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
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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.  
Amor de colores /
Romero, Melanie,
Paper Book
Introduce your little ones to the colorful ways we see love around us in both English and Spanish! 2022 Best of the Best Books, Chicago Public Library Following the success of Singing - Cantando de colores, Amor de colores will introduce your little...
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.
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Lois Ehlert and Press Here, this charming picture book gently explores the world of color and celebrates the joy of creativity. One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors...
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: Colors
Priddy, Roger
Paper Book
See, Touch, Feel: Colors is a fantastic first concepts book from Priddy Books. This cased board book introduces colors to very young children in a fun and simple way. Specially designed to stimulate toddlers and encourage the development of motor...
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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