(BPT) - If you want your kids to spend more time this summer away from screens and delving into books, start with the beloved Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. By engaging kids in this tried-and-true series you know they'll love, you're ensuring they'll have many hours of reading pleasure ahead of them, all summer long. The Percy Jackson series recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, demonstrating its long-running popularity with kids aged 8-12 years.
To help inspire kids to enjoy more summer reading, Disney Hyperion's "Get Ready with Me for Camp Half-Blood" summer reading campaign will be providing exciting resources and new content about Percy Jackson for young readers on social media, and on the Disney Books and Read Riordan websites.
Kids can explore the world of Percy Jackson, son of the Greek god Poseidon, in the five original books starting out with "The Lightning Thief," and going on to include two direct spinoffs, an extension series of fan favorite characters, as well as crossover books with other series by Rick Riordan.
Here are tips from Disney Books to help inspire your kids to enjoy more reading over the summer months.
1. Make regular trips to the library
To help your kids find books they love, make a weekly visit to your local library a regular part of your summer routine. Many libraries offer special reading programs, story time, movies and other events for varying ages over the summer, so make sure to check out what's happening at your nearest branch this year.
Pro tip: Let your kids choose reading material that interests them, whether that means graphic novels, magazines or books. They'll be more likely to stick with them.
2. Share the books you loved with your kids
Do you have fond memories of reading books like the Percy Jackson series, or other beloved children's classics? You can relive the stories you loved by reading them with your kids today.
3. Reward chores with "book money"
If your kids participate in household chores, consider offering a book reward instead of cash this summer. When they have completed a set number of chores, take them on a trip to the bookstore where they can select their next great read. It will be something they can look forward to!
4. Read together
Whether you read to your kids, they read to you, or you all read silently but in the same room together, "reading time" every day can reinforce how much you value reading, and is a great way to bond over your favorite books.
Pro tip: Even just 10-15 minutes of reading time before bed can help kids wind down and relax before enjoying a good night's sleep!
5. Get into a series
The beauty of getting your kids interested in a long-running series like Percy Jackson is that the fun doesn't end when one book is over. Kids will love knowing that they have a lot more to look forward to, and they'll be excited about seeing what happens to their favorite characters next.
6. Make a game out of reading
Your kids could join a reading challenge set up by their school or library, or you could create your own. Consider making a bingo game with squares like "Start a book series," "Read a book about animals" or "Read a story with a blue cover" — and use new books as prizes!
7. Keep exploring
If one book doesn't get your child excited about reading, don't give up. Help them learn the layout of the library or bookstore to discover what interests them. You can find a wide variety of stories to suit any kind of reader. Not into fiction? Maybe they'd rather read age-appropriate nonfiction books about space, the natural world, dinosaurs or how machines work.
Pro tip: Librarians and booksellers are a great resource to offer recommendations for your child based on their age and interests.
Any one of these tips can help make summer reading more fun. You can also encourage kids to learn more about the authors and book series that they like. For example, all summer long, @readriordan on Instagram will feature new and exciting resources for Percy Jackson fans, like quizzes and other interactive materials. The Percy Jackson stories are now available in multiple formats, including audiobooks and graphic novels, and the series is now a hit TV show on Disney+, with season three coming out this fall.
Find Percy Jackson books your kids can dive into this summer at ReadRiordan.com.
