Celebrate the sunshine with these recent children’s books about summer as the days grow longer and the temperature rises. On June 21, the summer solstice occurs!

1. Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer (PreK–1)

This delightful piece of alliteration follows the creation of a delicious summer meal from planting to dinnertime. Yum!

2. Summer Walk by Virginia Snow (PreK–1)

What could be more enjoyable to spend a summer day than bug hunting? During a visit to Grammy’s house, the kids in this book discover ladybugs, dragonflies, stink bugs, and more.

3. Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bently (PreK–1)

When kids employ their imaginations, summertime beach experiences are even more enjoyable. Jack and his friends transform a sandpit into a pirate ship.

4. A Perfect Day by Lane Smith (PreK–1)

Every animal has its idea of the perfect summer day, whether lazing in the sun or cooling down in a chilly pool. Then Bear? Well, Bear enjoys everything. What would occur on your perfect summer day, parents?

5. A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik (PreK–1)

After spending a day at the beach, everyone is worn out, sandy, and content. This rhyming verse perfectly expresses that feeling.

6. The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier (PreK–2)

This new interpretation of The Little Red Hen is fantastic. None of Ruby’s brothers show any interest in her plans for a grand summer fort until she builds it and they discover how magnificent it is.

7. The Sandcastle that Lola Built by Megan Maynor (PreK–2)

In this beach-themed adaptation of The House That Jack Built, Lola creates an incredible sandcastle while making many new friends.

8. And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner (PreK–2)

Get enthused about the carefree, opportunity-filled summer days. Tom Brenner encourages children to take pleasure in seasonal customs such as inflating bicycle tires, running a lemonade stand, and playing hide-and-seek until it gets dark, among many other activities.

9. Froggy’s Lemonade Stand by Jonathan London (PreK–2)

A lemonade stand is Froggy’s most brilliant invention yet—it’s a summertime classic! There are a few setbacks, though, in a typical Froggy manner.

10. My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis by Paul Meisel (K–3)

Summertime is when kids may go to the beach, have barbecues, or go camping, but P. Mantis’s diary is more about skin-shedding and camouflage. This imaginative examination of the praying mantis life cycle offers an alternative viewpoint on the end of summer.

11. How to Code a Sand Castle by Josh Funk (K–3)

Pearl asks her dependable rustproof robot, Pascal, for assistance because she has been trying to build a sandcastle all summer without success. She writes code to direct Pascal to construct the ideal sandcastle while educating readers about fundamental coding ideas. So clever and enjoyable!

12. Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh (K–3)

Rashin recalls her family’s excursions to the Caspian Sea when they were still living in Iran and muses on how visiting Coney Island will seem different now that they reside in Brooklyn. Encourage pupils to consider how varied and similar summertime activities are worldwide.

13. The Golden Glow by Benjamin Flouw (K–3)

In search of a rare flower he reads about in his botany book, Fox embarks on a summer hiking adventure. Before discovering “the golden glow,” he comes across numerous other woodland plants and animals. Encourage kids to organize their summer hikes by reading this.

14. Pie Is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard (K–3)

Whether pie, a ball, or a towel, summer is the ideal time to share. After reading this title, everyone will count the days until the next summer picnic.

15. Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones (K-3)

For the summer, city kids bring their goldfish to a nearby fountain. This charming tale about a metropolitan summer is based on actual occurrences.