While the warm weather of summer brings playdates and pool time, many parents are concerned about one thing: the screen-time brain-drain. Think: glazed-over eyes, short tempers, wandering attention spans. If your gut says it’s time to ditch the devices, you’re probably right. The antidote? Book-based mind-magic! Let’s put down the screens and open up the best books for kids this summer! 

Stories will spark imagination, inspire curiosity, and keep young minds sharp. (And make summer a whole lot more enjoyable for everyone.) When you make reading an adventure, sprinkle in some activities to enhance the fun, and encourage kids to think up new ways to explore, you turn any ordinary day into an extraordinary escape.

Ready? Let’s go

Why Books Beat Screens (Every Time)

Books don’t “babysit” the way screens do. They awaken, ignite, and inspire. Reading gives kids the space to imagine new worlds, hear different voices, and explore fresh ideas. While screens offer quick dopamine hits, books build lasting neural connections. They challenge comprehension, strengthen empathy, and spark rich family conversations.

Here’s why books are the better choice, every single time:

• Books require focus. Unlike fast-paced videos, books help children slow down and dive deep.
• Stories expand vocabulary. Kids are exposed to richer, more complex language in books.
• Reading aloud together builds emotional bonds. When you read aloud to your children, you build trust, connection, and warmth.
• Stories stimulate imagination. A screen shows you the image. A book lets you create your own.
• Books develop patience and persistence. Stories unfold gradually, encouraging attention span growth.

Books also create beautiful rituals: bedtime stories, morning read-alouds, or lazy Sunday afternoons with a chapter book. These rituals become memories, and they last a lifetime.

So, next time your child reaches for a tablet out of boredom, redirect them to a book. Better yet, be proactive and implement daily activities that put books at the center of the fun. Extension activities are a great way to get even the most reluctant reader excited to dive into a great book.

5 Simple Strategies to Make Summer Reading Fun

Even though you might have a tall stack of some of the best books for kids you’ve ever found, your kiddos might not be so jazzed about reading all summer. But, summer reading doesn’t have to be a chore. With a little creativity and consistency, it can become your family’s favorite part of the day! Here’s how:

1. Make it a Daily Ritual

Create a cozy routine. Read with your kids after breakfast, during an afternoon snack, or right before bed. Let them see reading as a comforting, dependable part of the day, like brushing teeth or giving hugs.

2. Read Aloud, Even to Big Kids

Don’t stop reading aloud just because your child can read independently. Older kids love hearing stories, too. Choose a chapter book the whole family can enjoy, and take turns reading. It builds fluency, fosters connection, and creates shared memories.

3. Tie Books to Activities

Bring stories to life by doing something inspired by the book. Read about outer space and visit a planetarium. Explore a book about animals and take a trip to the zoo. Read a story about pancakes, then whip some up together in the kitchen. The experience deepens their connection to the story.

4. Turn Library Visits into Treasure Hunts

Make the library feel like an adventure! Give your kids a themed scavenger hunt: find a book set in a different country, a graphic novel, or one about a topic they’ve never read about before. Bonus points if they bring home a book to share with a sibling or friend.

5. Plan Field Trips Inspired by Books

Extend the magic of stories beyond your front door. Read about a garden, then plant a few flowers. Discover a mystery novel and stage a backyard detective hunt. Learn about another culture and try cooking a traditional dish together. Real-life tie-ins make reading meaningful and memorable.

Bonus Strategy: Create a Summer Reading Passport

Design a simple “passport” where kids can collect stamps (stickers or drawings) for each book they read. Include fun categories like “Book Set in Another Country,” “Book with a Dragon,” or “Book That Made You Laugh.” This visual progress tracker turns reading into a fun, rewarding game.

By turning reading into an experience through creativity, interaction, and joy, you can replace screen-time brain-drain with a summer full of book-based mind-magic.

Now, explore our lengthy list of the best books for kids, below! With a variety of genre, topics, ages, and formats, this list has something for everyone!

Best Books for Kids to Read This Summer

Now, gather together in your reading nook, relax on your hammock, or snuggle in for a bedtime story! Here’s your ultimate list of the best books for kids to read this summer! Which one will you read first?

Babies & Toddlers (Ages 0–2)

1. Baby Loves Gravity!, by Ruth Spiro
2. Peekaboo Morning, by Rachel Isadora
3. Global Babies, by The Global Fund for Children
4. Hello, World! Solar System, by Jill McDonald
5. Black & White, by Tana Hoban
6. Look, Look!, by Peter Linenthal
7. Whose Toes are Those?, by Jabari Asim
8. Dream Big, Little One, by Vashti Harrison
9. I Am a Baby, by Bob Shea
10. Circle Under Berry, by Carter Higgins

Early Readers (Ages 3–6)

1. Fry Bread, by Kevin Noble Maillard
2. Mama Panya’s Pancakes, by Mary Chamberlin
3. We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom
4. The Proudest Blue, by Ibtihaj Muhammad
5. Sulwe, by Lupita Nyong’o
6. If Animals Gave Thanks, by Ann Whitford Paul
7. Saturday, by Oge Mora
8. Let’s Go on a Hike!, by Katrina Liu
9. The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires
10. A Big Mooncake for Little Star, by Grace Lin
11. I Am Every Good Thing, by Derrick Barnes
12. When’s My Birthday?, by Julie Fogliano
13. All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold
14. The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart
15. What If…, by Samantha Berger

Developing Readers (Ages 7–9)

1. The Princess in Black, by Shannon Hale
2. Yasmin the Explorer, by Saadia Faruqi
3. Honeybee, by Candace Fleming
4. Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall
5. The Last Firehawk, by Katrina Charman
6. Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, by Ben Clanton
7. Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom!, by Kelly Starling Lyons
8. Owl Diaries, by Rebecca Elliott
9. The Last Bear, by Hannah Gold
10. The Magnificent Makers, by Theanne Griffith
11. Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beaty
12. What If You Had Animal Eyes?, by Sandra Markle
13. A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author, by Ron Roy
14. Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business, by Lyla Lee
15. The Eyes and the Impossible, by Dave Eggers

Pre-Teen Readers (Ages 10–12)

1. Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet, by Zanib Mian
2. Ways to Make Sunshine, by Renée Watson
3. Rick, by Alex Gino
4. Olivetti, by Allie Millington
5. The First Rule of Punk, by Celia C. Pérez
6. Front Desk, by Kelly Yang
7. Just Like Jackie, by Lindsey Stoddard
8. From the Desk of Zoe Washington, by Janae Marks
9. The Night War, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
10. Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan
11. City Spies, by James Ponti
12. The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, by Adrianna Cuevas
13. Measuring Up, by Lily LaMotte
14. Amari and the Night Brothers, by B.B. Alston
15. The Sea in Winter, by Christine Day

Bonus: Best Books for Adults to Read This Summer

1. The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles
2. The Mountains Sing, by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
3. The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles
4. The Book of Longings, by Sue Monk Kidd
5. The Paper Palace, by Miranda Cowley Heller
6. Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
7. The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich
8. Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
9. The Dictionary of Lost Words, by Pip Williams
10. The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

Find MORE Best Books for Kids!

Download our FREE Summer Reading Program: Take a Story-Cation: Your Family’s Reading Journey Through the 7 Continents!

You’ll explore:

• 7 continents, cultures, and curiosities
• 28 creative crafts to match your books
• 100+ handpicked book titles (in addition to the 100 listed above!)
• Tips to guide parents and strengthen family bonds

No plane tickets to buy, no expensive AirBnBs to reserve! Just limitless, free fun across the globe, experienced through the magic and adventure of the best books for kids!