Reading is an adventure that begins early in a child's life and should extend beyond the classroom. Summer months are the perfect time to make reading fun and inspire children to develop a lifelong friendship with books.

Here are some tips that parents can use this summer to cultivate a love of reading in their children:

Allow kids to read what they like. Pick book topics that relate to their interests. Take your children to the library and help them select books that match their interests. Sylvan's free reading resource, Book Adventure, is also a great way to pick books that your child will like reading. Visit www.bookadventure.com today to get started.

Offer a variety of publications. Offer a multitude of choices when it comes to reading (such as magazines, newsletters, books, etc.,) so kids can make their own literary choices. Availability is key.

Encourage your kids to read everything and read aloud- food labels, street signs, store names, music lyrics, and even restaurant menus- all are great choices!

Make mail time fun. Give young readers "junk mail" and ask them to circle the words that they recognize Encourage them to become the family's mailman by first reading the names printed on the mail, and then "delivering" the mail to specific family members.

Ensure books are always on-hand. Keep books in each car, at the house, at the homes of family members, etc. This ensures that a child can assume himself or herself if a sibling's sports practice is running late, if you are caught in traffic, or visiting grandparents, for instance.

Schedule "library time." Just as a family schedules swimming practice, set a specific time aside for visiting the library. Young children especially love visiting their local library and enjoy browsing the bookshelves for books they can "take home" to read.

Create a book-on-tape. Encourage your child to read a book aloud and tape it. As a special gift or surprise, send the book-on-tape to a loved one with a special message.

Read before bedtime. Reading is relaxing. If your schedule permits, allow your child to stay up 15 minutes later most nights-as long as he/she is reading.

Read aloud to your children. No matter the age of the child, reading together can create a lasting family memory.