Summer is the time to kick back, relax and enjoy the day.  Kids relish in having the time to explore, create and connect with nature.  And reading is one of the best summer pasttimes - in a hammock, on vacation or tucked away somewhere secret. 

Here are some fun reads that celebrate all that summer has to offer:

 Picture Books

 Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

A poetic walk through the alphabet while highlighting all the fun of summer.  Acrostic poems are easy & fun to create and most kids will enjoy making their own. 

Ask your child to tell you their favorite summer word and then make an acrostic out of it!

Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee

Follow this lovely little girl as she drinks lemonade, searches for butterflies and toads, goes swimming and listens to an owl. 

Ask your kids what their perfect summer day would be!

One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews

If you've ever spent a summer day in the city, you'll understand why the word 'HOT' is used to describe it!  This beautifully illustrated story uses photos to share the everyday sights and sounds of summer in the city. 

What do you do to stay cool in the summer?

 Easy Reader & Early Chapter Books

 Firefly Summer by Lorién Trover Hardy

"Can we stay up and catch fireflies tonight?" is a phrase heard by many a parent during summer.  Kids love these little lightning bugs! Enjoy this easy reader as kids explore the wonder of glowing lights at night. 

Have you gone out to see the fireflies this summer?

Summer Reading is Killing Me! (Time Warp Trio #7) by Jon Scieszka

 If you have a reluctant reader, you may want to introduce them to ...  - the Time Warp Trio.  These three boys travel through time and get stuck in some of the silliest/craziest adventures.  In this book, our three time travelers end of zipping through time to meet up with the characters from the books of their summer reading assignments. 

Ask your child, what's one book you wouldn't mind reading for a summer assignment?

Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries by David A. Adler

 Head off the summer camp with Cam and her amazing memory.  Money goes missing, the camp gets raided -- it's a good thing Cam is paying attention. 

What would be your child's favorite activity at summer camp?

 Chapter Books & Read Alouds

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

Exploring new places and making new friends is such a great summer adventures.  Go with the Penderwicks as they head off to Arundel (a summer cottage) to find some new friends, create a little chaos and learn that one of the best parts of vacation is being there with your family. 

Where would your kids choose to vacation with the family?

 Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright

When 9-year-old Garnet finds a thimble in a river bank, she believes it's magic -- and all kinds of wonderful things happen that summer!  The story is set in the 1930's, when summer consisted of helping on the farm, hanging out with your best friend and visiting the county fair.  A great read for kids and adults! 

Have your kids ever found an object that they thought was magic?

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

 For anyone who grew up with siblings (or any parent raising them), you know that siblings will argue and compete (sometimes with hiliarious consequences).  Follow Evan and Jessie as they turn a tradional summer activity into a rivalry - and learn a few things about money, marketing and getting along! 

Have your kids had a lemonade stand this summer? 

Ahh, summertime...