It’s almost summer, and these summer picture books capture the carefree vibe of days at the beach, building sandcastles, trips to the pool, and days spent wandering around. If you’re looking for picture books to load up all summer, this list is for you!
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You are reading: Kids books about summer
the best illustrated books about summer
here are 35 of the best summer picture books you’ll find:
the very hungry caterpillar’s first summer
Published: May 3, 2022
Celebrate summer with the very hungry caterpillar and his friends in this exploration of the season. young readers can learn all about seasonal sensory experiences, like hearing noisy bugs, feeling the warm sun, smelling the delicious aromas of a cookout, and much more!
when lola visits
Published: May 18, 2021
For a girl, summer is the season of no school, days in the pool and picking golden limes from the trees. But summer doesn’t begin until her lola, her grandmother from the Philippines, comes for her annual visit.
summer is special. For her, Lola fills the house with the scent of mango jam, hilarious stories of baking mishaps, and her sweet, peaceful song in Tagalog. And in turn, her granddaughter takes Lola to the beach, to see the fireworks in the park and to fish in her lake.
When Lola visits them, the whole family gets together to cook, eat and share the happiness of having spent another season together. however, as summer turns into fall, her lola must return home, but not without a surprise for her granddaughter to preserve her special summer a little longer.
and then comes summer
Published: May 9, 2017
when the days lengthen like a slow yawn, and the happy faces of the johnny-jump-ups jump. . . then it’s time to prepare for summer! From flip flops and hide-and-seek to fireworks and ice cream trucks, from lemonade stands and staying up late to swimming in the lake and roasting marshmallows, there’s something for everyone in this bright and lively celebration of the sunny season. Tom Brenner’s beautiful, lyrical ode to summers spent outdoors will strike a chord with anyone who has counted down the days until school is out, and Jaime Kim’s jubilant, nostalgia-soaked illustrations leave little doubt that summer is indeed a time unlike any other.
started with lemonade
Published: May 25, 2021
On a hot summer day, a brave young woman decides to sell lemonade. . . only to discover that there are plenty of other young entrepreneurs down the street from her with the same idea. she so she starts off with her lemonade stand and ends up on the riverbank, where she discovers a most unexpected, quirky and very thirsty clientele.
summer dinner
Published: May 8, 2018
From sowing seeds in spring to savoring succotash, follow the creation of a family meal from the farm to the picnic table on a warm summer afternoon. Told entirely in words beginning with the letter “s,” this book will give children an appreciation of the process by which their food travels to the table.
cannonball
Published: June 2, 2020
I’m ready to achieve the perfect cannonball, but everyone has advice: “you need more weight”, “bigger shorts!”, “more muscles!”, “bigger shorts!”
As a young boy searches for the secret to executing the perfect cannonball, only by listening to his own voice does he find his unique style and pull off a truly impressive cannonball.
the blue house
Published: May 12, 2020
the little blue house waits every year for summer to arrive and, with it, the girl. Through the sunny days and stormy weather, the cabin and the girl keep each other company and spend the long days and nights together. until one year, and then another, the rural house is left waiting and empty season after season.
how to catch a mermaid
Published: July 17, 2018
many claim to have caught a mermaid, but can you? Perfect for mermaid lovers, summer reading, and gifts for kids ages 4-7, this fun mermaid picture book is packed with fun steam traps and offers an irresistible underwater adventure that parents, educators, and educators will love. and kids. Packed with lots of laughs for everyone, this under the sea adventure makes a fun gift book for kids!
how do you catch a mermaid?
You must be very smart.
with mirrors, crowns and pearls galore,
This quest can’t last forever!
man!
Published: April 24, 2018
friend! you have to read this book.
It’s totally about this platypus and this beaver being friends. They want to go surfing, but dude, there’s also this shark in the ocean.
but don’t worry. this shark is coming and you’ll never guess what happens.
the golden shine
Published: May 15, 2018
See Also: Joseph Hansen – Book Series In Order
the fox loves nature. there is nothing I enjoy more than reading and picking flowers. One night, he comes across a rare specimen in his old botany book: the golden glow, a well-hidden plant of the family, found only in the mountains. . . a plant that has not yet been described. Fascinated, Fox decides to go on an adventure in search of the mysterious golden glow. he packs his backpack, a map, a compass, a flashlight, a sleeping bag, and other items for his hike. Along the way, Fox sees many different types of trees and plants. he also meets forest friends who help him get to the top of the mountain. But when Fox finally stumbles upon the object of his search, he makes a surprising decision.
summer sunrise
Published: April 20, 2021
When a girl and her family travel four thousand miles from home, it’s not your typical summer vacation. Everything is different in the Alaskan tundra, where grizzly bears roam and sockeye salmon swim, including rulers. a girl can do things that she would not and could not do at home.
may wake up in the middle of the night to work with his mother on a fishing crew. you can learn what it means to be an essential part of a team. she can become a braver, stronger, and increasingly capable version of herself. she can take the next big step of it.
She’s ready for her first real sunrise.
froggy’s lemonade stand
Published: May 15, 2018
froggy has big plans for all the money he’s going to make from his lemonade stand. but there is a problem: she was so thirsty that he drank all the lemonade. Fortunately, the adorable frog has many good friends who help him find a solution. Even if they don’t get rich, they all have a great time!
the wonders of summer
Published: October 18, 2021
a lovely book that follows an adventurous girl and her father as they enjoy the simple pleasures of summer. they have a picnic, look at the clouds, jump into a river, eat ice cream and catch fireflies. the illustrations are stunning and the lyrical text creates the perfect ode to the season.
Readers will feel the excitement of this brave girl and relate to the special bond she has with her dad. The sweet and tender moments of her, celebrate the eternal love between a father and a son.
and in a flowery field,
They laughed and then fell down.
They also picked some daisies.
So Dad made her a crown.
the sand castle that lola built
Published: May 15, 2018
Lola is building the sandcastle of her dreams, one with a very tall tower and a sea glass that sends signals to the mermaids. but the beach is crowded and, very soon, a boy steps on his castle. not to worry! Lola recruits him to build a wall. When a little boy with a bulldozer starts digging too close to the walls, Lola decides that he can be in charge of digging the ditch. As the sand castle grows, so does Lola’s friendly group of helpers. There’s only one thing Lola doesn’t want near the sand castle: a wave! Will the new friends be able to save the castle from the mermaids when their hard work disappears?
how to code a sand castle
Published: May 15, 2018
All summer long, Pearl has been trying to build the perfect sandcastle, but runaway Frisbees and mischievous puppies get in the way! Pearl and her robot friend Pascal have one last chance, and this time they’ll use code to get the job done. Using fundamental computer coding concepts like sequences and loops, Pearl and Pascal can break your sandcastle problem into small, manageable steps. If they can come up with some code that works, this could be the best day at the beach of their lives! With renowned nonprofit computer girls who code, Josh Funk and Sara Palacios use humor, relatable situations, and brilliant artwork to introduce kids to the fun of coding.
I see summer
Published: April 1, 2014
Pea pods, cucumbers, and strawberries provide many opportunities for counting in the garden! Follow Dad, Grandma and other family members as they choose and count. hidden numbers on each page give readers the opportunity to search and learn.
summer sea glass
Published: May 14, 2019
One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her cabin by the sea. She gives him a magnifying glass that once belonged to her grandfather, and with it Thomas explores the beach, turning grains of sand into rocks and dark clam shells into swirling mazes of black, gray and white. When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass, Thomas is transfixed. that night he dreams of an old shipyard and a bottle breaking. Could the same piece of sea glass on her nightstand have come out of that bottle? During the rest of the summer, he searches for more sea glass and hopes to have dreams that reveal more secrets of the sea. A stunning ode to stories and the coast, this picture book invites readers to imagine the ocean of possibilities that lives in every small or forgotten treasure.
summer nick taught his cats to read
Published: July 5, 2016
It’s not easy to teach a cat to read, but one child tries anyway in this sweet and fun picture book that captures the challenges and rewards of learning to read.
nick loves to read books and loves to play with his cats, verne and stevenson. So naturally, Nick decides it’s a great idea to teach his cats to read. but verne and stevenson don’t like it when nick wakes them up with a card that says nap. Nick finally piques Verne’s interest with words like mouse and fish. but not from stevenson. While Nick and Verne go to the library, Stevenson hides under the porch. Will Nick find a way to share her love of reading with her feline friends?
the little red fort
Published: March 27, 2018
ruby’s mind is always full of ideas. one day, she finds some old boards and decides to build something. she invites her brothers to help, but they just laugh and tell her that she doesn’t know how to build. “Then I will learn,” she says. And she does! her when she creates a dazzling fort that everyone wants to play. en, it’s ruby who has the last laugh. With cheerful text and engaging images, this modern twist on the timeless favorite, the Little Red Hen, celebrates the courage and ingenuity of young creators around the world.
goodbye summer, hello autumn
Published: August 16, 2016
as the trees sway in the cool breeze, the blue jays head south, and the leaves change color, everyone knows: fall is on its way!
Join a little girl as she strolls through the woods and town, greeting all the signs of the next season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she bids farewell to summer and welcomes fall.
my amazing summer by p.mantis
Published: May 8, 2018
See Also: Judy Leigh – Book Series In Order
“May 17: I was born today! It’s a beautiful sunny spring day!”
This is the diary of p. mantis, one of 150 brothers and sisters born in a garden bush. p. mantis is an amazing insect: it can look like a stick to hide from predators, it can turn its head completely, and when it grows up, it can even fly!
in journal entries dated p. mantis describes the totality of his life, sharing the fun and beauty of his world, as well as his little ups and downs (“I ate one of my brothers. He’s fine, maybe two”). Bold, colorful art helps illustrate the different stages of the mantis life cycle, and engaging narrative text is combined with more detailed information about praying mantises in the richly illustrated endpapers.
a lullaby of summer things
Published: May 15, 2018
This simple lyrical picture book is as warm, comforting and full of joy as a vacation at the beach. Readers will join a girl and her siblings as they unwind after a perfect day: hanging towels, eating dinner, and getting ready for bed; each activity creates a memory of your day: playing with the dog, chasing waves, and watching sailboats along the shore. and when the lights of the family beach house go out, “in the evening light, a sleeping house says goodnight”, young listeners will lull themselves to sleep.
penguin on vacation
Published: May 5, 2015
penguin is tired of the snow and cold, so he decides to visit the beach! But when his favorite activities like skiing and rollerblading don’t work out so well on the sand, can a new friend help the penguin learn to have fun in the sun?
Delightful text by seasoned, award-winning illustrator and author salina yoon and bright, energetic illustrations ensure that readers will clamor for more penguin stories, wherever they make their home!
the truth about my amazing summer
Published: July 5, 2016
what really happened during the summer holidays? a curious teacher wants to know. the epic explanation? What started as a day at the beach turned into a globe-spanning scavenger hunt with high-flying shenanigans, exotic detours, an outrageous cast of characters, and one very mischievous bird. Is this another fantastic story or is the truth waiting to be revealed? from the team behind I didn’t do my homework because. . . and a funny thing happened on the way to school. . . comes a fantastically detailed, fast-paced, illustrated summer adventure that’s so unbelievable, it just might be true.
baby loves summer
Published: May 1, 2012
Little ones will love lifting the flaps of this new book by Karen Katz to reveal a big yellow sun, flip flops, an ice cream cone and everything else babies love about summer. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps make this a perfect summer gift to share with parents and children. With new Karen Katz branding reflecting its vibrant colors and patterns, this holiday favorite is sure to delight little ones!
a perfect day
Published: February 14, 2017
Today is a perfect day for the cat, the dog, the chickadee and the squirrel. the cat is resting among the daffodils. the dog is sitting in the children’s pool, deep in the cold water. great tit is eating fresh seeds from the bird feeder. the squirrel is chewing on his own ear of corn. Today is a perfect day in Bert’s backyard. until the bear comes, that is. the bear crushes the daffodils, drinks the pool water and happily gobbles up the birdseed and the ear of corn. today was a perfect day for the cat, the dog, the chickadee and the squirrel. now, it’s just a perfect day for the bear.
flame flame sand and sun
Published: May 19, 2015
splish, splash with llama llama in anna dewdney’s new york times bestselling series. Llama Llama loves splashing in the waves, building sand castles on the beach, and sunbathing. This bound book includes 5 touch-and-feel interactive elements and a story kids will want to read again and again!
daniel’s day at the beach
May 5, 20215
daniel tiger and katerina kittycat are spending the day at the jungle beach with mama tiger! They are doing lots of fun things like playing in the sand, splashing in the waves, and hunting for seashells and starfish. but most importantly, they are learning how to stay safe on the beach, so they can keep playing all day!
sun
Published: June 12, 2018
it is the hottest day of the year, hotter than broccoli soup, hotter than the atacama desert, hotter than the surface of the sun. It’s the perfect kind of day for a kid and her grandpa to go on a picnic. But as the sun goes down, Grandpa has to stop to rest, and when they find the perfect spot for a picnic, some pirates have beaten them to it. It’s good that they have enough food to share!
holiday goldfish
Published: April 10, 2018
h, little o and baby em are stuck in the city for the summer with only their pet goldfish (barracuda, patch and fiss) for company. It looks like it’s going to be a pretty boring vacation, but one day something exciting happens. someone starts fixing up the old street fountain, which Grandpa says the horses used to drink from before everyone had cars, and a sign appears: “calling all goldfish looking for a summer home.” h, little o, and baby em can’t wait to send their goldfish on vacation, and the fish, well, they seem pretty excited, too. Based on the true story of the Hamilton Fountain in New York City, this charming tale of a special summer will delight readers young and old. Author’s note included.
when a dragon sheds
Published: May 1, 2011
On a beautiful day at the beach, a boy brings his bucket, shovel and imagination and builds a perfect sand castle. immediately, a dragon moves in. the boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend their time wandering the shore, flying a kite, braving the waves, braving bullies, and roasting marshmallows, all while Dad is busy soaking up the sun and Mom is engrossed in her book. Unfortunately, no one believes the boy when he tries to share the news of this magnificent creature. that’s when the mischief begins, and the dragon becomes a force to be reckoned with. While adults will recognize the mischievous antics as a ploy for attention, kids will burst into laughter as the dragon devours every last sandwich, blows bubbles in the lemonade and leaves claw marks on the brownies. maybe the dragon really is running amok on the beach, or maybe it’s a little kid’s imagination running wild.
a day by the sea
Published: May 11, 2010
a classic little gold book, with a summer theme! Nancy and Timmy jump out of their beds one summer morning and help pack their bathing suits and lunch. and then he goes to the seashore! In a charming rhyme, this little gold book from 1951 (then titled A Day at the Beach) describes what preschoolers will find there: “You can catch little crabs, if you’re quick! you can make big pictures on the beach with a piece of shell or a stick.” oh, what fun!
pete the cat: pete on the beach
Published: May 21, 2013
pete the cat is a cat who is great at finding shells and building sand castles on the beach. But when it gets too hot, there’s only one way to cool off: jump into the ocean! except pete could be a skittish cat when it comes to water.
good night beach
Published: July 5, 2012
The beach, an iconic fixture of many children’s summers, is artfully celebrated in this board book. Designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for the natural wonders of the environment, the book features a multicultural group of people experiencing all that the beach has to offer. rhythmic language guides kids through the pace of a single day of beach fun: splashing around, playing in the waves, boating, fishing, spotting wildlife, and more.
the night before summer vacation
A girl and her family are preparing to go on vacation. . . or at least they are trying. In the effort to pack everything that will be needed, something is likely to be overlooked, providing a fun ending to this perfect “twist” on the subway in Clement Moore’s classic.
there they are: 35 of the best picture books to read in the summer! Which of these summer picture books have you read? what did i miss?
See Also: 12 places to find the best free e-books for thrifty bookworms | Mashable
more picture book lists
- spring picture books
- winter picture books
- animal picture books