Vacation hasn't started yet, but that didn't stop the five preschool and three kindergarten classes at Andrew B. Cushman Elementary from kicking off summer reading with their teachers on June 14.

The annual reading event helps get kids thinking about what books they'll read over the summer, said kindergarten teacher Cheryle Kamm.

Two of her students—Madilynn Santos and Ava Makuch—read Winter is Here, by Kimberly Weinberger, during the 30-minute session.

"The kids will go play inside the snow," said Makuch, explaining what the book is about. Santos chimed in: "We both like the bunnies."

The reading event encouraged a hero theme, and kids made capes and masks in art class for the occasion.

"They're very excited about the super hero theme," said Kamm. The kids even made badges with their super hero names, she explained, naming "Captain Reads-a-Lot," "Super Reader," and "Book Boss" as a few.

Each kindergartener will get a book to start their home collection—either Chester's Way or Chrysanthemum, both by Kevin Henkes—at the end of the school year on June 22. The preschoolers moving into kindergarten next year will each get a copy of Biscuit Goes to School by Alyssa Satin Capucilli.

"It's quite an investment into their continued learning over the summer," said Quinn Elementary literacy coach Mary Lynch. Quinn, Potter and DeMello elementaries also participated in the reading kick off, so approximately 1,370 books will be going home with students, she said.