I don’t know about you, but for the last few weeks my Facebook feed has been packed with summer reading requests and recommendations. It seems that everyone has plans to read a little more over the the next few months, and my kids are no exception. And who could blame them? The lazy days of summer are the perfect time to sneak in a book or two or three or four… My older daughter (now a rising 1st grader – eek!) is starting to read more on her own and is excited about the reading list suggested by her teacher just before school let out, but my younger, preschool-age daughter still wants me to read to her. Because she didn’t get a suggested summer book list, I decided to make my own Preschool Summer Reading List, complete with summer-themed favorites and a few new books which are sure to be a hit. If you’re looking for books for your preschooler – regardless of whether they’re just starting preschool or just graduated from preschool – these are the perfect books to sit back and enjoy the beach, at the park, or anywhere else summer takes you! Happy reading!
Summer (The Seasons)
– To kick off summer, start with this delightfully illustrated, educational book explaining summer and all the fun things that you can do while the air is warm and the days are long. While your child (probably) won’t be able to read this book themselves, it’s one of those books that you can read to them as a preschooler and they’ll love all that much more when they can read it themselves in years to come. Best of all, it’s part of a series, so when summer starts to blend into fall, you can check out more on Fall
, Winter (The Seasons)
& Spring
.
The Night Before Summer Vacation
– If a trip is in your plans, you’re going to want to check out this book! It outlines all the things a family packs when going on a summer vacation, complete with a little bit of humor and some rhyming fun. This is one that you’re going to need to read to your preschooler, but afterwards they just might be able to help you pack for that trip!
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach
– Pete the Cat was no doubt one of my daughter’s favorite discoveries when she reached kindergarten. I have no idea what it is about that plain black cat, but she absolutely adores him. My only regret is not having introduced them sooner. With tons of basic sight words, this is a book that allows your beginner reader to actively participate in reading. Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach is read year round in our house, but if your preschooler isn’t familiar with him yet, this summer themed book is the perfect time. And when it’s time to head back to school, be sure to check out Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus
.
Summer Bridge Activities®, Grades PK – K
– To keep the learning going over the summer, the Summer Bridge books are a can’t miss! This book contains a refresher of preschool skills – letters, shapes, colors – and an introduction to kindergarten skills, like addition and subtraction. While primarily intended for kids transitioning into kindergarten, the refresher part of these books can provide a great foundation for those just starting preschool this fall. With 12 full weeks worth of activities, there’s sure to be something for every preschooler!
Maisy Learns to Swim
– We spend so much of our time over the summer in the pool, so I definitely wanted to incorporate some water fun into our summer reading. And I just love that water safety is stressed in this book. Regardless of whether your child is timid around the water or swims like a fish, they’re guaranteed to fall in love with Maisy and her pals Eddie and Tallulah as they splish-splash the day away in the pool.
Mouse’s First Summer
– A summer picnic comes alive in this charming board book, intended for kids ages 2-4 (although, my 6 year old is quite a fan of this book as well). Follow along as Mouse and Minka enjoy all the simple pleasures of summer: the tickle of green summer grass, kites high in the sky, and that first bite into a slice of juicy red watermelon. And because it’s a board book, this one is easy to throw into the diaper bag just before a summer trip.
Let It Shine
– This one is new on our summer reading list, so I can’t tell you much about it, other than it comes highly recommended. Like Summer (The Seasons), listed above, this book is part of a season series, but my friends have just raved about the beautiful illustrations and easy to understand text contained in this book. I’m crossing my fingers that it becomes a new favorite in our house.
Hello Kitty Goes to Camp
– I won’t lie, I’m still struggling with the idea of Hello Kitty not being a cat, but that doesn’t mean that my girls love her any less. This book arrived in my house just a few weeks ago and my girls have already demanded that I read it no less than a thousand times. With the turn of each page, they fall in love with her a little more and I question how it’s possible that Hello Kitty isn’t a cat. I completely expect that this book will be read no fewer than a thousand more times before fall rolls around.
So that’s it for us! What’s on your preschooler’s summer reading list?
