Summer Reads for Kids

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The book cover depicts two mice standing on green grass, flying an orange kite against a blue sky.

by Eliana H.

If you haven’t checked out our Summer Reading Adventures 2024 yet, it’s not too late to take a look! We have ideas for activities, book suggestions, and prizes for all ages. While the titles on our summer reading lists cover a wide range of topics, I wanted to share some specifically summer-themed books for our younger customers. 

Mouse Loves Summer by Lauren Thompson 

This Early Reader follows Mouse and his big sister, Minka, as they go on a simple summer adventure. On each page, readers are invited to identify something with simple clues and pictures to guide them, providing a great opportunity for interaction between an adult reader and a young child. Asking questions can also invite little ones to make a prediction about what the characters might find next, or you can make connections to experiences you’ve had together! 

The book cover depicts a blue cottage with a brown roof at the seaside or lakeside. There are three sailboats on the water and you can see the distant shore with the blue sky beyond. There is a sandy beach behind the blue cottage and a girl and dog are running in front of the house. There is a small skiff with an oar beached on the sand on one side, and a boxy car parked on the other side. There are sandcastles and beach toys on the shoreline.

The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan 

Perfect for fans of The Little House, by Virginia Lee Burton, this story highlights the special connection we can feel to a place. Every summer, a girl and her family visit the little blue cottage. The girl and the cottage both look forward to their time together, until the girl grows up and her family no longer visits. But finally, when the girl is grown and a mother herself, she brings her family to create new memories in the little blue cottage that has waited for her all this time. This sweet story may be especially meaningful if you have a particular place that you visit regularly. 

The book cover depicts a child sitting on the front steps of a house with an open red door, drinking something from a straw. A parrot-like bird is seated on the sidewalk in front with legs splayed, also drinking from a cup.

Sun by Sam Usher 

In the summer installation of this series sharing the adventures of a boy and his grandfather (see Rain, Snow, and Storm for other seasons and Free for an extra adventure), our two main characters gather provisions and set off for a picnic on the hottest day of the year. Grandad navigates, and the narrator is the lookout, as they seek the perfect spot. But when they find it, a band of pirates is already there! Watch for interesting details in some illustrations, and enjoy the panoramic view in others. 

The book cover depicts two children crouched in the sand beneath a tree, looking at two winged insects that are sitting on the sand.

Natsumi’s Song of Summer by Robert Paul Weston 

Natsumi loves summer, especially the insects she can see during that time of year. This summer will be particularly special, as her cousin Jill comes from the United States to visit her in Japan for the first time. Will they have anything in common? Striking illustrations accompany text written in the form of Tanka poems, a traditional Japanese format that includes five lines with 31 syllables.

The book cover depicts a child and a sleeping dog sitting on steps with light coming through the door behind them; there is also a toy sailboat, a seashell, a green sand bucket, and a small reddish sand shovel.

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik 

After a fun day at the beach, a family winds down and gets ready for bed, despite their dog’s interference. Simple, rhyming text complements illustrations full of action and joy. This would be an excellent choice to bring along to a beach trip and read at the end of your day, remembering the fun you had together. 

Eliana is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge Branch and co-chair of the HCLS Equity Committee. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

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