Summer Reading Staff Picks for Kids

Reading is important for children of all ages, and it has been proven that summer reading is critical for students to retain their knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year. Given this previous year of virtual learning, it is vital to ensure your child prepared for the upcoming school year and they are developing their skills at the correct pace.

Susan Lawhon, coordinator of the Family Resource Center at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and member of the Literacy Team, has gathered a list of “Staffed Picked” books for children of all ages. Check out the list below for books your child can explore this summer.

“Staffed Picked” Book List

Bilingual (B)

Infant/Toddler- “Read Aloud and Touch”

• Wild Opposites
• Ten Little Fingers
• What Do I See; Que Veo? (B)
• If You’re Happy and You Know It
• Sing With Me; Canta Conmigo (B)
• Maisy’s Clothes; La Ropa de Maisy (B)

Elementary

• Big Dog, Little Dog
• Elephant and Piggy series
• The Lost Package
• The Gravity Tree
• Then Comes Summer; Entonces Llega el Verano (B)
• Hiking Day
• Blue Sky, White Stars; Un Cielo Azul, Blancas Estrellas (B)
• Sunrise, Summer
• Sofia Martinez series (early elem chap books)
• Growing Vegetable Soup; A Sembrar Sopa de Verduras (B)

Middle School

• Hidden Figures
• Theodore Boone-Kid Lawyer series (J Grisham)
• Flight of the Puffin (Middle & High School)
• Because of Winn-Dixie
• Caterpillar Summer

High School

• Becoming M Obama (also version adapted for young readers)
• The Hill We Climb- A Gorman (Inaugural poet)
• Piecing Me Together

Books in Spanish

• Por Amor al Fubol
• Si Yo Disenara un Auto
• Ricitas de Oro