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Summer Picture Books to Read at the Beach

Summer Picture Books to Read at the Beach

Summer Picture Books
to Read at the Beach

School’s out! The sun is shining! With no homework, it’s time for fun and adventure. Whether you are at the beach, camping, having a picnic, sitting by the pool or visiting family grab some summer picture books to take with you.

Here you will find a wonderful collection of books all set in the sun. You will find newly published books, but I am sure you will spot a few classics too.

Summer Picture Books

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Sea Glass Summer by Michelle Houts

"One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her seaside cottage... When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass, Thomas is transfixed. That night he dreams of an old shipyard and the breaking of a bottle. Could the very piece of sea glass on his nightstand have come from that bottle? For the rest of the summer, he searches for more sea glass and hopes to have dreams that will reveal more of the sea’s secrets." Candlewick

Summer Evening by Walter de la Mare

"Part of a quintet of books revolved around the four seasons, this is a beautifully atmospheric picture book based around de la Mare's eight line poem. In Summer Evening, readers will join a farmer and his family as they enjoy a picnic dinner in the late summer sun." Faber & Faber Children's

Waiting for Chicken Smith by David Mackintosh

"Every year a young boy stays in the same cabin at the beach with his family. And every year his friend Chicken Smith stays in the next cabin over. But this year, something’s different: Chicken Smith hasn’t shown up yet. The boy’s little sister, MaryAnn, keeps trying to get his attention, but he’s too busy remembering all of his adventures with Chicken Smith — and thinking about everything they’re going to do this summer." Candlewick

Seashells: More Than a Home by Melissa Stewart

"Young naturalists discover thirteen seashells in this elegant introduction to the remarkable versatility of shells." Charlesbridge

Summer Color! by Diana Murray

"In this celebration of the outdoors, two rambunctious children take off on an adventure from their own backyard. In each new scene they discover the wondrous details--and beautiful colors--of nature. Even when a little summer rain threatens to dampen their grand adventure, the fun continues as woodland scenes come to life in a whole new way." Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

"Friendship defies racism for two boys in this stirring story of the “Freedom Summer” that followed the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Atheneum Books for Young Readers

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley

"Nick loves to read books--and he loves to play with his cats, Verne and Stevenson. So naturally Nick decides it's a great idea to teach his cats to read. But Verne and Stevenson don't appreciate when Nick wakes them up with a flashcard that says NAP. Nick finally piques Verne's interest with words like MOUSE and FISH. But not Stevenson's. While Nick and Verne go to the library, Stevenson hides under the porch. Will Nick ever find a way to share his love of reading with his feline friends?" Simon & Schuster

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure

"In this charming book, one little boy can’t wait for summer to arrive. He keeps asking, “Mama, is it summer yet?” Mama responds saying, ”Not yet,” but there are plenty of signs that indicate spring is changing into summer: The earth is soft and there are seeds to plant, birds singing, ducklings in the pond, and pink blossoms blooming. The young boy even wears his bathing suit and carries a beach pail in preparation, but will it ever be summer?" Harry N. Abrams

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik

"Join a little girl and her siblings as they wind down from a perfect day--hanging up towels, eating dinner, and getting ready for bed--each activity sparking a memory of their day--playing catch with the dog, chasing waves, and looking at sailboats along the shore." Schwartz & Wade

Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe

"A young boy is proud of having caught a jar full of fireflies, which seems to him like owning a piece of moonlight, but as the light begins to dim he realizes he must set the insects free or they will die." Aladdin Books

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

"Discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the pond is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, tadpoles growing. These and many other secrets are waiting to be discovered...over and under the pond." Chronicle Books

The Toy Boat by Randall de Sève

"A little boy has a toy boat. He made it out of a can, a cork, a yellow pencil, and some white cloth. The boy and his boat are inseparable, until one day when the wind pushes the toy boat out into the wide lake. Alone now, the little boat must face fierce waves, a grumpy ferry, a sassy schooner, and a growling speed boat. How the little boat misses the boy! But if he is going to survive, he must figure a way to do it on his own." Philomel Books
AMAZON

Waiting for High Tide by Nikki McClure

"For one young boy, it’s a perfect summer day to spend at the beach with his family. He scours the high tide line for treasures, listens to the swizzling sound of barnacles, and practices walking the plank. But mostly he waits for high tide. Then he’ll be able to swim and dive off the log raft his family is building." Abrams Books for Young Readers

The Raft by Jim LaMarche

"Nicky is convinced that his summer with his grandmother in the Wisconsin woods is going to be the worst summer ever... But one afternoon, while Nicky is trying to catch their dinner, a raft drifts down the river towards him. The raft has a calming magic about it, affecting both Nicky and the wildlife of the river and woods. Through the raft and the adventures it brings him on, Nicky finds new common ground with his grandmother, a fellow river rat." HarperCollins

Do you have any favourite picture books to read during the summer? Let me know in the comments below. It would be great to have a selection of recommended books to choose from when I update this post.

You can also check out other related posts on Children’s Library Lady below. Finally, you will find some summer essential ideas from Amazon. 

Related Posts

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Summer Picture Books to Read at the Beach

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