Regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic level or previous achievement, children who read four or more books over the summer fare better on reading-comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books over the summer.

It is estimated that the "summer slide" accounts for as much as 85% of the reading achievement gap between lower income students and their middle and upper income peers.

Having reading role model parents or a large book collection at home has a greater impact on kids' reading frequency than does household income.

An overwhelming 92% of kids say they are more likely to finish a book they pick out on their own.