15 DeLIGHTful Summer Books for Preschoolers

Often, summer is a time for family fun. This story follows a little girl and her father as they enjoy all the magic summer has to offer. For instance, they catch fireflies, do some cloud gazing, and eat ice cream. This sweet tale is perfect for your preschooler.

Undoubtedly, every parent and caregiver knows how it feels to be asked the same question 1000 times. In this cute little picture book, a child anxiously awaits the shift from spring to summer. The mother patiently points out all of the signs in nature that indicate summer’s approach.

On a warm summer night, Amani and her friends play hide-and-seek in their apartment complex. With the help of the moon’s glow, she gleefully finds her hidden playmates. Beautifully illustrated by the acclaimed artist behind I Am Enough, this lyrical tale is another ode to Black joy and self-confidence.

In this sweet rhyming tale, a little girl tries to stay cool on a hot summer day. Of course, she engages in some of summer’s favorite pastimes: jumping in a pool, sipping lemonade, having a picnic, catching butterflies. Finally, she falls asleep to dream of more summer days and nights.

Enter the mind of imaginative, ocean enthusiast Kenzie. Written in lyrical African American Vernacular English, the story follows the title character on a trip to the beach. When Kenzie discovers plastic polluting the ocean, she decides to take action—inspiring others to join her.

This ode to childhood’s favorite season is full of warmth and nostalgia. Jaime Kim’s vivid illustrations perfectly capture the sense of celebration that accompanies long summer days. Beach trips, fireworks, and more mean there’s something for everyone in this timeless tale.

Although this may not explicitly be a summer book, it definitely has the right vibe. Six-year-old Stella thinks sleep is boring. Furthermore, her best friend moved to the other side of the world, which means they’re not awake at the same time very often. Thus, Stella hatches a plan to keep the sun up forever, in this adorable and amusing tale.

It’s great practice to allow even our youngest children to read independently. Regardless of reading ability, preschool children can practice book handling skills and other pre-reading behaviors. After having this book read to them, they’ll be able to revisit it on their own. The predictable rhyming pattern and pictures that closely match the text enable little ones to follow along with the story, even if they can’t yet decode all the words.

With its vivid illustrations and simple, repetitive text, this book is perfect for a preschooler to read independently. Moreover, the story captures a warm day at the park between a father and daughter. How high can the little girl swing? Your little one will laugh at the outlandish possibilities.

Wordless picture books are perfect for preschoolers. In fact, wordless picture books are beneficial to use throughout elementary school. This book actually includes the repeated phrase “uh-oh” but tells its story of a day at the beach primarily through pictures.

Beloved author Mercer Mayer’s classic wordless picture book is a great summer book for preschoolers. Follow the titular boy and his dog as they explore a swamp on a summer day. Soon, they spot a frog and decide to try to catch it. As you can imagine, they end up wet and frog-less. A simple and funny story, this is one your preschooler can read again and again.

Suzy Lee has earned international acclaim for her artwork and this wordless picture book is an incredible example of her skill. With just two shades of watercolor, Lee creates a vibrant story of a child’s day at the beach.