2025 Color Our World Early Literacy Recommended Book List

The 2025 Summer Reading Lists are full of book titles to keep children engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer. Follow the five early literacy practices- talk, sing, read, write, and play while reading these books to your children.

TALK: Children learn language by listening to conversational speech.

SING: Singing helps children learn new words and concepts, and reinforces memory and phonological awareness.

READ: Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension.

WRITE: In early literacy, writing skills include becoming aware that printed letters correspond with spoken sounds and words.

PLAY: Play develops language and literacy skills by allowing children to put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing.

This list is recommended and available through the Sussex County Library System for birth-preschool. These books will pair nicely with our 2025 summer reading theme.

Updated December 14, 2024
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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10 cats /
Gravett, Emily.
Paper Book
Award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator Emily Gravett follows a group of playful cats as they turn a mess of color into an engaging display of art and text in this early learning picture book, perfect for anyone looking for books for 3-year-olds and up.  
Colors / Colores
Carpenter, Mikala/ Román, Gemma (ILT)
Paper Book
Learn languages and discover culinary creativity in this one-of-a-kind bilingual board book series. Perfect for little citizens of the world! INCLUDES QR CODE FOR FREE BILINGUAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD! Let's make a fruit salad! Did you know that at the market, you can find all...
The crayons love our planet /
Daywalt, Drew.
Paper Book
The hilarious crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day the Crayons Quit are ready to celebrate our planet! The Crayons love our planet and are proud of their contributions. White ice caps, Green trees, Blue oceans and skies, Brown soil...and more! Even...
Izzy paints /
Miller, Tim,
Paper Book
"Izzy's happiness at creating something of their own and the simple but lively text make for a delightful and engaging read-aloud. A charming stroll through the imagination and a testament to the joys of creativity." --Kirkus Inspired by a museum visit, a young koala...
Let's go to color camp.
Paper Book
Baby's first books of colors! Part of the irresistible Beginning Baby line of perfect gifts or self-purchase for just the right moments in a baby and parent's life. Welcome to Beginning Baby, a line of novelty board books and gifts designed to give little ones a...
Mouse paint
Walsh, Ellen Stoll.
Other
One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. Both parents and children alike will appreciate this lighthearted presentation of a lesson in color. "Walsh's cut-paper collage illustrations have bold colors and just the right simplicity for the storyline. A real charmer...
Oh, Olive! /
Cho, Lian,
Paper Book
"Irrepressible. Joyful. Vibrant and full of oomph!" --Andrea Beaty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rosie Revere, Engineer "A stunning, energetic story full of clever humor, heart, and a reminder that art has no boundaries." --Ruth Chan, author...
A rainbow in brown /
Giron, Pavonis
Paper Book
Jo wants to paint all the wonderful things she loves. With a palette of red, yellow, and blue, Jo knows she can mix any colors together to create new ones. Her imagination takes flight as she explores painting with primary and by mixing her own secondary colors, each picture as beautiful as the...
Scroll /
Li, Hui,
Paper Book
An ALA Notable Book * A Bookpage Best Picture Book of the Year ★ "A beautifully drawn, cleverly told tale of bravery and wit.... As Lulu discovers, wonders await those who take a chance and dive in." --Bookpage, starred...
See, touch, feel :
Boultwood, Ellie,
Paper Book
There's lots for baby to explore in See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book. This sturdy board book, with bright photographs of happy babies, is specially designed to stimulate curiosity through sensory play. Each page has a colorful picture activity that invites baby to touch...
Time to make art /
Mack, Jeff,
Paper Book
Does art have to be perfect? Where do you begin? This inspiring picture book about making art doubles as an introduction to the multifaceted and diverse global history of art empowering readers to get creative. Awed by the endless possibilities, a young girl begins asking...

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