Long days on the beach, ice cream in the sun, splashing in the pool or exploring nature on a hike. These are all perfect summer activities that kids can read about in these fantastic books about summer.
1. Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Not everyone can get to the beach in summer, but summer in the city can serve up equal amounts of adventure. These kids take their goldfish out for a day of summer fun at the local fountain.
2. Pie Is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard
One aspect of summer that everyone enjoys is a fun picnic on a sunny day. Join friends as they share all kinds of delicious summer treats including a yummy pie.
3. The Golden Glow by Benjamin Flouw
Fox takes a hike on a hot summer day in search of a rare and beautiful flower. Along the way, he meets all sorts of interesting animals and sees the most beautiful scenes shaped by summer.
4. Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Rashin used to spend summer on the Caspian Sea, but now she lives in Brooklyn. This book for summer shows kids how their favorite season is enjoyed in all the different corners of the globe.
5. How to Code a Sand Castle by Josh Funk
Building sandcastles is always fun but Pearl needs a little help. She codes her handy robot, Pascal, to help her create the best sandcastle on the beach.
6. My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis by Paul Meisel
As summer passes, the cycle of life continues, and Mr. Mantis starts to shed. Kids are introduced to plenty of animal friends through this highly engaging diary of a praying mantis.
7. Froggy’s Lemonade Stand by Jonathan London
Froggy learns the value of a dollar by opening his very own lemonade stand. The ultimate summer activity! But it is not all smooth sailing for froggy...
8. And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner
Friends come together to enjoy summer favorites like ice cream, picnic, riding bikes, and having a swim. These are all the things you need for a perfect summer day!
9. The Sandcastle that Lola Built by Megan Maynor
Join Lola on the beach in this engaging summer story. She tries to build the best sandcastle but makes many friends along the way. The book perfectly captures the fun essence of summer!
10. A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik
After a long summer's day on the beach, a little girl and her siblings think back on all the wonderful things they did that day. This lyrical retelling of their summer adventure is the perfect nighttime read.
11. A Perfect Day by Lane Smith
Everyone has a different idea of the perfect summer day. Some want to swim, others want to relax in the shade. Bear wants to do it all!
12. Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bently
Jack and his friends need nothing more than their imagination to turn a sandpit into a pirate ship. Join Captain Jack and his crew of adventurous children on this fun-filled adventure.
13. Summer Walk by Virginia Snow
This book is a must on any summer reading list. The kids take a walk through the forest to grandma's house and find all sorts of fascinating bugs along the way.
14. Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer
What would you put in a delicious summer meal? This book takes you from growing to harvesting to cooking a great meal fit for a summer's day.
15. Beach by Elisha Cooper
This is one of the best beach reads if you want to tap into all the nostalgia of a beach vacation. Kids digging in the sand, adults wading in the cool shallows, ice cream melting in the summer sun... All the best parts of a magic beach day.
16. Blackout by John Rocco
When a blackout strikes, families are forced to look away from their phones and enjoy the quietness of the city, together. They head to the rooftop to gaze at the summer night sky and have some fun without technology.
17. Flip Flop! by Dana M Rau
With big bold text and easy vocabulary, this is the perfect book for beginner readers. They join two friends as they spend the perfect day of summer vacation together.
18. Lucille Camps In by Kathryn Lasky
Lucille and her mom are left at home while her siblings go on a camping trip. But they turn their home into a campsite of their own and have tons of fun without even leaving the front door.
19. Mouse's First Summer by Lauren Thompson
Mouse and Minka enjoy all the colors of summer as they dig into a delicious picnic basket. What other treasures will they find apart from the bright red watermelon?
20. Peep and Ducky by David Martin
Peep and Ducky provide a charming and easy read for beginners. Join them as they embark on all their favorite summer activities from their backyard to the creek.
21. Rollercoaster by Marla Frazee
Visiting the theme park is a great choice of summer activities for young and old. The book's fun sound word's rollercoaster-like text layout makes it an incredibly fun book to read.
22. Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee
This delightful picture book follows one girl as she ventures out to explore nature and all the wonders of summer. Armed with a hat and a butterfly net, she is ready for adventure!
23. Summersaults by Douglas Florian
A collection of summer poems will get kids excited about playing outside and making the most of summer days. Each poem is accompanied by a beautiful painting that reflects the magic of summer.
24. The Relatives Game by Cynthia Rylant
Relive the crazy antics of a classic family reunion. From arriving in a cooky car to eating too much good food, having a few disagreements, and going strawberry picking. This beautiful summer story shows us family will always stick together in the end.
25. The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow
Summer days also bring with them some stormy clouds. Follow one summer storm across the countryside as it unleashes thunder, lightning, and rain but inevitably helps the thirsty earth.
26. Summer With Elisa by Johanna Hurwitz
Elisa is always being teased by her older brother and going on a countryside family holiday brings even more challenges. Will Elisa be able to keep up with her brother in this strange new environment?
27. Fireflies in the Night by Judy Hawes
Are those fireflies or stars dancing in the dark? This book helps kids understand the magic behind elusive fireflies and will get them excited to go firefly hunting themselves.
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