Summer Reading List for Kids

I See Summer by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska

What do you see when you think of summer? Read this book together, then ask your child what other summer images come to mind.

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure

Get little ones excited about the transition from spring to summer with this sweet and calming pick. The repetition of the title phrase will soon have kids chanting along as you read.

Baby Loves Summer by Karen Katz

Lift-the-flap books add an interactive element to reading, helping toddlers to engage in the pages even though they can’t yet read the words. They’ll love peeking behind the flaps of this one to find sunshine, ice cream, and other summer delights!

Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan

This board book version of one of the classic Mouse tales is ideal for little hands. Explore the wonders of the summer season, then check out the rest of the “Mouse’s First” books for other seasons, holidays, and more.

Who’s Hiding at the Beach by Katharine McEwen

Here’s another lift-the-flap book for your toddler’s summer reading list, this one featuring everything you might encounter during a sunny day at the beach.

Hello, World! Garden Time by Jill McDonald

Prepare little ones to dig their fingers into the soil with this summer read, full of pictures and simple informative text about all the things you’ll find in a garden.

S is for S’mores by Helen Foster James, illustrated by Lita Judge

Learn letters and the sounds they make as you teach little ones about the pleasures of a camping trip. This one is especially fun to read in a backyard tent!

Into the Sand Castle by Cindy Jin, illustrated by Allison Black

This sunny read has all the best features of a toddler book: sturdy board pages, flaps to lift and discover, and simple but engaging text. Plus, the whole book is shaped like a sand castle!

All Around Bustletown: Summer by Rotraut Susanne Berner

The pages of this summer read are filled with detailed illustrations for preschoolers to explore. Use the drawings to help make your own summer bucket list!

Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee

“It’s too hot!” When that summer refrain kicks in, pull out this book for some quiet time in the shade and learn how one adventurous little girl makes the most of the season.

The Wonders of Summer by Kealy Connor Lonning

The unique bond between a father and daughter makes this book a special one. The illustrations bring the very simple text to life, illustrating the best that summer has to offer.

Summer Is … by Barbara Pinke, illustrated by Alvin Adhi

Before you read, ask your child to make a list of what summer means to them. Then, see how many of those things appear in this fun rhyming read-aloud.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

The Over and Under series captivates with its examinations of the world above and below ground. This entry dives into a garden, with worms and insects underneath and flowers and birds above.

Beach Bummer by Ryan T. Higgins

Mother Bruce fans will love joining Little Bruce during his day at the beach, even though nothing seems to make this small grumpy bear happy—as usual!

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies

Most of us only go to the beach during the day. Find out what it’s like at night with some playful bats who’ve come to enjoy their own time at the shore.

Curious George Goes Camping by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey

Everyone’s favorite mischievous monkey manages to get himself in trouble (of course!) while on a camping trip. Can he find a way to be helpful, instead of making more mischief?

Summer is Here by Renée Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson

Like the bubbles blown by the little girl on the cover, summer days drift by all too quickly. Read this book with kindergarteners to remind them to enjoy all the great things this time of year brings.

Summer Song by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

“Summer is a green song,” writes Henkes in this lyrical book, part of a quartet he and Dronzek have written about the seasons. The author’s artful text makes this one perfect for little ones just beginning to understand the magic of words.

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim

With its repeated use of “When” and “Then,” this summer pick makes an excellent read-aloud. Invite little ones to create their own “When/Then” statements about summer!

Cannonball by Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan

What does it take to make the perfect cannonball into the pool? Everyone has advice for the boy in this tale, but in the end, he has to do things his own way.

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

Join a little girl as she finds and creates gardens everywhere. The illustrations in this modern-day classic make it worthy of exploration all on their own.

Little Kids First Nature Guide: Explore the Beach by Alli Brydon

Take this book along on your next beach trip so kids can learn to identify all the cool stuff they see, hear, and find. It’s also handy for planning your next adventure at the shore!

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Ernestine is totally ready to go camping, new sleeping bag and all. But things don’t turn out exactly as she expected. Can she find a way to have fun even when she’s out of her comfort zone?

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

Mr. Magee and his trusty dog Dee are off to the woods! Everything is great—until one local bear with a love for marshmallows stirs up a little too much excitement.

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

Journey back to a place and time when a little Black boy and a little White boy were best friends, but weren’t allowed to do many things together. This one is sure to start some discussions, but the message is an important one: things really can get better if people want them to.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague

Wallace was supposed to visit his aunt over the summer. Instead, he says, he was taken by cowboys and learned the ways of the West! Wallace’s tale may not be entirely true, but it’s still a lot of fun.

The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer by Benjamin Chaud and Davide Cali

It turns out Wallace isn’t the only one with a crazy tale to tell! The boy in this fun summer book found a treasure map in a bottle, and followed it off on a great adventure.

The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Julie Durrell

“Twas the night before leaving on summer vacation. My family was bursting with anticipation.” This twist on the Clement Moore classic will be a hit with kids, whether they know the original poem or not.

Summer by Alice Low, illustrated by Roy McKie

“I love the things that summer brings …” This easy-reader classic has been beloved for generations. Today’s first graders will enjoy sounding out the words that accompany the simple illustrations just as much as their parents did.

Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean

Emergent readers probably already know and love Pete, so this account of his crazy camping adventures is the perfect fit for your summer reading list.

Lucy’s Summer by Donald Hall, illustrated by Michael McCurdy

What was summer like over 100 years ago? Turns out that children in 1910 enjoyed a lot of the same things kids do today, including parades and ice cream. But other things were very different. This journey back in time is the ideal read for a lazy summer afternoon.

The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock and Mordicai Gerstein

The National Parks are a familiar and important part of America today, but they might not exist if it weren’t for a trip that Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir took together one summer, as told in this nonfiction summer pick.

Seashell Key by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

Meet the kids of this tourist town, who spend their summers living and playing alongside their family businesses (and in one case, in a lighthouse!). This is the first of a chapter book series, with book two already out.

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald

Young readers have been following Judy Moody’s adventures for years. In this volume, Judy’s expecting summer to be boring, until she comes up with some creative ways to make it totally exciting after all.

City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon, illustrated Alexis Franklin

Three boys who live in the city spend one amazing summer staying with family in rural Mississippi. As they explore the woods and countryside, they compare and contrast their activities with those they enjoy during urban summers at home.

Summer of the Woods by Steven K. Smith

Chapter book mysteries have the ability to draw in even reluctant readers. This one follows two brothers who try to solve a sixty-year-old crime in their new Virginia neighborhood.

Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries by David A. Adler, illustrated by Joy Allen

Looking for more mysteries? The Cam Jansen series has you covered! This collection of three mystery tales centered around summer camp is terrific for voracious readers who are always looking for something new.

My First Garden by Livi Gosling

As kids get older, they often help in family gardens. Help them learn more about what, how, and why to grow food and plants with this easy-reader nonfiction pick.

Camp by Kayla Miller

Graphic novels have a lot of value for readers of all ages. In this joyously-illustrated story, Olive and her friend Willow find navigating summer friendships a little more tricky than they planned for.

Owl Diaries: Eva at the Beach by Rebecca Elliott

Eva and her bestie Lucy can’t wait to enjoy a day at the beach, making sandcastles and picking up shells. But Eva has a secret: she’s afraid to go into the water (what if she counters a shark?). It takes the support of friends to change her mind and turn this owl into a water bird!

ABCmouse YouTube Books

Young children will love listening to this collection of stories as they watch animated videos bring them to life.