Summer Reading Recommendations

Early Literacy Picture Books

Updated April 24, 2025
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Wonder walkers
Archer, Micha
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor winner! Micha Archer's gorgeous, detailed collages give readers a fresh outlook on the splendors of nature. When two curious kids embark on a "wonder walk," they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have...
Leyla
Bernstein, Galia
Paper Book
Leyla is sick of her big, loud, overbearing family. They are always chatting, snuggling, and grooming each other (ew!), and-for Leyla-there's no escape from their attention. So, she decides to run away until she can't hear (or smell) her baboon troop anymore. In the middle of her desert habitat, she...
Secret, secret agent guy
Bigwood, Kira
Paper Book
Send little spies to sleep with this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek lullaby set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Dear Fellow Agents: Your mission--should you choose to accept it--is to join Secret, Secret Agent Guy on his bedtime assignment, code name:...
Shhh! The baby's asleep
Brown-Wood, JaNay
Paper Book
Celebrate the silliness that comes with a big family in this playful read aloud about a big brother, a sleeping baby, and a very noisy family. Baby is finally asleep. But everyone is much too loud! Can Mom, Daddy, Grammy, Pop Pop, Shae, Dante, Rover the dog, and even the...
Bowwow powwow = bagosenjige-niimi'idim
Child, Brenda J.
Paper Book
Windy Girl is blessed with a vivid imagination. From Uncle she gathers stories of long-ago traditions, about dances and sharing and gratitude. Windy can tell such stories herself-about her dog, Itchy Boy, and the way he dances to request a treat and how he wriggles with joy in response to, well,...
Show the world!
Dalton, Angela
Paper Book
A celebration of self-expression and the power of using your voice, centering Black children, and exploring the many things they can do, create, and say to make their mark. Look around! Can you see? The many spaces, places, and ways to show the world...
The hike
Farrell, Alison
Paper Book
The Hike is a must-have for budding scientists, best friends, and all adventurers in preschool and kindergarten. "These young explorers demonstrate the best principles of time spent in the woods: observing, admiring and learning. And, through...
The bold, brave bunny
Ferry, Beth
Paper Book
* An Amazon Best Book of 2020 So Far * A Junior Library Guild Selection * "An enjoyable tale of the marvels of adventuring and the comfort of home." --Kirkus Hop along with Teetu, the bold, brave bunny, as he finds his way in this imaginative tale from New York Times...
The nice dream truck
Ferry, Beth
Paper Book
From the dreams of New York Times bestselling creators Beth Ferry and Brigette Barrager comes this whimsical bedtime story filled with adventure and imagination. Featured by Gayle King on CBS Mornings! When bedtime is near, you might be in luck. You might get a visit from the...
Berry Song
Goade, Michaela.
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book! An Indie Bestseller! Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade's first self-authored picture book is a gorgeous celebration of the land she knows well and the powerful wisdom of elders. On...
The froggies do not want to sleep
Gustavson, Adam
Paper Book
Prepare for a different kind of bedtime book--a zany, imaginative adventure to send your little froggies off to dreamland. Not since David Wiesner's Tuesday have frogs had so much fun! Why go to bed when you can play the accordion, dance underwater ballet, and hold burping...
The honeybee
Hall, Kirsten
Paper Book
Buzz from flower to flower with a sweet honeybee in this timely, clever, and breathtakingly gorgeous picture book from critically acclaimed author Kirsten Hall and award-winning illustrator Isabelle Arsenault. Bzzz... What's that? Do you hear it? ...
Blue floats away
Jonker, Travis
Paper Book
A little iceberg strikes out on a big journey in this new picture book that explores the wonders of the water cycle Little Blue lives at the North Pole with his parents until, one day, he floats away and strikes out on his own. Along the way, Blue encounters new things (sharks...
Kimchi, kimchi every day
Kim, Erica
Paper Book
Whether round and crunchy like a kimchi pancake or pinched and plump like a kimchi dumpling, there are so many ways to enjoy this Korean traditional dish. Explore the different ways to eat kimchi in this fun, rhyming tale that also teaches the days of the week. Korean-American author...
EEK! : a noisy journey from A to Z
Larios, Julie Hofstrand
Paper Book
Make some noise for the most fun alphabet book you'll read this year! A lively, engaging read aloud just right for toddlers and preschoolers. Author Julie Larios teams up with award-winning author and illustrator Julie Paschkis to lead young readers on a humorous, boisterous...
Lift
Le?, Minh
Paper Book
From the award-winning and bestselling creators of Drawn Together comes the fantastic tale of a magical elevator that will lift your spirits--and press all the right buttons! Iris loves to push the elevator buttons in her apartment...
The Blur
Le?, Minh.
Paper Book
Meet a child with superhero-like abilities . . . and the parents who are racing to keep up with her in this sweetly funny picture book about the blur of childhood, from the award-winning creators of Drawn Together. A perfect gift to celebrate all of our special milestones--from graduations...
I can see you
Meyok, Rosemarie
Paper Book
In this adorable book to be shared with babies and toddlers, mothers explore their love for their babies as experienced through the five senses.From the sound of a baby's giggles to the smell of a kunik, this book celebrates the unique bonds shared between mothers and babies.
How to eat a book
Mrs. & Mr. MacLeod
Paper Book
A whimsical picture book for kids written by debut wife and husband team Mrs. & Mr. MacLeod, children's book authors and artists. This irresistible book about books--and the way they make us feel--is set in a world bursting with charm and character. How to Eat a Book is destined to be a...
One-osaurus, two-osaurus
Norman, Kim
Paper Book
Part counting game, part dinosaur celebration, this energetic romp is a numbers concept book for the ages. One-osaurus, two-osaurus, three-osaurus, four! Look there, in a child's bedroom, where some prehistoric pals are gathered in a counting game. Nine...
Gray fox in the moonlight
Peterson, Isaac
Paper Book
2023 PUBWEST DESIGN AWARDS WINNER 2024 CIPA EVVY AWARDS WINNER | GOLD 2024 CIPA EVVY AWARDS WINNER | Herb Tabak Choice Award "This book needs not one breath more for its perfect autumn and winter message." --School Library...
Blue Bison needs a haircut
Rothman, Scott
Paper Book
Blue Bison tries his best to be patient in this humorous picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald. Blue Bison prides himself on always looking clean and neat. But he has a growing problem--his hair. With the barber shops and just about...
Hugo and the Impossible Thing
Smith, Rene?e Felice
Paper Book
Hugo has one goal - to conquer the Impossible Thing. At the edge of the forest stood the Impossible Thing. All the animals in the forest often wondered what was beyond the Impossible Thing, but since everyone said getting through it would be impossible, no animal ever tried.
Bearplane!
Underwood, Deborah
Paper Book
Buckle up for a little bear's first flight in this adorable, light-as-air picture book by New York Times bestselling author Deborah Underwood and critically acclaimed artist Sam Wedelich. Follow a bear cub, their grownup, and their beloved stuffie Teddy as they make their...
Outside In
Underwood, Deborah
Paper Book
A 2020 Caldecott Honor Book From the New York Times best-selling author behind The Quiet Book comes a mindful contemplation on the many ways nature affects our everyday lives, even when we're stuck inside. Five starred reviews!
The pigeon will ride the roller coaster!
Willems, Mo
Paper Book
From #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems!   Buckle up for twists, turns, and emotional loop-de-loops in the most roller coaster-y Pigeon book ever! The Pigeon WILL be ready. Will YOU!?
The year we learned to fly
Woodson, Jacqueline
Paper Book
Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López's highly anticipated companion to their #1 New York Times bestseller The Day You Begin illuminates the power in each of us to face challenges with confidence. On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their...
Off-Limits
Yoon, Helen.
Paper Book
For every child who has ever felt that grown-ups have all the fun, here is a vicarious chance to slip behind the office door--and play with all the tempting things that are off-limits. Dad's office is off-limits--which only makes it more intriguing to his curious young daughter....
Emile and the field
Young, Kevin
Paper Book
In this lyrical picture book from an award-winning poet, a young boy cherishes a neighborhood field throughout the changing seasons. With stunning illustrations and a charming text, this beautiful story celebrates a child's relationship with nature. There was a boy...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.