What better way to for kids to spend summer vacation than discovering new books to entertain them? Maintaining sharp reading skills is essential for students when they’re off school, and if they like the book, they’ll be more inclined to keep on reading! These reading recommendations for the summer are a great place to start.
K–5 Readers
- Exploring the outdoors is a summer activity kids love, just like the characters in Bug Scouts Out in the Wild. Your first and second graders will be laughing and learning while reading this graphic novel about friendship, adventure, and discovery by the talented author/illustrator Mike Lowery.
- If your upper elementary student loves animals, then Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravel is a sure win this summer. Combining science, curiosity, and fun, this book takes readers on the discovery of a lifetime when Olga encounters an unknown creature that could turn out to be a completely new species!
Middle Grades
- A Place to Hang the Moon will appeal to young history enthusiasts, especially if they also enjoy stories about overcoming obstacles to reach a happy ending. Author Kate Albus explores the themes of family, outcasts, and perseverance in her WWII tale about siblings who struggle to find a forever home after being evacuated from London.
- It can be difficult to imagine life beyond the present moment for many middle schoolers. That’s why they’ll be able to relate to Trev, the main character in Hands by Torrey Maldonado. Trev is skeptical when his family suggests he give up boxing to concentrate on his art, even though he feels like learning to box is the only way to protect his mom from threats of abuse.
Young Adult
- The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, winner of the Newbery Medal, follows Petra Peña as she embarks on a journey to a new planet to save the human race when a comet destroys Earth. Unfortunately, some people on the space craft have other intentions and, when Petra awakens after her travels, she discovers that no one else remembers Earth but her.
- Imagine inheriting an immense fortune from a person you’ve never even heard of. Now imagine having to move into an estate with this stranger’s disinherited family just so you can claim the money he bestowed to you. That’s the premise behind the award-winning book The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Filled with puzzles, twists, and high-stakes decisions, teen readers won’t be able to put it down and will anxiously await the upcoming installments in the series.
By Kelli Drummer-Avendano
Also read:
7 Summer Reads for Elementary, Middle, and High School
4 End-of-Year Traditions for New Teachers
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