Ahh, summer! A time for rest, relaxation, a break from the norm, fun in the sun... and reading! 

Reading is that one "school" activity you should encourage your children to do over the summer. As the mother of a dyslexic child (and an academic language therapist), I know how hard they work to gain those skills all school year, and three months without practicing those skills can have some major implications. Summer slide is a real thing, and you want to keep them at the top of their reading game! 

To help you get excited about reading, I've created a really fun color-in reading log that you can download and print for free to keep track of all that summer reading! Illustrate the book spines with snippets from the books you read, add the titles and/or authors to keep track and make a library of books you read! 

Do you need inspiration to find some really great books? Many of our favorite books come from the Texas Library Association's Bluebonnet Award Book List and the Texas 2x2 Book list for kids 2-2nd grade. You can also check out Brightly for all kinds of book recommendations and reading resources. Summer reading doesn't have to always be about educational content, it can just be fun. Let your kids choose books they like and run wild with it!

Check your local book stores and public libraries for summer reading programs as well. Kids can earn gift certificates, t-shirts, free books and more just for reading over the summer! We visit our local public library every couple of weeks during the summer. It's a great reprieve from the heat, and it's nice to get a fresh stack of stories to read. 

I can think of so many great ways to use these cute little books, and I'd love to see your colored in reading lists! Tag @polkadotpapercompany on Instagram or share it with us on Facebook. Happy reading! 

Please remember, this reading log is free for personal use. To share, please share our page, and not just the file. This artwork is © 2018 Polkadot Paper Company. 

There's really nothing quite like a handwritten note. It has the power to really turn your day around when you receive a note from someone who cares about you. Sometimes, you go through times when you could really use a note, but there isn't one in the mail. Or your friend is going through something and you wish you had a way to have special words already in their hands.

I came across a trend called "Open this When" and I fell in love with the idea. A stack of letters, prewritten and given as a gift to someone special. With a little preplanning, and a lot of heart, you can give the gift of your words and your thoughts to someone who means so much to you. I wanted to create some colorful stationery that would brighten someone's day and pair it with some bold and bright envelopes preprinted and ready for your sentiments. For this kit, you don't even have to be super crafty or have model handwriting to send something that's really going to stand out.

And so for you, I present Polkadot Paper Company's "Open this When" stationery kits. Six beautiful papers, and six bright envelopes eager to hold your words and be gifted to a special someone. 

The possibilities are endless and the creativity is all yours. Grab your kit on Etsy or Amazon, and get busy writing those special letters and notes, and stay tuned here for lots more ideas for letter writing. Show us your creations by tagging us on Facebook and Instagram.