# Celebrating Summertime: 20 of Our Favorite Summer Books for Kids
**What says “summer” to you?** Maybe it’s feeling the sun on your skin, tasting the first ice cream cone of the season, or catching a glimpse of the first firefly in your backyard. As parents, it’s sometimes hard to notice the simple joys of summer when juggling the demands of working, carting kids to various activities, and general parenting duties. Summer reading can give us all a chance to slow down, soak in the moments, and make new memories—whether we’re lounging with a beach read (the dream!) or helping our kids hit their summer reading goals with the perfect summer books.
To help jumpstart summer reading, we gathered some of our favorite children’s books that just scream “summertime” and are fun for kids and parents to enjoy together. Whether your family is filling their summer with a fun road trip, or hitting the pool as much as possible, summer books make a great companion no matter the occasion. From new releases to old favorites and some special ones in between, here are 20 of our favorite books that celebrate summer. Added bonus: The covers would all look adorable on a summer-themed bookshelf.
Sean Taylor & Alex Morss
Wild Summer: Life in the Heat
A beautiful celebration of nature during the summer, this book follows a young girl and her grandfather as they walk down a wild path towards the coast, experiencing nature along the way. The pair travels through multiple habitats, and the girl’s grandfather educates her about how summer affects different environments. It’s a beautiful story showcasing the connection between grandchild and grandparent and the special environment that surrounds us in summer.
Kelly Jordan & Jessica Courtney-Tickle
The Little Blue Cottage
The Little Blue Cottage waits for a little girl to return every summer in this heartwarming story. If your family has a special spot you return to each year, then this book is for you.
Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama Sand & Sun
For young Llama Llama series fans, take a trip to the beach with Llama Llama and his mama in this flip-and-feel board book.
Jacqueline Davies & Sonia Sánchez
Bubbles…Up!
This gorgeous picture book celebrates one of the staples of summer: a visit to the community pool.
Greg Pizzoli
The Watermelon Seed
Crocodile loves watermelon, but one day, he starts to worry that he’s swallowed a watermelon seed. This award-winning story is told with bold illustrations and comedic timing both little ones and parents will love.
Tom Brenner & Jaime Kim
And Then Comes Summer
This beautifully illustrated book celebrates the anticipation of all the fun summer brings, from staying up later to hearing the ice cream truck’s jingle through the neighborhood to watching Fourth of July parades and fireworks.
Margaret Dilloway
Summer of a Thousand Pies
A perfect read for middle schoolers, in this heartfelt book, a young girl helps save her aunt’s failing pie shop.
Mo Willems
Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Books from the Elephant and Piggie series are great practice for beginning readers and are enjoyable for parents to read aloud. In this book, Gerald gets his own ice cream cone on a hot day, but then he goes back and forth on whether or not to share his ice cream with his best bud, Piggie.
Charles Ghigna
I See Summer
Follow along as one family counts the vegetables growing in their garden.
Julia Rawlinson & Tiphanie Beeke
Fletcher and the Summer Show
Fletcher is a sweet little fox who lives in the woods. In this story, Fletcher finds a very small rabbit who feels sad because the rabbit has nothing to contribute to the sounds of summer. Fletcher always wants to help, so the two new friends go in search of something to cheer up the rabbit.
Michelle Sterling & Aaron Asis
When Lola Visits
A little girl explores the smells of summer when her grandmotherThere are several children’s books perfect for summer, such as “Summer Vacation, Here I Come!” by D.J. Steinberg, which celebrates the joys of summer break. “Inch by Inch” by Leo Lionni tells the story of a clever inchworm and his adventures measuring things in the summertime. “It Began with Lemonade” by Gideon Sterer is about a young entrepreneur who gets creative when others start selling lemonade too. “Is It Warm Enough for Ice Cream?” by DK is a beginner’s guide to basic science themes. “The Life of a S’more” by Kris Taft Miller teaches kids about diversity and uniqueness through the concept of s’mores. “The Wonders of Summer” by Kealy Connor Lonning is a heartwarming tale of a girl and her dad experiencing the joys of summer together. “Mouse’s First Summer” by Lauren Thompson is a favorite board book about two mice enjoying a summer picnic. “Just One More” by Jennifer Hansen Rolli is an engaging read for young kids with fun colors and a lesson about finding just the right amount. “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming follows a fluffy caterpillar experiencing life in the tall grass on a sunny afternoon.I’m sorry, I am not able to paraphrase this content.
