Kids Summer Reads at the NLPL

This year, the TD Summer Reading Club's theme is "Dive In!" Explore a summer full of books at the library with these titles.

Updated June 19, 2026
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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.
Atana and the firebird. 1
Zhou, Vivian
Paper Book
A mermaid, a firebird, and a witch become entangled with the mysterious and powerful Witch Queen, who may hold the key to each of their past in this epic middle grade fantasy by debut author Vivian Zhou. Atana's island may be quiet and peaceful, but mostly, it's lonely. With...
Colette: the Solitary Bee
Paper Book
A heartwarming introduction to reading for kids ages three and up about how even solitary beings need people too, from Jean-François Sénéchal and Pascale Bonenfant Anyone can make it on their own--just ask Colette! She's a solitary bee who enjoys her own company more than...
The deep! : wild life at the ocean's darkest depths
Leigh, Lindsey
Paper Book
Plunge beneath the waves to find an alien world of bizarre creatures who explain for themselves how they've adapted to life in the deep dark sea. Did you know that there are animals that are completely transparent? That some tube worms live for 1,000 years? That the Pigbutt Worm...
Don't trust fish
Sharpson, Neil
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * An absurdly laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the villainy of fish, illustrated by National Book Award-winning creator Dan Santat "A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on." --Kirkus, starred review ONE OF...
Everything you know about sharks is wrong!
Crumpton, Nick
Paper Book
Shark fans will quickly become shark experts in this informative,inventive and entertaining take on an animal book!
The house that floated
Guojing
Paper Book
A stunningly beautiful picture book from a critically acclaimed artist that follows a family who lives in a house by the sea as water levels start to rise. A BOOKPAGE AND HORN BOOK BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR In this gorgeous, wordless story, a family makes...
How the Sea Came to Be : And All the Creatures in It
Berne, Jennifer.
Paper Book
***THREE STARRED REVIEWS*** A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids  A Chicago Public Library Kids Best of the Best Book Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year List - STEM & Outstanding Merit <...
Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim
Quintino, Barbara
Paper Book
A 2026 Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book A 2026 Children's Africana Book Awards Best Picture Book Winner A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year for 2026 ★ "A wonderful story to show how it is possible to overcome our fears of doing something...
Murray out of water
Tracy, Taylor
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Natalie Lloyd, and Jasmine Warga, this beautiful novel in verse explores one girl's struggle to regain her magic after a hurricane forces her to move away from her beloved ocean that, she believes, has given her special powers. Bighearted...
Narwhal and Jelly book. 9, Narwhal's sweet tooth
Clanton, Ben
Paper Book
Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do love waffles, parties and adventures. In the hilarious ninth book of this blockbuster graphic novel series, Narwhal's sweet tooth leads to some very funny feelings!<...
A new friend
Lukoff, Kyle.
Paper Book
Vera and Beaker make a new friend when they meet a mantis shrimp, in this series perfect for beginning readers! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story...
Ocean meets sky
Fan Brothers
Paper Book
From the creators of The Night Gardener, comes a stunning new picture book about a young boy who sets sail to find a place his grandfather told him about... the spot where the ocean meets the sky.
Origin : An Illuminating Look at Indigenous Peoples and Their Connection to the Natural World
Paper Book
Portraits of Indigenous children and their communities from around the world in a stunning presentation emphasizing community and a connection to the land and the environment We are all one. We all inhabit the same planet, and we all have a common human origin. This is the...
Our Pool
Cummins, Lucy Ruth
Paper Book
On a hot day, people come from all over the city to spend the day at the pool in this joyful picture book that's a love song to summer, the city, community, and staying cool! Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family....
Spooky lakes : 25 strange and mysterious lakes that dot our planet
Rutherford, Geo
Paper Book
Dive into the most mysterious waters around the world (if you dare) in Spooky Lakes, an illustrated nonfiction book from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford Some of Earth's strangest--and creepiest--wonders lie deep below the surface. There's Lake Natron, a...
The thief who sang storms
Anderson, Sophie
Paper Book
"A timely quest infused with magic." The Times, Children's Book of the Week The hugely-anticipated, brand-new fairytale adventure from Sophie Anderson, the bestselling author of The House with Chicken Legs. The Island of Morovia is shaped like a broken heart. The humans...
Turtle moon
Gold, Hannah.
Paper Book
'Dramatic, atmospheric and incredibly touching, this story is Gold's best yet' Daily Mail, Best Books for Christmas A Waterstones Best Children's Book of the Year Journey to the heart of the jungle in this unforgettable adventure from the bestselling author of The Last Bear....
Welcome, Rain!
Paper Book
We all love rain--until we are ready for some sun! This joyful ode to rain for kids 2 to 6 explores a child's many emotions when it comes to wet weather. In this charming picture book, a young child's conversation with the rain poetically captures the ever-shifting...
I will swim next time
Joof, Emily
Paper Book
"Gentle, inspiring, and important... for parents looking to quell children's fears, support their dreams, and allow them room to grow." - Kirkus Reviews "When we went to a beach, my tummy felt tight.but it still felt wrong inside. Definitely... possibly... Perhaps I'd...

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