Summer reading is critical not only for helping kids maintain learning while school is out, but also for fostering social-emotional development, discovering the joy of stories, and elevating the importance of lifelong learning.

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.

83% of educators say reading helps students understand people that are different than them; and 81% say reading helps students develop empathy

74% of kids say that reading fiction and nonfiction helps them understand the world.

An overwhelming nine in ten kids say they are more likely to finish a book they picked out themselves.

And all formats for reading materials are great. For instance, graphic novels and comic books are nearly equally as popular among frequent and infrequent readers.