Braen Reading Rocks Summer 2026 Book List

Reading Rocks Summer Reading Kickoff Program

In partnership with Braen Stone, Sussex County Library System will encourage children ages 2 -12 to read any five books from this list.

There are two ways you can register!

1. Join us for our kick-off event will take place Friday, July 31st at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, NJ, featuring live entertainment from Eyes of the Wild, where kids will get to see reptiles and other animals up close. We’ll also have ice cream and a little baseball-themed fun to round out the day! At the event, meet our library staff, and register for the reading program. The summer reading program will run from Saturday, August 1, 2026 - Monday, August 31, 2026. Families can register for one of two showtimes: 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM. Click here to register: 10:00am show or 11:30am show

2. Can't make the kickoff program, stop by any branch to register, Kids will receive a bookmark, booklist and a log sheet to complete the challenge. Children have till August 31, 2026 to read any five books from this list. Those who complete the mission will receive a Reading Rocks prize box with fun surprises!

Paper copy of the book list is also available at any branch or at our Kick-off programs.

Prizes will be available for pick up in September.

Updated April 11, 2026
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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All about fossils : discovering dinosaurs and other clues to the past
Crane, Cody
Paper Book
What kinds of fossils exist, and where are they found? What are fossils and how do they form? This book answers this question and many more about the fascinating world of fossils. From the discovery of dinosaurs to the information fossils reveal about Earth's prehistoric past, everything readers...
Construction site /
McDonald, Jill
Paper Book
Learn from home and explore the world with these fun and easy board books! Fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site will love this vehicle-filled adventure in the hit Hello, World! board book series. Toddlers can learn all about the busy world of a construction site,...
Danny and the dinosaur
Hoff, Syd
Paper Book
Danny loves dinosaurs! When he sees one at the museum and says, "It would be nice to play with a dinosaur," a voice answers, "And I think it would be nice to play with you." So begins Danny and the Dinosaur's wonderful adventures together. For Danny and his prehistoric playmate, even the most...
Digger /
Littleboy, Molly,
Paper Book
This interactive book features layered die cut pages throughout to introduce toddlers to diggers and how they work. Diggers are so exciting! Children can learn all about how they work with this interactive board book that features layered die cut pages throughout. Simple callouts...
Diggers
Askew, Amanda.
Paper Book
Get the lowdown on some of the most exciting machines on the planet with this fantastic bumper guide. Aimed at young readers, the easy-to-read text and strong, clear images will encourage even the most reluctant reader to get involved.
Dinosaurs before dark
Osborne, Mary Pope.
Paper Book
Where did the magic tree house come from? Before Jack and Anie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now can they do it before dark... or will they become a dinosaur's dinner?
Dinosaurs before dark :
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
The #1 bestselling chapter book is now a graphic novel! Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. Get whisked back in time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie! Where did the tree house come from?      Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious...
From seed to plant
Gibbons, Gail.
CD
Flowers, trees, fruits--plants are all around us, but where do they come from?   With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination.  Important...
How do dinosaurs say good night?
Yolen, Jane
Paper Book
Perfect for bedtime reading, children love the laugh-aloud antics of playful dinosaur children who stomp and fuss and jump on the bed in this award-winning New York Times bestseller, available in a board book format! How do dinosaurs say good night? Brimming...
How do dinosaurs say good night?
Yolen, Jane
Paper Book
Perfect for bedtime reading, children love the laugh-aloud antics of playful dinosaur children who stomp and fuss and jump on the bed in this award-winning New York Times bestseller! How do dinosaurs say good night? Brimming with humor and familiar good-night...
How do dinosaurs say goodnight? --and more dinosaur tales
Woertendyke, Ruis.
DVD
How do dinosaurs say I love you?
Yolen, Jane.
Paper Book
With more than 7 million copies sold, everybody's favorite bestselling dinosaurs are back to say: "I love you," in a VERY big way!Parents and children can never have enough ways to say "I love you"--and now, America's favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime,...
How to catch a dinosaur
Wallace, Adam.
Paper Book
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling team comes a dinomite How to Catch adventure sure to delight every dinosaur fan! Do dinosaurs still walk among us? Sure, no one has seen one, but if alligators, whales, and even birds still exist, then dinosaurs must too, right? Join the...
How to catch a dinosaur
Wallace, Adam
Paper Book
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling team comes a dinomite How to Catch adventure sure to delight every dinosaur fan! Do dinosaurs still walk among us? Sure, no one has seen one, but if alligators, whales, and even birds still exist, then dinosaurs must too, right? Join the...
I, rock : a geology tale
Slivensky, Katie
Paper Book
"Rockhounds will delight in finding out how rocks are born" (School Library Journal, starred review) in this charmingly funny and thoroughly informative nonfiction picture book told from the perspective of a proud four-billion-year-old rock. Rock tells his sensational,...
If the dinosaurs came back
Most, Bernard.
Paper Book
In this delightful book, a small boy imagines a world where dinosaurs perform public services. "Bold lines accentuate imaginative, humorous ideas. A natural for student response: students formulate their own outcomes about what would happen if the dinosaurs returned. An overwhelming favorite in the...
If you find a rock /
Christian, Peggy.
Paper Book
Think of all the rocks there are: the skipping rocks, the splashing rocks, and the chalk rocks. Whether the found treasures are climbing rocks or wishing rocks, children can't help collecting them. With joyful text and luminous photographs, If You Find a Rock celebrates rocks everywhere-...
Listen to the language of the trees :
Kelley, Tera,
Paper Book
This captivating book explores the real connection and communication that runs underground between trees in the forest. The well-researched details about trees' own social network will help readers see that the natural world's survival depends on staying connected and helping others-just like us!
Loaders
Askew, Amanda.
Paper Book
Get the lowdown on some of the most exciting machines on the planet with this fantastic bumper guide. Aimed at young readers, the easy-to-read text and strong, clear images will encourage even the most reluctant reader to get involved.
MIS Zapatos de Dinosaurio / My Dinosaur Shoes
Tassopoulos Wehner, Eleni
Paper Book
Come along with Roscoe & Ivy as Roscoe transitions to a new pair of shoes!  Roscoe really, really loves his puppy shoes. They're so soft! So comfy! So... PERFECT! When his puppy shoes get to be too small, it's time for a new pair of dinosaur shoes. Dinosaur shoes?! Those...
My book of rocks and minerals
Dennie, Devin
Paper Book
A stunning visual reference book for little geologists who love to find fascinating rocks all around them.  Identify colorful gemstones, sparkly crystals, the toughest rocks, and ancient fossils. Packed with fun facts, information, and extensive photos all about the rocks...
Nesting /
Cole, Henry,
Paper Book
Award-winning author-illustrator Henry Cole soars to new heights in this stunning picture book about robins: their homes, their lives, and their families. In this black-and-white picture book highlighted with robin's egg blue, the reader will follow two robins as they build a nest with...
Old Rock (is not boring) /
Pilutti, Deb.
Paper Book
Quirky charm infuses this tale of Old Rock's life story, which is much more exciting than you'd expect. Old Rock has been sitting in the same spot in the pine forest for as long as anyone can remember. Spotted Beetle, Tall Pine, and Hummingbird think just sitting there must be...
The outdoor scientist :
Grandin, Temple
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned scientist and autism spokesperson Temple Grandin comes a book about exploring the world around us, asking questions, and making sense of what we see--with 40 fun outdoor activities that promote independent thinking, which kids...
The periodic table of elements : understanding the building blocks of everything
Chad, Jon
Paper Book
Step out of your element with Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements, the latest volume of First Second's nonfiction graphic novel series! A book of fun chemistry experiments has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Mel can use her knowledge of the periodic table to...
Road builders
Hennessy, B. G.
Paper Book
Ever wonder how a road is built? Come along with Caldecott Medalist Simms Taback and find out First you'll meet the crew. Then you'll see all the trucks up close--cement mixers, bulldozers, dump trucks, graders, pavers--and learn what each one does. And finally, you'll watch a bustling...
Rock
Croza, Laurel
Paper Book
Award-winning creators Laurel Croza and Matt James have come together once again to tell the story of what happens when a bullying seagull and a rock meet on the beach.  When a seagull mistakes a small rock for food, it angrily spits it out. "What do you think you are?" the seagull...
A rock can be ... /
Salas, Laura Purdie
Paper Book
A rock is a rock, part of cliff, road or sea. But now can you guess what else it can be? A rock can be a...dinosaur bone, stepping-stone, hopscotch marker, fire sparker. Find out about the many roles a rock can play in this poetic exploration of rocks around the world. Laura Purdie...
Rock collecting for kids :
Lynch, Dan R,
Paper Book
Rock collecting is simple and fun with this children's book that includes an introduction to geology, an identification guide to rocks and minerals, and a "how to" section. Nature's treasures are just beneath our feet, waiting to be discovered. With this book, you'll experience the...
A Rock Is Born: An Epic Journey Through Time
Ho, Richard
Paper Book
Follow the epic life cycle of one rock from its prehistoric creation to modern day, in this transportive nonfiction picture book perfect for fans of GRAND CANYON and the Over and Under series. Over one hundred million years ago, on the side of a volcano....a rock is born. ...
A rock is lively
Aston, Dianna Hutts.
Paper Book
From the award-winning creators of An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Butterfly Is Patient comes a gorgeous and informative introduction to the fascinating world of rocks. From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are...
Rocks : hard, soft, smooth, and rough
Rosinsky, Natalie M.
Paper Book
The rocks you see everyday can be grouped into different types, like igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. Some rocks are actually minerals, and you can even find fossils in some types of rocks.
Rocks and minerals /
Farndon, John
Paper Book
Rocks and minerals come alive in the next Animated Science book, an outstanding comic series illustrated by Shiho Pate! From gemstones to fossils and beyond, Animated Science: Rocks and Minerals is the definitive guide to rocks and minerals for grade school readers. In this book,...
Explore rocks and minerals!
Brown, Cynthia L.
Paper Book
Explore Rocks and Minerals! offers kids ages 6-9 a fascinating introduction to geology. It investigates the geological forces that create and transform rocks, outlining the life cycle of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, and what they can tell us about the earth. It also...
Roxaboxen
McLerran, Alice
Paper Book
From two-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Barbara Cooney and celebrated children's book author Alice McLerran comes Roxaboxen, a treasured story about the magic of a child's imagination.  Marian called it Roxaboxen. There across the road, it looked like any rocky hill--nothing...
Scribble stones /
Alber, Diane
Paper Book
Someone builds the dream
Wheeler, Lisa
Paper Book
Buildings, bridges, and books don't exist without the workers who are often invisible in the final product, as this joyous and profound picture book reveals from acclaimed author of The Christmas Boot Lisa Wheeler andNew York Times bestselling illustrator of LoveLoren Long<...
Stick and Stone
Ferry, Beth.
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling duo Stick and Stone are STICKing together in this hilarious and heartwarming picture book that proves once and for all why best friends ROCK! From beloved picture book creators Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld, perfect for fans of Kelly DiPucchio and Jory John.  ...
A stone is a story
Barnard Booth, Leslie
Paper Book
A National Science Teaching Association Outstanding Science Trade Book Follow a stone's journey through time as it faces ice, water, wind, and scorching heat in this beautiful nonfiction picture book that is Seeds Move! meets A Stone Sat Still. ...
A stone sat still
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
"A stone sat still with the water, grass, and dirt and it was as it was where it was in the world." To some creatures it's a pebble, to others a peak, to some a smell. Each animal that encounters the stone knows it to be something unique, but the stone itself is a constant...
Summer of Rocks
Greene, Jenna
Paper Book
Three sisters spend an adventure-filled summer in the Canadian wilderness, exploring rock quarries, escaping bear attacks, and fighting over space in the backseat of the family pickup truck. It's the summer of 1990, and Amy (age 11), Beth (age 9), and Marion (age 6) are in for the family...
Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology
Towler, Paige
Paper Book
For fans of Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll comes a delightful nonfiction picture book told from the perspective of rocks-offering a fun and informative view of geology, straight from the source. Let's talk rocks. No, let's let rocks talk! Pebble the...
Tell me, tree :
Gibbons, Gail
Paper Book
Learn all about trees, leaves, and their inner workings in this colorful, favorite picture book by award-winning nonfiction author and illustrator Gail Gibbons. Trees shelter and surround us. Their leaves offer shade from the hot summer sun. In autumn, they dazzle...
I took a walk
Cole, Henry
Paper Book
Have you ever sat quietly near a stream, or in a meadow or a wood, and just looked and listened? Well, now is your chance-come walk with Henry Cole in this delightful follow-up to Jack's Garden. Vibrant, die-cut flaps fold out, inviting young viewers to observe the many forms of wildlife and plants...
Weird but true! : dinosaurs : 300 dino-mite facts to sink your teeth into
Paper Book
Weird But True! is going prehistoric! This new addition to the wildly popular, mind-blowing, fact-packed series is taking on the jaws and claws that ruled the Mesozoic world. Calling all dino dynamos! Get ready to devour wacky wonders, facts, stats, and trivia about all things...
What can you do with a rock? /
Miller, Pat Zietlow.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Pat Zietlow Miller, a timeless story about creativity, exploration, and friendship What can you do with a rock? You can skip them. You can sort them. Best of all, you can share them. Rocks are simple, but the things you can do...
When you find the right rock
Ray, Mary Lyn
Paper Book
A marvelous exploration of the special relationship children find with the natural world and the fascination and friendship they find in special rocks, from poet Mary Lyn Ray and artist Felicita Sala. Somewhere, a rock is waiting for you. One just the right color for your windowsill, or just...
Where do diggers sleep at night? /
Sayres, Brianna Caplan.
Paper Book
Truck-obsessed toddlers will want to make the diggers, tractors, fire engines, and more featured in this fun-filled construction tale part of their nightly bedtime routines! Discover what bedtime looks like for the snowplows, dump trucks, giant cranes, and more that dot the pages...

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