The Joy of Summer Reading
- Cynthia Brian
- 8 minutes ago
- 7 min read
MIRACLE MOMENT®
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read.” Groucho Marx
A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN
Summer is a popular time for children, tweens, teens, and adults to enjoy the pleasures of reading. Maybe it’s because with school out and vacations planned, we have more unstructured time.
Books, print, ebook, or audio are wonderful travel companions. They are easy to take to the park, the beach, or in the air. I personally only read printed books, no PDFs, no ebooks. My reason for my print rule is that I want and need to disconnect from electronics and technology to immerse myself in the smell, feel, and stories of a printed book, usually while swinging in a hammock under a tree on a Sunday afternoon.
Libraries and summer reading programs offer reading opportunities through themed activities and fun challenges. For children and teens, reading maintains literacy skills and prevents “summer slide”. With summer being a time of exploration and adventure, reading encourages our imaginations to soar.
We often get inspired to experience new things. Reading is relaxing, and it keeps our brains sharp. Stress is reduced when we read, because we are being mindful of the written word. When youth experience the joy of reading without academic pressure, they develop a love of books that can last a lifetime.
Strengthen family and community bonds with shared reading, family read-alouds, or a book club with friends. You’ll build connections and indulge in lively conversations.
Summer reading combines enjoyment, learning, and relaxation. What is your next read? Check out Book Reviews penned by Be the Star You Are!® volunteers @ https://www.bethestaryouare.org/book-reviews .
Make sure to check out our two radio broadcasts where we interview authors and experts. Find schedules:
And go ahead and read to your dog! I read to all my animals! (Sometimes they read to me, too!)
Read, lead, succeed. To be a leader, you must be a reader!
With gratitude,
Cynthia Brian
Founder/Executive Director
Be the Star You Are!®
PO Box 376
Moraga, California 94556
P.S. Coming this fall, the 4th book in the Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventure series: Flap Forward! Fly Free!
KEEPING UP DURING SUMMER!
by Cate Taylor
During summer break, I wanted to relax, but I also didn’t want to forget everything I learned during the school year. I wasn’t about to spend my whole summer doing schoolwork, so I found small, easy ways to keep my brain active. I read a few books I actually enjoyed—nothing assigned, just stuff I picked out myself. I also watched National Geographic shows, which, honestly, were more interesting than I expected. Every now and then, I’d flip through my old school notebooks just to review a few things I thought I might forget. I didn’t treat it like studying—more like refreshing my memory so I wouldn’t be completely lost when school started again. It wasn’t anything major, but it helped me feel more confident and ready. Now that summer’s ending, I’m glad I put in a little effort without ruining the fun of having a break.
My name is Cate Taylor, and I am 16 years old! I love to meet new people and get the opportunity to support my community. I used to be a tutor to little kids, and I also used to be a volleyball coach. I am so excited to volunteer with Be the Star You Are!®”
INSPIRATION FOR ALL AGES
by Clera James Brown
That said, I didn’t want to miss the chance to tell you just how deeply moved and inspired I was after reading Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers: Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. This collection is not only timely but timeless—offering much-needed hope, perspective, and encouragement to readers across all generations.
The stories shared by the 31 contributors are authentic, powerful, and filled with wisdom. Each chapter feels like a spark—one that ignites self-reflection and inspires action. The integration of uplifting quotes and practical exercises only deepens the book’s impact, making it more than a collection of essays—it’s a toolkit for living a more meaningful, connected, and purpose-driven life.
As a marketing strategist with a passion for championing transformational works like yours, I see tremendous potential for this book to reach even broader audiences—from schools and leadership programs to community groups, book clubs, podcasts, and beyond. It carries a unifying message that transcends age and background—a message that our world truly needs right now.
Thank you again for creating such an empowering and healing contribution. You’ve permitted readers to shine.
Clera James Brown is a book marketing strategist dedicated to helping authors connect with engaged readers through curated book club placements and authentic literary outreach.
SUMMER READING TIPS
by Gowri Kamatchi
Summer break is my favorite time of the year for many reasons. Mangoes are in season, the refrigerator is stocked with ice cream and I get to sleep in while the air conditioner is cranked up to max. But frankly, my favorite part is the reading part.
I quite frankly don’t remember what age I had started reading since I’ve always had a book in my hand in almost every memory I have. But I do remember what book it started with. A Geronimo Stilton novel. Although I still don’t quite have the same taste, I still have the same love for the series.
But as time goes on, some people might be too busy and might lose interest in reading. And my most favorite way to read more is to mix genres up sometimes! Freshman year, I had a realistic fiction phase where I read only thar with one or 2 exceptions. But I slowly started to get bored and started to stop reading. That’s when I decided to switch up my genres. I tried dystopian, mystery, and even historical drama. Although I did not like every book I read, it did make me read more again and made me find new genres I will consume in the future. And I have been using this particular trick this summer to keep my list of books diverse.
Another trick I use is to not force myself to read large novels. Sometimes, especially for new readers or readers who are trying to get back into reading might find the sheer size of some novels quite intimidating. So for them, I would recommend reading a book with a compilation of short stories or novellas. This particular trick I’ve only tried once but it’s worked wonderfully to get me back to my old reading habits!
So if you’re ever interested in starting to become a frequent reader or want to continue
, definitely check these tips out and happy reading!
Hello readers! My name is Gowri Kamatchi. I am a book reviewer and content creator volunteer with Be the Star You Are!®, and I am a rising Junior.. I am passionate about and have a deep interest in global issues, storytelling and climate policies. My hobbies are reading, running and rollerblading!
TALES OF KINDNESS
by Karen Kitchel
There are many ways to encourage kids to keep on learning. There are also many kids who don’t have the resources to be able to expand their horizons. While volunteering in a diverse class of kindergarteners, I heard many kids say they had never owned a book of their own. That inspired me to purchase the wonderful book “No Barnyard Bullies” for each of them. Not only was this an opportunity to improve their literacy, but also to increase the amount of positive messages they receive.
Summer is a wonderful time for all of us to do our part in expanding the horizons of kids everywhere. A small donation of just $25 provides five new books, previously donated to Be The Star You Are! which will be distributed across the country to kids from babies to teens. Or for $100, you can provide 28 children with their very own book. Places including Childrens Centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, Crisis Centers, and Childrens Hospitals are a just a few examples of where your donation of books will be sent. https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
If you’re feeling generous, you can purchase a box of 27 first edition, autographed books in the Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures series at the discounted price of a donation of $378, which includes shipping and taxes.
While you’re relaxing on a sunny afternoon, pick up a book from our Be the Star You Are!® website or give the gift of a book. Books are gifts that keep on giving…now and forever!
“The rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage —he has little competition.”
~ Andrew Carnegie
Karen Kitchel is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She purchased the book, No Barnyard Bullies, as a gift for every kindergarten student where she is a volunteer teacher. www.scatteringkindness.com You can read more about Karen’s adoption story in the book Be the Star You Are! Millennials To Boomers. https://www.bethestaryouare.org/book-gift .
OUR RADIO BROADCASTS INSPIRE AND COMMUNICATE
Every week under the auspices of Be the Star You Are!® charity and produced by StarStyle® Productions, LLC, listeners are encouraged and inspired on our two international radio broadcasts, StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio. StarStyle® is a lifestyle program bringing information and innovative ideas that will help with daily living while Express Yourself!™ is hosted by teens, for teens, with discussions about everything and anything that interests youth today. Both programs are unedited, uncensored, and unapologetically authentic.
Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
VOLUNTEER JULIA HOWE INTERVIEWED ON KIDS FIRST®
Watch Be the Star You Are!® volunteer, Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio host, and entrepreneur, Julia Howe, be interviewed by the dynamic KIDS FIRST® team, Kinsley H. and Ashleigh C., about how passion fuels ambition and more.
Here’s to enjoying a summer of fun in the sun with a book in hand! Happy Reading!
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