Summer time is here. Kids are out of school. Now what? Reading books or listening to stories is such an important aspect of learning and language development that it shouldn’t stop at the end of each school year. Summer time is a great time to encourage your kids to read for fun and explore new books. Finding books they are interested in is the first step. Encourage them to go help you pick some out at the local library or book store and chances are if they have some say in the matter they will be more engaged. Below is a list of suggested books and associated age ranges.

Birth-3 years old:

Spot Books by Eric Hill

Where is Baby Series by Karen Katz

Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton

Opposites by Sandra Boynton

Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

The Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Pat Hancock

Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

3-6 years

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Llama Llama by Anna Dewdney

Curious George by Margret Rey and H.A. Rey

Bear Wants More/Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A… by Lucille Colandro

Arthur Books by Marc Brown

Franklin Books by Paulette Bourgeois

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Corduroy by Don Freeman

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and David Shannon

6+ years

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

The Clementine Series by Sara Pennypacker

Matilda by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond 

Cloudy with a Change of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina

The age ranges are just suggestions. Any book can be modified to fit your child’s age and/or ability. If they are younger focus on talking about the pictures and finding or labeling different objects/actions. If they are older ask them simple comprehension questions and if they can read let them read to you!

Happy Reading!