Dr. Lina Yousif is a family medicine physician in Clinton Township and mother of two. So, she knows that reading is not just an academic skill for youngsters but an activity that helps in brain development, which does not stop just because school is out for the summer.

It’s an ongoing process.

“Reading helps with cognitive development. It helps with emotional development and it creates new pathways between nerves in the brain,” said Yousif, who is the division chief for the ambulatory division and faculty for the family medicine residency program at Henry Ford Health. She is also a past president of the Michigan Academy of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Even as little as 15 or 20 minutes a day is what physicians usually recommend.

Yousif said children who do not do some kind of reading over the summer are among the students who are behind in the fall, a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”

The concept of the summer slide has been on researchers’ radar since at least 1996, when one of the first comprehensive studies on the phenomenon was published, according to a report by Scholastic.

The study showed that children tend to lose a significant amount of knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which in turn has a snowball effect as they experience subsequent skill loss each year. A more recent NWEA study of students in third to fifth-grade also showed that students lost, on average, about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break.

Since then schools have worked to raise awareness among parents.

“I feel like the schools do a decent job of promoting the importance of reading over the summer,” Yousif said.

Scholastic said parents who are aware of the summer slide are more likely to engage in activities that encourage their children to read while school is out. For example, of those who knew about the trend, 62% said they took their children to the library.

Other activities parents might include to promote literacy include:

• Taking books on road trips and vacations.

• Putting limits on screen time.

• Shop online or in book stores for books. Be sure to let them pick a title they’re interested in rather than suggesting something you read at their age.

• Find a new book series that a child might like and know there are more books to read.

• Grab a book you both enjoy so you can share your thoughts and ideas.

Children often follow what their parents do. lSo, modeling is an important part of encouraging children to read.

“If they see you reading they are more likely to follow,” Yousif said.

Also working to prevent the summer slide are local libraries where children can sign up for summer reading programs that are not only an opportunity to discover new authors and interests but fun and rewarding.

When a child in the program finishes a book they not only earn prizes and that helps to boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem. The stories they read can also contribute to other important skills such as problem solving, empathy and good citizenship.

“We started our summer program June 16,” said Sterling Heights Public Library Director Tammy Turgeon, who appeared as excited for the children as she was for the library’s faculty, who have created new categories based on the books children are clamoring to read.

“We have collection software that helps us keep up with the most popular series,” added Turgeon, who remembers visiting the library with her dad when she was a child. “He would go there to check on the stock market and I would head to the children’s area.”

Those who head to Sterling Heights children’s area will find several shelves for book historical series such as “I Survived” and “Who is/What is” series or the juvenile comic series, “Dog Man.”

Reading over the summer can help children grow in many ways but Turgeon also hopes that the library’s summer reading program fosters a love for reading, so that it never feels like it’s a chore.

Most libraries across Macomb County have launched their summer reading programs, and while they’re in full swing children can usually still register to be a part of the program in some way.

“It’s too late to win the grand finale prize but there’s still lots of prizes for participants. We want kids reading all summer long,” Turgeon said, due in a large part to local sponsors who support the programs.

“We had a tremendous kick off to our Summer Reading Program,” said Karen Stine public services coordinator for Sterling Heights Public Library. “Many older titles are seeing a resurgence in circulation, as parents are introducing their children to titles they read as a small child.”

To get children started, Stine has compiled a list of titles and series that appear to be trending this summer.

Picture books/beginning readers:

• Any titles by Jory John (including “Big Cheese,” “Cool Bean,” and “Good Egg”)• “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang• “Who would win?” series by Jerry Pallotta• “Dragons Love Tacos” by Adam Rubin• Any titles by Mo Willems (“Pigeon,” “Elephant” and the Piggie titles)

Juvenile series (Gr. 2-6):

• “Who is / What is?”• “I Survived”• “Magic Treehouse”• “Percy Jackson”• “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”• “Harry Potter”• “Dork Diaries”• “Big Nate”• “Warriors”• “Wings of Fire”• “Boxcar Children” mysteries

Juvenile comics series:

• “Dog Man”• “Babysitters Club”

Upper elementary/middle school:

• “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown• “Amari and the Night Brothers” by B.B. Alston• “Faker” by Gordon Korman

Teen/Young Adult titles:

• “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins (newest book in the Hunger Games series)• “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” (series) by Holly Jackson• “A Court of Thorns and Roses” (series) by Sarah Maas• “Caraval” by Stephanie Garber• “One of Us is Lying” (series) by Karen McManus

Free books

The library is one source for books. Also helping to get books into the hands of children not only during the summer months but all year long is the 4 County Community Foundation Friends of Imagination Library, which is a local affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

This August, 4CCF will be hosting a golf outing to benefit the library that was founded by one of country music’s most beloved singers.

While music is a passion for Dolly Parton, so is reading.

Since 1995 she has been giving back to her community and state through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a free book gifting program that mails high-quality, age-appropriate books to kids before they start school.

Among those who are supporting her mission is the Four County Community Foundation.

As an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 4CCF’s Friend of Imagination Library has made it possible for more than 3,000 children in Macomb, Lapeer and Oakland counties to receive free books every month.

But the books are not free to 4CCF.

To raise money for this year’s crop of readers 4CCF will be hosting a Golf Outing to benefit the Friends of Imagination Library Fund at Heather Hills Golf Club in Bruce Township on Aug. 11.

Cost is $110 per golfer or $400 per team of four. That includes 18 holes of golf with cart, continental breakfast and food at holes 5 and 15.

Sponsorships are also available.

Teams will tee off at 9 a.m.

To register visit 4ccf.org or email mbrown@4ccf.org.

Proceeds from the golf outing will go to support the Imagination Library and its efforts to make sure children have access to books before they start school, which is about $31 a year per child. The fund currently serves children in Almont, Armada, Imlay City, Memphis, New Haven, Ray, Richmond, Romeo, Shelby, Utica, Washington, Addison, Attica, Dryden, Metamora, Ortonville and Oxford.

The first year Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched more than 1,700 books were sent out. Today, more than one million books per month are mailed to children around the world inspiring them to “Dream more, learn more, care more and be more.”

To learn more about 4CCF Friends of Imagination Library visit 4ccf.org/initiatives/four-county-imagination-library/.