Summer is almost here! Depending where you live, summer may be starting any day now, others may still have a little while. Whenever you’re out though, we’ve got your lazy beach days and summer reading lists covered.
Reading has always been a huge part of my summers since childhood. For my kids, I like to combine reading with other summer fun and I’d love for you to join us this summer.
To join is simple:
- Print out the Summer Reading Challenge (one for each person or one for your family for read alouds)
- Read a little every day this summer
Also included in the printable is a Book Recommendation List. This is by no means exhaustive or mandatory, but it does include some fun newer books for each age group on a variety of subjects.
affiliate links are included below.
Download: Free Summer Reading List
Babies & Toddlers
Into the Sand Castle: A Lift the Flap Book
by Cindy Jin
illustrated by Allison Black
Great for: Little ones who love lift the flap books.
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Odd Birds: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Flock
by Laura Gehl
illustrated by Gareth Lucas
Great for: toddlers who like animals.
Find Online Releases June 14
Adventure Awaits
by Henry Cole
Great for: a lap read.
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Preschoolers
I See the Sea
by Julia Groves
Great for: kids who love ocean animals.
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Would You Come Too?
by Liz Garton Scanlon
illustrated by Diana Sudyka
Great for: encouraging outdoor exploration and imagination.
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Together We Ride
by Valerie Bolling
illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Great for: reading aloud with it’s bright illustrations and rhyming text.
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Sand Between My Toes
by Caroline Cross
illustrated by Jenny Duke
Great for: reading before or after a day or a week at the beach.
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The Midnight Fair
by Gideon Sterer
illustrations by Mariachiara DiGiorgio
Great for: anyone who loves a gorgeous wordless book.
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New Readers
Kraken Me Up
by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Great for: Early Elementary schoolers who love to laugh.
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I Really Want to Be
by Harriet Ziefert
illustrations by Travis Foster
Great for: a newer reader who has ever really wanted to be first.
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Even Robots Aren’t Perfect!
by Jan Thomas
Great for: newer readers who want to read something a little longer and funny, that is still pretty easy.
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Elementary Schoolers
Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill
by Matt Lilley
illustrated by Dan Tavis
Great for: kids who like some humor with their nonfiction.
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Keepers of the Reef
by Dr. Sharon Wismer
illustrated by Alice Wong
Great for: kids who want to know more about reefs and marine habitats.
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Harriet’s Ruffled Feathers
by Joy McCullough
pictures by Romina Galotta
Great for: inspiring any kid with a feisty lady who protected birds and enjoys a pun.
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A History of Me
by Adrea Theodore
illustrations by Erin K. Robinson
Great for: everyone. This is heart thumping, layered artwork, powerful story perfection.
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Sort of Super
by Eric Gapstur
Great for: 4-7th graders who like funny graphic novels.
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Middle Grade
Midsummers’ Mayhem and/or Much Ado About Baseball
by Rajani LaRocca
Great for: kids who like a good summer story. Inspired by Shakespeare classics, some basic background knowledge is a plus but not required.
Find Online and/or Find Online
HardCourt
by Fred Bowen
illustrated by James E. Ransome
Great for: anyone with an interest in basketball. This is an illustrated chapter book.
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- Have silent reading time every day or once a week all summer. If you have younger kids, set them up with an audiobook during this time.
- Pick one time a day and read aloud to your kids (no matter how old they are). If you already read aloud once a day, add a second time. This can be any kind of book. A couple picture books, a chapter or story from a longer book or anthology, a few poems from a collection, articles from a magazine, whatever they’re interested in listening to you read.
- Let your kids see you read too! Finding a little bit of time – even 15 minutes – to read during the day when your kids are happily doing something is amazing. By modeling reading and enjoying it you are setting an example for your kids that this is something worthy of your time and fun to do. Bonus, you’ll get some books on your summer reading list read as well! Often while they’re playing at the playground is an easy way to start.
- Try audiobooks. Going on a road trip? Driving to and from camp this summer? Choose a few audiobooks to listen to together as a family as you drive.
