2025 Summer Reading Program: Grades K-2Unpublished

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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...

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?

An accessible and humorous introduction to maps for budding navigators. A raccoon narrator embarks on a big adventure in this exciting exploration of maps for the youngest readers. Traditional maps of cities, roads, and parks are joined by some less conventional ones such as...

Ba-dah-dum! Ba-dah-dum! Oops! Bo is drumming on his desk at school again, and his teacher is not happy. But Bo loves to drum! And sometimes, he doesn't even know he's doing it. It's tricky to find the time and place for his drumming passion. Just when Bo thinks he's in big trouble for drumming...

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...

On his first day at his new school, Puffin is thrilled when Penguin is assigned to be his buddy - Penguin's the coolest kid in the school! But Puffin quickly learns that the coolest kid is also the busiest kid, especially with Penguin starring as King Midas in the school play. Puffin realises he's...

Scorch the hedgehog is determined to be ferocious. The doomsy-est, most menacing class pet ever known. She's not just Scorch, she's... Scorch, Hedgehog of Doom! There's just one problem--Scorch is kind of adorable. So adorable, in fact, that it's all anyone ever notices. With each swirl of her cloak...

Eight-year-old Hmong American twins Astrid and Apollo decide to enter their dog Luna in the Cutest Canine Contest. After all, she's the cutest dog they know! But they discover that teaching Luna the tricks needed to compete in the contest might be "trickier" than they thought! With the help of a...

In this fifth Level 1 Ready-to-Read story about a spunky chicken from the illustrator of the Heidi Heckelbeck series, Sabrina Sue walks on the moon! Sabrina Sue wants to travel to outer space. Her barnyard friends worry it's too far and dangerous, but Sabrina Sue may just prove...

Sometimes the real treasures are the people you meet along the way.  Fans of Mac Barnett, Jory John, and Chris Haughton will adore this hilarious story of a bank robbery that doesn't go according to plan. Loosely inspired by the most famous bank heist in Argentina,...

A girl remembers her grandfather fondly in this heartwarming, comforting picture book about coping with loss. The memories of a beloved grandpa bring sadness but also solace to the young girl in this glowing and nourishing book. We see the close and lively relationship they...

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...

In this charming author-illustrator debut, a Korean American girl harvests a perfectly ripe persimmon that she can't wait to share with Grandma. When Joo Hong harvests a beautiful persimmon from her mom's garden, she can't wait to give it to her grandma who is visiting from far...

A playful, feminist retelling of Rapunzel with a Chinese-cuisine twist The story of Rapunzel where she's being locked in a tower by a witch is a good one-but it's not totally the truth. The real story is about a young princess in China...

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...

Get loopy with this playful introduction to the hopeful, transformative possibilities of circular systems! Nature works on a cycle, where everything in the loop has value and nothing is wasted. But modern humans have created a different kind of system: it's less like a circle and more like...

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...

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...

Find out how the smallest things on the planet do some of the biggest jobs in this intriguing introduction to the world of microbes. All around the world -- in the sea, in the soil, in the air, and in your body -- there are living things so tiny that millions could fit on an ant...

#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. ...

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,...

"Straightforward, heartfelt words and thin-lined, fully imagined drawings from Desnitskaya (On the Edge of the World) give tender voice to one child's refugee experience." -- Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW) "Encouraging empathy and understanding,...

"As a lifelong literacy advocate, I seek out children's books that help kids explore the world around them. Ayo's Adventure is a journey through the sights and sounds of the African diaspora. I loved hanging out with Ayo on his adventure. I learned so much" - LeVar Burton, actor and children's...

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...

Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs. This gentle, moving story from first-time author Reem Faruqi comes to life in Lea Lyon's vibrant illustrations. Lyon uses decorative...

"A silly, entertaining tale of a very prickly friendship." --Kirkus A prickly tale about an unlikely friendship between a hopeful and chatty porcupine who attempts to befriend a cactus in the desert. Perfect for fans of I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey and Goodnight...

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...

Baseball is fun--but how does it work Find all the basics in this lively guide for the youngest baseball fans from Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award winner Gail Gibbons! In this illustrated picture book, young readers will learn about: The markings on a baseball...

A Junior Library Guild Selection Discover the tiny, fascinating world of sunken-ship reefs in this latest book in an illuminating nonfiction picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature. Long ago, a grand...

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...

Follow a curious bunny's adventures in the kitchen in this sweet and playful Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read. Bunny hop! Bunny munch! Bunny chomp! Bunny crunch! What will Bunny eat?

Named one of the Best Kid's Books of 2024 by Good Housekeeping! A debut picture book about a curious student who finds herself in trouble for talking in class--even though she just wants to share all that she's learned. "Did you know that flamingos don't have...

A girl in India discovers an ancient step well in this companion book to the creators' much-loved Out of the Way! Out of the Way! When a girl discovers a slab of stone on a weedy patch of land, she calls to her friends, "Look! Look!" The children clear away the weeds and garbage and find...

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...

In this stunning picture book about renowned architect I. M. Pei, award-winning author Julie Leung and captivating illustrator Yifan Wu unite to tell the story of the man who changed architecture forever with his forward-thinking shapes. As a boy in Shanghai, Ioeh Ming Pei...

A hilarious new picture book that exposes vegetables for what they truly are--leaves, roots, flowers, and stalks--by National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff, perfect for fans of the Our Universe series. Chester plans to have a salad for lunch, but in...

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,<...

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 best to avoid spending his precious quarters...

We all know the earth is round. But HOW do we know? Join intrepid young scientist-adventurer Joulia Copernicus in this engaging picture book as she takes readers on a STEM historical journey through time and space. What would happen if you tried to walk tothe edge of the earth?...

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...

Elephant calves have a special bond with their mom. They stay with her for an average of 16 years! This title for young readers uses simple, leveled text and crisp photos to show these big babies eating, playing, and growing up with their herd. A list of sight words helps readers spot familiar words...

Manny harnesses love, determination, and a visit to the library to care for his first plant and make his gardener father proud. Manny comes from a long line of gardeners, and to him, the greatest gardener of all is his dad. Dad always knows what plants need. Even with no yard to...

Let's read comics! I Can Read Comics is an early reader line that familiarizes children with the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers. When a tiny wave grows bigger and bigger, what's a fish to do Fish and Wave...

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...

Kelp prepares for the local talent show at Juni Beach in this Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read! Kelp is so excited to sing a song he wrote about his sister, Scallop, at the Juni Beach Talent Show. But it's Scallop's very special song, and she doesn't know if she wants him to...

This is the story of Sundar Paliwal, from a small Indian village ruled by ancient customs. As he grows to be a man, Sundar suffers much heartbreak and decides it is time for change to come to his village. Sundar is determined to live in a place where girls are valued as much as boys and where the...

"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...

The clever and hilarious star of the Geisel Award winners Fox at Night and Fox the Tiger 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 ...

How do you host a party for a chipmunk, a ghost, a vampire, an astronaut, a giraffe, a robot, a tooth, an octopus, a rockstar, a T. rex, a queen, Gramps, Paw Paw, and Bigfoot? Lana has a few tips for her nervous pup, Lemon, on how to make sure their first dinner party is a total success! First...

Share in the joyful, adventure-filled shenanigans of a child growing up in a small mud hut in Inner Mongolia in this charming, illustrated memoir for young middle grade readers. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Growing up in Inner Mongolia, Jin Wang was...

Anita Yasuda's evocative picture book biography about Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Everest, is equal parts grit and grace. Dazzlingly illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Yuko Shimizu. "An inspiring biography of a trailblazing woman, lyrically told and lushly...

Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends Cat, Rabbit, and Pup. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something-to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be a leader-to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy or brave. And when he feels...