Great Summer Reads for Kids

Whether you're at the beach, on the couch, or on the move, these books make great summer reading options for kids!

Updated June 18, 2025
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Ahoy!
Blackall, Sophie
Paper Book
Join a child captain and parent first mate as they embark on a wild high seas adventure...all without leaving the living room! This imaginative romp of a picture book is filled with glorious illustrations from a beloved Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator.
Be careful, Xiao Xin!
Pung, Alice
Paper Book
Xiao Xin believes he is a fire warrior, but his family thinks the world is too dangerous for him. Can he inspire his family to trust him? Xiao Xin believes he is a fearless Red Fire Warrior, but his family is always telling him to be careful--he's too little to be a warrior! They...
Being home
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
From Sibert Honor-winning author Traci Sorell and Caldecott Medal-winning artist Michaela Goade comes a heartwarming picture book about a Native American family and the joy of moving back to their ancestral land. Today is a day of excitement-it's time to move! As a young Cherokee...
Built to last
Lê, Minh
Paper Book
Meet two friends who think they're building imaginative worlds with blocks but come to realize they've been building something far greater--a sturdy, solid friendship--in this picturebook by award-winning creators. Two kids build entire worlds out of blocks, cardboard, and...
Dog vs. Strawberry
Buchet, Nelly
Paper Book
A dog and a strawberry find themselves nose to stem in this hilarious picture book that's perfect for dog lovers. An epic battle ensues-who will come out on top? A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Welcome to the Greatest Race of All Time! ...
Monster hands
Kane, Karen
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Two best friends use rhyming ASL to help vanquish their fear of the monster under the bed in this fun, interactive bedtime readaloud. When nighttime comes, Milo has a problem-he's convinced there's a monster under his bed! Luckily,...
My daddy is a cowboy
Seales, Stephanie
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Book A young girl and her father share an early morning horseback ride around their city in My Daddy Is a Cowboy, an award-winning picture book celebration of "just-us time," with 6 starred...
Ursula upside down
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
Lead title in "Best Books for Storytime" Campaign, including advertising in key S&L media, storytime guide, conference features, extensive HarperStacks digital outreach  "Read in Every Direction with Corey Tabor" advertising in key school & library media (including backlist)...
Home
Simler, Isabelle
Paper Book
ALSC Notable Children's Books List - Middle Readers (2025) A 2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book "Unites STEM learning with literary excellence . . . an essential purchase." -- School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW) ...
Why we dance : a story of hope and healing
Havrelock, Deirdre
Paper Book
From Indigenous creative team Deidre Havrelock and Aly McKnight comes a powerful and exuberant story about the heritage, joy, and healing power of the Jingle Dress Dance--a perfect read-aloud picture book. It's a special day--the day of the Jingle Dress Dance!...
J vs. K
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
A New York Times and IndieBound bestseller! Created by real-life rivals and #1 New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft this hilarious illustrated story features two talented fifth graders going head...
The girl and the robot
Rodriguez, Oz
Paper Book
An out-of-this-world story about friendship, empowerment, and . . . running from federal agents? E.T. meets cult classic The Iron Giant in this middle grade light sci-fi from Emmy Award-winner Oz Rodriguez and New York Times best-selling author Claribel A. Ortega...
Opal Watson : private eye
Thurman, Brittany
Big Mouth ARE mailing to a curated list of influential librarians and educators   Featured title at school & library conferences and preview events  Featured title on HarperStacks, the school & library digital marketing hub  
When Sally O'Malley discovered the sea
Cushman, Karen
From the Newbery-Award winning author of Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice comes the story of an orphan who decides to go west--with nothing but gumption as her guide. Sally O'Malley is an orphan working at a mineral spring hotel in the woods of...
It's watching
Currie, Lindsay
Paper Book
A chilling middle school novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mystery of Locked Rooms, three kids must discover who-or what-is terrorizing them after receiving an ominous meme on Halloween night. "A creepy, freaky, fun-as-anything tale."-Chuck Wendig,...

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