Whether you and your children have big summer plans coming up, or nothing in particular to do, reading should be a foundational part of their routine. Not only does summer reading keep their skills sharp, but it's also an opportunity for children to read what they actually want to read without it feeling like a chore. This is a crucial aspect of improving your children's appreciation for reading.
As someone whose parents worked all summer for my entire childhood, I spent many an afternoon curled up with a book in the AC or even sprawled outside on a blanket. If I couldn't actually go anywhere, I could at least explore fantastical worlds with my favorite characters. There's quite a range of books on this list, from chapter books to picture books, so you can rest assured that there's something here for everyone this summer.
This list fulfills a prompt in our 2024 Kids Summer Reading Challenge! Learn more and join here.
The 169-Story Treehouse: Doppelganger Doom! (The Treehouse Books Book 13)
The 169-Story Treehouse: Doppelganger Doom! is, as the title suggests, a whole lot of fun. Andy, Terry, and Jill live in a 169-story treehouse. It used to be 156, but then they added a kangaroo-riding range, a WHATEVER-WEATHER-YOU-WANT dome, a hall of funhouse mirrors, and a myriad of other things.
The problem is, the hall of funhouse mirrors isn't quite as fun as it seems; their evil doppelgangers, Anti-Andy, Terrible Terry, and Junkyard Jill live within the mirror, and they're known to escape and wreak havoc in the treehouse. How will Andy, Terry, and Jill be able to escape school, save their treehouse from their evil twins, and write their book on time?
The Lost Library
The rise of free libraries has finally made its way into actual literature. In The Lost Library, a mysterious little free library, guarded by an even more mysterious cat, appears overnight in Martinville.
Evan and his best friend, Rafe, stumble upon a book that is linked to a historical event that none of the grownups will speak of. They start asking questions, but the answers they receive will change their lives, and the town of Martinville itself, forever.
Greenwild: The World Behind the Door
Greenwild reminds me heavily of my own magical literary adventures so many summers ago. In it, we're introduced to 11-year-old Daisy Thistledown, who is looking for her mother. Ma had been keeping huge secrets, and then one day she disappeared. It's up to Daisy to find her, except someone is hunting her across London—someone who doesn't want her to know the truth.
Daisy escapes through a mysterious hidden doorway, and ends up in a whole other world, far away from London. Greenwild is brimming with magic—and it also holds the key to finding Daisy's mother. Together, with a botanical genius, a boy who can talk to animals, and a spunky cat, Daisy will have to discover who she is before she can learn to channel the power that will saver her mother and Greenwild itself.
Olivetti
Here we have another story of a mom gone missing, but this time, the narrator is a typewriter. Olivetti was once the frequently-used typewriter of the Brindle family, but as of late, he feels as if he's been left behind, what with books and computers hogging everyone's attention. And then, he actually is left behind—Beatrice drops him off at the Heartland Pawn Shop forever.
Except, soon afterward, Olivetti catches wind that Beatrice has gone missing. Since he's remembered every single thing the family has ever typed, he knows he can help. So he breaks the only rule of “typewriterly code” and types back to Ernest, Beatrice's 12-year-old son, to reveal her memories stored inside him.
The two embark on a journey across San Francisco searching for clues, and getting into a little trouble. As Olivetti spills out the past of Ernest's family, Ernest is forced to face what they've been running from, The Everything That Happened. They will only be able to find Beatrice, and the parts of themselves they've lost, by working together.
A First Time for Everything
A First Time for Everything is truly a celebration of the awkwardness of our middle school years. The story is centered around Dan, a good kid who has always stayed out of trouble. But the trouble always seems to find him; his good nature doesn't stop other kids from bullying him and making him feel invisible. That's why he's less than excited for his class trip to Europe.
At first, it's exactly what he expected: he's stuck in a group with the same girls who love to poke fun at him all the time. He wishes his teacher never insisted on his attendance. But as he journeys from France, to Germany, to Switzerland, and then England, he has a whole trip of firsts: first Fanta, first fondue, first love…you name it, Dan experienced it in Europe.
Coyote Lost and Found
Almost a year ago now, Coyote and her father packed up and settled in a little Oregon town. In the midst of grieving her mother and sisters, and trying to fit in at school, Coyote discovers a box containing her mother's ashes.
She think she might finally be ready to say goodbye, so she and her dad hitch up their trusty bus and embark on a road trip to scatter the ashes at her mother's chosen resting place. The only problem? Coyote has no idea where the resting place is, because she accidentally sold the book where the secret was hidden. With the help of some old friends, some new friends, and a miracle, Coyote must track down the book without her father ever knowing it was missing.
Dogtown
Dogtown is a shelter for dogs of all kinds: stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, discarded robot dogs, dogs whose owners have outgrown them. Chance, a real (and abandoned) dog has been at Dogtown since her owners left her with unreliable dog-sitters who skipped town.
Metal Head is a robot dog who has been yearning to find another forever home. And Mouse is a mouse, responsible for running Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and cleverly protecting the dogs he loves. When Chance and Metal Head journey to find their forever homes, they'll embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
The Marvellers
Percy Jackson fans will love The Marvellers. Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magical school in the clouds that teaches Marvellers from around the world how to use their cultural powers, like brewing Indian spice elixirs or bartering with Irish fairies. Ella is excited, but she didn't quite anticipate how difficult being first was going to be.
Lots of Marvellers have labeled her magic “bad and unnatural” and don't trust her at all. She's befriended a few other kids and even a teacher, but when dangerous criminal the Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, supposedly aided by a Conjuror, Ella suspected of black magic even more.
And to make it worse, the one teacher she trusts has gone missing on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her growing powers, Ella must track down her missing teacher before it's too late.
May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes for Your Life
May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes for Your Life is exactly what it sounds like: a charming picture book written as a heartfelt letter to the infinite possibilities for the future.
Lyrically expressing the countless hopes and dreams we have for our children and ourselves, and adorned with gorgeous, watercolor illustrations, this book is a reminder that, above all, we wish for everyone to love and be loved.
How Lucky Am I?
Another picture book, How Lucky Am I illustrates what it means to make the most of your one precious life. The main character is a mayfly, who has been born into a wonderful world of endless skies and friends just waiting to be made.
With only one day to live, he wants to soak up the beauty of it all. But when he sees all the other mayflies pairing off, he wonders if he'll have to spend his only day alone, or if he'll ever meet his match.
