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Summer Picture Books

Time to grab a picnic basket and your swimsuit and head to the beach–it’s summer! And that means gardening, catching fireflies, building sandcastles, and more. But the best way to get the fun started is with these summery picture books.

Download our free library list to take with you on your next visit to the library.

Sam and the Firefly

Sam and the Firefly
by P.D. Eastman

It’s when Sam the Owl teaches an enthusiastic firefly how to use his glowing light to spell words that the trouble begins! Soon Gus is creating chaos with his shining instructions in the sky. Sam warns Gus that his tricks will cause trouble, but Gus won’t listen—until he finds himself stuck in a jar!

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
by Kate Messner

This colorful picture book is a charming ode to one of summer’s most beloved activities—gardening! If you want to bring out the green in your little one’s thumb, you’ll love looking at planting, growing, and harvesting a garden from two different vantage points…Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt!

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
by Chris Van Dusen

Mr. Magee and his dog Dee are headed out with their trusty camper for a few days in the great outdoors. But their trip goes awry when a nearsighted bear, a bag of marshmallows, and a fifty-foot waterfall get involved! Their first night of camping may turn into more adventure than they bargained for!

Goldfish on Vacation

Goldfish on Vacation
by Sally Lloyd-Jones

In New York City, where H, Little O, and Baby Em live, there’s not much for kids (or goldfish) to do in the summertime. But then a man arrives to clean up the broken fountain on their street and turn it into a summer home for goldfish. Maybe this won’t be such a boring summer after all!

Fireflies!

Fireflies!
by Julie Brinckloe

It’s a warm summer evening and the night sky is blinking with tiny lights. A boy rushes outside with a jar to join the neighborhood kids and before long, his jar is glowing with the spoils of the hunt. But to his dismay, the light from his fireflies starts to grow dim. What can he do to save his fireflies?

The Sandcastle That Lola Built

The Sandcastle that Lola Built
by Megan Maynor

What’s more fun than building a sandcastle at the beach? Finding new friends to help you! Together, Lola and the other kids build the best sandcastle ever, complete with moats, walls, and tall towers. But then the waves come in and wash their castle away! Now what will they do?

Perfect

Perfect
by Danny Parker

In this whimsically illustrated rhyming picture book, three kids and a cat enjoy a perfect day engaging in their favorite activities. They nibble and scribble, mix things and fix things, find places to walk to, and meet someone to talk to. What about you? How will you spend your perfect day?

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping
by Mélanie Watt

Camping is not for Scaredy Squirrel. There are too many dangerous things at campsites—mosquitoes, bears, and maybe even penguins! Watching a camping show on TV is much safer. However, plugging in his TV requires a trip into the wilderness, and that will require all of Scaredy’s survival skills!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

How I Spent My Summer Vacation
by Mark Teague

When Wallace Bleff reads an essay to his class about what he did on his summer vacation, he tells a wilder tale than anyone expects! Suprisingly, on his way to spend time with his aunt out west, Wallace was captured by cowboys to help with their roundup. Now that’s an unforgettable summer!

The Relatives Came

The Relatives Came
by Cynthia Rylant

When The Relatives Came, things were a bit over-crowded in the house. Fortunately, nobody minded, because there were family suppers to eat, lots of work to do, and plenty of music to make! Luckily, when the visit came to an end, nobody was sad. After all, next summer was right around the corner!

The Honeybee

The Honeybee
by Kirsten Hall

Have you ever wondered how bees make honey? Well, it takes a lot of flying, collecting, and even some dancing, but the bees know it’s worth the work when that honey starts flowing! Join a hive full of buzzing worker bees for a rhyming romp through this bee-utiful picture book!

Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car

Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car
by Eileen Christelow

Mama Monkey has had it with her old battered car, so the five little monkeys are eager to help her sell it. In order to attract buyers, they wash it and paint it and spray it with perfume. Imagine their dismay when the car rolls into the swampy brown lake. Who will ever buy their car now?

The Watermelon Seed

The Watermelon Seed
by Greg Pizzoli

Crocodile loves watermelon—great big slices of watermelon for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert! It’s his favorite summertime treat. But when he swallows a seed, poor Crocodile fears a whole watermelon might grow in his belly! Will he ever be able to enjoy watermelon again?

What Lives in a Shell?

What Lives in a Shell?
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Homes are important. They keep your family safe, warm, and dry. Did you know that animals live in their own unique homes as well? In What Lives in a Shell, you’ll learn about all the animals that make themselves at home in shells, including snails, hermit crabs, and even turtles.

Duck & Goose Go to the Beach

Duck & Goose Go to the Beach
by Tad Hills

All Goose wants to do is stay home in the peaceful meadow, but Duck has other plans. Duck is ready for adventure! Together they make their way to the beach, and before long it’s Goose who’s having fun! Has Duck introduced Goose to an adventurous place he’ll never want to leave?

A Stick is an Excellent Thing

A Stick Is an Excellent Thing:
Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play

by Marilyn Singer

Presented in bouncy, energetic verse, this collection of delightful poems celebrates the wonder of play—especially outdoor play! Read them all at once or one at a time. Either way, you can’t go wrong with these summery poems about blowing bubbles, jumping rope, playing hopscotch, and more!

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, DON'T!

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano
to the Beach, Don’t!

by Elise Parsley

Little Magnolia is learning that If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, DON’T! For one thing, pianos are heavy and hard to move. But that’s not all. Unfortunately, Magnolia is also discovering that pianos can get lost! How can a little girl enjoy the beach if her piano is carried out to sea?

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read

The Summer Nick Taught
His Cats to Read

by Curtis Manley

Nick does everything with his cats. Well, almost everything. Unfortunately, Nick’s cats can’t read! So Nick decides to teach them. Verne learns quickly, but Stevenson just hides under the bed. Can Nick and Verne convince Stevenson that reading is fun? Maybe if they find just the right book…

The Very Lonely Firefly

The Very Lonely Firefly
by Eric Carle

When a tiny firefly is born on a dark summer night, he’s eager to find more fireflies to be his friends. Although he discovers lots of lights—a lightbulb, a lantern, and a fireworks display—The Very Lonely Firefly can’t seem to find just what he is looking for. Will he ever be able to find a friend?

We Are the Gardeners

We Are the Gardeners
by Joanna Gaines

It started with a single potted fern. But when the fern died, instead of giving up, the family studied, planned, and dreamed together! Before long, all their dreaming and work paid off. They had a garden! The best part? A family that gardens together enjoys the fruit of their labor together too!

FREE Summer Picture Books Library List

download summer picture books library list

Would you like to read some of my favorite summer picture books with your children? Download our Summer Picture Books Library List.

Looking for MORE books? You can find more great library lists here!

Picture Books for Summer Recommended by our Staff and our Readers

Does your family have a favorite picture book about summer? Please share it in the comments and I’ll add it to our Readers’ Picks box!


FREE Picture Book LIbrary Lists

All About Learning Press, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All proceeds from our partnership with Amazon.com will be donated to local libraries.

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Jenna

says:

This is a great list! Thank you for the recommendations!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Jenna! Enjoy!

Kristen

says:

I hope you keep providing book lists; gives me new options to check out from the library or buy!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thanks, Kristen! I’m sure we will!

Alison Sullivan

says:

Love this list!! Several new-to-us books!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Glad you found new books, Alison!

Sarah

says:

Thank you! I love a good book list.

Merry

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome! :-)

Alli

says:

These are great suggestions, thanks so much!

Kristen

says:

We’ve read several on this list, but it looks like we need to read some more!

Merry

says: Customer Service

Happy reading! :-)

Hannah

says:

Wonderful list! I always need new library book ideas to keep our reading rotation fresh and interesting!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Glad this list is helpful, Hannah! I hope you find many books to enjoy!

Jenna B

says:

We always enjoy the book suggestions.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Jenna!

Tamara Hill

says:

Love Fireflies! Nice list!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Tamara!

Erin

says:

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt is one of my favorites. I found a new one this year that I also love. Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth By Mary McKenna Siddals. The book is educational because is teaches about what to put in compost and also goes through the letters A-Z. It’s a much more interesting alphabet book to read and talk about. I love the artwork too.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you for the recommendation, Erin! I need to buy it for my grandson, as his family just started composting!

Erica Tam

says:

Thanks for the list! Just hit up my local library’s website to reserve these!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Erica! I hope you find lots of great books to enjoy!

Vasha

says:

Second grades love picture books because through the pictures they can feel the story come alive to with them. This helps for discussion with their peers as well.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Such great points! Thank you, Vasha.

Stacey

says:

Thanks for this great list!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Stacey!

Liz Rosario

says:

Thank you for the list! We go through so many books in the summer and it’s so nice to have a curated list!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Liz! I hope you find many here to love this summer!

Trista Ingram

says:

We love every book by Kate Messner & Eric Carle!

Robin

says: Customer Service

We agree, Trista!

Jennifer

says:

We have checked out a couple of these from the library and my kids really enjoy them! Another awesome pick is Pete the Cat and the Magic Sunglasses. Thank you for the perfect summer reading list!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Jennifer! And thank you for the additional recommendation!

Andrea Homsher-Cox

says:

Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story by Zeena M. Pliska. Illustrated by Fiona Halliday

Robin

says: Customer Service

What a great recommendation, Andrea! Thank you.

Theresa K

says:

I am going to use How I Spent my Summer Vacation for a hook to have the students write a narrative. The saying on my wall is “Let’s Grow Together”. I am going to use the Joanna Gaines book about taking on tough tasks (schoolwork instead of gardening) and formulate a growth chart. Thank you for sharing this email with me! You always give me inspiration to be a more effective intervention specialist!

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m so glad this article and these book recommendations have been helpful to you for your work with students, Theresa! Thank you!

Nicole Ikeda

says:

we loved The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

Robin

says: Customer Service

Nicole,
That looks like a great book! Thank you for the recommendation.

Ruth McClam

says:

Thank you so much for sharing! I begin working with struggling readers in grades K-2 this new school year.
These resources will be utilized. Thanks Again!!!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Ruth! I’m glad this will be helpful.

Julia

says:

One of our favorite picture books about summer is How Will We Get to the Beach? by Brigitte Luciani. The illustrations are lovely. There are so many creative ways to travel and the reader is invited to guess why each one won’t work. There is even a tiny ladybug to find on every page. I especially love that the mother brings a thick book of stories to the beach. The last picture shows her reading to her baby under the umbrella.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Thank you for the recommendation, Julia! It looks like a great book. I especially love books that have little hidden things on each page. They make subsequent readings more fun!

Crystal

says:

Thanks for sharing a lot of cute options for our family to read this summer!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Crystal. I hope you find lots of books to love in this list.

Bethany

says:

I am always looking for books to read to my two and three year old students! Thanks for giving me some fresh ideas!

Melanie

says:

Bookmarking this for grandparents to know what books to buy next! :D

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Oooo, what a great idea, Melanie! I know the grandparents will appreciate the direction for what books to buy. It can be difficult to choose a book for someone else amid all the thousands published yearly.

Adriana

says:

Thank you! I’m always looking for picture book suggestions for my children. Even my oldest, who is 10, still very much enjoys them!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Adriana. I hope you find some titles your children love!

Morgan Coulter

says:

I love these!! We have a few!

Velbels

says:

Always good to find new books

Kassi J

says:

Thank you for these awesome suggestions! We are always looking for new book recommendations!

Kassie

says:

These all look so good and I haven’t heard of most of them! Thanks!

Ana

says:

So many great books, yet several we haven’t read yet! Looking forward to adding to our collection? Thank you for this great list.