Learning doesn’t stop because of summer or a pandemic. Kids learn by reading. They learn new words, punctuation, and sentence patterns. They learn to use their imaginations and learn about the world around them - science, history, or social studies. A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give your kids and we’re here to help. Here are a few suggestions for summer reading for kids and young adults:

Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson – Join Mouse and Minka for a summer picnic in the park. The two friends roll down a grassy, fly kites, and enjoy some juicy watermelon! For ages 2-4

Sun, Sun by Brad Gray – Join three kids for a beach adventure as they go swimming, build sandcastles, fly kites, and eat ice cream. For ages 2-6

Summer Color by Diane Murray - Celebrate the outdoors with two fun-loving children on an adventure from their own backyard. Readers will discover the wondrous details and beautiful colors of nature right outside their own windows. After reading this book, encourage your kids to have an adventure in their own back yard. For ages 4-8

The Ocean Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta – Kids have fun learning their alphabet while reading about 26 species of sea creatures living in the North Atlantic Ocean. For ages 4-8

My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis - Get a bug's-eye-view on the life cycle of the praying mantis, in this hilarious, scientifically accurate Nature Diary following an insect through her whole summer. For ages 4-8

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold – Follow the dream adventure of 8-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot as she flies over her 1939 Harlem apartment rooftop. Ringgold’s allegorical tale is filled with symbolic and historical references central to African American culture and the universal dream of mastering one's world by flying over it. For ages 5-8

The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green – Learn interesting facts about trees, see extraordinary trees from around the world, and the animals that live in them. Find out what makes trees so important to the environment, how they are being damaged by pollution and deforestation, and what we can do about it. Plus, this book comes with instructions on how to plant your very own tree! ages 7-9

One Crazy Summer (Middle Readers Book 1) by Rita Williams-Garcia - Delphine has been like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, since their mother, Cecile, left them with family in Brooklyn seven years ago to start a new life in California. When the sisters are invited to spend the summer with their mother, they imagine going to Disneyland not a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern come to understand why their mother left them and what it means to be a Black American in the late 1960’s during that one crazy summer. For ages 8-12

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall – The Penderwick Sisters are spending their summer vacation at the Arundel Estate walking through the sprawling gardens, hunting for hidden treasure in the attic, playing with  tame rabbits, and enjoying the best gingerbread in Massachusetts made fresh daily by the  cook at Arundel. Jeffrey Tifton, the son of Arundel’s owner, shares their adventures much to the dismay of Mrs. Tifton who warns the group to behave. How much fun is too much? For ages 8-12

Awesome Physics Experiments for Kids: 40 Fun Science Projects and Why They Work (Awesome STEAM Activities for Kids) by Erica l. Colón PhD –  Forty hands-on physics experiments for kids that will help them learn about concepts like force, electricity, heat, and sound. Easy to find materials and simple, step-by-step instructions let kids do their own experimentation and have fun learning the concepts of physics. For ages 10-13