Summer Reading for Early Childhood and Lower School Students 2024

Most things are easy-peasy, regular-pegular for Bibsy Cross. She loves her parents, her cat, her best friend, Natia. And she loves going to school. She might just love that most of all!
This year, Bibsy has Mrs. Stumper for a teacher... and Mrs. Stumper doesn't seem too keen on Bibsy. She thinks Bibsy talks too much--especially about her science fair project.
But one day, when Bibsy talks a little too much, and goes a stone too far, Mrs. Stumper punishes her by punching a hole in her paper apple that hangs in the classroom. And Bibsy is devastated.
How can she make the best science fair project when she feels so rotten?

Roger the chick almost never gets the chance to do things on his own--he's always attached by Velcro to his mother, Olive the hen, who prefers a quiet nap to any excitement. The two Book Buddies even come as a pair when they're borrowed from the library, so Roger doesn't go on many solo adventures. One day, a boy named Liam is persuaded by his little sister to borrow Roger and Olive before picking up Grandpa from the airport. While Liam is preoccupied with showing Grandpa how grown-up he is, however, Roger the chick wriggles free, only to be accidentally left behind. Could this be the chance that Roger's been waiting for, or will his airport adventure--complete with a too-playful dog and a looming top of the escalator--prove too exciting even for him? If Liam admits his mistake, will he have a chance to show how grown-up he is--and help Roger get back from the Lost and Found?

Get ready for a wild ride with Bunny and Clyde! These by-the-rules buddies, a rabbit and a chipmunk, are sick and tired of being good. For once, they want to know what it's like to be baddies--rotten to the core! They want thrills and excitement! But to get really good at being bad, they're going to need some experience . What if the dastardly duo started returning library books late on purpose? Or borrowing markers without asking? Everyone knows it's a swift downhill slide from there--as long as there's an unprotected piggy bank in town! Unless, of course, their best attempts at mastering bad deeds are strangely misconstrued . . . Author Megan McDonald brings her quick wit and ear for dialogue, matched by Scott Nash's deft animal characterizations, to a hilarious caper of criminal intentions gone awry.

Felix Powell can talk to animals. Just ask his dog, Mary Puppins! They talk all the time. When a mysterious, magical spell turns Felix into a dog, Mary Puppins is amazed. But not as much as Felix! Will his tail ever stop wagging? Will he ever see in full color again? How will he deal with Gumbo, the snobby neighborhood cat? Most importantly, will he ever return to being a regular boy?

With short, high-interest chapters and illustrations by the author on almost every page, Felix Powell, Boy Dog celebrates curiosity, ingenuity, imagination, and friendship. For readers of Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Meg Medina, and Megan McDonald, and all kids who love animals.

Frankie's mama is leaving to cover a breaking news story. Frankie, Papa, and Frankie's teenage sister, Raven, are all proud of Mama, even though they miss her when she's away. But Frankie has a great idea: she can make her own news show! After all, Mama has told her that news is happening around her all the time. With a little assistance from her friends--including her doll Farrah, Robert the toy robot, and her tabby cat, Nina Simone--Frankie prepares for her first "broadcast." And when she hears someone crying in the house, she knows that's the developing story she must cover. With humor, empathy, and imagination, Frankie gets the scoop--and learns that even mature older sisters can miss Mama sometimes. With sweet illustrations throughout, this engaging new series embraces communication and compassion and is a refreshing portrayal of Black women in journalism. Young reporters will learn the terms of the trade, which are clearly presented in the text and reinforced in a glossary at the end of the book. Available on SORA.

Three, two, one . . . sleepover! Stink can't wait for Webster to arrive and sleep over for the very first time. Big sister Judy is ready with all the important rules: (1) You have to have a theme. (2) You have to have an activity. (3) You have to have snacks. (4) You cannot sleep! When Webster shows up in his outer-space pj's, it doesn't take long for a theme to emerge. Stink's race-car bed doubles as a spaceship and an old keyboard is a control panel as the explorers suit up, buckle in, and blast off . . . Va-room! Playful illustrations and astronaut lingo capture their imaginary adventure from takeoff to spacewalking, while more creativity comes into play when they land and experiment with space-worthy snacks.

Oona Bramblegoop is a Newbie fairy, and she's determined to do big things, especially if they can impress her idol, the Tooth Fairy. There's just one problem: Oona's magic never goes quite how she planned.
Oona's protection spells work great, but only if you don't mind getting a wedgie from a pair of magical underwear. And don't even mention the smell disaster that resulted from her first fire spell . . . yikes!
Good thing Oona is creative, and she never gives up, no matter how surprising her magic gets.
Packed with Fun Fairy Facts, humor, and lots of heart, this magical series celebrates finding friendship and your place in the world, even if you fit in a little sideways.

Shut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends--a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl--bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark. Individually, they dream of song and light, freedom and flight, purpose and glory, but they all agree they are part of a larger story, bound each to each by chance, bonded by the heart's mysteries. When at last their shared fate arrives, landing them on a mantel in a blue room in the home of two little girls, the truth is more astonishing than any of them could have imagined. A beloved author of modern classics draws on her most moving themes with humor, heart, and wisdom in the first of the Norendy Tales, a projected trio of novellas linked by place and mood, each illustrated in black and white by a different virtuoso illustrator. A magical and beautifully packaged gift volume designed to be read aloud and shared, The Puppets of Spelhorst is a tale that soothes and strengthens us on our journey, leading us through whatever dark forest we find ourselves in. Available on SORA.

After a year, eleven months, and six days apart, Salma's dad is finally joining her family in their new home. Salma is so happy to see her baba-but she's also worried. What if he misses Syria so much that he leaves them again? She throws herself into showing him around the city and helping him learn English, but as Baba shares memories of Damascus Salma starts to realize how much she misses Syria, too. Can Salma make space in her heart for two homes? And can Baba? Available on SORA.

In this tenth book in the bestselling Unicorn Diaries series, Unicorn Bo and friends can't wait to spot a witch! Witches live high above the clouds and are rarely seen flying in the sky. But on one fateful day, a young witch named Charm crash lands in Sparklegrove Forest! The unicorns are super excited to meet a witch for the first time. But when they realize the witch is in trouble, will the unicorns be able to help Charm find her way back home?

t's a special week at Treetop Elementary because it's time to choose a class president! Eva is excited because she loves to make choices and vote for things! But when Sue announces she's running for president, no one else steps up to run against her. So Eva makes a quick game-time decision to run for president herself! Who will win the big vote to become president of the class?

Priya is planning a puppy picnic for her friend Dola! It has a fairy-tale theme because Dola's adorable puppy is named Prince! Priya starts her party-prep to-do list. She makes castle invitations, creates DIY crowns, and bakes cupcakes (and pupcakes!). But as the puppy picnic gets closer, it looks like it might rain. Priya tries not to worry, but the weather is not something she can check off her to-do list. Will she have to cancel the picnic? This is book 4 in the series.

The Dragon Girls series continues with an all-new group of girls!

The Storm Dragons will harness the incredible powers of thunder, lightning, and snow to help defeat a brand-new villain the Magic Forest: The Chaos Queen.

Hana the Thunder Dragon doesn't like bullies. So she's determined to stop the Chaos Queen from causing trouble all over the Magic Forest. All she needs is a little help from her friends--and a lot of dragon magic!

It is hard for Chihuahua Ember to decide which is worse: a pack of pugs who announce that they are aliens, or the dog park which is filled with large and overexcited dogs--but he is convinced that he and his animal friends must stop the pugs to save the world (for themselves).

It was 1964 in the brand-new state of Alaska, a vast land of staggering beauty and heart-stopping dangers. Eleven-year-old Jack had grown up living happily with his parents in an off-the-grid cabin, miles from their closest neighbors. Grizzlies and wolves outnumbered people, and dark winter days were 30 degrees below zero. Jack had always thought of himself as strong--"Alaska tough". But then the most powerful earthquake in American history--the Good Friday Earthquake--struck. The 9.2 magnitude quake lasted nearly five minutes, destroying downtown Anchorage and sending 30-foot tsunamis into coastal cities, wiping out entire communities. Its vibrations were felt around the world. In the end, it caused billions of dollars in damage and the death of 129 people. Available on SORA.

When Mercy Watson the pig goes missing, all of Deckawoo Drive is in an uproar. The Watsons are inconsolable, and the local police, fire, and animal control departments are no help whatsoever. Bossy neighbor Eugenia Lincoln is not quite as sad as she might be, but thankfully her sister, Baby Lincoln, has the idea to hire a private investigator. Granted, Percival Smidgely, PI, may be more bumbler than gumshoe, but his pigeon, Polly, is there to point the way. Meanwhile, Frank and Stella Endicott and Stella's friend Horace Broom are ready to do some investigating of their own. Will the clever neighborhood sleuths manage to follow the trail of hoofprints--and a certain overwhelmingly enticing scent--and recover their porcine wonder? With deftly paced narrative comedy, visual slapstick, abundant artwork in both black and white and full color, and warm affection for their cast of characters, Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen bring us a highly satisfying, extra-special series finale that rewards loyal fans--and invites new readers to explore the stories that came before.

Book 10 in the series. Princess Magnolia is at the Flower Festival prepping for the evening ball when suddenly she hears a commotion. Oh no! She isn't prepared to fight a monster or . . . a grumpy emu! To her surprise, a knight in shining armor comes to the rescue, but not before the princess's prized decorations are stomped on and destroyed. Luckily, the gallant Prince Valerian has his own secret identity--the Prince in Pink--and has been yearning for a chance to show off his special skills, with the help of some twinkle-twinkle and major glam. Glitter has been restored, but then the angry emu returns--with friends! Can the party heroes step up to save the day again?

The wind started to blow. . . and a new magical journey unfolds when the tree house lands in Mongolia, Jack and Annie can hear the drum beat of horses hoofs. The little horses of Mongolia are returning from near extinction and the kids get to meet the people who take care of them. But the horses are still in danger with wolves nearby. . . Can Jack and Annie protect the last of the little horses? Available on SORA.