Summer is here, which is the perfect time for kids to dive into a great book.
Whether your child is a new reader beginning to dip their toes into storytelling or has been reading for years, plenty of books are out there to entertain this summer. We’ve gathered together a great list of recommendations for readers of all ages.
For infants and toddlers, storytime is about tactile learning, colorful pictures, and spending time with parents as much as it is about the story itself. Our recommendations include fun board books, perfect for little hands, and picture books with beautiful illustrations and fun stories to entertain parents and children.
Moving from picture books to chapter books gives young readers the confidence they need to keep reading. So, we’ve picked a great collection of fun chapter books featuring relatable characters and cartoonish antics. What’s more, many of these chapter books are the first in a series that will keep kids reading all summer.
Middle-grade books offer readers new worlds to explore, new characters to root for, and more complicated themes. This genre is full of great series, many of which take place in worlds readers may already be familiar with, such as the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. These books will add just the right amount of adventure to a middle-grade reader’s summer.
YA books are always trending on social media for teen readers, making finding great recommendations easy. This genre offers an array of diverse voices and perspectives that open up the world to readers. Our summer reading list includes a bit of murder mystery, a touch of thrillers, and a pinch of friendship and romance.
Ages 0-2: Board Books
Boop the Snoot
by Ashlyn Anstee
Irresistible fun for the littlest readers, who will love getting to boop each snoot!
How many of these snoots could a baby boop?
Adorable art paired with fun-to-read text shows tots all of the ways they can boop a snoot--as in: poke cute animal noses! They can boop one snoot or two snoots, slow snoots and fast snoots. This interactive board book begs to be poked and prodded as toddlers learn to boop the snoot!
One Sky
by Aaron Becker - Aaron Becker
Marvel at the sky in this meditative die-cut book, a follow-up to You Are Light and My Favorite Color, from the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of the Journey trilogy.
Its dawn begins in darkness.
With hope we greet its light.
Within the pages of this elegant book is the entire sky. Lyrical text moves readers through the day, from dawn to dusk, while ink- and die-cut lines resembling stained glass arc across the pages like birds in flight. An encounter with the translucent, jewel-colored panes in this special board book offers a luminous reminder that, no matter the hour or the hue, we all dwell together under one magnificent sky.
Llama Llama Feelings
by Anna Dewdney - Jt Morrow
From the New York Times bestselling Llama Llama series comes a new concept board book about feelings!
Sometimes Llama Llama feels happy and other times he feels sad. Sometimes he is excited and sometimes angry. Join Llama Llama as he gets ready for bed and experiences the universal highs and lows that all kids get at bedtime.
Llama Llama Feelings is the perfect book for our youngest readers to learn about their emotions and why they might feel a certain way. Easy to understand and perfect for little hands, this is a must-add to any young reader's library.
Ages 3-5: Picture Books
Hot Dog
by Doug Salati
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - WINNER OF THE 2023 CALDECOTT MEDAL
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post - Publishers Weekly - Kirkus Reviews - New York Public Library
This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach.
Here, a pup can run!
Dragons Love Tacos
by Adam Rubin - Daniel Salmieri
A #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon, this deliciously funny read-aloud is an unforgettable tale of new friends and the perfect snack that will make you laugh until spicy salsa comes out of your nose.
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.
This makes the perfect gift for any special occasion, from award-winning team of Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri who created Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel, El Chupacabras, High Five, Robo-Sauce, and Secret Pizza Party.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
by Emily Winfield Martin
The New York Times bestseller that celebrates the dreams, acceptance, and love that parents have for their children . . . now and forever. This is the perfect heartfelt gift for kids of all ages, plus a great choice for baby showers, birthdays, graduations, and other new beginnings!
From brave and bold to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin's rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful, lush illustrations and a stunning gatefold that opens at the end, this is a book that families will love reading over and over.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be has a loving and truthful message that will endure for lifetimes and makes a great gift to the ones you love for any occasion.
What Do You Do with an Idea
by Kobi Yamada - Mae Besom
This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It's a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn't going anywhere. In fact, it's just getting started
Ages 6-8: Chapter Books
The Bad Guys
by Aaron Blabey
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!
"I wish I'd had these books as a kid. Hilarious!" -- Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog ManThis New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.They sound like bad guys, they look like bad guys . . . and they even smell like bad guys. But Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark are about to change all of that...Mr. Wolf has a daring plan for the Bad Guys' first good mission. They are going to break two hundred dogs out of the Maximum Security City Dog Pound. Will Operation Dog Pound go smoothly? Will the Bad Guys become the Good Guys? And will Mr. Snake please stop swallowing Mr. Piranha?!
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
by Kate DiCamillo - Chris Van Dusen
To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watson's bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash to alert the fire department, her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind like a sudden craving for their neighbor's sugar cookies. Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that's destined to be a classic.
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
Soon to be a DreamWorks movie, coming to theaters 9/27/24!
Can a robot survive in the wilderness?
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.
Dory Fantasmagory
by Abby Hanlon
Move over, Junie B. Jones and Ivy & Bean! Here comes a lovably energetic little sister with a BIG personality--and an imagination to match!
As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention, and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her. But she's too much of a baby for them, so she's left to her own devices--including her wild imagination and untiring energy. Her siblings may roll their eyes at her childish games, but Dory has lots of things to do: outsmarting the monsters all over the house, escaping from prison (aka time-out), and exacting revenge on her sister's favorite doll. And when they really need her, daring Dory will prove her bravery, and finally get exactly what she has been looking for.
Ages 9-12: Middle Grade Books
Hooky
by Míriam Bonastre Tur - Míriam Bonastre Tur
Two twins, one prophecy, and a whole lot of hijinks. From WEBTOON, the #1 digital comic platform, comes a fantastical story about twin siblings Dani and Dorian who have missed the bus to magic school and scramble to find a mentor to teach them before their parents find out. Perfect for fans of The Okay Witch and the 5 Worlds series.
When Dani and Dorian missed the bus to magic school, they never thought they'd wind up declared traitors to their own kind! Now, thanks to a series of mishaps, they are being chased by powerful magic families seeking the prophesied King of Witches and royals searching for missing princes.
Three Strike Summer
by Skyler Schrempp
Four starred reviews! "Told in a voice that is so real it reeks of filched peaches, this book is a home run." --Amy Sarig King, Printz Award-winning author of Dig and The Year We Fell from Space Sandlot meets Esperanza Rising in this "vividly rendered, emotionally vulnerable" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) middle grade historical novel about a strong-willed girl who finds her voice in a tale of moxie, peaches, and determination to thrive despite the odds.When the skies dried up, Gloria thought it was temporary. When the dust storms rolled in, she thought they would pass. But now the bank man's come to take the family farm, and Pa's decided to up and move to California in search of work. They'll pick fruit, he says, until they can save up enough money to buy land of their own again.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
Don't get left behind! Read the book that launched Percy Jackson into the stratosphere before the Disney+ series comes out. You'll be proud to be seen with this stunning paperback edition.
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
Whether you are new to Percy or a longtime fan, this gorgeous paperback edition is a must-have for your library.
Restart
by Gordon Korman
The amazing New York Times bestseller about what you can do when life gives you a second chance.
Chase's memory just went out the window. Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name. He knows he's Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets. Pretty soon, it's not only a question of who Chase is--it's a question of who he was . . . and who he's going to be. From the #1 bestselling author of Swindle and Slacker, Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start.
Ages 13-17: Young Adult and Teen Books
Good Girl's Guide to Murder
by Holly Jackson
THE MUST-READ MULTIMILLION BESTSELLING MYSTERY SERIES - This is the story about an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect. Coming to Netflix soon!
Everyone in Fairview knows the story.
Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.
But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?
One of Us Is Lying
by Karen M McManus
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY - BUZZFEED - POPCRUSH
Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.
All the secrets of the Bayview Four will be revealed in the TV series now streaming on NBC's Peacock!
And don't miss the #1 New York Times bestselling sequel, One of Us is Next!
They Both Die at the End
by Adam Silvera
Adam Silvera reminds us that there's no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.
#1 New York Times bestseller * four starred reviews * A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * A Kirkus Best Book of the Year * A Booklist Editors' Choice * A Bustle Best YA Novel * A Paste Magazine Best YA Book * A Book Riot Best Queer Book * A BuzzFeed Best YA Book of the Year * A BookPage Best YA Book of the Year
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They're going to die today.
Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure--to live a lifetime in a single day.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Now a major motion picture starring Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, and Eva Longoria!
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)
This Printz Honor Book is a "tender, honest exploration of identity" (Publishers Weekly) that distills lyrical truths about family and friendship.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship--the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.