Happy Summer! I’m thinking of creating a Summer Reading List — let me know if that’s something you’re interested in.
But first, I would love to know what children's book reminds you of summer. It doesn’t have to be about summer or even set during summer — it could be a book you read every year as a kid, and now it’s synonymous with long, hot, languid days. Mine is definitelyThe Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin. I read those books so much during my summer breaks that the stories have melted into my memory making it hard to distinguish them from my own childhood experiences. As a young reader I, like Dawn in “The Ghost at Dawn’s House," liked ghost stories. I swore I heard strange noises coming from inside the walls of my bedroom. I would spend those boring summer afternoons peeking in corners and closets looking for a ghost. But unlike Dawn, and much to my disappointment, I never found a secret passageway or any spooky spirits.
A book that’s perfect for summer isThe Moon Jumpers (1959), written by Janice May Udry and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. It’s an enchanting picture book about a group of children who head outside on a bright summer evening to frolic, tumble and play in the moonlight. Udry’s dreamy, evocative text will transport you right back to summer evenings as a kid, barefoot in the grass listening to the sounds of wind chimes stirring the air. And Sendak’s artwork is spectacular. I especially love the full-color spreads — they leap off the page, vividly capturing the story's whimsical delight.
I was obsessed with The Babysitter’s Club when I was younger. ❤️ Currently I like “Mother Steals a Bicycle and other stories” by Shruti Buddhavarapu and Salai Selvam. The adventures the mom describes remind me of what summer is all about for a kid. 🌞
Hi Taylor! I’ve been loving your transition to focusing on children’s lit so much! I’m also one of the few (I think) who discovered you after becoming a club head 🧢😂 One of my favorite books is Peggy Rathmann’s The Day the Babies Crawled Away. I don’t know if it’s specifically summer - but it definitely has that feel! Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s a breath of fresh air in this very humid world!
The Boxcar Children, Night in the Country, Thunder Cake, Blueberries for Sal, Fireflies ❤️
George and Martha were my summer reads as a kid. I don’t know why, but the two characters just feel summery.
We are really loving "Fred and Ted Go Camping" by Peter Eastman. Although my daughter still wants to read "The Snowy Day" haha
On My Honor, Where the Red Fern Grows, Bridge to Terabithia, Blueberries for Sal, Roxaboxen, Flotsam, Jamberry, In a Jar, Time of Wonder…
I was obsessed with The Babysitter’s Club when I was younger. ❤️ Currently I like “Mother Steals a Bicycle and other stories” by Shruti Buddhavarapu and Salai Selvam. The adventures the mom describes remind me of what summer is all about for a kid. 🌞
The Sandcastle That Lola Built is a summer favorite in our house!
Hi Taylor! I’ve been loving your transition to focusing on children’s lit so much! I’m also one of the few (I think) who discovered you after becoming a club head 🧢😂 One of my favorite books is Peggy Rathmann’s The Day the Babies Crawled Away. I don’t know if it’s specifically summer - but it definitely has that feel! Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s a breath of fresh air in this very humid world!