We love a good book list, especially when it comes time to soak up the longer, sunnier days of summer! Getting children involved in this tradition at a young age can be a fun way to continue their early language development. That’s why Sarah Simpson, family education and literacy specialist at the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning, picked her top 10 books for young children that celebrate the joys of summer.
These titles feature diverse characters and summertime experiences. From drip-drop melting ice cream treats to helping a firefly find her way home, the 2023 summer reading list has something for all young children. Not only are these books fun and engaging, but they offer great, educator-approved ways to help build your child’s early literacy skills through print awareness, math skills, identifying emotions and more.
Check out the list to see:
- Descriptions of each book
- Recommended ages
- Why we like it from an early literacy perspective
You can also download a quick look at the full booklist.
Get the 2023 summer reading list
PRO TIP: You can further build early language and literacy skills through shared book reading. Shared book reading is when you and your child read a book together and talk about it as you go along. It can be done with any book, including the ones recommended here. Shared book reading is a fun and engaging way to help support your child’s literacy and language skill development. It is backed by science – as you can see here from our partners at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy. Want some tips and ideas to get started? We’ve got you covered!
