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Our Favorite Books About Summer for Kids of All Ages
It’s the 20th anniversary of Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading Program, and we’re celebrating it in style! Each summer Barnes & Noble gives young readers the opportunity to earn a free book by reading three books and completing a journal about the books they’ve read. It’s a great way to encourage kids to make reading a priority during the summer months, and this year we’re making things even more fun and exciting with the introduction of a Summer Reading Triathlon! For more details, visit BN.com/SummerReading.
Popsicles, adventures and warm nights camping with s’mores. That’s what summer means to me and my family. Whether your favorite things are splashing in the pool or having picnics at the park, summer is the time of year that both kids and adults look forward to all year ’round.
We’ve put together a list of books to help children of all ages get their excitement brewing for the fun and sun of summer!
Picture Books:
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee: (Read Aloud Books, Series Books for Kids, Books for Early Readers)
Chris Van Dusen, Chronicle Books, Chris Van Dusen
4.3
Hardcover
$18.99
Ships in 1-2 days.
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen
A relaxing summer camping trip takes an adventurous turn when Mr. Magee and his dog, Dee, find themselves unexpectedly sliding down a mountain in their unhitched trailer!
The House Takes A Vacation, by Jacqueline Davies and Lee White
This one is not just a hilarious book with entertaining illustrations about a house that decides to up and go on vacation, but also a great lesson on how to solve problems while still getting along with others.
Camp Rex, by Molly Idle
Friends, campfires and one enormously large dinosaur—what isn’t there to love about this book? Your kiddos will be giggling from start to finish.
Chapter Books:
Secrets of the Cicada Summer, by Andrea Beaty
The debut novel by the author of Iggy Peck, Architect, this is a great mystery for independent readers who love to read about friendships, families, and a secret just waiting to come out.
Ships in 1-2 days.
Letters from Camp, by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise
Told through entertaining letters to loved ones at home, with hilarious illustrations, the brother-sister duos at Camp Happy Harmony are experiencing a summer experience more bizarre than they could ever have imagined.
Half Magic, by Edward Eager and N.M. Bodecker
A magic coin that grants wishes seems like the best find ever for Jane. That is, until she realizes it only grants half of what you wish for, which leads to an adventure that teaches her to know what’s really worth wishing for in life.
Ships in 1-2 days.
Books for Young Readers:
Tortilla Sun, by Jennifer Cervantes
A hint of magic brings this story of a young girl spending the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico to life in a beautiful and mysterious way. An exploration into her heritage and confusing feelings about her family make this a summer she will never forget.
Notes from an Accidental Band Geek, by Erin Dionne
When Elsie realizes she needs to go to band camp to make her dream of being in an orchestra come true, she quickly discovers that marching band practices (and romantic feelings for a trumpet player) are not easy to handle. A funny and awkwardly realistic depiction of a tenacious young teen with big dreams.
Ships in 1-2 days.
Summer of the Gypsy Moths, by Sara Pennypacker
When two foster girls are placed together, their two different worlds clash. But when tragedy strikes, they must work together to find a way to survive. A touching, sentimental look at the bond between two young girls who learn the real definition of the word “family”.
What books are on your children’s summer reading list?