Summer Reading for Early Childhood and Lower School Students 2025

Dictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn't what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary's pages once againDictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn't what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary's pages once again.

The Vert family is celebrating a very special occasion: it's Ivan's birthday! And Estie knows that every birthday needs a great party, with lots of guests, party hats, and twinkling tin foil stars. Because that is what everyone wants on their birthday, right? But did Estie ever ask Ivan?

From the New York Times bestselling duo of Escape Goat and Lambslide, award-winning author Ann Patchett and Fancy Nancy artist Robin Preiss Glasser, comes a heartfelt story about honoring our differences.

Early Bird wants to be brave and protect the castle, just like Knight Owl. But she falls asleep on the job and then keeps her hero up during the day with her enthusiastic chattiness, well-meaning questions, and cheerful owl impersonations. But there are strange happenings in the forest, and soon Knight Owl and Early Bird find themselves in the throes of danger. Will these two learn to work together to keep themselves and the kingdom safe? Available via SORA.

Meet Barnaby: he's half mouse and half elephant, with just a dash of flamingo . . . and fully trained!
When he's brought home to be pampered and cared for by his very own little girl, life is perfect . . . until a new, even more perfect pet comes on the scene. Suddenly Barnaby is no longer the most perfect pet around, and his little girl doesn't seem interested in him anymore. Feeling unappreciated, Barnaby runs away and finds himself swept up on a wild journey through the city and an emotional search for home in a tale of love found, lost and found again.

Did you know, there was a time when people could get in trouble--really, really BIG trouble--for being LEFT-HANDED!?
It's true!
Lefty and Righty hand out the facts in a theatrical performance that spans the ages. Once upon a time, left was considered wrong . . . but now, left or right, it's all alright. (And there are scissors for everyone!)

Clive Penguin is tired of the familiar. Every day he stands on the same ice, in the same snow, with the same penguins. Clive just has to find something new, so he sets off in search of something incredible . . . but will Clive's epic discovery turn out to be the perfect fit?

When Alice spies a white rabbit checking his pocket watch before hippity-hopping down a crevasse in an Alaskan glacier, she knows she must follow him. And so she pops down the rabbit hole, into a world of absurd personalities, topsy-turvy action, and laugh-out-loud silliness. Favorite characters like Cheshire Cat and the Duchess and King and Queen come to life as vibrant animals native to Alaska making this classic tale shine through a fresh lens, certain to appeal to readers of all ages.

Martin and his family spend every Sunday together and every Sunday they have the same routine. Not this Sunday, he decides while everyone else watches TV, cooks, and folds laundry.

Instead, Martin invents a world adventure with his dog, Maize, braving extreme cold alongside penguins on ice caps, facing a dragon, confronting pirate ships, and crossing an arid desert on a camel's back. When he returns from his travels happy and exhausted, he recounts his magical journey with Grandma, who marvels at his courage and wonders where he will go next.

Sunday reminds readers young and old about the power of imagination, play, and dreams coming true. In a world where screens are the default, Martin's journey detailed in playful line art with bold colors will encourage kids to make their own discoveries and share their creativity with friends and family.

Perfect for rainy-day reading, this book is also a thoughtful gift for grandparents and little readers who love dogs and new experiences.

Can you tell when a storm is coming? Can you feel the wind coming and growing? Do you hear the branches bouncing together, hear the whispers of the wind through the leaves?
Join in the journey as two siblings bear witness to the steady start, thrilling apex, and gentle end of this island storm. They'll shelter soon, but first they want to feel it all.
Sydney Smith is the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children's books, and his illustrations are fantastically textured and visually spectacular. Paired with Brian Floca's eloquent, rhythmic text, Island Storm is a multi-sensory experience that will amaze and delight readers. Children who fear thunder can take comfort in seeing it captured in the pages, while those who relish watching the sky crack open can enjoy battling this storm from the comfort of their homes.

Duncan's crayons just can't seem to stay put!
After convincing one group of crayons to go back to work after they wanted to quit and rescuing another group who got lost in the most inconvenient places, Duncan's crayons have disappeared once more.
But this time they've gone out into his room to make friends. From Red Crayon who fulfills his dream of driving a firetruck, to Blue Crayon, who meets a fashion doll desperately in need of a head, to fan favorite Esteban, who is off to tame a teddy bear (or as he would call it, a wild beast), each crayon has an exciting story to share about the new objects they've met and the new adventures they've had.

The Pigeon had better graduate! He did the work! He paid attention to the little details! He overcame some BIG obstacles! The Pigeon's got this . . . Or does he?
Do YOU think The Pigeon will graduate?
Grab your caps, don your gowns, and raise your hands for The Pigeon's biggest adventure yet in this uplifting, hilarious, and inspirational graduation picture book from three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems. It's a PhD* in fun!
(*Pigeon-y hilarious Diatribe)

Once upon a time, there was a teeny-weeny unicorn that wished to be big. But he never saw a shooting star, and a ladybug never landed on his arm. So when he comes across a dandelion poof, he decides to give his wish one last try. With a little help from a gust of lucky wind and a clever princess, the Teeny-Weeny Unicorn sets off on a quest to find something littler than he is.
Little does he know, he is in for a BIG surprise...as he becomes a BIG brother! With characters that will crack you up and illustrations to brighten any day, here is a perfect picture book to share at storytime, again and again.

When Nellie the sea turtle hatched, she was on a beach surrounded by lots of her brothers and sisters. Soon all the other turtles joyfully ran into the ocean and swam away, but Nellie? She was too scared. The ocean was loud, it was deep, and it was unknown. She stayed on the safe, dry sand instead.
But when night starts to fall and it gets too dark and cold for a tiny little sea turtle on land, Nellie realizes that if she looked past the scary crashing waves, there's actually a whole world out there, just waiting for her to jump in.

This joyful exploration of immigration and nontraditional beauty pays tribute to the unique identity formed by a girl's Japanese roots and Hawaiian upbringing. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners meets Your Name Is a Song.
From the shores of Japan to the coast of Hawai'i, old customs are honored, new traditions blossom, and an exuberant narrator defies narrow beauty standards to embrace the skin she's in and her life on the island of Kaua'i. Triumphant text and radiant artwork encourage readers to challenge expectations and celebrate how identity and experience find their perfect expression in each of us.

Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get! The rules are simple: on the count of three, each player must go and get something that begins with a certain letter. While Jack's and Jill's picks always fit the bill (What starts with F? Frog! Fish!), Rex keeps getting it wrong (a duck?)--or does he? David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka share a laugh-out-loud primer on subverting expectations that will have readers clamoring to play Go and Get themselves--and competing to see who can come up with the most creative answers.

Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish?
1) They spend all their time in the water where we can't see them.
2) Some are as big as a bus--that is not okay.
3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools."
4) They are likely plotting our doom.
This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water.

Roz is not where she's supposed to be.
You see, the robot wasn't designed to live in the wilderness. But when she washes up on an island, she must learn from the animal inhabitants and adapt to her new, natural surroundings, and before long, the island begins to feel like home.
Filled with bestselling creator and award-winning artist Peter Brown's stunning artwork, this moving picture book is the perfect gift for readers new to The Wild Robot or for longtime fans of the middle-grade book series that sparked a global phenomenon.

Oscar the Grouch meets Frog & Toad in this hilarious illustrated early reader series about a cranky wolf on a quest to be left alone.
Wolf lives by himself, and he likes it that way. Wolf is not a people person.
But today, he would really like some jellybeans, and the store is completely out. The shopkeeper tells him that all the jellybeans have been bought up for prizes in a competition. A Best Pet Competition.
There's only one thing for it: Wolf needs to acquire a darling dog, a cool cat, or a happy horse. But one by one, these animals prove that Wolf is not much of an animal person, either. Will no pet win him an award? How far must Wolf go to get some dang jellybeans?

Earl and Worm have been friends for a very, very long time, but their friendship had a rocky start. Earl is a happy go-lucky bird who plays saxophone to his plants because they love music in the morning. His neighbor Worm, on the other hand...well, Worm is the exact opposite. She would rather read in silence.
How will these very different neighbors become the very best of friends? With some sweet lemonade, the right shade of paint, and an unfinished poem, and most of all, sharing a little bit about themselves.
Award-winning creator Greg Pizzoli delivers three funny stories that will have kids hooting along soon after they've outgrown Elephant and Piggie.

Bulldozer is shy when it comes to making new friends and nervous about starting school. But when he meets his new neighbor Millie and her little brother Jay, Bulldozer embarks on a daring adventure to rescue a stranded cat. With the help of his own machinery--and a plate of freshly baked cookies--Bulldozer overcomes his fears just by being himself.
The beloved team of Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy are back with a compelling new series about an endearing bulldozer living in a human world. Each book contains five chapters, perfect for emerging readers learning how to read on their own.

When warm weather hits, Bat, Cat, and Rat decide to head to the beach. But bus ride mishaps, hungry seagulls, and a missing kite threaten to take the fun out of the trio's seaside afternoon.
In "Sweating," a hot day inspires the roommates to hit the beach, until a missed bus stalls their plans.
In "Snacking," Bat wants to share his snacks with everyone--seagulls included. But the gulls might be a little too hungry!
In "Flying," when Rat's kite goes missing, Bat puts his aerodynamic skills to good use to save the day.
Bat, Cat, and Rat's irresistible friendship and amusing antics are sure to have kids laughing along.
The third book in this fun series. Available via SORA.

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are brothers and sisters. They're orphans too, and the only way they can stay together is to make it on their own. When the children find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they decide to call it home--and become the Boxcar Children!
An Early Reader version of the classic story.

If you could play with the sun, what would you do? Would you sing? Dance? Play hide-and-seek?
Join Norbit the Worm, his friends, and the sun itself as they spend a day doing everything they can think of, from swimming and hiking to blowing bubbles and watching the clouds drift by! By encouraging imaginative play, Hello, Sun! keeps kids entertained as they learn to read.
Seuss Studios is a new line of Beginner Books with original stories and art from emerging authors and illustrators. Every Seuss Studios story was inspired by never-before seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss archives, which you can find in the back of each book!