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Top Kids' Books for Your 2026 Summer Reading List
Splash into summer with the best kids’ books to bring along wherever you go. From sweet stories like Odder, perfect for animal lovers to young reader favorites like Captain Underpants and classic children’s tales like Charlotte’s Web, discover chapter books, graphic novels and more.
Books
Summer Reading Books for Kids
Discover all the books your kids need to make summer reading fun and exciting at Barnes & Noble. We have the best selection of summer books for kids of all ages including read-aloud picture books for younger children and chapter books for young readers and tweens. School will be out before you know it and the kids need something good to read during summer vacation. Children strongly benefit from summer reading programs, because they can sustain or even improve their reading levels by reading through the summer months. From classic favorites like E. B. White's Charlotte's Web and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series to fantasy picks like Greenwild and funny, heartwarming kids’ books like Odder, there are so many summer books for kids to enjoy! Reading in the summer, whether it’s during family storytime with little kids or having older children read independently, fosters children's memory and emotional development. Summer reading has never been easier with so many wonderful options. Explore our blog for more great summer reading picks for kids.
Some of the Top Summer Reading Books for Kids
Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
Dawn on the Coast by Ann M. Martin
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga by Dav Pilkey
Sing the 50 United States! by Dr. Seuss
InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
Construction Site: Firefight! by Sherri Duskey Rinker
The Unchosen One by Amy Sparkes
Little Ghost's Summerween by Maggie Edkins Willis
Diamond Fever! by Steve Sheinkin
The Pigeon WON'T Play with Shapes by Mo Willems Workshop