Get ready to celebrate Summer with this collection of picture books full of all the sunshine and water splashing fun. These stories are great for ending the school year or sprinkling throughout the summer months.
Bubbles…Up! By Jacueline Davies (HarperCollins, 2021)
Grab your pool floats for this one because BUBBLES… UP! by Jacqueline Davies and Sonia Sánchez will have you ready to make a SPLASH into summer.
Davies key-word, text placement alongside the movement of Sánchez (signature style) illustrations capture the THRILL of a little girl’s underwater experience and all the *bubbles* that go-along with it at her community pool.
There Might Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi (Candlewick, 2017)
On a bright and sunny day, Sukie and her owner head to the beach. The only problem is… Sukie is terrified that there MIGHT be lobsters and can’t even enjoy her day. But, when a wave accidentally pulls in Sukie’s toy, Chunka Monka, she’s faced with the choice to overcome her fears and interact with the beach!
*You can find a corresponding read aloud activity here*
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020)
Swashby loves being alone at sea with the solitude of his best friend, the beach. When Swashby gets new neighbors, he feels they are disturbing his quiet space and *attempts* to send them salty messages in the sand. The sea has other plans for those messages and gently washes parts of them away and completely alters the meaning of the message. But it’s the new messages that help bring a friendly change to salty ole Swashby!
*You can find a free corresponding craft activity here on this blog post*
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (Candlewick, 2017)
When I think of Summer classics, Jabari Jumps always comes to mind! It’s a timeless story of finding courage and being brave in the face of your fears. In Jabari’s case, that’s the diving board. With the help of his supportive father, Jabari finds a way to channel his strength, breathe and take that exciting plunge.
I highly recommend this one for any kiddo ready to climb the ladder to the diving board. That act alone can be very scary! I think Cornwall does a great job at highlighting that in her picture book.
*You can find a matching literacy activity here*
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling and Aaron Asis (illustrator) (HarperCollins, 2021)
When Lola Visits is a celebration of soaking up and basking in all the sweet Summer moments with your loved ones.
Sterling’s text and Asis’ art immerses the reader in tradition and familiar experiences by evoking the senses when Lola travels from the Philippines to visit her granddaughter during the Summertime.
From tasting special pies to listening to fireworks, this timeless (own voices) story about a young girl and her grandmother perfectly captures the joy Summer brings.
*Available for Pre-Order, Releases May 18, 2021 – click here to access the authors site to order*
Cannonball by Sacha Cotter (Sourcebooks, 2020)
A celebration of staying true to yourself, not giving up and finding your own way to achieve success.
Everyone seems to have their own routine, ritual and tips for success when it comes to jumping off the diving board in New Zealand. But, when a young boy hopes to do a cannonball, all of those tips do not seem to help him. Looking to his Nan for encouragement and wisdom, he learns to embrace his own way and puts the CAN right in cannonball!
A great addition to your growth mindset collection
Goldfish Vacation by Sally Lloyd Jones (Schwartz & Wade, 2017)
Ah Summer in the City! For three siblings and their fish, it seems pretty boring until one day, they notice the fountain across the street is getting cleaned up and is hosting a GOLDFISH VACATION?
I really love how Jones included the aspect of storytelling flashbacks (Grandpa character) in her text to support the idea of tradition. In the back of the book, it mentions how this story was based on a real tradition that took place in the summers in New York from 1992-2005.
A very cute and different story that kiddos will enjoy! I mean, a goldfish on vacation! So fun.
*You can find a matching literacy activity here*
The Sandcastle that Lola Built by Megan Maynor (Alfred A. Knopf, 2018)
Lola has plans to build her dream sandcastle at the beach but discovers she needs a little help.
Each new item that she acquires or encounters, serves a much greater purpose in the sandcastles creation. And for Lola, with each new element acquired, she gains a new friend and helping hand along the way.
A modern take on The House that Jack Built that would make a great addition to a Summer collection or leading a discussion on teamwork/cooperation.
Oona by Kelly DiPucchio (Katherine Tegen Books, 2021)
Oona is an underwater treasure about a determined little mermaid and her best pal, Otto! Oona and Otta love to adventure and collect treasure together. There’s just one treasure that seems a little out of reach. Follow this duo as they persevere to obtain the CROWN! *grab a matching retelling craft here*
Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz (HarperCollins, June 1, 2021)
Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz (a Latin Grammy winner) is a rhythmic and tasty story that celebrates community and exposes readers to pages splash with bright colors, culture and Spanish!
In search of the Paletero Man, a little boy takes the reader on an adventure through his community passing up all the tasty treats and vendors. Until finally, he arrives at the source of the mariachi beat, Jose’s Palenta. After searching all day and daydreaming about which flavor of polenta to pick, he discovers his pockets are empty.
A perfect and delicious summer pick that promotes kindness.
*Available for Pre-Order, Releases June 1, 2021*
Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018)
Rashin and her family are from Iran and are visiting their very FIRST American beach in Brooklyn. As they arrive at Coney Island, Rashin recalls and shares past experiences (and some of her culture) at an Iranian beach and wonders how the new beach will compare. Though the beaches are different, Rashin finds some similarities and makes new memories along the way.
A must have to pair with your other beach themed read alouds as it highlights a different cultural experience through an own voices story! This text would also be great for comparing experiences.
Jules Vs. the Ocean by Jessie Sima (Simon & Schuster, 2020)
On their trip to the beach, Jules tries to catch the attention of her older sister by building an impressive sandcastle. Unfortunately, the ocean seems to be Jules archenemies. Finally getting the attention, encouragement and help from her Sis, Jules builds the most amazing sandcastle until… splash! Luckily, mom reminds the girls… it’s not the ocean’s fault but the moon.
If your little readers have an older sibling, they’ll connect with Jules and her attempt to show off and hang-out with her older sister. For older kiddos, this would be a fun mentor text for leading into the science behind the moon and the tide.
How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk (Viking, 2018)
On Pearl and (robot) Pascal’s final day of summer, they decide to build a sandcastle at the beach and do so using coding language. All of your usual story elements are there – including a big problem! Luckily for Pearl, she can code the solution.
How to Code a Sandcastle is a perfect pick for any aspiring coders, STEM lover or if you’re wanting to introduce basic coding vocab such as (commands, loop, sequence) into your primary classroom! In my class, we used this activity to review meaning, do a coding craft, and make projects in the app Scratch Jr.
It Began with Lemonade by Gideon Sterer, Lian Cho (Illustrator) (Penguin, May 2021)
On Summer day, a little girl decides to set up and sell lemonade… but it seems if everyone else had the same idea. Street after street, all she sees are stands after stands.
Taking her lemony idea to a new location, she discovers there’s a large and very thirsty clientele at the riverbank. A sweet pick for budding entrepreneurs and fans of When your Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree.
*Available for Pre-Order (Affiliate Link), Releases May 25, 2021*
The Couch Potato by Jory John (HarperCollins, 2020)
Anything Jory John and Pete Oswald create turns to gold. Naturally, The Couch Potato makes this Summer list. It’s so easy to fall into the routine of watching tv, playing video games and talking to friends straight from the couch… but Couch Potato discovers, the great outdoors is pretty awesome too!
I think this would be a great text for talking up activities to do in the summer… other than being a couch potato!
*You can find a matching literacy activity here*
Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq (Penguin Kids, 2021)
This own voices story celebrates a 1st time camping experience of a Muslim family. This book is truly a TREAT for the family and shares cultural exposure of memories in India, foods and language.
For Fatima, the family camping trip is an escape from homework, feeling “wrong” at school & the multiple jobs her parents have taken on. In the great outdoors, Fatima feels a connection to her roots back in India and uses her memories to help her family navigate the unfamiliar camping experience.
On a personal level, I love this book for many reasons! As a kid, I grew up camping in the summertime with my family and made many connections with text. However, teaching kindergarten, I discovered one year only 2 kiddos in my class had gone camping. This book would make a great text for exposing kiddos to a new camping experience alongside Fatima and her family.
Rocket Says, Clean up! By Nathan Bryon (Random House, 2020)
I always use this book in April to celebrate Earth Day, but the beach setting also makes it a perfect summertime read as well.
When visiting her grandparent’s Animal Sanctuary in the tropics, Rocket discovers the beach is very polluted and it’s impacting the lives of the creatures that live there. She MUST do something about it, so she rallies everyone on the beach to help her CLEAN UP!
When Grandma Gives you a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan (Sterling Children, 2019)
Another Springtime favorite that’s perfect for stretching into Summer! It’ll leave you wanting a big glass of lemonade!
When a tech-loving little birthday girl receives an (undesired) lemon tree from her grandma, she learns the value of hard work, entrepreneurship, and plant care. But also discovers… a lemon tree isn’t such a bad gift after-all.
*You can find a matching literacy activity here*
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