Great Ways to Keep Kids Reading — or Listening — This Summer

We asked Carla Riemer, who manages the library at Claremont Middle School, 5750 College Ave., Oakland, for ideas about how to keep kids reading over summer vacations. Here are her suggestions:

AudioBookSync.com. Download two audio books a weeks — for free! Each week until Aug. 15, this website offers two free downloads: a young adult novel and a classic. Weeks run from Thursday through the following Wednesday, and the free downloads change each week. There's a schedule of what's coming up, and you can choose to get text alerts, so you don't miss a book you've always wanted to read — or hear. The program is already into its second week. This week's offerings are The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, available through June 12.

Graphic novels are worth reading. Don't dismiss graphic novels as glorified comic books, says Riemer. "Any genre that's available in print, you can get in a graphic novel," she says — even Shakespeare. They are especially good for reluctant readers.

Reading is Sooooo Delicious! The Oakland Public Library's tasty-sounding summer reading program for kids kicks off June 15 and runs through Aug. 10. According to the OPL's announcement, "Children participating in the Summer Reading Program may read anything they want, so they can pursue subjects and themes of their own interest while kindling a personal love of reading. Readers may sign up at any library and receive a reading log to mark their progress; an online registration will be available on June 15 for readers who wish to report their reading from home. Prizes include books and tickets to fun and educational attractions.  Branches will have raffle drawings for movie tickets, ferry rides, boat rentals, and a branch grand prize. System-wide grand prize drawings for an iPad and, new this year, a family membership in Fairyland will take place later in August." The Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Ave., will hold a kick-off event Saturday, June 15, at 11:30 a.m.