Complete one READ square by doing one thing to renew your interest in reading or to spice up your reading life.

Readers of all ages, interests, and skill levels sometimes have trouble generating enthusiasm to pick up a book. Maybe you are a young reader trying to gain skills, maybe you are a reader who hasn't found a book you truly enjoy yet, or maybe you are normally an avid reader who has lost the ability to concentrate on a story.

Regardless of what has caused your reading rut, try a few of these tips to get your reading spark firing again. Even if your reading pace has not flagged, use these tips to bring a fun twist to your reading life.

• Return to a book you love. Familiar stories can be revisited without the same level of energy required to start something new. An old favorite can also bring comfort during a stressful time.

• Explore a different format. Regardless of age or interest, there are picture books and graphic novels available for every level; a visual story might be more engaging. Or dive into an audio book and just embrace the sound of words. 

• Grab a book of poems. Ranging from silly to serious, poems or novels in verse use a more minimalist approach to language that might be appealing.

• Listen to music. Find something you like, and then learn about the artist using our biography collections or databases.

• Think of a place you'd like to GO or a new skill you'd like to LEARN. Find a book that will help you on your quest. 

• Pair a book with a movie. Read and then watch, and then discuss with a friend or family member. Which did you like better?

• Focus on writing. Try keeping a journal, writing a poem, or writing letters to people you love and miss seeing. Get your brain thinking about words.

Complete a READ square by reading something, or by doing something to put yourself in a literary frame of mind. So whether you already have a book in mind, or you need a little help getting started, we have some ideas for you.

• Besides just searching our catalog, you can explore our May We Suggest page, full of searchable booklists by topic and age. You can even request personalized recommendations from the comfort of your own home.
• Have you lost your reading motivation? Times of stress can diminish your attention span and focus. Take a look at some of our ideas for igniting your reading spark.
• Need to get out of the house? Take a walk to find a Little Free Library and take a book or leave a book.
• Need a way to connect? Find a reading buddy and read together.
• Giving your eyes a break? Looking for something different? Try a bookish podcast.
• Looking to stretch your reading muscles? Try one of our challenges to take you to the next level.
• Investigate our bookish program offerings, and suggestions for creating library-like programs at home.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program.

Reluctant readers come in all ages, stages, and sizes. This summer, overcome a lack of enthusiasm with these tips, which can be applied to reading ruts of all kinds. Examples link to children's materials, but these suggestions can work for grown-ups, too.

• Forget reading level for just a minute, and start with interests or hobbies. Search for fiction and nonfiction that focus on that topic. Maybe you like soccer: use our subject headings to find relevant biographies, fiction, and nonfiction.
• Explore picture books. There are many beautiful titles that are worth reading, and as a bonus are short and satisfying.
• Tell your own story and create a summer journal. Then see why journal-format fiction is so popular.
• Explore the graphic novel shelf. Dense illustrations make a reader slow down to really enjoy the story, while still building vocabulary and reading confidence.
• Join a book discussion program, or start your own. Read the book together. Reading can be more fun when it's shared, and even if you hated the book, you can talk about how much you disliked it.
• Grab some poetry. Sometimes it's serious, but a lot of times it's silly and entertaining.
• Listen to an audiobook. All of the story and vocabulary words without the visuals. Even better if you're listening with the whole family on a road trip and can discuss the story as you go.
• Pick something you want to DO - maybe you want to travel to Ireland, become a scientist, or learn to keep bees. Use books to gather useful information for your quest.
• Look for a book that has a movie version. Even picture books have been made into full-length movies. Read, and then watch. Which did you like better?
• Start with music, and listen to a favorite album or song artist. Then learn more about that person, maybe even in their own words.
• Write book reviews. Use a site like Goodreads, or keep a journal of your reading history. 
• Ask a librarian! You can visit us at any of the Reference Desks, or use our May We Suggest form to get personalized recommendations online. 

No matter what, keep trying. Try new formats, try new recommendations, try non-print stories. It's never too late to find something good.