The school year is coming to an end, and that means it’s time to start culling books for summer reading. Reading is an excellent pastime activity and can be just as engaging as bike riding, swimming, watching movies, or playing video games. Leisure reading also fosters learning. Education professionals stress the importance of reading over the summer break. Researchers have studied the effects of the “summer slide,” which concern educators and parents in low-income districts. Their students are affected the most by the lack of literacy engagement during the summer months as they tend to lose a significant amount of the achievement gains made during the school year. The lack of reading is one factor that contributes to the loss of learning. Therefore, reading is highly encouraged to increase comprehension, vocabulary, and other literacy skills. Reading for enjoyment and allowing children to choose some of their books are strategies that foster interest and success. Our summer reading list of 50 books (ten in five categories) offers a wide-range of choices for parents and students. Also, check out New Releases, Genres, Themes, and…, and Award-Winning Books for more book choices. Happy Reading!
Concept Books
One More Dino on the Floor – Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrator – Luke Flowers
The Selfish Crocodile Book of Colours – Faustin Charles, Illustrator – Michael Terry
J is for Jamaica – Benjamin Zephaniah, Photographer – Prodeepta Das
Let’s Count, Baby – Cheryl Willis Hudson, Illustrator – George Ford
We Read: A to Z – Donald Crews
A Rainbow All Around Me – Sandra Pinkney, Photographer – Myles Pinkney
A Is for Africa – Ifeoma Onyefulu
A Starfish: A Shapes Book – Bernette Ford, Illustrator – Britta Teckentrup
A Big Dog: An Opposites Book – Bernette Ford, Illustrator – Cristiano Sorrentino
Picture Books
The Ring Bearer – Floyd Cooper
Mousetropolis – R Gregory Christie
One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree – Daniel Bernstrom, Illustrator – Brendan Wenzel
Don’t Call Me Grandma – Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrator – Elizabeth Zunon
The Girl Who Saved Yesterday – Julius Lester, Illustrator – Carl Angel
I Lost My Tooth in Africa – Penda Diakite, Illustrator – Baba Wague Diakite
You Are Not a Cat! – Sharon G. Flake, Illustrator – Anna Raff
How to Find a Fox – Nilah Magruder
Birthday Suit – Olive Senior, Illustrator – Eugenie Fernandes
Chapter Books
Music Time – Gwendolyn Hooks, Illustrator – Shirley Ng-Benitez
Tamika and the Wisdom Rings – Camille Yarbrough
The No. 1 Car Spotter (Car Spotter Series) – Atinuke, Illustrator – Warwick Johnson Cadwell
Dog Days (The Carver Chronicles) – Karen English, Illustrator – Laura Freeman
Backyard Camp-Out (Bradford Street Buddies) – Jerdine Nolan, Illustrator – Michelle Henninger
The Buried Bones Mystery (Clubhouse Mysteries) – Sharon M. Draper, Illustrator – Jesse Joshua Watson
You Can Do It! – Tony Dungy, Illustrator – Amy June Bates
All Mixed Up! (Amy Hodgepodge Series) – Kim Wayans & Kevin Knotts, Illustrator – Soo Jeong
Middle-Grade Books
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground – Rita Williams-Garcia
Two Naomis – Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich & Audrey Vernick
The Sweetest Sound – Sherri Winston
To Catch a Cheat (A Jackson Greene Novel Series) – Varian Johnson
As Brave as You – Jason Reynolds
Spirit Week Showdown (The Magnificent Mya Tibbs Series) – Crystal Allen
The Perfect Place – Teresa E. Harris
Shadows of Sherwood (A Robyn Hoodlum Adventure Series) – Kekla Magoon
Riding Chance – Christine Kendall
Young Adult Books
Piecing Me Together – Renee Watson
The Hate You Give – Angie Thomas
Allegedly – Tiffany D. Jackson
The Boy in the Black Suit – Jason Reynolds
Everyone We’ve Been – Sarah Everett
Rite of Passage – Richard Wright
