The school year is wrapping up for many students, giving them even more time to discover some more favorite books. Thankfully, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has released its 2025 Summer Reading Lists just in time.
ALSC’s Summer Reading Lists feature book titles and digital media options to keep children engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer. Titles on the lists were compiled and annotated by members of ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to explore these titles to find resources that may match or spark their child’s interest.
Four lists—all free to download and share—are available for birth-preschool and grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Here are some highlights.
Birth–Preschool
“The Good Game” by Arihhonni David, 2024
When a young Indigenous boy is upset that he can’t play lacrosse with the older kids, his grandfather tells him the story of one of the first lacrosse games, played by animals of land and sky.
“Mamá’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas” by Jesús Trejo, illustrated by Eliza Kinkz Minerva, 2024
Readers will enjoy Trejo’s misadventures in his new job as “Chief Plant Officer,” helping to take care of Mamá’s houseplants. His narration is full of humor and wit, like when he helps take care of a plant that “soiled” itself. But will he save the Golden Pothos?
Listen to our interview with Trejo on Episode Two of the “How I Library” podcast.
Grades K–2
“As Edward Imagined: A Story of Edward Gorey In Three Acts” by Matthew Burgess, illustrated By Marc Majewski, 2024
Burgess tells the story of Edward Gorey, the eccentric American author, illustrator, and icon renowned for his macabre, one-of-a-kind style.
“Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA’s Seamstresses” by Elise Matich Tilbury House, 2023
Discover the untold stories of the “Sew Sisters,” who handcrafted thermal blankets for NASA’s space shuttles.
Grades 3–5
“Ferris” by Kate DiCamillo, 2024
Soon-to-be-fifth-grader Ferris, along with her eccentric family and best friend, Billy Jackson, seeks to provide closure for the ghost that recently visited her grandmother.
Listen to our interview with DiCamillo on Episode Three of the “How I Library” podcast.
“The Secret Library” by Kekla Magoon, 2024
The Secret Library is a magical place where every book holds a hidden secret, and Dally has to decide how to use it wisely. When she chooses to visit her ancestors, the librarian helps her pick just the right clothes for each time-travel adventure. Dally’s pirate adventures are exciting and full of fun and surprises that pull readers right into her amazing world.
Watch I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart in conversation with Magoon about her book, “Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People,” at the American Association of School Librarians’ 2021 conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Grades 6–8
“Spying On Spies: How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Broke the Nazis’ Secret Codes” by Marissa Moss, 2024
Readers will enjoy learning about the brilliant Friedman in this narrative nonfiction title featuring photographs and graphic novel–style drawings. Includes codes and ciphers to learn and practice. A great addition to books about women’s contributions to science.
“Weirdo” by Tony Weaver, Jr., illustrated by Jes Wibowo and Cin Wibowo, 2024
When relentless bullying at school leads to a mental crisis for seventh grader Tony, a move to a new school helps him find his own pack of “nerds” and embrace his own weirdness.
Photo: Kindel Media
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