Thursday, October 1, 2026
When I think of summer, I think of long days spent outside, family cookouts and the warmth of our neighborhoods coming alive. But I also think of something quieter and deeply personal — the simple joy of getting lost in a good book. For me, summer reading has always been a reminder that learning and growing don’t stop when the school year ends.
When I was a kid, my parents would take me to the local library where I would wander the aisles, checking out as many books as I could carry. Those stories opened my eyes to new places, new people, and ideas bigger than the world I knew. They helped shape how I see myself and my community. They gave me tools I carry to this day — curiosity, empathy and the confidence to dream.
Now, as an elected official, I see how reading remains just as powerful, even though today’s world looks very different from the one we grew up in. Screens are everywhere, and we spend much of our day connected. While technology has made life more convenient, however, it has also made it harder to carve out time to read, to sit with a book, reflect and imagine.
This is especially true for young people. Too much screen time can make it harder to concentrate, disrupt sleep, and leave kids feeling more anxious. That’s why I’m proud that in New York, we’re taking steps to reduce unnecessary screen time in school. Kids need breaks from devices. They need opportunities to learn in ways that spark their imagination, build their confidence, and strengthen their relationships with teachers and classmates.
But our responsibility doesn’t stop at limiting screen time. We must also prepare our students for a future where technology, especially artificial intelligence, will be part of almost every job. That’s why we’re modernizing our curriculum so that students not only know how to unplug, but also how to use technology wisely and creatively.
We cannot shy away from AI. We need to teach students how to understand it, how to question it, and how to use it to build solutions to the challenges they care about. Imagine finishing reading a novel and then using an AI tool to explore its themes or the author’s life. Or a classroom where kids collaborate on writing projects with digital tools that help them brainstorm and edit, but where the ideas are still their own. This is the balance we need — protecting their well-being while giving them the skills they’ll need to succeed in a world that is changing every day.
Adults, as well, need to protect our time to read. I know how easy it is to reach for a phone at the end of a long day. But when we pick up a book instead, we give ourselves time to pause, to reflect and to step into a different perspective. And when our children see us reading, they learn that reading isn’t just homework. It’s a lifelong habit that helps us stay curious, informed and connected.
Making reading part of a summer routine isn’t expensive or complicated. Visit your local library — they are one of the greatest community treasures we have. Many libraries run summer reading programs and challenges for kids and adults. I encourage every family to take part in a summer reading challenge. Just a few minutes of reading each day can help prevent the summer slide and keep young minds growing.
If we want to raise the next generation to be thoughtful, engaged citizens, they must have the space to imagine, question and dream. Books do that. They invite us to understand people whose lives look nothing like ours. They challenge us to think bigger. They remind us that no matter how advanced technology becomes, there is nothing like getting lost in a good story.
So this summer, let’s make a commitment as parents, grandparents, students and neighbors to read more and scroll less. Let’s balance our embrace of new technology with the timeless power of words on a page. Let’s show our kids that the future will be shaped not just by the tools we invent but by the values we carry forward like curiosity, empathy and the courage to keep learning.
If you see me at a local event or in our neighborhood library, come share what you are reading. I would love to hear what stories are inspiring you. If you want to join a reading challenge this summer, contact my office or your local library — we’re here to help you get started.
Michaelle Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.
