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Summer Reading RecommendationsUnpublished

Early Literacy Picture Books

Updated April 24, 2025

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The nature girls

Aki

Paper Book

Aki's The Nature Girls is a picture book starring an adorable troupe of girls exploring different biomes--the ocean, the desert, the tundra, the grasslands, the forest--and meeting all the cute animals that inhabit them. Delightfully charming art showcases the girls in scenes...

Wonder walkers

Archer, Micha

Paper Book

A Caldecott Honor winner! Micha Archer's gorgeous, detailed collages give readers a fresh outlook on the splendors of nature. When two curious kids embark on a "wonder walk," they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have...

Acorn was a little wild

Arena, Jen

Paper Book

Jory John's Bad Seed series meets After the Fall by Dan Santat in this charming picture book about a young acorn's grand adventure and the incredible transformation that follows. Acorn is a little wild, and from his oak tree perch, he longs for adventure. When he's the...

Whose knees are these?

Asim, Jabari

Paper Book

A vibrant, playful verse that celebrates a beautiful brown baby's sweet little knees, for fans of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. I've searched the world and seven seas. Never have I seen such charming knees.

Whose toes are those?

Asim, Jabari

Paper Book

A vibrant, playful verse that celebrates a beautiful brown baby's adorable little toes, for fans of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. Who do you suppose has such fine toes? So brown and sweet. Who could have such...

Roxie loves adventure

Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta

Paper Book

From the author of the Purrmaids series comes a rollicking read all about a spoiled pug and her unexpected run-in with the great outdoorsRoxie the pug lives a life of luxury. She loves fizzy drinks and fluffy pillows. She keeps her treats and chew toys close and never has to lift a paw. One night,...

Where is my balloon?

Bernstein, Ariel

Paper Book

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year "Fans of Elephant and Piggie will be right at home with the humor and the repartee." --Kirkus Reviews "Vibrant art and a comical text make this a great pick for storytime." --Booklist Owl...

Leyla

Bernstein, Galia

Ebook

Leyla is sick of her big, loud, overbearing family. They are always chatting, snuggling, and grooming each other (ew!), and--for Leyla--there's no escape from their attention. So, she decides to run away until she can't hear (or smell) her baboon troop anymore. In the middle of her desert...

Odd dog out

Biddulph, Rob

Paper Book

AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH (DECEMBER 2019) SELECTION! A heartwarming and poignant story from award-winning creator Rob Biddulph about the power of embracing your true colors. Perfect for fans of Peter Brown's Tiger Goes Wild. It's a dog's life in the big, busy city, but...

Secret, secret agent guy

Bigwood, Kira

Paper Book

Send little spies to sleep with this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek lullaby set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Dear Fellow Agents: Your mission--should you choose to accept it--is to join Secret, Secret Agent Guy on his bedtime assignment, code name:...

Shhh! The baby's asleep

Brown-Wood, JaNay

Paper Book

Celebrate the silliness that comes with a big family in this playful read aloud about a big brother, a sleeping baby, and a very noisy family. Baby is finally asleep. But everyone is much too loud! Can Mom, Daddy, Grammy, Pop Pop, Shae, Dante, Rover the dog, and even the...

Truck full of ducks

Burach, Ross

Paper Book

"Did you call for a truck full of ducks? Join the flock on this wacky call-and-response ride to find out just WHO did -- and why."--Provided by publisher.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's forest hide & seek

Carle, Eric

Paper Book

Interactive elements makes this board book ideal for little hands! Who is in the forest where it's bright and sunny? Busy, buzzing bees making tasty honey! Play hide-and-seek with The Very Hungry Caterpillar in this fantastic finger trail lift-the-flap book! With a gentle rhyming...

Go, go, pirate boat

Charman, Katrina

Paper Book

An Amazon Best Book of the Year! Little pirates will have endless fun with this vibrant board book that's set to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat! Go, go, pirate boat, Across the salty sea, Raise the anchor, hoist the sail,<...

Bowwow powwow = bagosenjige-niimi'idim

Child, Brenda J.

Paper Book

Windy Girl is blessed with a vivid imagination. From Uncle she gathers stories of long-ago traditions, about dances and sharing and gratitude. Windy can tell such stories herself-about her dog, Itchy Boy, and the way he dances to request a treat and how he wriggles with joy in response to, well,...

Hornswoggled! : a wacky words whodunit

Crute, Josh

Paper Book

Deer wakes up to find one of his antlers is missing...and there's a tennis racket in its place? One by one his friends also uncover that their important items from glasses to lucky boots have been swapped with silly, useless replacements like donuts and swim flippers. They've been hornswoggled!...

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. ...

We're going on a treasure hunt

DiPucchio, Kelly

Paper Book

Ahoy there! Join this crew of pirates on a high-seas quest for treasure. These salty dogs are off to fetch some gold, and no whale, skeleton, or thunderstorm can stand in their way. But our brave buccaneers best beware--there may be even more trouble ahead! With Kelly DiPucchio's fun, rhyming text...

Nigel and the Moon

Eady, Antwan.

Paper Book

From debut author Antwan Eady and artist Gracey Zhang comes a glowing tale about the young dreaming big. A perfect story to demonstrate how pride in where we come from can bring a shining confidence. When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself...

Boogie boogie, y'all

Esperanza, C. G.

Paper Book

Author-illustrator C. G. Esperanza delivers a celebratory ode to graffiti and the Boogie Down Bronx through an infectious read-aloud beat and colorful illustrations that leap right off the page! Perfect for fans of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut and Keith Haring. An NPR Best Book...

Night lunch

Fan, Eric

Paper Book

This dreamlike picture book is a magical ode to Victorian lunch wagons. Inside the elegant Night Owl, a feathery cook works the grill, serving up tasty dishes for shift-workers and operagoers alike. As the evening s service winds down, weary Owl spots trembling Mouse, a poor street sweeper. Has he...

The hike

Farrell, Alison

Paper Book

The Hike is a must-have for budding scientists, best friends, and all adventurers in preschool and kindergarten. "These young explorers demonstrate the best principles of time spent in the woods: observing, admiring and learning. And, through...

The bold, brave bunny

Ferry, Beth

Paper Book

* An Amazon Best Book of 2020 So Far * A Junior Library Guild Selection * "An enjoyable tale of the marvels of adventuring and the comfort of home." --Kirkus Hop along with Teetu, the bold, brave bunny, as he finds his way in this imaginative tale from New York Times...

The nice dream truck

Ferry, Beth

Paper Book

From the dreams of New York Times bestselling creators Beth Ferry and Brigette Barrager comes this whimsical bedtime story filled with adventure and imagination. Featured by Gayle King on CBS Mornings! When bedtime is near, you might be in luck. You might get a visit from the...

We all play = : Kime?tawa?naw

Flett, Julie

Paper Book

A BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR: New York Times, Washington Post, New York Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, Globe and Mail, Horn Book, and Boston Globe STARRED Reviews in Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, The Horn...

Berry Song

Goade, Michaela.

Paper Book

A Caldecott Honor Book! An Indie Bestseller! Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade's first self-authored picture book is a gorgeous celebration of the land she knows well and the powerful wisdom of elders. On...

The Adventures of Robo-Kid

De Groat, Diane

Paper Book

A comic-book superhero climbs off the page and into the real world. When they get into trouble, his biggest fan is there to save the day. Imagine you could meet your favorite comic-book hero in the real world. What kinds of questions would you ask? Would you go on new and...

The froggies do not want to sleep

Gustavson, Adam

Paper Book

Prepare for a different kind of bedtime book--a zany, imaginative adventure to send your little froggies off to dreamland. Not since David Wiesner's Tuesday have frogs had so much fun! Why go to bed when you can play the accordion, dance underwater ballet, and hold burping...

Mapping Sam

Hesselberth, Joyce

Paper Book

A Bologna Ragazzi Award Special Mention! An adventurous cat named Sam explores her neighborhood at night in this gorgeously illustrated book. Informational, beautiful, and deeply moving, Mapping Sam is both a book about how maps work and an engaging, character-driven story....

Grace and Box

Howard, Kim

Paper Book

A little girl and a refrigerator box go on many adventures as they imagine all the things they can be in this debut picture book from Kim Howard and Megan Lotter, Grace and Box... Grace and Box have become fast friends. Box delivered a refrigerator earlier in the week...

Fox and the box

Ivinson, Yvonne

Paper Book

What can a fox do with a box Have a grand adventure! In this debut picture book, author-illustrator Yvonne Ivinson invites readers on an imagination- and vocabulary-fueled journey. With colorful, engaging paintings; a lively, limited word count; an adorable fox; and a story...

Blue floats away

Jonker, Travis

Paper Book

A little iceberg strikes out on a big journey in this new picture book that explores the wonders of the water cycle Little Blue lives at the North Pole with his parents until, one day, he floats away and strikes out on his own. Along the way, Blue encounters new things (sharks...

EEK! : a noisy journey from A to Z

Larios, Julie Hofstrand

Paper Book

Make some noise for the most fun alphabet book you'll read this year! A lively, engaging read aloud just right for toddlers and preschoolers. Author Julie Larios teams up with award-winning author and illustrator Julie Paschkis to lead young readers on a humorous, boisterous...

Lift

Lăe, Minh

Paper Book

From the award-winning and bestselling creators of Drawn Together comes the fantastic tale of a magical elevator that will lift your spirits--and press all the right buttons! Iris loves to push the elevator buttons in her apartment...

The Blur

Le?, Minh.

Paper Book

Meet a child with superhero-like abilities . . . and the parents who are racing to keep up with her in this sweetly funny picture book about the blur of childhood, from the award-winning creators of Drawn Together. A perfect gift to celebrate all of our special milestones--from graduations...

Night Animals Need Sleep Too

Marino, Gianna.

Paper Book

Daytime brings a whole new set of problems and adventures to the crew of Night Animals Need Sleep Too! It's daytime and night animals are all sleeping soundly. Well, all except for Possum. Skunk tries to be helpful, pointing out a cave, then a tree, then a den. But the...

Not an alphabet book : the case of the missing cake

McLaughlin, Eoin

Paper Book

Follow Bear from A to Z as he hunts for a cake thief in a hilarious alphabet book crossed with a whodunit. There has been a terrible crime, Bear tells us. Someone has STOLEN a delicious chocolate cake! Bear sets off to find the culprit, questioning characters and...

People are wild

Meganck, Margaux

Paper Book

An inviting and inventive classic-in-the-making about learning to have compassion for every living thing, gorgeously illustrated by a rising star in the picture book world. Wild creatures come in all shapes and sizes. They can be playful or loud or smelly or curious or cute-just...

I can see you

Meyok, Rosemarie

Paper Book

In this adorable book to be shared with babies and toddlers, mothers explore their love for their babies as experienced through the five senses.From the sound of a baby's giggles to the smell of a kunik, this book celebrates the unique bonds shared between mothers and babies.

One-osaurus, two-osaurus

Norman, Kim

Paper Book

Part counting game, part dinosaur celebration, this energetic romp is a numbers concept book for the ages. One-osaurus, two-osaurus, three-osaurus, four! Look there, in a child's bedroom, where some prehistoric pals are gathered in a counting game. Nine...

Hike

Oswald, Pete

Paper Book

Take to the trails for a celebration of nature -- and a day spent with dad. In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they're going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges,...

Blue Bison needs a haircut

Rothman, Scott

Paper Book

Blue Bison tries his best to be patient in this humorous picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald. Blue Bison prides himself on always looking clean and neat. But he has a growing problem--his hair. With the barber shops and just about...

Hugo and the Impossible Thing

Smith, Rene?e Felice

Paper Book

Hugo has one goal - to conquer the Impossible Thing. At the edge of the forest stood the Impossible Thing. All the animals in the forest often wondered what was beyond the Impossible Thing, but since everyone said getting through it would be impossible, no animal ever tried.

Tiny T. Rex and the very dark dark

Stutzman, Jonathan

Paper Book

The adorable and indomitable Tiny T. Rex from the critically acclaimed Tiny T. Rex and The Impossible Hug is back in a tale about friendship and overcoming your fears. Meet Tiny T-Rex! He may be a small dino in a BIG world, but that won't stop him from making...

Bearplane!

Underwood, Deborah

Paper Book

Buckle up for a little bear's first flight in this adorable, light-as-air picture book by New York Times bestselling author Deborah Underwood and critically acclaimed artist Sam Wedelich. Follow a bear cub, their grownup, and their beloved stuffie Teddy as they make their...

Outside In

Underwood, Deborah

Paper Book

A 2020 Caldecott Honor Book From the New York Times best-selling author behind The Quiet Book comes a mindful contemplation on the many ways nature affects our everyday lives, even when we're stuck inside. Five starred reviews!

The pigeon will ride the roller coaster!

Willems, Mo

Paper Book

From #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems! Buckle up for twists, turns, and emotional loop-de-loops in the most roller coaster-y Pigeon book ever! The Pigeon WILL be ready. Will YOU!?

The adventures of Qai Qai

Williams, Serena

Paper Book

From superstar athlete, record breaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist (and mama) Serena Williams, comes a magical picture book in which a little girl learns to believe in herself with the help of her doll and best friend, Qai Qai. "Don't be scared, Best Friend! I'm right...

Why not you?

Wilson, Ciara

Paper Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . From Grammy-winning pop star Ciara and Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson comes a picture book to inspire young readers to see the value in themselves, be brave, and go after their biggest dreams! Why not you? Amazing you! You're...

Astro girl

Wilson-Max, Ken

Paper Book

The stars are the limit for a little girl who acts out her wish to be an astronaut -- inspired by a very special person. Astrid has loved the stars and space for as long as she can remember. "I want to be an astronaut!" she says to everyone who will listen. While her mama is away...

The year we learned to fly

Woodson, Jacqueline

Paper Book

Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López's highly anticipated companion to their #1 New York Times bestseller The Day You Begin illuminates the power in each of us to face challenges with confidence. On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their...

Off-Limits

Yoon, Helen.

Paper Book

For every child who has ever felt that grown-ups have all the fun, here is a vicarious chance to slip behind the office door--and play with all the tempting things that are off-limits. Dad's office is off-limits--which only makes it more intriguing to his curious young daughter....

Emile and the field

Young, Kevin

Paper Book

In this lyrical picture book from an award-winning poet, a young boy cherishes a neighborhood field throughout the changing seasons. With stunning illustrations and a charming text, this beautiful story celebrates a child's relationship with nature. There was a boy...

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Summer Reading RecommendationsUnpublishedShare

Summer Reading RecommendationsUnpublished