2025 Summer Reading Program: Grades K-2

Updated January 22, 2025
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The book that almost rhymed
Abed, Omar
Paper Book
Every great adventure needs a hero-or two! This playful take on storytelling and equity proves that two tellers can make a rhyming tale twice as nice. What do you do with an interrupting sibling? Especially when she's stepping all over your story with wild ideas that don't...
Don't swap your sweater for a dog
Applegate, Katherine.
Paper Book
A trophy for Roscoe? It seems like everyone has an award of some kind. Except Roscoe. But a pet-trick contest is coming up, and first prize is a big, shiny trophy. Roscoe really wants that trophy--would he even borrow someone else's dog to win?
My light
Bang, Molly.
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor artist Molly Bang celebrates the many wonders of the sun, with radiant words and images that illuminate the myriad ways in which the sun gives us energy and power from its light.Often taken for granted, the sun gives us more than its light. Here, acclaimed author and illustrator...
Animal superpowers
Cherrix, Amy E.
Paper Book
This fascinating nonfiction picture book companion to Animal Architects introduces the amazing natural superpowers animals use to survive in the wild: adaptations! Did you know that many of Earth's animals have superpowers? These behaviors and physical traits are called...
Dalmartian : a Mars Rover's story
Cummins, Lucy Ruth
Paper Book
From the bestselling creator of Stumpkin and Vampenguin comes a whimsical picture book about the unexpected friendship that blooms between a boy and a dog of intergalactic origins. A visitor from outer space comes to Stephen's yard one night. It may look like...
Loop de loop : circular solutions for a waste-free world
Curtis, Andrea
Flamingos are pretty funky : a (not so) serious guide
Cushman, Abi
Paper Book
Flamingos Are Pretty Funky introduces young readers to flamingos and their fantastic and (truly) fabulous traits. A companion to Wombats Are Pretty Weird, this funny, reader-friendly narrative nonfiction picture book about the natural world features sidebars, comic panels, and...
The storm whale
Davies, Benji
Paper Book
Every day, in a house by the sea, a little boy watches his father leave for a long day's work. One night, a great storm washes a small whale onto the beach. The boy discovers the whale is a good listener. The father discovers the boy is lonely. Together, they return the whale to the sea. And from...
Knight Owl
Denise, Christopher
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * CALDECOTT HONOR AWARD WINNER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart. ...
Loaf the cat goes to the powwow
DeShaw, Nicholas
Paper Book
A Native American boy's cat surprises him at his first powwow-making for a very special dance indeed! Loaf the cat loves to play with her boy, and when she's particularly happy, she'll make the purr sound for him. She also likes to keep tabs on him, so when he disappears one day,...
This land
Fairbanks, Ashley
Paper Book
This engaging story about native landsinvites kids to trace history and explore their communities. "An adorable primer on the history of land."--PEOPLE.com Before my family lived in this house, a different family did, and before them, another family, and another...
Two wheels
Gibb, David (Musician)
Paper Book
When you're the youngest child in a bike-loving family, two wheels are the prize in this jaunty story with special appeal for kids just learning to ride a bike. Tricycles have three wheels and training bikes have four, but what this little boy wants most of all is a bike with two...
A Best Friend for Bear
Horacek, Petr
Paper Book
A charmingly earnest pair of bears find a friend where they least expect it in this heartwarming comedy of errors featuring the rich artwork of Petr Horácek. Black Bear is feeling lonely, so he decides to look for a friend. Luckily, he meets Brown Bear, who is in the same...
A crocodile should never skip breakfast
Larmour, Colleen
Paper Book
Croc is running late for his shift as the river ferry. No time for breakfast. He'll pick up some donuts at the Hippo Hut. Only, Hippo's sold out! Good thing Croc has an emergency snack. Except, his banana has gone bad! Croc is going to have to work on an empty stomach, with loads of animals on his...
Noodles on a bicycle
Maclear, Kyo
Paper Book
A vibrant historical picture book about Tokyo's bicycle food deliverers, or demae, who balanced towering trays of steaming hot noodles on their shoulders while navigating crowded city streets. A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK * A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book * A BOOKPAGE, KIRKUS REVIEWS,<...
George and Martha : the complete stories of two best friends
Marshall, James
Paper Book
George and Martha, those incomparable hippos, will delight readers of all ages in these five funny, warm, and wonderful stories. This 368-page hardcover edition will bring joy and giggles for years and makes an excellent gift. Like all best friends, George and Martha do everything together...
Emergency quarters
Matias, Carlos
Paper Book
An Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor Book Author Carlos Matias and Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning illustrator Gracey Zhang deliver a stunning picture book based on a finalist in the New York Times Metropolitan Diary "Best of the Year," about a young boy in the city who tries his...
Pizza! : a slice of history
Pizzoli, Greg
Paper Book
From Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli comes a hilarious and mouth-watering history of pizza. Do YOU like PIZZA? Because right now, somewhere in the world, someone is eating it. Did you know that in the United States we eat 350 slices of pizza every second? Or that in...
Hello, puddle!
Sanchez, Anita
Paper Book
A nonfiction picture book exploring a deceptively simple but unexpectedly crucial resource for wildlife: puddles! This lyrical, gorgeously illustrated nonfiction picture book is perfect for young science learners and nature lovers. Hello, puddle! Who's here...
The suitcase
Sosa, Daniela
Paper Book
"A sweet, welcome reminder to kids that the adults in their lives were kids once too" --Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books (starred review) From the author of Friends comes a tender picture book about a boy who gets a new perspective on his grandparents after...
Fox versus fox
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
The clever and hilarious star of the Geisel Award winners Fox at Night, Fox the Tiger, and Fox Has a Problem is back in another I Can Read adventure. There's only one Fox . . . except when there are two! Will Fox outfox this new fox Or will he make a new friend
Up, up, ever up! : Junko Tabei : a life in the mountains
Yasuda, Anita
Paper Book
**A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK!** **A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year!** Anita Yasuda's evocative picture book biography about Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Everest, is equal parts grit and grace. Dazzlingly...

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