As summer approaches, one thing on parents’ minds is the dreaded “summer slide,” as the decline of students’ skills over summer break has come to be known.
As real as the summer learning loss can be, there are kids who avoid this seasonal slide and even improve their skills during the school break — particularly when it comes to reading and math. The difference can be as minor as frequent trips to the library. Research shows that students who participate in library-sponsored summer reading programs scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the new school year and returned to school ready to learn.
Loading your child up with engaging reads is an effective way to keep those skills strong and avoid boredom on those hot, unscheduled days at home. This captivating collection of summer reading books for kids — elementary-aged through middle school — is the perfect place to start.
Several of these suggested titles come from the National Spelling Bee “Great Words, Great Works” recommended reading list, which features books that are not only great reads but contain words from the Scripps National Spelling Bee Study List. The reads from the 2021 book list are denoted with a double asterisk (**). Books from previous years’ lists have a single asterisk.
As you’re reading books with those study list words at home this summer, you might want to follow the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is returning in 2021. The preliminaries begin June 12, and the finals air on July 8 at 8 p.m. ET. Simplemost and the Scripps National Spelling Bee share a parent company.
1. “Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants” by Andrea Beaty **
Young scientist Ada Twist is on the case of a pair of runaway helium pants in this second book in The Questioneers series. When Rosie Revere’s uncle gets literally carried away by his helium pants, Ada has a lot of questions to answer, like how high can Uncle Ted float in those balloon pants, and what will it take to bring him back to the ground?
Frederick is a mouse who lives with his family in an abundant field. During the summer, all of the mice begin to store corn, grains and straw to prepare for the cold winter months. All of the mice except Frederick, that is. Instead, Frederick collects things such as rays of sun, rainbows and words. Although the others think he is foolish, they come to learn that everyone’s contribution counts.
As they stitch a quilt together, Kay’s aunt tells her the story of 14-year-old Arrietty Clock who lived with her parents under the floorboards of a house. The Clocks were “borrowers,” 6-inch tall people who survive by borrowing objects from the big people they call “human beans.” Like Kay, children everywhere can’t help but get caught up in Arrietty’s adventures.
You are probably familiar with this charming tale of a young girl named Fern, the runt piglet she saves and names Wilbur and an incredible spider named Charlotte. Although funny and delightful, this summer read does have its sadder moments, so consider your child’s sensitivity level when offering this book.
5. “The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies” by Beatrix Potter *
In this follow-up to “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” Benjamin Bunny and his wife have six little rabbits known as the Flopsy Bunnies. Although they are kind and loving parents, they sometimes struggle to feed their large family. The little bunnies take it upon themselves to find food when Mr. McGregor, who wants to skin them for a coat for his wife, captures them in this age-appropriate page-turner.
Ever since her mother and brother died in a fire, 12-year-old Mary has lived a lonely and painful life in the Buffalo Asylum for Young Ladies. One day after her plan to escape is thwarted, she is adopted by the mysterious Madame Z. Everything seems perfect until Mary and her new friend Jacob discover Madame Z might not be who she seems.
Sulwe’s skin is “the color of midnight,” but she wishes she could be the color of dawn, like her mother, or the color of noon, like her big sister. After her mother reminds her that her name means “star,” Sulwe takes a magical journey through the night sky that changes her mind about her own beauty.
Inspired by trains and zeppelins and airplanes, Jack has some brilliant ideas for the new car he has designed himself. With rhymes that are fun to read out loud and colorful illustrations, readers will follow as Jack takes his dad on an exciting test ride of this fantastical car, which has a fireplace, pool and snack bar — and that’s just the inside. Robert the Robot starts Jack’s car, and off they go!
When the Little family somehow finds themselves with a mouse for a son, they take it in stride and help young Stuart adapt in the large world he calls home. Stuart has many adventures throughout the book, including a model sailboat race in Central Park and his friendship with a bird named Margalo, who ultimately saves his life.
Gifted and sweet, Matilda goes largely unnoticed by her less-than-loving parents. Things only get worse when she goes to school. Fortunately, her aptly-named teacher, Miss Honey, helps Matilda discover how special she is and encourages her to create the life she dreams about.
A less-than-upright nobleman hatches a plan to quell the discontented people of the kingdom. He decides to find an impersonator to take the place of the long-lost prince, choosing four orphans who must compete for the role or risk losing their lives. Readers will have difficulty putting this adventure-packed book down.
Before she started going to school, Chrysanthemum loved her name. Now, she wants to change it because her classmates make fun of it. Even her parents cannot console the little mouse. Everything changes when the kids’ favorite teacher says she has the perfect name picked out for her new baby. Even preschoolers will be captivated by this charming read.
In this silly and vividly illustrated story, the children’s mother goes out of town for work and their father is left in charge. On the first morning, the family runs out of milk, so Dad heads to the store. When he finally returns after what seems like an exceptionally long time, he explains what happened. His adventure begins with being abducted by aliens and ends with him saving the world… thanks to the milk.
Tommy and Annika Settergren lead a happy but uneventful life until 9-year-old Pippi moves in next door. Claiming that her mother is dead and her father lost at sea, the young girl moves into the home with only a monkey and a horse. The three children become fast friends and life is never boring again.
“Sisters and Champions: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams” follows the young girls on their road to stardom. The Williams sisters got their start learning to play tennis on a humble court in Compton, California, and eventually become tennis champions and some of the greatest athletes in any sport — but above all, they’re sisters first. Beautiful illustrations of the sisters help bring their story to life on the page.
16. “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” by Judy Blume
Every kid with a younger sibling will root for and commiserate with 9-year-old Peter in this classic summer read. His younger brother “Fudge” is always causing trouble and usually getting away with it. And then there’s the matter of Sheila Tubman, Peter’s bossy classmate and neighbor who always seems to show up at the worst times. It’s tough being a fourth grader.
Young Nix lives on her father’s time-traveling ship, which can go anywhere — real or imagined — provided her father has a map. Although the crew has been on many adventures, this one could change everything. If her father can find the map that will take them to a time before her mother died, Nix might cease to exist. History, time travel, mythology and pirates… this book has it all.
18. “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” by Chris Grabenstein
How cool would it be to spend the night in an amazing library designed by a famous, eccentric game inventor? Kyle is about to find out, because he is one of 12 kids chosen to do just that. The twist is that they have to solve puzzles to escape the library without using the main doors. Kids who enjoyed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will love reading this book over summer break.
When a hurricane shipwrecks a robot named Roz on an island inhabited only by wildlife, the animal residents are terrified. Roz struggles to survive on her own when she finds an orphaned gosling and decides to raise it. Over time, the other creatures accept her as part of their community and Roz finds a place where she belongs.
20. “The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy” by Jeanne Birdsall
This won’t be an ordinary summer vacation for the four Penderwick sisters. Their widower father has rented a cottage on an estate called Arundel Hall. However, haughty Mrs. Tifton is displeased with her son’s friendship with the “common” family and seeks to end it in the first book of the Penderwicks series.
21. “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner *
Some books stand the test of time, and “The Boxcar Children” is an excellent example. When their parents die, neighbors plan to send Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny to their grandfather, whom they’ve never met. Thinking he is an evil man, the children run away and make a home in an abandoned boxcar until one of the children becomes gravely ill. The siblings discover that the unknown is not always as bad as it seems.
22. “Dragons and Marshmallows (Zoey and Sassafras)” by Asia Citro
Zoey and her cat Sassafras love to solve problems. When a sick baby dragon shows up in the backyard, they are not sure what to do. The pair is determined to save little Marshmallow — and the other magical creatures who show up needing help — using scientific theories and experiments. This book boosts young children’s STEM knowledge as well as their reading skills.
23. “The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street” by Karina Yan Glaser **
The Vanderbeekers’ brownstone on 141st Street has always been their beloved home, and they can’t imagine living anywhere else. So when the cranky landlord decides not to renew their lease — right at Christmastime! — the five Vanderbeeker siblings fight back by showing the curmudgeonly Mr. Beiderman that they’re the best residents ever. But they’re running out of time: They only have 11 days to convince him to let the family remain. Each of the charming characters brings their unique talents to the table to save their home and stay in their neighborhood in Harlem.
Ten-year-old Opal, whose mother left when she was little, isn’t happy that her preacher father moved them to a small Florida town. When she finds a mangy mutt in a local supermarket (and names him Winn-Dixie, after the store), things finally start to look up for Opal in this moving, heartwarming book.
Elin’s family cares for the fierce water serpents that fight in her kingdom’s army, and when some of the serpents mysteriously die, her mother is punished with a death sentence. Her mother sends Elin far away to safety, where she learns that she can talk to both the serpents and the flying beasts that guard the queen. This puts Elin in a powerful but precarious situation, where she learns of deadly plots and must try to rescue the creatures she’s come to love from battles ahead.
26. “Save Me a Seat” by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan *
Ravi is the new kid at school all the way from Bangalore. Joe is not new, but he is large and awkward. Ravi and Joe have opposite wishes: while Ravi wants popular kid Dillon to notice him, Joe wants to avoid Dillon’s unkind attention. Written by two authors with alternating points of view, readers will relate to the moving, humorous book.
27. “Princess Cora and the Crocodile” by Laura Amy Schlitz
Cora wants a day off from all of her boring princess duties, so she writes a letter to her fairy godmother (as any princess would). The fairy sends an unexpected gift: an enormous crocodile. Chasing after her new pet and attempting to make him mind, Cora spends a crazy day getting dirty, breaking rules and finding her own voice. An ideal summer chapter book for early readers, pre-readers will delight in the abundant illustrations as well.
In this edition of the Pals in Peril series, Lily, a normal 12-year-old, has a father who, unfortunately, works for an evil genius … with a plan to release an army of ill-tempered whales on stilts with laser-beam eyes to destroy civilization as we know it. Lily does have two extraordinary friends to help her save the world — a gadget genius and a zombie and were-goat fighter — but what will happen if Lily, who thinks she’s just an average girl, has to come up with a plan on her own?
When 12-year-old Molly’s mom has to take a long-distance job and her dad is struggling to hold things down at home, Molly tries hard to control what she can. She aligns her glass animal figures in a seamless line; keeps her pencils sharpened to precise points; and maintains a spotless bedroom. However, her need for control and perfection start to take over and Molly doesn’t know how to stop. Learning to ask for help is her hardest and most important lesson.
Jim Hawkins is a boy at his father’s inn when a rough seaman named Billy Bones comes to stay. Bones tells Jim that he knows where the treasure of the infamous Captain Flint is buried. After both Jim’s ailing father and Bones die, Jim decides to find the treasure himself in this classic adventure read.
31. “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher” by Bruce Coville **
Sixth-grader Jeremy is just trying to get away from two boys trying to hold him down so Mary Lou Hutton could kiss him, yuck! But fleeing the scene, he stumbles into the mysterious Mr. Elives’ Magic Shop. Pressed to buy something, he purchase what he thinks is a new marble and is surprised to learn it’s really a dragon egg. What’s more, he’s now in charge of hatching it — and raising a baby dragon!
Between mornings at day camp, afternoons at the neighborhood pool and entire days spent playing video games, make sure your children’s summer includes plentiful trips to the library and copious kids’ books such as these. Not only will their boredom vanish, but they could head back to school in the fall even smarter than when they left.
Tricia Goss is a Texas-based writer and editor with nearly two decades of experience. She is passionate about helping readers improve their skills, gain knowledge and attain more happiness in life. When she’s not working, Tricia enjoys traveling with her husband and their dog, especially to visit their five grandchildren.
