Hold onto Summer a Little Longer with Family Book Club

It’s no secret that our tutors are big fans of reading for fun, especially during long stretches away from school. We’ve been sharing blogs on Family Book Club to inspires families to share a love of books together. As we hold onto summer a little longer, why not pair family outings with books to read. The summer break presents a unique opportunity for experiential learning opportunities with outdoor adventures we don’t have time to plan during the busy school year. These trips can be paired with books to reinforce themes, similar to pairing foods together for a fine meal. For those of us living in Ontario we are so fortunate to have so many interesting outdoor options within reach. So, get outside to enjoy the fresh air, and then hit the books! 

Here are field trip and book pairing suggestions from our President, Joanne Sallay, to get started:

1) Exploring Home and Community Gardens

Gardening is extremely educational for kids and a fun pastime for the family to enjoy together. It can be as simple as going to your backyard to get started. Ontario is also filled with many famous gardens to peruse and enjoy during weekends and vacations. Edwards Gardens and the Toronto Botanical Gardens are a must for locals and visitors to Toronto. Rockcliffe Park is a favourite in Ottawa, don’t forget to pack a picnic. If you are near London, Ontario be sure to check out Victoria Park, a summertime favourite for festivals and music. These are just a few suggestions, we will be sure to share more soon!

Student Book Pairings: Hello, World! Garden Time, The Bug Girl: A True Story, In Our Garden,

Graphic Novel Pairings: The Secret Garden: A Graphic Novel

Adult Book Pairings: Gardening for Everyone

2) Visiting Local and National Parks

Attention all nature lovers, check out some of Ontario’s lovely public parks. There are so many things to do that you can visit several times and engage in something entirely different. If looking for an adventure beyond your local park, seek out one of Ontario’s 5 national parks or 340 provincial parks. If looking for a recreational park that has it all, check out Toronto’s High Park with hiking trails, sports facilities, zoo, playground, and dog park. There is also a lot of local history to discuss with students. Best of all, it’s open every day, accessible by public transit, and is completely free of charge to enjoy. Don’t forget to visit again in the spring time to admire the beautiful cherry blossom trees!

Student Book Pairings: Change Starts with Us, Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms, How? The Most Awesome Question and Answer Book about Nature, Animals, People, Places – And You!

YA Pairings: Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe

Adult Book Pairings: National Parks Colouring Book

3)  Cottaging, Camping and Glamping

There is no better friend than a book when enjoying the great outdoors, or a lazy summer by the pool or lake. Ontario has no shortage of outdoor beauty and is known for cottage country. From camping in Algonquin Park, glamping in Grafton, to cottaging in Muskoka or Barry’s Bay (hint, featured in Every Summer After) these books below will be great company!

Student Book Pairings: Timo Goes Camping, The Not-So Great Outdoors, Wild About Camping

YA Pairings: The Summer I Turned Pretty series *Fun fact, this series by Jenny Han has been adapted to screen on Amazon Prime Video.

Adult Book Pairings: The Summer Cottage, Every Summer After  *Fun Fact, Every Summer After was a 2022 Biblio Bash pick in support of the Toronto Public Library Foundation and was devoured by many parents in the Teachers on Call community this summer.

Looking for more ideas? Check out our last blog featuring a mystery theme with Agatha Christie inspired reads.