When teachers and media specialists began noticing that, over time, students were choosing to read outside of school less, they began to evaluate how to build a district and at-home partnership to encourage students to read. Out of their brainstorming, research, and collaboration, “Edina Grows Readers” was born in the 2018-2019 school year.

Research clearly demonstrates the vital importance of reading for students, whether they're reading independently or being read to. Bethany Van Osdel, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning, explained that, “making time for reading during the school day is something we can directly implement and control. Even at the high school level, the Science of Reading principles remain crucial — students need strong foundational skills and ample reading practice to tackle increasingly complex texts. The key question we asked ourselves was how we could extend that engagement with reading beyond our school walls. When we can successfully encourage reading outside of school hours, we know it translates directly to improved academic outcomes for our students.”

Edina Grows Readers serves as a district framework to support and encourage families to read outside of school. The goal of this program is to increase the amount of time students read outside of school through book suggestions, reminders about the importance of reading, and other resources for improved literacy. The team of teachers, media specialists and administrators who helped develop the the program hope to see increased engagement with reading and a newly cultivated love of reading together in families.

The purpose of Edina Grows Readers aligns with the EPS mission, which is to work in partnership with families and the community to educate all individuals in order to become lifelong learners. To be a lifelong learner is to be a reader. Edina Grows Readers supports this mission by encouraging daily reading by all, reading outside of school, and promoting a culture of reading in the broader Edina community.

Books Kids Love

The Edina Grows Readers “Books Kids Love” list is updated each month! The suggested titles are curated by district media specialists, consulting professional review sources. While these are books kids love, families/guardians ultimately decide which books are appropriate for their children. Most books included on the list are available at the Hennepin County Public Library. Check back monthly for new titles!

Monthly Book Titles

March 2025 Book List

ELC

• Play Games with Me by Kat Chen

• Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle
   

K-2

• Wait a Minotaur by Jeffrey Ebbeler

• Poo Pile on the Prairie by Amy Hevron

• The Story of Gumluck and the Dragon's Eggs by Adam Rex
   

3-5

• The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper

• Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes

• Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

• Chicken Pox by Remi Lay
   

6-8

• Made in Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee

• Kareen Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

• Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi
   

9-12

• Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Karherine Rundell

• Dear Manny by Nic Stone

• Your Letter by Hyon Cha