Fun Summer Books for Kids
Looking for summer books for kids? Here’s the perfect list of fun picture books to read this summer! Add these summer books to your book basket and enjoy some themed reading together that your kids will love.
I also highly recommend trying the free reading resources at Reading Eggs. They offer free printables (no strings attached) as well as a 30-day free trial. My daughters loved it when they were learning how to read!
Summer Books for Kids
And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner
When the days stretch out like a slow yawn, and the cheerful faces of Johnny-jump-ups jump up . . . then it’s time to get ready for summer! From flip-flops and hide-and-seek to fireworks and ice-cream trucks, from lemonade stands and late bedtimes to swimming in the lake and toasting marshmallows, there’s something for everyone in this bright and buoyant celebration of the sunny season.
Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee
On a hot summer day, a little girl finds ways to entertain herself and stay cool. She catches a butterfly, sips lemonade, jumps in a pool, and goes on a picnic. At night, she sees an owl in a tree and a frog in a pond, and hears leaves rustling. Before long, she’s fast asleep, dreaming about more summer days and summer nights.
The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing
A little girl and her family are getting ready to go on vacation . . . or at least they are trying to. In the effort to pack everything that will be needed, there’s bound to be something overlooked, and what that is provides a funny ending to this meter-perfect “twist” on Clement Moore’s classic.
The Berenstain Bears Go on Vacation by Stan and Jan Berenstain
It’s summer vacation, and the Berenstain Bears are off to the seashore for sun and fun. There is so much to do—swimming, fishing, building sand castles, browsing through the general store, eating delicious dinners at Gull Island Café, and visiting Gull Island Museum. Each glorious sunrise heralds a new adventure! This is the ultimate beach read for Berenstain Bears fans.
Where is Baby’s Beach Ball? by Karen Katz
It’s summertime, and Baby is looking for the beach ball–but where can it be? Little ones can lift the large, sturdy flaps in this board book to reveal pretty seashells, crawly crabs, and more! Babies will love this interactive adventure!
Biscuit’s First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Biscuit is going on his first trip to the beach! He is excited about making sand castles, collecting seashells, and playing in the ocean. Join Biscuit for some fun in the sun!
Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson
Mouse and Minka invite you to celebrate summer with a picnic in the park. Roll down the hill on tickly green grass. Fly fluttery kites high in the sky. Enjoy some juicy watermelon! And before it’s time to go home, a summer surprise sparkles in the sky.
Don’t miss these fun color by number bookmarks you can download and print!
Let It Shine by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Celebrate all the wonders of summer in this final book in Maryann Cocca-Leffler’s delightful series about the seasons.
Down by the Bay by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Based on a Raffi song, very young children will find this book both entertaining and instructive in early language skills such as rhyme, rhythm, and repetition, and will delight in hearing it read or sung aloud to them.
Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
My daughters have all loved the Maisy series when they were younger.
Five in the tent! A camping trip with Maisy turns into a slapstick comedy of errors in this hilarious picture-book adventure. When Maisy sets off to go camping in the country, it’s only natural that all her friends come along, too. But they soon find that pitching a tent is not an easy thing to do. Even if they do manage to keep the tent up, there’s the matter of fitting them all in — Maisy, Charley, Cyril, Tallulah, and finally, the huge elephant, Eddie.
Uh-Oh by Shutta Crum
What does a toddler say when she drops her sunglasses in the sand? “Uh-Oh!”
What does she say when a seagull lands on her sandcastle? “Uh-Oh!”
What does she say when she finds a crab in her pail? “Uh-Oh!”
And what does she say when a BIG wave is coming? That’s the biggest “Uh-Oh!” of all!
Fancy Nancy: Sand Castles and Sand Palaces by Jane O’Connor
Fancy Nancy has been a favorite for my girls, too. They like her creative imagination and big fancy words.
Join Fancy Nancy on a trip to the beach in New York Timesbestselling team Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser’s 8×8 picture book, complete with a fabulous set of stickers. In Fancy Nancy: Sand Castles and Sand Palaces, Nancy spends the day at the beach with her friends. They build the most magnificent sand palace imaginable!
Good Night Beach by Adam Gamble
Good Night Beach features building sand castles by the ocean, boating, swimming, exploring the seashore, waves, tidal pools, surfing, fishing, snorkeling, crabs, seagulls, picnics, campfires, sunsets, and more. Grab your beach ball and towel, it’s that time of year again! This charming book guides little ones in discovering all the wonderful things the seashore has to offer.
Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer
Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter is spending a day at the beach with his grandma in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book.
Duck & Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills
Duck wants to go on an adventure. But Goose isn’t so sure. Together, the two best friends set off on a walk that takes them through the meadow, past a shady thicket, and over a distant hill, all the way to a place they’ve never been before—the beach! Turns out, Goose loves the ocean. But guess who doesn’t?
Ben’s Adventures: A Day at the Beach by Elizabeth Gerlach
Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman and Jacky Davis
This story is the perfect preparation for a first beach vacation, or to explore a new experience with a preschooler. Mama and Papa are never far away while Ladybug Girl builds up her courage and confronts something scary for the first time. For fans of Fancy Nancy and Angelina Ballerina, the Ladybug Girl series honors courage, creativity, and a love of nature!
Curious George Goes Camping by Margret Rey
Curious George Goes Camping is an entertaining story of the Great Outdoors based on H. A. and Margret Rey’s popular primate and painted in the original watercolor and charcoal style. George tries to be helpful, but he of course just ends up upsetting a nearby camper. As he’s hiding in the woods, he meets a forest creature who catapults the mischievous monkey into a chain of even more outrageous events!
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when all of a sudden they find themselves plunging down a mountain and teetering on the edge of a huge waterfall! How will they find their way out of this slippery situation?
Froggy Goes to Camp by Johnathan London
Froggy’s off to camp! He packs a lot into one week: archery lessons, food fights, and scary stories around the campfire. But only Froggy could also manage to lose his trunks during swim class and overturn his kayak with the camp director in it. Froggy will keep his fans laughing with his latest antics.
What are your favorite summer books for kids?
While you’re reading fun summer books with your kids, you might also want to try some of these summer arts and crafts:
More fun summer activities:
Educational Activities for Summer Learning
30 Summer Writing Prompts with Free Printable Journal Pages
7 Ways to Encourage Summer Reading
7 Ideas for Fun Summer Math Practice
Find even more ideas from my blogging friends here:
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