School may be out, but learning never stops.
Reading is one of the best ways to help your kids retain what they learned this year. Reading unlocks their imaginations and prevents them from becoming bored.
Whether summer is about relaxing or having adventures, reading has a place in their day. Read with your kids, to your kids, and alongside your kids this summer. We’ve selected ten books to keep them entertained and interested as they adjust to summer vacation. Enjoy!
The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall – Buzz from flower to flower with this lovable honeybee in this engaging picture book. For ages 1- 4
Llama Llama Goes Camping by Anna Dewdney- Llama Lama goes camping for the very first time and learns doing things for the first time can be fun. For ages 2-5
Inky the Octopus by Erin Guendelsberger – Based on a true story. Follow Inky the Octopus after he escapes from the National Aquarium in New Zealand and makes his way to open water. For ages 2-7
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach by James Dean and Kimberly Dean – Pete the Cat is having a fun day at the beach watching the seagulls, building sandcastles, and collecting shells. When it gets too hot, it’s time to jump in the water to cool down. But, Pete is afraid of the water. How can Pete get over his fear and learn to love the water? For ages 4-6
Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg – Mrs. Hartwell’s students are afraid she will miss them and be sad over the summer break, so they hatch a plan to show her how much she will always mean to them. For ages 6-8
How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague – Most kids go to the beach or camping in the mountains during summer vacation, but according to Wallace Bleff, his summer took a wild turn. While on his way to visit his Aunt Fern, Wallace claims he was kidnapped by cowboys and taught the ways of the wild west. It’s a fun read for kids who will enjoy Wallace’s adventures. For ages 6-10
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald – All of Judy’s friends are away for the summer having fabulous adventures. How can Judy turn a boring summer into the best ever? For ages 7-9
Dog Ate My Mad-Libs by Mad-Libs – Fill in the blanks with nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or prepositions to make funny stories the whole family will enjoy! Ages 8 and up
Running Like a Girl by Alexandra Heminsley – This is not a typical YA selection, but I would have given anything if there had been a book like this on the library shelves while I was growing up. Heminsley’s father was a marathon runner, and her brother was also a runner. Running seemed the natural way for her to connect with them and achieve her fitness goals, but she soon found that running doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and even though she was part of a family of runners, it wasn’t easy. She speaks honestly about her failures and the many times she thought of quitting. Then she tells us how she overcame each obstacle and progressed to the point of running her first marathon with her brother. It’s nice to know that running like a girl can turn out to be a good thing. For YA and adults
Music to My Ears by Cristela Alonzon is another book not commonly listed for YA readers. In her memoir, which she refers to as a mixtape of growing up and standing up, Alonzo talks about being a first-generation Mexican American in Texas and her dreams of pursuing a comedy career. When Cristela and her family lived for a time as squatters in an abandoned diner, the only “luxuries” they had were a TV and a radio. She watched Golden Girls reruns and listened to whatever radio station was clearest and an idea became planted in her brain. She wanted to make people laugh by sharing the good, the bad, and finding the humor in both. She faced a daunting task as she realized women and people of color were often marginalized in our society. This is the story of how she turned these challenges into opportunities. For YA and adults