Summer is certainly a time for making memories, taking family vacations and soaking up the sunshine in the pool. But it’s also a great time to let our kids dive into the world of books, sparking their imaginations and keeping their minds active during the break from core studies. Whether you want to spend your summer break reading aloud as a family or your kids’ reading on their own, this is the ultimate summer reading list for the elementary years.
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Find the book list below!
Kindergarten:
Pete the Cat Books – By James Dean. There are a number of Pete the Cat books for various grade levels. These were a favorite of my kids when they were little.
How to Catch a Mermaid – By Adam Wallace
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly – By Lucille Colandro. There are so many versions of these books, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. These would be fun read alouds.
The Story of Ferdinand – By Munro Leaf
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business – By Esphyr Slobodkina
Blueberries for Sal – By Robert McClosky
Corduroy – By Don Freeman – This is a classic!
Goodnight Moon – By Margaret Wise Brown
Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? – By Bill Martin Jr. – This is another favorite of ours.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – By Eric Carle
Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers – By Ralph Moody
The Kissing Hand – By Audrey Penn
First Grade:
The Giving Tree – By Shel Silverstein
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie – By Laura Numeroff
Little Bear – By Elsa Holmelund Minarik
Frog and Toad Are Friends – By Arnold Lobel
The Tale of Peter Rabbit – By Beatrix Potter
Paddington – By Michael Bond
One Morning in Maine – By Robert McCloskey
Chester the Brave – By Audrey Penn
Second Grade:
A Child’s Garden of Verses – By Robert Louis Stevenson
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain – By Alice Dalgliesh
The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver – By Gene Barretta
Amelia Bedelia – By Herman Parish
The Bee Tree – By Patricia Polacco
Third Grade:
Charlotte’s Web – By E.B. White
Mr. Popper’s Penguins – By Florence and Richard Atwater
The Illustrated Pilgrim’s Progress – By Helen L. Taylor
Little House in the Big Woods – By Laura Ingalls Wilder
Heidi – By Johanna Spyri
Nate the Great – By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Series – By M.J. Thomas
The Saturday’s – By Elizabeth Enright
All-of-a-Kind Uptown Family – By Sydney Taylor
All-of-a-Kind Downtown Family – By Sydney Taylor
In Grandma’s Attic – Arleta Richardson
Fourth Grade:
Sarah Plain and Tall – By Patricia MacLachlan
The Wild Robot – By Peter Brown
The Wayside School Series – By Louis Sachar
The One and Only Ivan – By Katherine Applegate
Pippi Longstocking – By Astrid Lindgren
The World According to Humphrey – By Betty G. Birney – Any version of these books are sure to be a great read aloud. My kids loved them!
The Railway Children – By E. Nesbit
The Trumpet of the Swan – By E.B. White
Cul-de-Sac Kids – Beverly Lewis
Fifth Grade:
A Wrinkle in Time – By Madeleine L’Engle
My Side of the Mountain – By Jean Craighead George
Hatchet – By Gary Paulsen
Sign of the Beaver – By Elizabeth George Speare
The Secret Garden – By Frances Hodgson Burnett
Sugar Creek Gang Book Series – By Paul Hutchens
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table – By Roger Lancelyn Green
Sarah’s New World – By Colleen L. Reece
Christian Heros Then and Now – By Jenet Benge
I Survived Series – By Lauren Tarshis
Boys in the Boat – By Daniel James Brown
Pax – Sara Pennypacker
Wonder – R. J. Palacio
I hope this list inspires you and your children to read more this summer! Reading is such an important part of children’s learning. We should always encourage them to read more, to find a love for reading! If you have older kids, check out my Summer Reading List for Middle School. I’d love to add to this list so be sure to comment with any of your families’ favorite books!
Be sure to download my Holiday Themed Monthly Reading Logs!
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