Books to Pair with Your Summertime Fun Activities

The Sand Castle Contest, by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko
Planning a trip to the beach? Don’t forget the shovels and pails—and this book, while you’re at it. Munsch, author of The Paper Bag Princess and Love You Forever, brings us the most high-stakes sandcastle contest ever: the winner gets a bathtub filled with ice cream. Too bad Matthew’s sandcastle is so good, no one believes it’s made out of sand. It’s a bizarre, silly story that’ll give your kids new sandcastle goals besides digging out that moat.

The Lemonade War, by Jacqueline Davies
Anyone with a card table and a canister of Country Time can run a lemonade stand. But if you want to rake in the big money, read this book. Disguised as an exciting page-turner, it’s full of real-life business and marketing advice that kids will gulp down like it’s mixed with sugar. Next time you bring out the Dixie Cups, don’t be surprised if your kid hands you a W9.

Maisy Learns to Swim, by Lucy Cousins
Is your kid too scared to get into the pool? Thank goodness Maisy’s around to share another one of her first experiences. She’s nervous, and the water’s cold—but once she warms up to it, she’s floating, blowing bubbles, and having a great time with her friends Tallulah and Eddie. It might be the push your kid needs to dive in. (And if your kid’s already in, then he or she will get a kick out of being braver than Maisy.)

National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas, by Crispin Boyer
Of all summertime adventures, none is more feared than the road trip. But this book makes the (long, cramped, smelly) journey part of the fun. At 128 pages, it’s packed full of info about all 50 states, plus maps, games, and activities that can fill the boring hours of backseat traveling. Kids can learn a little something about the town you’re driving through, or they can flip around and tell you where your next summer trip should be. (Vegas, anyone?)

Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert
Most kids already admire (and poke at) the flowers that pop up all summer. Why not learn a thing or two about them? In brilliantly colored collages, this book tells the story of how flowers grow from seeds and bulbs. It’s a beautiful introduction to gardening, and it might even inspire you and your kid to start a flower garden of your own.

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen
Even if a camping trip doesn’t go as planned, it’s still an adventure, right? When Mr. Magee and his dog take a very unexpected detour, we hope they can look on the bright side of things. This is a great read to bring along on your own campout, whether it’s at a national park or next to your backyard swing set.

Skinnybones, by Barbara Park
Baseball may be our national pastime, but it’s not like we’re all good at it. This book follows Alex, the smallest kid on his Little League’s baseball team, as his big mouth gets him into in a pitching contest with the school’s best pitcher. It’s laugh-out-loud hilarious for everyone, whether you’re a phenom or you couldn’t throw a curve ball to save your life.
What books will your kid be reading this summer?