In my previous post I talked about the importance of kids reading and engaging in literacy-rich activities over the summer and gave some tips on how to make it fun!
While we always encourage kids to choose their own books to read, we find that providing suggested reading lists sometimes helps them along. Here are some books that the Denver Public Library recommends based on this year’s Summer of Reading state-wide themes: “Dig Into Reading” and “Beneath the Surface.” Many of these selections are new books, classics or from award-winning authors.
Kids birth – preschool
Big Book of Animal Rhymes, Fingerplays & Songs, by Elizabeth Cothen Low
Wiggle Waggle Fun: Stories and Rhymes for the Very Very Young, by Margaret Mayo
Flower Garden, by Eve Bunting
Underground, by Denise Fleming
K-3rd grade
Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots: Gardening Together with Children, by Sharon Lovejoy
Ant and Grasshopper, by Luli Gray
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton
4-5th grade
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas Rockwell
Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth, by Jon Chad
6 -8th grade
Mysteries of the Mummy Kids, by Kelly Milner Halls
Liar and Spy, by Rebecca Stead
Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon
9-12th grade
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman
Happyface, by Stephen Emond
Many of these titles and more are available in eBook and audio book formats. For more reading suggestions by age group, visit www.summerofreading.org.
–Jen Morris, Denver Public Library
Author: Mile High Mamas
Amber Johnson
Great suggestions! I’m so glad my horse-loving 9-year-old has discovered Pony Pals…it has given her new motivation to read.
Nancy
Great suggestions. We’re fans of Magic Treehouse and Schoolbus.
Allie
Great to know, especially the birth-preschool set. It’s always good to have a list of engaging, quality books for my one year old! Thanks!
C. K. Bradley
What a great list – we haven’t read these, so will be sure to add them to our summer reading list.