Summer Reading: Patch, James Patterson Team Up and Talk Books

Just because summer is here doesn't mean its time to close the books — in fact, the warm weather can be the perfect time to get lost in a good story.

Patch has teamed up with READKIDDOREAD.com, the website founded by No. 1 best-selling author James Patterson, in a partnership that aims to, "encourage kids' passion for reading and to support parents' efforts to interest their kids in books," according to a press release from the company.

The two groups released Patch and James Patterson's/ReadKiddoRead’s Summer Reading List, the first program in the partnership, on all of the more than 850 Patch sites across the country.

"We hope moms and dads will be inspired to take an even more active role in getting their kids into books and reading," Patterson said in the release. "That’s what ReadKiddoRead is all about. I’m proud to be working with Patch to get more children reading good books. I’m really excited to be getting a conversation going this summer with such a lively and active network of families across the country."

"James Patterson’s passion for inspiring children to read made this partnership a perfect fit for Patch, given our commitment to supporting our communities - and by extension, the kids and families in those communities, ” said Warren Webster, Co-Founder of Patch.  "We’re excited to work with READKIDDOREAD and hope that this initiative will foster a love of reading that will last well beyond this summer.”

James Patterson has earned the title as No. 1 author in America for the last three years, with No. 1 selling titles for both the adult and children's book categories of The New York Times bestseller list. Patterson launched READKIDDOREAD.com in 2008.

Check out these reading lists from the program: