Books to keep Waterloo Region kids reading this summer

Summer holidays are just around the corner, so how do you keep kids interested inwhat they've learned for next September, when sunny days beckon?

Easy. You make it look easy.

And fun!

One of the best ways to promote a love of reading is for adults and children to read together, out loud. Start a family tradition of reading one summer book together. Make sure your children also see you reading for your own pleasure; talk about what you've been reading. Start a father/child or mother/child book club; grandparents and extendedfamily can also get in on this. Choose one age-appropriate book for you both to share and discuss it, maybe over a meal or an activity that reflects the theme of the book.Books come alive when they leave the page.

Read outside; go on a picnic to get away from the distraction of screens. Keep books around the house on coffee tables for instant appeal when the inevitable "I'm bored!" starts. Befriend your local library andask for recommendations based on books your child has loved in the past.

But what is the best tip for keeping kids turning pages this summer? Putting the perfect book in their hands. And I'mhere to help with that.

I've chosen the top hot titles for summer reading:

Ages 5 to 8

We Forgot Brock by Carter Goodrich is an absolutely delightful story about the unique relationship between children and their imaginary friends. Goodrich, best known for character design on films such as Brave, Ratatouille and Despicable Me, is skilled at creating unforgettably charming characters. In We Forgot Brock, the imaginary friend Brock is a brassy mess of pencil lines with an infectious smile while Phillip, his human friend, doesn't go anywhere without his cape and cowboy boots. Together they have the greatest time together telling jokes, riding bikes, and generally mystifying Phillip's parents who don't know what to make of their child having a grand old time on the see-saw alone. Life is great until Brock is lost at the carnival and Phillip must convince his parents to rescue him, ending with a twist on the theme of true friendship. We Forgot Brock is a hilarious and heartwarming picture book sure to be loved by all ages.

Looking for a lighthearted read about a boy who dislikes his name? Sherman Alexie has written a silly story about a charismatic boy who loves his dad but needs a name of his own, in Thunder Boy Jr.While A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting by Michelle Robinson is a "handbook" of increasingly silly ideas for both identifying types of bears and evading them in the wild.

Ages 9 to12

Craig Thompson's foray into graphic novels for the junior market is exciting, seeing as the result is the especially adventurous Space Dumplins. Best known for his beautifully told graphic novels for adults, Blankets and Habibi, Space Dumplins is one to share with the kids. Violet lives with her very lovingbut very poorfamily in a not-too-distant future after an environmental apocalypse. Her father goes missing after a dangerous work order goes awry, and Violet must lean on her new friends for help. Aided by a brainy space chicken and a charismatic orange alien, Violet learns about courage, friendship, bullying, classism, and family.It's not always the greatest world that we live in, but there are many things worth protecting. Coupled with the incredible artwork and detail in each panel, Space Dumplins is a fun summer read.

Looking for intrigue on a moon colony? Space Case is a terrific lunar mystery from Stuart Gibbs, author of the popular Spy School series. While The Red Blazer Girls series by Michael D. Beil is about earthbound sleuths-in-training, Sophie, Margaret, and Rebecca, solving neighbourhood crimes with the charm of a contemporary Nancy Drew.

Ages13-16

Neal Shusterman is one of my favourite writers for teens and Challenger Deep does not disappoint. A National Book Award winner for 2015, Challenger Deep has the same deep insight into human psychology that is shown in his other award-winning titles. Caden Bosch is just a student who is starting to act a little odd and lies about joining the track team so he can focus on his thoughts. Caden Bosch is asked to be an artist-in-residence aboard an unstable ship that's heading to the deepest part of the ocean. Caden Bosch is oneandthesame. Told with compassion, Neal Shusterman has crafted a story that speaks about mental illness and the power of the mind to make meaning out of experience. It is also filled with adventure and intrigue as the reader must discover what is true and who to believe in a dual narrative that explores the human mind as a deep, dark ocean. A thoughtful and engrossing summer read.

Looking for a strong female protagonist with a penchant for gaming? In Real Life by award-winning Cory Doctorow is a wonderfully illustrated graphic novel about discovering identity and the value of friendship. Finally,A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee is an atmospheric historical mystery with an equally whip-smart female protagonist.

Ages 17-19

Bone Gap is one of those novels you hope will be published every year. A National Book Award Finalist and winner of the 2016 Michael Printz Award, Laura Ruby gives us an impeccably written blend of small town fiction and magic realism, with a heavy dose of mystery. Roza is the town's most beautiful girl and in the familiar telling, she disappears. Finn is the only one to see her captor, but he can't remember the details. The rest of the town thinks she left willingly, and so no one is looking for her. Finn's loyalty, and his sense of the deeper mystery of this disappearance in a town that is known for its "gaps", pushes him to find her. But this is not the straight forward fairytale adventure, although it reads like one. Roza is stronger than suspected and the town of Bone Gap has more mysteries to unravel.

Looking for a spooky multiple-award-winning book that's on everyone's list this summer? Try The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier. Plus,The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge is a thrilling story about a magical tree and the lies and truths that a family holds. Both will keep you up late with a flashlight on!