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13 June 201915 June 2020 Kirsten

16 of the Best Summer Books for Kids

16 of the Best Summer Books for Kids

School’s out! The sun is shining! With no homework, it’s time for fun. Explore a wonderful collection of summer books for kids and your classroom.

Summer Books for Kids

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 a book to take with you.

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

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A List of Summer Vacation Picture Books

Celebrate the end of the school year with this great selection of summer books for kids.

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik

After enjoying a day at the beach a little girl and her siblings get ready for bed. As they do they remember all the activities of the day, from chasing waves, playing with the dog and watching the boats go by.

A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker

A girl grieves the loss of her dog Sascha in this wordless picture book. The family goes on their summer holiday, but without Sascha, it won’t be the same. A lovely picture book that promotes resilience, reflective and bereavement.

Blackout by John Rocco

One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. One family go up to the roof to escape the heat and without the city lights they can see the stars. Out on the street neighbours are talking and playing, enjoying not being busy with technology. When the electricity come back on, everything goes back to normal... well almost.

Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe

A young boy loves the jar full of fireflies he has just caught, but when their light starts dim to he sets them free to keep them alive.

Garmann's Summer by Stian Hole

Garmann’s summer is coming to an end, and he is experiencing anxiety about starting school. He talks with his family and discovers he is not the only one who has to face their fears. This book reinforces the themes of anxiety, confidence, courage, fears and risk-taker.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is determined to jump off the diving board but gis confidence wanes as he nears the ladder. His patient father reassures Jabari that it is okay to be scared, encouraging him to take a deep breath. With new determination, he climbs the ladder, takes another deep breath and jumps. This picture book reinforces the themes of courage, determination and summer fun!

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure

A little boy is so excited about summer he keeps asking “Mama, is it summer yet?” The reader will observe the signs of spring turning to summer as the boy wears his swimsuit in preparation.

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

Discover the interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond we see the sky reflecting in the water, but underneath we observe beavers, tadpoles and minnows in their natural habitat. A beautiful book that inspires curiosity and love of the natural world.

Sea Glass Summer by Michelle Houts

With his grandfather's old magnifying glass in hand, Thomas explores the beach. When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass he becomes transfixed and spends the rest of the summer searching for more of this treasure.

Seashells: More Than a Home by Melissa Stewart

Children observe and learn about how shells provide more than a protective home to the molluscs who inhabit them. The non-fiction text describes the characteristics and versatility of thirteen different shells.

Summer Color! by Diana Murray

Told in verse two children explore nature and discover the colours of summer. Even when the rain comes down they continue their unique adventure into the countryside. The subject of the book reinforces the themes of family, imagination and nature.

Summer Evening by Walter de la Mare

Based on Walter de la Mare's Summer Evening poem. A farmer and his family take a picnic under the late summer sun. The illustrations offer much to explore, especially when the pet cat chases a dog, a horse, cows, pigs, chickens and ducks.

The Raft by Jim LaMarche

Spending time at his grandmother is not how Nicky wants to spend his summer. She expects him to do boring chores, especially fishing. One afternoon, while trying to catch fish for dinner a raft floats towards him. Adventures on the raft help Nicky become closer with his grandmother and appreciate his talent for art.

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley

Nick tries to teach his cats, Verne and Stevenson, to read but it is not all plain sailing. Verne's interest is piqued a little with words like MOUSE and FISH and a trip to the library, Stevenson hides under the porch. How will Nick share his love of reading with his two favourite felines?

Waiting for Chicken Smith by David Mackintosh

Every year a boy meets his friend Chicken Smith on holiday. But this year is different. Chicken Smith doesn't show up. His sister encourages him to climb the lighthouse to look for whales. His disappointment in not seeing his friend this year he is delighted when he sees a whale for the first time.

Waiting for High Tide by Nikki McClure

As a young boy eagerly waits for the high tide he searches the beach for treasures and animals. When the hide tide arrives he swims and dives off the lof raft built by his family.

In Conclusion...

Do you have any favourite summer books for kids to read before the summer holidays? 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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