Do you want to inspire your young readers this summer? Summer reading programs are such a fun way to do that! When I was a child, I loved the summer reading program at my local library. I would carefully color that little page and fill in book titles, and OH the excitement of winning that ice cream or personal pizza at the end! Even a simple prize or goal can be a huge motivator to keep those youngsters turning pages all summer long! Today I’m sharing my 2024 Summer Reading top choices for a Christian homeschool.
Are there any Summer Reading Programs centered around Christian Literature?
This year I specifically wanted my family to focus on high-quality literature that would encourage us in our faith. I’ve noticed that it’s all too easy for my boys to grab stacks of easy readers (“twaddle” as Charlotte Mason calls this kind of book) whenever we go to our local library. Those books can have their place when a child is just starting to read, but now that my boys have been reading for quite a few years I knew we were ready for some meaty literature this summer.
Enter the Lamplighter Publishing 2024 Summer Reading Challenge!
Find their 2025 Summer Reading Challenge HERE
When I heard that Lamplighter Publishing was doing a 2024 Summer Reading Program, I was super excited! Lamplighter Publishing offers high-quality literature, most of which were written in the 1800s, which emphasis Christ-like character, good morals, and virtuous living.
Their mission is:
“To make ready a people prepared for the Lord, by building Christ-like character one story at a time”
-Lamplighter MInistries
I just love that! The last few winters my family has enjoyed Lamplighter books at a weekly Fireside Reading Night with friends. My favorite so far was Ishmael by E.D.E.N Southworth. Ishmael’s integrity, faith, and determination despite extremely challenging circumstances will forever cling to me. It’s those kinds of life-changing stories that we carry in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
Win Prizes While Filling Their Minds with Excellent Literature
The Lamplighter Summer Reading Program runs until August 17th, and each child who earns a set number of points will win an e-certificate to use toward any of Lamplighter’s various audiobooks, ebooks, or poster downloads. My boys love the audio books by them which we already own and are so excited to win some more! I plan to put the mp-3 audiobooks we win onto Yoto cards to make it easy for the kids to listen anytime.
They are also offering grand prizes for each of the tracks (pre-reader, literate elementary, junior high, high school, and adult 18+) to the participants with the most points. These gift card prizes can be used toward their beautiful hardbound books or their audio membership. My 11-year-old is hoping to be in the running for one of the grand prizes! He is a voracious reader going through nearly a book a day, as he spends multiple hours reading daily. His favorite Lamplighter book so far is The Wrestler of Philippi by Fannie E Newberry.
Lamplighter books are pricey, but I’ve found good deals by searching Ebay and Thriftbooks to help us build up our collection. We’ve also asked around this summer and been able to borrow quite a few titles from friends! Lamplighter is offering a coupon code for a discount on their books to anyone signed up for the reading program.
Along with earning points for any Lamplighter Book read, you can also earn points for any Non-Fiction reading, Bible Reading, listening to their podcast or reading their blog posts, and completing weekly bonus challenges.
I’m so excited to fill our minds with good stories this summer!
It’s not too late to jump in! Sign up HERE.
National Bible Bee Summer Study
This is the second summer that my family is utilizing the Summer Study by the National Bible Bee. This study is an excellent way to introduce inductive Bible Study to children in a format that is very well laid out and easy to follow. This year’s study is called Truth. It begins with the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, follows the life of Jesus in His final week before the cross, and ends with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior. If you can’t get to it over the summer, it would also be a great study to use leading up to Easter. Or take it slower and use it throughout the school year. I highly recommend!
Summertime Ideas for Mama
We mamas can always use some encouragement to challenge our own minds and keep reading for ourselves. Since becoming a mama, I have often found it hard to make time for personal reading. I find myself choosing a podcast or audiobook more often so that I can listen while I fold laundry. But there is nothing quite like sitting down with a book, and it’s so important to keep learning and growing.
This summer I joined a Mama Book Club for the first time in years! We are going through Laying Down the Rails, a Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook. I am absolutely loving the book and the wonderful discussions that are coming out of it so far!
I signed up to do the Lamplighter Reading Challenge 18+ track for myself, though I’m unsure if I’ll be able to meet the 4,000 points this summer. It will be a good goal though!
If you’re looking for more ideas, here is my list of books that have been the most useful to me in motherhood.
More 2024 Summer Reading Top Choices:
Here are a few more Summer Reading ideas that might be of interest to you and your family:
JourneyForth Summer Reading Challenge, sponsored by BJU Press
NotConsumed Summer Reading Challenge
Redeemed Reader Summer Reading Program
The Good and The Beautiful – summer reading printables including a reading log, stickers, and bookmarks
Sonlight’s Summer Reading Challenge Kit – a 25-page printable with ideas, activities, reading log, a book report template, a certificate of completion, and more.
Happy Summer Reading!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my 2024 Summer reading choices, and that they serve as an inspiration to you and your young readers. I’d love to hear which summer reading program you and your family choose!
