25 Best Summer Books for Preschoolers to Celebrate Summer

These incredible summer books for kids introduce young book lovers to the summertime. You can find the perfect picture books for your child’s or classroom’s summer reading list. You’ll find books for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary-aged kids on this summer book list.

Summertime Activities

Summertime is the perfect opportunity for outdoor play and fun backyard activities. You and your child may find inspiration in these children’s books about summer play. Take these summer books along if you’re heading to the park or for an afternoon adventure. 

And Then Comes Summer

By Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim

And Then Comes Summer is the perfect children’s book for kicking off the summer season. This book takes readers from the last day of school through weeks of summer activities, holidays, weather, and adventures. Each page contains poetic text and warm, colorful illustrations.

Summer Days and Nights

By Wong Herbert Yee

This story takes readers through a child’s activities on a single summer day and evening. With gentle rhymes and soft illustrations, the story introduces a quieter side to enjoying summer. Preschoolers will recognize some favorite summer activities and have the opportunity to make story predictions too.

The First Blade of Sweetgrass

By Suzanne Greenlaw & Gabriel Frey, illustrated by Nancy Baker

This multi-generational Native American picture book shares a child’s favorite summertime tradition. The story introduces how humans interact with nature and why traditions are shared through generations. The First Blade of Sweetgrass includes preschool-appropriate lessons on patience, community, and sustainability.

The Garden Next Door

By Collin Pine, illustrated by Tiffany Everett

One summer day, a group of children notices the yard next door is busy with activity! All the bugs and small animals are drawn to the beautiful garden in the neighbor’s yard. The bright, colorful illustrations in this book will captivate children’s imaginations. This charming story can help inspire a love of nature in children.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore a list of favorite outdoor play quotes!

Roller Coaster

By Marla Frazee

A visit to an amusement park is a quintessential summertime activity. For young children, trying a new ride can seem terrifying. This story can help children process anxiety and show that all reactions to a rollercoaster ride are okay! Roller Coaster is a cheerful book with a dose of humor. 

The Little Blue Cottage

By Kelly Jordan, illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle

Some families are fortunate to have a special summer vacation that becomes a happy tradition. In The Little Blue Cottage, readers learn about a child’s annual vacation at a wonderful summer home. For a while, the home must sit abandoned. But as an adult, the main character returns to the house and shares the summer cottage again with her family. 

Colors & Sounds of Summer

Each season has its own sensory experiences. Introduce children to summer’s sights, sounds, and sensations with one of these colors and sounds of summer books. Take the sensory play outdoors with creative nature scavenger hunts!

Summer Color!

By Diana Murray, illustrated by Zoe Persico

Summer Color! is a color concepts book focused on nature’s colors in the summertime. Watch as the color palette changes with an oncoming rainstorm! The rhyming text partners perfectly with the incredible illustrations in this picture book.

Summer Song

By Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Summer Song is a sensory-rich book that helps readers connect experiences and memories of the season. The author focuses on the sights and especially the sounds of summer. The illustrations feature bold colors and brushstrokes. Overall, this book is a wonderful introduction to summer.

Quiet

By Tomie dePaola

Quiet is a relaxing break from other high-energy stories on our summer book list. Two children visit a park with their grandfather and observe plenty of busy summer activities. But, the grandfather encourages the children to take a moment to appreciate summertime’s quieter sights and sounds.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

By Kenard Pak

Summer may end, but it’s always followed by autumn. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn helps early learners identify signs of the changing seasons. While on a walk, the main character notes the cooler weather, animal activities, and, eventually, the changing colors of leaves. This picture book is a perfect September story to help transition out of the heat and energy of summertime.  

City Summertime Books

Without a doubt, summertime in the city is a different experience than in suburban or rural communities. Explore ways to celebrate summer on the streets and sidewalks. And remember, there is always nature to discover at a local park or community garden. These summer books share how people enjoy summertime in urban settings.

Come On, Rain!

By Karen Hesse, illustrated by Jon J. Muth

After weeks of summer heat, all the neighbors are ready for rain! The golden illustrations send the heat right off the pages. Come On, Rain! reminds us that sometimes summer is rough. But when the hard times pass, we can celebrate again.

All Around Bustletown: Summer

By Rotraut Susanne Berner

The All Around Bustletown books also found a home on our autumn, winter, and spring book lists! This oversized board book includes colorful, detailed illustrations of summertime activities. Kids can explore the pages, play “I Spy,” and start conversations about summer topics. This is a book readers will return to time and again.

Summer Stroll in the City

By Cathy Goldberg Fishman, illustrated by Melanie Hall

This counting board book follows a main character on a walk through the city. The book highlights multicultural traditions and celebrations that take place in the summertime. Its simple text makes it a perfect summer book for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Learn more about favorite summer celebrations on our list of fun summer facts for kids.

My Day in the Park

By Marta Orzel

This busy, colorful summer book follows Sam on a day at their favorite park. This book can inspire summer play, introduce summer vocabulary, and be used as an “I Spy” activity. You’ll have no problem holding children’s attention with the incredible illustrations in this book. This fun book will add variety to a summer reading list!

Summertime Water Books

Whether it’s the lake, ocean, or local pool, summertime means many children finally get to play in the water. These summer water books help children overcome fears of water and inspire imaginative play the next time they go swimming. Explore kiddie pool ideas for kids of all ages. And take these ocean animal facts and beach facts on your next day trip!

Jabari Jumps

By Gaia Cornwall

This summer book helps children work through small but courageous moments that are part of growing up. In the story, Jabari’s dad takes the family to a local pool, where our main character overcomes his fear of jumping into the water. The bright, cheerful illustrations help keep the storyline light.

Oona

By Kelly Dipucchio, illustrated by Raissa Figuero

Every child that has jumped into a pond, pool, or lake will inevitably pretend to be a mermaid. In this story, follow Oona on an underwater treasure hunt! Described as “curious and brave,” Oona is a remarkable book character and will inspire imaginative play.

Discover 40 of our favorite ocean books here.

Bubbles…Up!

By Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

Bubbles…Up! captures the high energy of a summer’s day at the pool. The text perfectly captures the feelings of floating and playing underwater and the power of a summer storm. The illustrations are rich, colorful, and buoyant. This joyful book is pure poetry and a must-have on any summer book list!   

Fly, Firefly

By Shana Keller, illustrated by Romona Kaulitzki

Fly, Firefly is a children’s story inspired by Rachel Carson’s nature observations. In the book, a child observes a confused firefly searching for other fireflies. The child scoops the firefly up and returns it to safety and family. The book combines STEM, poetic language, and engaging illustrations to tell a sweet scientific tale. 

Animals & Bugs Summer Books

Summertime is the perfect season for observing busy animals and bugs. Learn about how creatures behave in summer and discover your favorite bug and animal book characters. Children will love these animal and bug summer stories. Check out these fun bee activities, spider facts, and bug books for more ideas. 

It Fell from the Sky

By Terry Fan & Eric Fan

It Fell from the Sky feels like a classic fable with an extra dose of imagination. This book includes possibly the best artwork on this summer book list. The black and white pencil drawings, in contrast with pops of bright color, will capture the reader’s attention. Hopefully, this story will spark wonder and help children consider what happens in their own backyards.

The Watermelon Seed

By Greg Pizzoli

In this story, a watermelon-loving crocodile accidentally eats a watermelon seed. This silly book has bold illustrations and a simple but funny storyline. Children will love to reflect on the story over a delicious watermelon snack!

The Honeybee

By Kirsten Hall, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Summertime means busy bees! In The Honeybee, readers can learn about the behavior of bees. This story can help children overcome their fears of bees and inspire a sense of protection instead. The warm illustrations and the rhythmic text will keep children enthralled throughout the story. 

Explore more bee books and bee activities for kids!

Goodnight, Veggies 

By Dianna Murray, illustrated by Zachariah Ohora

Gardners spend their summers caring for vegetable and flower gardens. In this story, an earthworm tunnels through a community garden past some very sleepy veggies. Goodnight, Veggies combines charming illustrations with engaging rhyme and alliteration. This book also has a bilingual edition!

Explore more flower books and plant activities for kids.

The Very Lonely Firefly

By Eric Carle

Watching fireflies (lightning bugs!) is a favorite summer activity. This classic Eric Carle book shares the story of a firefly searching for other fireflies. The Very Lonely Firefly makes for a fantastic summertime bedtime story. This story is also fitting for a child who may miss classmates during a summer break.

Hank’s Big Day: The Story of a Bug

By Evan Kuhlman, illustrated by Chuck Groenink

A summer afternoon in a child’s backyard becomes a big adventure for Hank, the bug. The text is playful and filled with alliteration. The illustrations often show the world from tiny Hank’s perspective. This is a perfect summer book for bug-loving kids.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

By Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

A delicious, red, ripe strawberry is a symbol of summertime! In this humorous book, a little mouse has to decide what to do with a freshly picked strawberry. Toddlers and young preschoolers will adore the story and want to return to it time and again.

Thank you for exploring our summer book list for preschoolers and early learners! Hopefully, a few of these picture books found a home on your summer reading list. If you’re looking for some conversation starters, choose some fun summer trivia to introduce during story time.

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