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.
I am connected
Kung Jaadee.
Paper Book
We are all connected. Whether it is with your family, the mossy earth beneath your feet, the warm guidance of your ancestors, you belong in connection with all around you. Along the backdrop of Haida Gwaii's breathtaking landscapes, Indigenous storyteller, Ḵung Jaadee, invites you to...
Atana and the firebird
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...
Autumn Peltier, water warrior
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Bridget George comes a must-read companion to the powerful, award-winning picture book We Are Water Protectors. Telling the story of reall-ife water protectors, Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior celebrates...
Axolotl : a first field guide to the amphibian that never grows up
Whited, Jessica LaMae, Dr.
Paper Book
An illustrated first guide to cute axolotls from expert Dr. Jessica LaMae Whited, featuring illustrations by Bethany Lord. You might know that axolotls are some of the most adorable animals around, but there's so much more to learn about these incredible creatures from Mexico!...
Bye Land, Bye Sea
Paper Book
Two children from different backgrounds show that friendship has no language in this epic bilingual story about being lost and finding a friend who understands. I'm lost. Soy naufrago. A boy and a girl lost at sea run into each other on an...
Chip gets swimmer shivers
Frost, Maddie
Paper Book
Chip, the little penguin, tries to get out of swim lessons in this hilarious Level Two I Can Read Comic by Maddie Frost. Chip is starting swim school and he really isn't looking forward to it. Join Chip as he navigates this first-time experience with imagination and...
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...
Deep, Deep Down : The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
Lukidis, Lydia.
Paper Book
Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been--the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with...
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 with this informative, inventive and entertaining take on an animal book! Do you know all there is to know about sharks? They're all giant, cold-blooded creatures that enjoy eating humans, right? Well, this book is here to show you...
Fish and Crab
Coppo, Marianna
Paper Book
A humorous and clever picture book about the importance of sharing big feelings with someone you trust. Fish and Crab are best friends, always there for each other. When it's time for bed, Crab is ready to go to sleep, but Fish is still wide awake, wondering: What...
The girl in the lake
Brown, India Hill 1991-
Paper Book
For fans of Small Spaces, Doll Bones, and Mary Downing Hahn, a truly chilling (and historically inspired) ghost story from the award-winning author of The Forgotten Girl. Celeste knows she should be excited to spend two weeks at her grandparents' lake house with her...
Gracie under the waves
Park, Linda Sue
Paper Book
An empowering story from #1 New York Times bestseller and Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park starring a young snorkeling enthusiast who draws inspiration for fighting climate change from interacting with her pesty little brother. A Green Earth Book Award Honor Book Inspired...
Growing Home
Ferry, Beth
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestseller! "A meditative, charming delight." --School Library Journal (starred review) An unlikely team of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their...
Hex Vets: the River Guardian
Paper Book
A seemingly normal day at the clinic turns strange when a magical creature begins making wild prophecies, when he usually just predicts the weather and helps find lost household items! Meanwhile, a mysterious magic in the water makes river creatures, both magical and normal, behave in odd ways....
The house that floated
Guojing 1983-
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 <...
If You Sailed on the Titanic
Patrick, Denise Lewis
Paper Book
What do you know about the sinking of the Titanic? What if you lived in a different time and place? What would you wear? What would you eat? How would your daily life be different? Scholastic's If You Lived... series answers all of kids' most important questions about events...
It Bears Repeating
Paper Book
Beginning with 1 proud polar bear standing tall and ending with 10 bears waving goodbye, this delightful counting book shows polar bears in all their forms: slippery and fast, crafty and cool, hungry and proud. Tanya has created a story meant to be read aloud, incorporating simple Inuktitut words...
Jellyfish Bus
Paper Book
A slow-moving jellyfish finds his groove transporting deep sea tourists in this story about the power of community Slowpoke the jellyfish bus loves his job transporting fellow sea creatures, but he struggles to keep up with demands for faster travel. After he's called into headquarters and...
Narwhal's Sweet Tooth (a Narwhal and Jelly Book #9)
Paper Book
"The most lovable duo since Frog and Toad." --Dav Pilkey, bestselling creator of Dog Man and Captain Underpants The funny and adorable New York Times bestselling kids graphic novel series starring happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving Narwhal and somewhat cynical sidekick,...
I Need Pants!
Paper Book
A determined, fashion-forward fish sets an example in staying true to your wildest wishes Fish wishes for pants. But Octopus is quick to point out that Fish can'twear pants ... because fish don't have legs. When Fish runs through a long list of different wishes--fuzzy bunny slippers, a...
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...
No Huddles for Heloise
Kerbel, Deborah.
Paper Book
Heloise likes a lot of things: sledding, giving rocks to her friends, and eating fish popsicles. She does NOT like certain things, like crowds, close-talkers and huddles. The problem is, huddles are a big part of being a penguin. Everyone gathers together to keep warm and stay safe from...
No Matter the Distance
Baldwin, Cindy.
Paper Book
An unexpected animal companion helps a girl with cystic fibrosis learn to write her own story in this captivating novel in verse by award-winning author and disabled activist Cindy Baldwin. Penny Rooney has cystic fibrosis, which means she has to do breathing treatments to help her lungs...
Noisy Puddle : A Vernal Pool Through the Seasons
Paper Book
A lyrical dip into the noisy, magical world of a vernal pool "This book literally has everything you would want in a science and nature title for younger readers ... Beautiful from tip to tail and back again." --Betsy Bird, A Fuse 8 Production In this vibrant and poetic...
Nunu and the Sea
Kung, Isabella
Paper Book
In this whimsical picture book, a misunderstood girl with overwhelming emotions creates an origami boat and journeys to sea where she can feel free. Fans of Where the Wild Things Are will adore this fantastical tale of big feelings and boundless imagination. A BULLETIN OF...
Ocean Calls : A Haenyeo Mermaid Story
Cho, Tina.
Paper Book
A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world. Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast...
Ocean meets sky
Fan, Terry.
Paper Book
"Young readers will be captivated." --The Washington Post From the creators of the gorgeous bestseller 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...
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....
Puffin and Penguin
Becker, Helaine
Paper Book
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...
Safe Harbor
Venkatraman, Padma.
Paper Book
An uplifting novel in verse about an immigrant girl adjusting to life in the US through her love of nature, music, and poetry, by the award-winning author of The Bridge Home When Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents' divorce, they leave...
Shark girl
Beaton, Kate
Paper Book
An Indie Bestseller! A laugh-out-loud picture book from bestselling comics creator Kate Beaton about a brave shark girl bent on revenge after a greedy fishing captain messes with her waters - perfect for fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates. ...
The song that called them home
Robertson, David
Paper Book
One summer day, Lauren and her little brother, James, go on a trip to the land with their Moshom (grandfather). After they've arrived, the children decide to fish for dinner while Moshom naps. They are in their canoe in the middle of the lake when the water around them begins to swirl and crash....
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...
Spotting Dottie
Paper Book
Key Selling Points Fourteen-year-old Charlotte is determined to use her new drone to prove the existence of an elusive lake monster. This story explores family dynamics and intergenerational relationships, as well as themes of conservation, responsibility and doing the right...
Stories of the Islands
Paper Book
Journey into a land of magic and powerful girls in this feminist graphic novel retelling of three Indonesian folktales. "Brimming with spirit, this is a book all about connection and empowerment. Angkasa's gorgeous rendering and vivid storytelling will pull you right in."--Tillie...
Sunken ship
Hevron, Amy
Paper Book
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...
Surfin' sharks
Chanani, Nidhi
Paper Book
"This sweet early reader comic can be read simply as an enjoyable story, or it can be a catalyst for discussion with younger readers about their sense of self." -School Library Journal Surf's up! Another fin-tastic graphic novel adventure awaits with your favorite shark...
Together, a Forest : Drawing Connections Between Nature's Diversity and Our Own
MacLean, Roz
Paper Book
"An affirming and introspective look at how differences are natural and vital in creating a thriving community." --Booklist, starred review Explore a forest with a curious classroom in this breathtaking new picture book by the author of the beloved More Than Words...
Tove and the Island with No Address
Soloy, Lauren
Paper Book
Tove and her family go to the island with no address every summer. After checking to make sure that everything in the cabin is exactly as it should be, young Tove sets off on an adventure. She finds some interesting salvage on the beach, she visits the grotto and she offers to babysit her strange...
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...
What Fish Are Saying : Strange Sounds in the Ocean
Pendreigh, Kirsten
Paper Book
Perfect for curious kids ages 4-8, parents, and educators seeking fun and educational reads! Did you know that fish grunt, shellfish crackle, and some sea creatures even burp and boop to communicate? Dive into a fascinating underwater adventure as one little shellfish guides...

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