Recent research from the Kids & Family Reading Report: 6th Edition, released by Scholastic, found that only half of all parents with children ages 6–17 (48%) have heard of the “summer slide” —the learning loss which can occur over the summer months.

It could help explain why one in five 12–17 year-olds and one in five kids in lower-income families did not read any books at all last summer.

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To create awareness around the “summer slide” and help children take a “summer leap” with great books, Scholastic announced Monday the opening of the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, a free, global, online and mobile summer reading program.

Also, the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip will hit the road for its second year, hosting free “pop-up” reading festivals that engage communities in helping kids discover the power and joy of reading.