*~Sharing with you a carefully curated recommended reading list full of old favorites and new wonders. Get your library lists/ bookshelf wish-lists ready to go, and check out a sneak peek of these Summertime reading adventures~*

Summer~ the season of sandals, s’mores, and sun-kissed skin. The time of year where we stay out all day~ picnics in the park, swimming in the sea, biking around the block; and stay up all night~ lantern-lit dinners on the patio, stargazing by the light of bonfires on the beach, giggling under blankets with flashlights glowing.

Sure, summer looks a lot different this year~ and some of these traditions and activities aren’t possible or safe~ but there’s always a way to find summer fun, even from within your home. Blanket forts and water balloons, sprinkler tag and homemade juice popsicles~ and if you are itching to travel beyond the walls of your rooms, then grab a book, snuggle up, and prepare to explore the limitless adventures found within the pages.

To jumpstart your summertime reading adventures, here is MaiStoryBook’s recommended reading list for Summertime Reading Adventures. Get ready to explore the world, splash in the seas, trek through the wilderness, swim with mermaids, board a pirate ship, and more!  If you have any summertime favorites of your own, please comment below and share your own Summer Reads. Together, let’s raise a new generation of readers!

Recommended Reading List: Summertime Reading Adventures

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Izzy and Frank by Katrina Lehman, Illustrated by Sophie Beer

Prepare to meet the sweetest pair of friends, who’ll prove that true friendship lasts whether your nearby or far apart. Izzy loves living on her island, in her seaside lighthouse, sand in her barefoot toes and ocean winds in her hair. But most of all, she loves her seagull friend, Frank. One day, Izzy has to leave her island home and move to the city~ where the winds are still, the concrete grounds are hard, shoes are required, and Frank is *nowhere to be found.* Readers will empathize with Izzy’s heavy heart~ until one day Frank appears at her windowsill. With Frank by her side, Izzy has the support to embrace her new life and welcome new beginnings. This is a beautiful tale of friendship and adjusting to change.

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Wonders of the World by Giulia Lombardo, Illustrated by Daniela Celli

We may not be able to hop on a plane and travel the world this summer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t explore the wonders of the world. Crack open this oversized picture book to discover 31 extraordinary monuments from around the world. From the Himeji Castle in Japan to Machu Picchu in Mexico, from the Taj Mahal in India to the Parthenon in Greece, each monument is brilliantly illustrated with bold blocks of color and presented with its location, size, and fun facts and features. Marvel at these wonders, and perhaps even start a traveling bucket list for when it is safe to travel again.

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Sandcastle by Einat Tsarfati

No beach day is complete without attempting to create the most epic sandcastle! Cue the moats, bucket towers, seaweed flag posts, and seashell fixtures. In this beach day read, a young girl builds a sand castle so Big, that all of the royalty of the world come to visit. Explore the sandcastle’s ballrooms and banquet rooms, greenhouse for the cacti, crocodile filled moat, and swirling staircases perfect for skateboarding. Everyone is having a Grand time, until they begin to discover sand… everywhere! Readers will delight in pouring over the detailed illustrations, each page filled with intricate and amusing visuals, showing off the flamboyant castle festivities and quirky cast of royal guests.

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Down Under the Pier by Nell Cross Beckman, Illustrated by Rachell Sumpter

This book captures the essence of this summer~ beach time thrill and thrall. While the top of the pier offers breathtaking ocean views, it’s *down under the pier* that the real magic and fun happens. The dreamy, hazy color palette and lyrical text capture the joy of the ferris-wheel, cotton candy, copper coins, carousels, and low tide shenanigans that are harbored below the pier. This poetic read is an ode to an *endless summer.*

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Andersen: The Illustrated Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by Hans Christian Andersen

Summer is the perfect time to dive deep into the world of fairytales and magic ~ a season of daydreaming when believing anything is possible under the bright, shining sun, or the glowing moon and sparkling stars. Revisit these classic childhood stories with your own littles~ and together admire the new, contemporary illustrations by adorn the pages. Various artists contribute to this anthology to bring the characters and tales to life with a plethora of different styles and artistic visions. From “The Little Mermaid” to “The Ugly Duckling,” this is the perfect read to complete your child’s fairytale collection.

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The Fort by Laura Perdew, Illustrated by Adelina Lirius

Prepare for an adventure packed read~ filled with pirate ships and swashbuckling voyages, and castles with princes and royal feasts. With a little bit of imagination, one outdoor fort snug in the middle of the woods will be your launching point for each of these action-packed adventures. But when one little boy and girl can’t agree on which adventure to embark on, can they come up with a new adventure together? Prepare to be whisked away into these imaginative worlds through colorful, detailed illustrations that bring this story to life!

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The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Man

A perfect read for both camping regulars and first time campers, join Ernestine as she prepares for her first sleepover under the stars. From detailing everything she needs to pack and all it takes to unpack once they arrive, to swimming in a lake, eating campfire food, making a s’more, hiking up a mountain, and sleeping in a tent in the wilderness for the first time, readers will learn how being open to new experiences can lead to great memories .

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The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan, Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle

Told from the perspective of a sweet little blue cottage, this heartfelt story explores the special bond and memories between a beachside cottage and the little girl who returns summer after summer, creating lasting memories of carefree days, filling the walls with smells of bacon and pancakes, and whispering to the sturdy beams, “Your’re my favorite place.” Together, the little blue cottage and the little girl grow up together, until one year, the girl doesn’t return, and the cottage is left waiting summer after summer. It will take a very special little new guest to help bring back the family, summer songs, and laughter to the little blue cottage.

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Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton

his is a sweet, vibrant story of facing your fears, finding your courage, and embracing the unknown. Little Crab is afraid to leap into the ocean, but Very Big Crab encourages him, telling him, “Don’t worry. I’m here.” Together, Little Crab and Big Crab plunge into the crashing waves, and Little Crab discovers the marvels of under the sea. Little readers will enjoy the sound effects in the simple narrative, and the bold color illustration style makes the pictures pop! 

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Let’s Play Outdoors!: Exploring Nature for Children by Catherine Ard, Illustrated by Carla McRae

Discover the ultimate playground right outside your own doors. Chock-full of environmentally-conscious activities, this nature book inspires children to learn about animals, plants, and the weather, while simultaneously teaching them how to care for and take care of the world. From building structures out of sticks, stones, and leaves, to investigating trees and discovering hidden insects, children will learn a new way to connect to nature.

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Camp Tiger by Susan Choi, Illustrated by John Rocco

Up in the mountains, deep in the woods, a tiger is lurking. In those same woods, a young boy and his family are setting up camp. Used to the wondrous surrounding wildlife, from the eagles swooping to catch a fish to the salamanders with bright red spots slinking around the debris, the family has yet to encounter a tiger. The young boy, about to go into first grade and learning to be more independent, discovers the tiger, and rather than being frightened, befriends the creature. The family accepts the tiger into their campsite and the boy and the tiger enjoy camping adventures together. With gorgeous illustrations, including a few wordless spreads, this book is also a joyful ode to growing up.

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There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long

Young readers will enjoy this adorably illustrated sing-along read. Following along to the tune of the original classic children’s song, this gorgeous picture book takes you under the water to discover so much more than a log with a hole at the bottom of the lake. Littles will catch on to the repetition and *read aloud,* while giggling at some of the tongue-twisting lyrics. It’s the perfect summertime lakeside/poolside read!

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Mabel: A Mermaid Fable by Rowboat Watkins

Meet Mabel~ the cutest mermaid you ever did see! Mabel looks different than all the other mermaids. She is the only one without a mustache! Embarrassed by her looks, Mabel tries to hide her bare upper lip with seaweed and jaunty shells but ends up looking even sillier. Then, one day she meets Lucky the octopus who isn’t like any of the other octopuses. Together, they’ll learn the value of staying true to yourself, and that true friendship isn’t based on looks. This delightfully silly read aloud celebrates acceptance and individuality.

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I Love the Mountains by Haily Meyers and Kevin Meyers

This is a *musical* read! With a sing-a-long narrative, this sweet mountain melody will evoke memories of summer nights surrounding the campfire underneath the stars, and blue-sky days exploring the beauty of nature and breathing in crisp, mountain fresh air. Based on the beloved campfire song, “I Love the Mountains,” little ones will wiggle along with the rhythmic tune, and delight in the colorful landscapes. Perfect song to share your love for nature. 

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The Mermaid Atlas: Merfolk of the World by Anna Claybourne, Illustrated by Miren Asiain Lora

Discover the secrets of merfolk as you dive deep below the ocean’s surface into the world of mermaids and mermen. Travel the world’s seas, from the warm Mediterranean to the icy Baltic seas, from immense lakes and sappy deltas of Africa to the beaches and islands of Asia. In each body of water, meet the legendary merfolk who live there~ listen to the beautiful Selkies of the Scottish Seas, and revel at the fearful Ningyo of Japan who can grant you eternal life. This gorgeously illustrated book includes everything you want to know about these magical creatures of the sea.

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Do Not Rake Your Garden in a Party Dress by Kelly Pousette, Illustrated by Aimee Bissonette

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy the lush vegetation blooming in your garden~ and what better way to celebrate a summer harvest of blossoms and produce than with a garden party! However, you’ll have to be sure the garden is clean and presentable before the guests come. Word of advice: Do Not Rake Your Garden in a Party Dress… If you do, you may find yourself ruffled by birds, lifted into the clouds, and kerplunked down into a lake full of otters~ only to find that you STILL have to rake the garden when all your wild, run-away cause-and-effect adventures come to an end. This story of twists and turns will delight readers as they eagerly turn the page to see what happens next.

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Travel Guide for Monsters by Lori Degman, Illustrated by Dave Szalay

If you and your little are feeling restless at home, maybe itching with a travel bug, prepare for a cross-country road trip with *Travel Guide for Monsters* ! This helpful guide will give you and your little all the tips for going on vacation with your fuzzy *family monster* ~(there will be special challenges to consider when traveling with a monster). This humorous and colorful reading  adventure will readers through the United States’ famous monuments, parks, cities, and vacation spots~ the perfect read aloud to teach kids about the 50 states and, with a little imagination, to embark on a mini vacation from the comfort of your own home.

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Dusk Explorers by Lindsay Leslie, Illustrated by Ellen Rooney

. Vibrant illustrations bring this dusk exploration to life~ portraying a diverse group of children enjoying the endless possibilities and joy of nature and the outdoors. From climbing trees and catching frogs, to filling jars with fireflies and giggling with delight as wind rushes through your hair and tickles your nose, these dusk explorers laugh and play right up until the moment their parents distant voices call them to come in and come home. But no worries~ it’s summer and tomorrow is a new summer night of excitement in the setting sun! This delightful summer read will inspire the whole family to head outdoors and enjoy the timeless magic of summer evenings, enjoying each other’s company and nature’s simple pleasures that surround them 

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I hope you found some reading recommendations to add to your own shelves, or next library haul, to share with your own little ones. Please comment below and share your favorite Summertime Reading Adventures to add to this themed collection.

*~Also, I’d love to  see and hear about your own summertime reading adventures you are having with your children, so please share your story times below in the comments – tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary  – or post on MaiStoryBook’s FaceBook page! You can also find me on TikTok for bookish fun!~*

Plus, checkout out MaiStoryBook’s Interactive Read Aloud Video Playlist of Diverse Reads here.

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*

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