Summer vacation might be glorious with its promise of beach time, sun and sprinklers, but for many children, it can be a time when school-year learning is lost. Studies differ, but on average, kids can lose up to two months of learning; the impact is far greater for disadvantaged kids. “By fifth grade, [they] can be 2¹/₂ to three years behind based on summer loss alone,” says Maggie Jacobs, director of educational programs at the New York Public Library.

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To help combat the summer slide, the NYPL, along with the separate Queens and Brooklyn library systems, has launched the annual #SummerReading challenge. In this monthlong celebration, each NYPL branch has its own kickoff involving different programs and book giveaways; there’s also a reading essay contest where kids can write about their favorite book and potentially win tickets to see a game at Yankee Stadium.

This year’s NYPL Challenge theme is outer space, which will be demonstrated in technology programs, robotics classes and science storytimes featuring scientists. A Challenge game-board reading chart and stickers (available at neighborhood branches) allows kids to track their reading progress throughout the season.

“Summer is a great time to build reading engagement. They don’t have homework, and they have time to hunker down with a good book,” says Jacobs. “We ask kids to read 20 minutes a day. Librarians love to get the perfect book into a kids’ hands. The best thing parents can do [this summer] is take their kids to a library.” The most heartening news about the slide? According to Jacobs, “There’s research that says that an under-resourced child who loves to read will do better — academically and in life — than a rich kid who doesn’t like to read.”

The #SummerReading challenge is sponsored by the New York Life Insurance Company. For a list of all library events, visit http://summerreading.org/