8 Great Summer Reads for Kids – 2017

One of the greatest gifts my mother gave me was a love of reading. When I was a kid, we didn’t have air conditioning, so we would spend a lot of time enjoying the air conditioning at our local library. I would walk in looking for relief and walk out with a bag filled with over 20 books.

And I would devour them.

When I heard my daughter read for the first time, my face lit up and I said to her, “the entire world just opened up to you. You can now learn about ANYTHING.” Teaching your child to love learning begins by finding books that they get excited about. I put together this list of books that we treasure in our home and that I hope will help your kids to make their summer (and the rest of their lives) a bit more magical.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone  – J.K. Rowling

If your child hasn’t been introduced to the Harry Potter series, summer is a great time to start. Many kids grow a lifelong interest in reading that begins by getting to know one young wizard. If you read a chapter a night, you will have magic in your home for the rest of the summer.

Wonder – R.J. Palacio 

“He’s just a kid. The weirdest-looking kid I’ve ever seen, yes. But just a kid.”

What a beautiful story about the struggles that all kids go through. It’s a story of judgement and kindness, cruelty and friendship. It’s a story about every kid just wanting to be a kid.

Kids are so frequently compared to each other. This book reminds us to accept every person exactly as they are and to understand that underneath every mask, beautiful or not, is a kid…just a kid

Ada Twist, Scientist – Andrea Beaty

If you are a fan of Rosie Revere, Engineer (which is one of my favorite kids books ever), then you will want to get the latest book in the series that encourages kids to grow their interest in STEM. In this book Ada Twist uses science to solve problems and learn about her world. I can’t recommend this series of books strongly enough. I adore them.

Where the Sidewalk Ends – Shel Silverstein

Is it possible that someone you’ve never met can change your life forever? In the case of Shel Silverstein, I would answer with a resounding yes. I was given a copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends when I was a kid and it was the spark that turned me into a writer. I would read and read and read all of his books. If your kids haven’t been introduced to him yet, I encourage you to give him a try.

Hidden Figures, Young Readers Edition – Margot Lee Shetterly

You and your kids may have seen Hidden Figures, the movie. If you did, you know how inspiring the movie is. If you want to keep the discussion going, this book is a great way to keep talking about the important impact that African-American women had on our space program.

The Boxcar Children – Gertrude Chandler Warner

Sometimes it’s great to curl up with a classic during the summer slowdown. The Boxcar Children books are a great way to build a love of reading. Your kids will be learning and growing without even knowing it as they flip through the pages of these wonderful stories.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – Chris Grabenstein

If your kids like puzzles or books or mysteries, this is a fun read. A group of kids are locked in a library and need to solve puzzles in order to win a contest. It’s a little like a modern day Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with all the fun elements that make kids want to read “just one more chapter.”

The Magic Tree House – Mary Pope Osborne

I’m going to end my list with the greatest selling children’s books of all time. We never get tired of climbing up into the magic tree house to see where we will travel next. There are tons of books in the series, so just pick one and go on a summer vacation without ever leaving your home. These books are treasures.

Image credit:
Mi PHAM

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