds of nature (and cows in our case), the warm glow of a fire, and eating delicious s’mores while we read together. Its magical how everything melts away except the story weaving around us.
Zenni Optical, makers of on-trend, affordable, and quality eyewear for the whole family, also wants to encourage families to enjoy reading together, so we’ve teamed up to help make reading fun for the whole family. In fact, there is a $50 Zenni Optical gift card giveaway at the end of the post!
To enjoy a Books and S’mores Family Night simply build a campfire, add chairs, gather s’mores fixings, and grab a great book the whole family will love.
S’mores are easiest over barely flaming coals, so stoke that fire high, and begin reading aloud while waiting for the fire to die down to the perfect s’more roasting level.
Be sure to stop reading at a suspenseful or action filled point to keep interest high as you enjoy s’mores.
*tip- Bring a box of baby wipes to quickly clean sticky s’more covered fingers
When everyone is full and content, stoke the fire up to high flames again, and gather around to hear more of the story.
*tip- Don’t forget to bring a lantern or reading light to your campfire to continue reading long past dusk. 
Sometimes choosing a great read aloud can be daunting, so I’m sharing a list of books to get you started.
My family does not enjoy scary stories, so I choose a book set in nature or an adventure book for our campfire read aloud. Even very young children can be sucked into the story of a chapter book, but I’m including several favorite picture stories in my list too. I often have older children read picture books to younger siblings as I set out s’mores fixings.
Chapter books to read around the campfire
- The Sign of the Beaver
- Huckleberry Finn
- TumTum and Nutmeg
- Little House in the Big Woods
- The Indian in the Cupboard
- Caddie Woodlawn
- Hatchet
- Island of the Blue Dolphins
- The Black Stallion
- Ella Enchanted
Picture books to read around the campfire
- Ladybug Girl and Bingo
- A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
- Hilda Must Be Dancing
- The Lorax
- Bear Snores On
Encourage children to read this summer while also creating new traditions- like Books and S’mores Night- that make reading interactive and engaging!
What book would your family enjoy around the campfire?
One reader will receive a $50 Zenni Optical gift card
This sweepstakes is open to US residents over the age of 18.
It starts right now and ends at 11:59PM on August 10th, 2016.
$50 Zenni Optical Gift Card
This post was sponsored on behalf of Zenni Optical via One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.
I never thought about using cookies instead of graham crackers!! I love your new traditions. 🙂
I don’t have to encourage my kids to read, thankfully. They’re huge readers.
Lots of trips to the library and used book store.
I don’t have kids, but when I was a kid my mom took me to fun reading clubs and events at the library. Reading became a great joy in my life.
Trips to the bookstore and library, special summer fruit snacks and frosty beverages when she was reading.