Maryland wants better readers. Have we asked children what they need?

Each summer, Maryland families are encouraged to keep children reading. Schools send home book lists, libraries launch reading initiatives, and educators remind parents about the “summer slide” — the decline in reading skills that can occur when students stop reading during summer break.

These efforts are important. Strong literacy skills are linked to academic achievement, lifelong learning, workforce readiness and civic participation. Maryland has made literacy a priority, and communities across the state continue investing …