Librarians’ 2020 Summer Reading Picks for Kids

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, students and their families are facing uncertain times, but one thing remains as true as ever: reading is a great way for kids to stay engaged with learning during the summer.

Every year, youth librarians from the Association for Library Service to Children compile a list of their top summer reading recommendations for kids of all ages. While most libraries are currently closed to the public, you can still find many of these books available as eBooks and audiobooks.

For more information about these books and why they were selected, visit the 2020 Summer Reading List webpage. Check with your local library for additional suggestions.

For Toddlers and Preschoolers

Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses
by Jen Arena, illustrated by Blanca Gómez Rain!
by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Christian Robinson Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison Ten Little Toes, Two Small Feet / Diez deditos de los pies, dos piececitos
by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Jane Massey Littles: And How They Grow
by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by AG Ford Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!
by Cori Doerrfeld You and Me
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Susan Reagan Tomorrow Most Likely
by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Lane Smith Lucía the Luchadora
by Cynthia Leonor Garza, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez Up, Up, Up, Down!
by Kimberly Gee Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse
by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Blanca Gómez Little Sunny Sunshine / Sol solecito
by Susie Jaramillo Before & After
by Jean Jullien Rainbow: A First Book of Pride
by Michael Genhart, illustrated by Anne Passchier A Parade of Elephants
by Kevin Henkes My Heart
by Corinna Luyken One Lonely Fish
by Andy Mansfield, illustrated by Thomas Flintham Vroom!
by Barbara McClintock Be Kind
by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill Summer Supper
by Rubin Pfeffer, illustrated by Mike Austin Puppy Truck
by Brian Pinkney All Kinds of People
by Shelley Rotner, photographs by Sheila M. Kelly Ciao, Baby! In the Park
by Carole Lexa Schaefer, illustrated by Lauren Tobia Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug
by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck Hello Humpback!
by Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd, illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers Saturday Is Swimming Day
by Hyewon Yum

For Kindergarten Through Grade 2

Peter & Ernesto: The Lost Sloths
by Graham Annable Camp Tiger
by Susan Choi, illustrated by John Rocco The Patchwork Bike
by Maxine Beneba Clarke, illustrated by Van Thanh Rudd Jabari Jumps
by Gaia Cornwall Our Celebración!
by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Ana Aranda Meet Yasmin!
by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly Just in Case You Want to Fly
by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Christian Robinson Carl and the Meaning of Life
by Deborah Freeman Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings
by Francie Latour, illustrated by Ken Daley Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal Where Are You From?
by Yamile Saied Méndez, illustrated by Jaime Kim Saturday
by Oge Mora Dreamers
by Yuyi Morales The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly All Are Welcome
by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman Hey, Water!
by Antoinette Portis My Papi Has a Motorcycle
by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña  Another
by Christian Robinson We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frané Lessac All the Animals Where I Live
by Philip C. Stead Llama Destroys the World
by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox Fox the Tiger
by Corey R. Tabor Skulls!
by Blair Thornburgh, illustrated by Scott Campbell Summer
by Cao Wenxuan, illustrated by Yu Rong Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero!
by Kara West, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez

For Grades 3 Through 5

Twinchantment
by Elise Allen Granted
by John David Anderson Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster
by Jonathan Auxier Sanity & Tallulah
by Molly Brooks, illustrated by the author Rocket to the Moon! Big Ideas That Changed the World
by Don Brown, illustrated by the author Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome
by Monica Brown and Sarai Gonzalez, illustrated by Christine Almeda Ruby in the Sky
by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet
by Jess French The Last Last-Day-of-Summer
by Lamar Giles, illustrations by Dapo Adeola Sweeping Up the Heart
by Kevin Henkes The Parker Inheritance
by Varian Johnson The Simple Art of Flying
by Cory Leonardo Indian No More
by Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorell The Book of Boy
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Aquicorn Cove
by Katie O’Neill, illustrated by the author Knights vs. Dinosaurs
by Matt Phelan, illustrated by the author Stanley Will Probably Be Fine
by Sally J. Pla, illustrated by Steve Wolfhard We’re Not from Here
by Geoff Rodkey Mañanaland
by Pam Muñoz Ryan The Cardboard Kingdom
by Chad Sell, illustrated by the author To Night Owl from Dogfish
by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer The Lost Girl
by Anne Ursu Other Words for Home
by Jasmine Warga Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
by Rita Williams-Garcia, illustrated by Frank Morrison Front Desk
by Kelly Yang

For Grades 5 Through 8

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World
by Ashley Herring Blake Be Prepared
by Vera Brosgol, illustrated by the author Each Tiny Spark
by Pablo Cartaya Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish
by Pablo Cartaya New Kid
by Jerry Craft, illustrated by the author Putting Peace First: 7 Commitments to Change the World
by Eric Dawson I Can Make This Promise
by Christine Day Us, in Progress: Short Stories about Young Latinos
by Lulu Delacre, illustrated by the author Beverly, Right Here
by Kate DiCamillo The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
by Dan Gemeinhart Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
by Carlos Hernandez The Night Diary
by Veera Hiranandani Song for a Whale
by Lynne Kelly Just Jaime
by Terri Libenson, illustrated by the author Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword
by Henry Lien The Season of Styx Malone
by Kekla Magoon Nowhere Boy
by Katherine Marsh Caterpillar Summer
by Gillian McDunn Queen of the Sea
by Dylan Meconis, illustrated by the author Sci-Fu
by Yehudi Mercado, illustrated by the author The Stars beneath Our Feet
by David Barclay Moore Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work
by Victoria Ortiz White Bird: A Wonder Story
by R. J. Palacio, illustrated by the author and Kevin Czap Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum Pay Attention, Carter Jones
by Gary D. Schmidt The Bridge Home
by Padma Venkatraman

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