Keeping kids entertained during the summer months can be a tall order. Reading, especially together, can be a fun way to pass the time while keeping “summer slide” at bay—the decline in reading ability some kids experience after months away from the classroom. But there are tons of other good reasons to keep your child reading throughout the summer: from improving self-esteem and memory skills to increasing interest in reading overall.
Check out our recommended summer reads for fun, engaging books that will spark your child’s interests and even impart some valuable lessons.
And Then Comes Summer
Tom Brenner, Jaime Kim
 | Grade level: Preschool-grade 3 “When every day is like a Saturday, and porches and lawns and sidewalks are playgrounds,” then it’s time for summer! This vibrant picture book recounts all the signs of summertime and the fun family activities kids enjoy throughout the season. Share this delightful story with your little ones and plan your summer fun together. |
Jabari Jumps
Gaia Cornwall
| Grade level: Preschool-grade 3 When Dad takes Jabari and his little sister to the pool, Jabari is convinced that today is the day he will jump off the high dive. He’s finished his swim lessons and he’s not scared. He’s ready… or is he? This beautifully illustrated story will show kids how, even though tackling new skills might make them a little nervous, it can turn into a great achievement. You can read Jabari Jumps on Epic!. |  |
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
Chris Van Dusen
 | Grade level: Preschool-grade 2 Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee, set off for two nights of camping (or maybe three). A curious bear on the hunt for marshmallows unhitches their camper from the car and sets them afloat down the nearby stream. This silly, over-the-top rhyming story is sure to get young readers giggling as the bear helps Mr. Magee and Dee get safely back to their campsite. |
The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation
Shannon Hale, Dean Hale & LeUyen Pham
| Grade level: Kindergarten- grade 3 Princess Magnolia is so tired that she almost falls asleep while battling a monster—the fifteenth one this week! With the Goat Avenger protecting the goats at home, she sets off to enjoy the beach and nap. But then a sea monster shows up! Will this vacationing princess ever get some rest? This fun installment of the Princess in Black series will delight fans and readers new to the series. What’s not to love about a seemingly typical princess with a monster-fighting alter ego? |  |
The Lemonade War
Jacqueline Davies
 | Grade level: Grades3-5 During the last week of summer vacation, Evan finds out that his younger sister Jessie is skipping a grade and will be in his fourth-grade class this year. How embarrassing to have your little sister in your class! Evan and Jessie get into a huge argument that results in a bet over who can sell the most lemonade in the next five days. Will Jessie win with her super math skills or will Evan become the Lemonade King? This is the first book in a series that realistically and humorously shows how the brother-sister relationship can go from close friendship to mortal enemies and back again. |
This is the first book in a series that realistically and humorously shows how the brother-sister relationship can go from close friendship to mortal enemies and back again. Kids will love the true-to-life situations and might even learn a bit of business know-how.
The Parker Inheritance
Varian Johnson
| Grade level: Grades 5-7 When puzzle-loving Candice spends the summer in Lambert, South Carolina, she finds a letter in an attic that mentions a young woman and an injustice that happened in the 1950s. It also promises a fortune to the person who solves the mystery of what really happened. With the help of Brandon, the quiet neighbor across the street, Candice sets out to explore Lambert’s racially charged history and solve the biggest puzzle of her life. This is a puzzle-packed book similar to The Westing Game and Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. It also masterfully weaves in historical fiction, giving kids an eye-opening look at life in the segregated South. |  |
The audiobook won an Odyssey Honor for one of the most outstanding audiobooks released in 2018—and you can find it on Epic!.
Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time
Lisa Yee
 | Grade level: Grades 5-8 It’s the last day of sixth grade and Stanford has everything going for him. He’s just made the A team of his middle school’s basketball team and this summer he’s planning to go to basketball camp with an NBA star. But then he finds out that he’s failed sixth grade English and has to go to summer school. This is a humorous look at a challenging summer for a middle schooler. It’s also part of a trilogy that recounts the same summer from three different points of view. It’s very entertaining to see how differently the three kids interpret the summer’s events. |
All Summer Long
Author: Hope Larson
| Grade level: Grades 5-8 Bina’s summer plans go from amazing to nonexistent when she finds out her best friend Austin (whose been giving her the cold shoulder) is going to soccer camp for a month. Her summer starts out with lots of bad TV, avoiding her summer reading and playing her guitar. Can Bina find a way to make summer amazing? This two-color graphic novel is a sweet coming of age story in which Bina navigates shifting friendships without drama from crushes—and the realistic depiction of middle schoolers trying to find what defines them will resonate with young readers. |  |
Want more summer reads? Check out our post: “Top Summer Reads for Kids on Epic Basic.”
