According to Reading Rockets, a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help, “Children who don’t read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress and that loss has a cumulative, long-term effect.”

Now that the school year is coming to an end, it is especially important for adults to encourage the children in their lives to read during the summer. The attraction of summer reading is that the genres and topics can be the child’s choice, not mandated by a teacher or curriculum. Because summer reading is less regimented, it is also an opportunity for adults to more closely engage with children in the joy of reading.

Children’s and Young Adult Literature are two of the fastest growing categories in book publishing. Books for all ages, interests and reading levels are more accessible than ever: in stores, at libraries and on eReaders. There are even strategies to help youth with reading challenges such as dyslexia.

Whether a child advances or falls behind in life can be decided this summer by you. For a treasure trove of ideas and links, check out Reading Rocket’s Summer Reading.