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Books to Read When... You Want to Welcome Summer

The summer solstice is quickly approaching. For many people, this signals the “true” start of summer! There are a wide variety of adventures that people like to put on their summer bucket lists. The following books may help inspire you to try something new this summer, remind yourself why you keep going back to tried-and-true favorites, or possibly resonate with you if summer is not your favorite season. 

By David Covell 
New York: Viking, 2024. Picture Book.  

Going camping and sitting around a campfire is not only warming to the body, but also creates a certain amount of comfort for the soul. This picture book includes beautiful depictions of animals and people feeling welcome. A beautiful book with elements of nature, community, and friendship that will make you grateful that summer camping trips exist.

By Scott Allen 
Massachusetts: Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2020. Informational. 96 pages.

What do taekwondo, sailing, rugby, and skateboarding all have in common? They are events you could potentially see at the Olympics. Paris, France is the home to this year’s summer Olympics. Since the Olympics are not an annual event, this might be the first time a family experiences the Olympics together! This book by Scott Allen is full of information to familiarize children and their grown-ups with a sense of what the Olympics are. It contains a list of the numerous events, rules for specific sports, and their history. With interesting facts and highlights on each page, this book is sure to interest sports fans and anyone who might want to win a trivia battle. 

By Ryan T. Higgins 
Los Angeles: Disney-Hyperion, 2024. Picture Book.

A lot of people look forward to the heat of summer. But not everyone and not every creature. Bruce is a bear who does not love the heat. When he goes to the beach, it doesn’t take long before he realizes the sun, the wind, and the sand are all too much for him to take! This humorous book is a reminder that summer, for all its joys, might not have the same appeal for everyone.

Written by Amy Hest 
Illustrated by Erin Stead 
New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Picture Book.

With the whole day ahead of them, Big Bear and Little Bear decide that fishing might be the ideal activity. The illustrations by award-winning Erin Stead give a gentle touch that will ensure this book becomes a beloved classic. The lyrical way that Little Bear echoes the words of Big Bear is a tender reminder of the power of relationships and how little ones are always listening to the big ones in their lives. 


Written by Joy Cowley 
Illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper 
New Zealand: Gecko Press, 2024. Picture Book.

At the end of a long day of summer fun, the best feeling can be snuggling up with friends and a good book. This calming picture book is perfect for bedtime! It uses the words of a simple poem to convey the feeling of a day at the beach, followed by evening routines to help a child drift off to sleep. The illustrations are watercolor and ink, and a beautiful addition to an already appealing book. If you take a trip to the beach this summer, or are only able travel there through words, this book is the perfect addition to your summer reading list.

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