Summer Reading Log: Free Printable Planner for Year 3

Summer Reading Log is a free printable reading planner for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children record each book they finish, write the author, give it a score out of 5 and say what they thought of it. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes on how to use it, help ideas and a stretch task.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Page 1 is a reading log. Children fill in a table with the book title, the author and a score out of 5 for each book they finish. There are lines for writing too, so they can put their own thoughts on the page. Reading to a grown up counts as well, so a book shared at bedtime can go in the log. By the end of the holiday, children have a clear record of what they read.

• Book title
• Author
• Score out of 5

Why keep a reading log over the summer?

Skills and curriculum link

• Recording what you read
• Writing titles and author names
• Giving an opinion
• Scoring and comparing
• Reading for pleasure
• Looking back over progress

Ideas for the grown up

• Let your child chooseChildren read more happily when they pick the book. Visit a library, swap books with friends or look at what is on the shelf at home. Any book can go in the log.
• Reading aloud countsChildren in Year 3 still enjoy being read to. A chapter at bedtime, or a child reading a page to you, is all good reading practice.
• Ask why, not just how manyA score out of 5 is a starting point. Ask your child what made it that score. Giving reasons is a skill that grows with practice.
• Keep the log somewhere visibleStick the sheet on the fridge or a bedroom wall. A log that children can see is a log they remember to fill in.

Key words

• TitleThe name of a book. It is usually on the front cover.
• AuthorThe person who wrote the book.
• IllustratorThe person who drew the pictures in a book.
• ScoreA number out of 5 that shows how much you liked a book.
• OpinionWhat you think or feel about something. Different people can have different opinions.
• FavouriteThe one you like best.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown up.
2. Look at the table together. Talk about the three columns: book title, author and score out of 5.
3. Fill in one row each time your child finishes a book. Reading to a grown up counts too.
4. Ask your child to give a score and say why. Use the lines to write down their thoughts.
5. Come back to the log through the summer. Look at it together now and then and celebrate how it grows.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• Which book did you enjoy most this week, and why?
• What score would you give it, and what would make it a 5?
• Who is your favourite character so far? What are they like?
• If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?
• Which book would you pick for a friend? Why that one?
• What kind of book would you like to try next?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in your child's reading

Before this, children usually practise reading stories and talking about what happens. They may already have said whether they liked a book, even in a simple way. This sheet builds on that by asking for a record and a score, which gives opinions a clear place to live.

After this, children can move on to giving fuller reasons for their opinions, comparing books by the same author and writing short reviews. These links to the reading strand of the National Curriculum for England, which includes reading for pleasure and talking about books, grow naturally from a habit of logging and discussing what you read.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Summer Reading Log for?

It is written for Year 3, which is ages 7 to 8, in Key Stage 2. Children a little younger or older can use it too, because the log works with any book they choose to read.

What counts as a book in the log?

Any book your child finishes can go in the log. Reading to a grown up counts too, so a book shared at bedtime is fine. The choice of books is up to your child.

How do I use the reading log?

Fill in one row each time a book is finished, with the title, the author and a score out of 5. Use the lines to write a few thoughts. Work through the first row together, then let your child try alone.

What if my child finds writing hard?

A grown up can write the title and author while the child gives the score and draws a star. This keeps the focus on enjoying the book. As confidence grows, children can take over more of the writing.

Is it free to print?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a fresh copy later in the holiday. Black and white printing on plain A4 paper works well.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a holiday task, a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or homework. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

Is this a screen free activity?

Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It also fits well alongside library visits, bedtime stories and other screen free reading time.