Kids, families can log on to www.rif.org/summer
for ideas and resources to encourage reading.

Washington - As the approaching summer brings children visions of sunny days, school vacation, picnics in the park, trips to the beach, swimming pools, family reunions, and ice-cream cones, Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) is hoping to show kids of all ages that reading can also be a sweet treat.

RIF today announced the launch of "Summer Reading Is Sweet," an online portal on the RIF website (www.rif.org/summer) designed to excite kids about reading during the summer months by providing interactive, summer literacy ideas. Site visitors will find advice for using unconventional ways to interest children in reading, including "RIF's Ter-RIF-fic Summer Reading Tips for Families;" activity sheets for kids of all ages; booklists; and a detailed calendar with reading ideas for each week of the summer.

Kids can also learn details for participating in the Sweet Summer Reading Challenge on the RIF Reading Planet, (www.rif.org/readingplanet), an interactive website for children. The contest invites kids ages 5 to 15 to track the number of hours they spend reading-anything, anywhere, at any time-throughout the month of July. Children who meet the minimum reading hours and submit a completed reading log by August 12, 2005, will be eligible for prizes including summer reading books from Scholastic, Inc. and Random House; merchandise from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the new Warner Bros. movie opening July 15; Borders gift cards; and RIF merchandise.

"Summer is the perfect time for kids to read books, magazines, and other materials they may not normally get to read during the school year," said Carol H. Rasco, RIF president and CEO. "At RIF, we believe summer reading should focus on fun and help kids discover that books and reading can really help them savor the season. Best of all, by staying engaged in reading activities, children will be able to practice skills they have developed all year long."

Studies show that children who stop reading during the summer-particularly children from low-income families-can lose up to two months of reading achievement. Over the years, this "summer slide" can lead to a significant achievement gap among students. But by maintaining reading of any kind during summer months, children can stay academically sharp.

To read more about summer learning loss or for ideas about summer reading, visit RIF's summer site at www.rif.org/summer. For complete contest rules in the Sweet Summer Reading Challenge, visit the RIF Reading Planet at www.rif.org/readingplanet.

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through a national, grassroots network of community volunteers at 21,000 program sites, RIF provides 5 million children with 17 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF's website at www.rif.org.