Summer is almost here! And while you and your littles are getting ready to start spending the days on the beach, playing outside, swimming at the pool, and enjoying barbecues, it’s important to make sure you are still reading with your child. There are hundreds of great books for children all about summertime. This list is just ten of our many current favorites to get our littles excited about summer and reading!
Brave Little Camper by Carmen Crowe (Ages 1-3)
Explore nighttime in the forest with Little Camper and adorable woodland friends! It’s a beautiful night filled with new sights, animals, and sounds. Gather around the campfire and join the crew on another brave adventure as Little Camper spends the night in the forest for the very first time!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Summer by Eric Carle (Ages 1-3)
Celebrate summer with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends in this exploration of the season. Young readers can learn all about seasonal sensory experiences, like listening to noisy bugs, feeling the warm sunshine, smelling the yummy scents of a cookout, and so much more!
I See Summer by Charles Ghigna (Ages 2-4)
Pea pods, cucumbers, and strawberries provide plenty of opportunities for counting in the garden! Follow Dad, Grandma, and other family members as they pick and count. Hidden numbers on every page give readers an opportunity to search and learn!
Is it Warm Enough for Ice Cream? by DK (Ages 2-5)
Winter, spring, summer, and fall are each represented by a vibrant outdoor scene revealing seasonal changes, from ponds freezing over, to baby birds leaving their nests for the first time. And with changes in weather come new things to try: it’s windy enough to fly a kite; it’s rainy enough to splash in puddles; it’s snowy enough to build a snowman. But is it warm enough for ice cream?
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (Ages 3-6)
Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.
And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner (Ages 3-7)
When the days stretch out like a slow yawn, and the cheerful faces of Johnny-jump-ups jump up . . . then it’s time to get ready for summer! From flip-flops and hide-and-seek to fireworks and ice-cream trucks, from lemonade stands and late bedtimes to swimming in the lake and toasting marshmallows, there’s something for everyone in this bright and buoyant celebration of the sunny season!
Swim, Jim! by Kaz Windness (Ages 4-7)
Jim the crocodile is scared of swimming—or rather, of sinking. His family’s swamp is just too deep, too dark, and too big. But maybe he could swim, if only there were a smaller swamp where he could try it on his own terms. Jim wiggle-waggles far and wide until he finds the perfect place. With the help of some floaties and his sisters, Jim just might find the courage to face his fear and show everyone—including himself—that Jim can swim!
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling (Ages 4-8)
For one young girl, summer is the season of no school, of days spent at the pool, and of picking golden limes off the trees. But summer doesn’t start until her lola—her grandmother from the Philippines—comes for her annual visit. When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook and eat and share in their happiness of another season spent together. Yet as summer transitions to fall, her lola must return home—but not without a surprise for her granddaughter to preserve their special summer a bit longer!
It Began with Lemonade by Gideon Sterer (Ages 4-8)
One scorching hot summer day, a spunky young girl decides to sell lemonade . . . only to find there are too many other young entrepreneurs on her street with the same idea. So she sets off with her lemonade stand and ends up at the river’s edge, where she discovers a most unexpected, quirky, and very thirsty clientele!
The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan (Ages 4-8)
The little blue cottage waits each year for summer to arrive―and with it, the girl. Through sunny days and stormy weather, the cottage and the girl keep each other company and wile away the long days and nights together. Until one year, and then another, the cottage is left waiting and empty season after season.
If you read any of these books with your little ones and love them, head over to our social media and let us know! And if you’ve got other books that get your littles excited about summertime and reading, leave a comment so we can check them out!
