Summer is a great time to read with your young child. There are proven studies that show that reading with your child from an early age leads to a high aptitude for learning, boosts basic speech skills, promotes better communication skills, develops logical thinking skills and more.
It is recommended that you read 15-30 minutes every day with your child. There are startling impacts for those that don’t. As your child begins to learn to read on their own, it is still important to read with your child. There are specific ways to read with a beginner reader to help your child be consistent in reading.
Summer is the perfect time to get into great practice of reading everyday. Start with these books for preschoolers through early grade school.
Salamander Dance
If your child enjoys nature, critters, and salamanders like mine, they will love Salamander Dance. This book takes the reader on a vivid journey of the life cycle of the spotted salamander.
My son has had the uncanny ability to spy a salamander while hiking through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park since he was 2! My husband and I had no idea there were so many salamanders running all around the forest until our son spotted them.
Kids love salamander and this book reveals their secret life that they live underground in forest burrows and vernal pools.
This book is for kids ages 5-7, however younger kids will enjoy being read aloud this book and older, nature loving kids will enjoy a relaxing self-read of this book. My kids are 9 and 11 and enjoyed reviewing this book and learned quite a bit even at their age.
David FitzSimmons is also the author of another one of our favorite books, Curious Critters. If you have a nature loving kid, this is a must for your library.
You can purchase Salamander Dance on Amazon.com in hardcover ($16 ) and Curious Critters on Amazon.com in hardcover ($18).
Whose Story Is This, Anyway?
Whose Story Is This, Anyway? Well, it depends on who you ask…
The narrator tries to tell a story but is interrupted by a colorful cast of characters including a heroic knight, hungry dinosaur, and alien! They each have their own tale to tell. It’s hilarious when they all come together in one book to entertain kids ages 3-7.
Younger kids will enjoy reading with parents while older kids will be able to read this book over and over again alone.
You can purchase Whose Story Is This, Anyway? on Amazon.com in hardcover ($10).
Thank You and Good Night
Teaching children to say “Thank you” involves more than two little words. Thank You and Good Night is a delightfully illustrated book that teaches preschoolers through early grade school children about gratitude.
This book takes the reader on a journey with two young children as they realize all the things and people in their lives that they are thankful for every day. They explore their world around them and the people, places, and things that they are thankful for by saying thank you throughout.
This is a great book to read to young children as well as for older kids to read alone, great for kids ages preschool – 9 years old.
You can purchase Thank You and Good Night on Amazon.com in hardcover ($10) and kindle ($8 ).
Heroes of the Bible Treasury (I Can Read! / Adventure Bible)
Heroes of the Bible Treasury is part of the I Can Read! series for kids ages 4-8. It is made for newly independent readers as well as to be read with an adult. Kids will enjoy reading 6 well-known Bible stories including Noah’s Ark, Elijah: God’s Mighty Prophet, and Paul Meets Jesus.
Each story is written for young minds to understand with beautiful illustrations. At the end of each story is information relevant to the story that talks more about People and Life in Bible Times.
You can purchase Heroes of the Bible Treasury (I Can Read! / Adventure Bible) on Amazon.com in hardcover ($10).
Great Stories of the Bible (I Can Read! / Adventure Bible)
Great Stories of the Bible (I Can Read! / Adventure Bible) is Level 2 for independent readers. In this collection, your child will read about:
- God’s Great Creation
- Noah’s Voyage
- Joseph the Dreamer
- Moses Leads the People
- Ruth and Naomi
- Brave Queen Esther I
This is an excellent way to introduce your children to daily devotions and reading the Bible on their own. For ages 4-8.
You can purchase Great Stories of the Bible (I Can Read! / Adventure Bible) on Amazon.com in paperback ($10 ).
Little One, God Made You Special
Little One, God Made You Special is a rounded-corner board book inspired by the New York Times #1bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life. This adorable book reminds children ages 4-8 that God made each one of us very special.
“God made you special, little one. There’s no one like you – no, not one!”
“No one has your great big heart. God made you special from the start.”
It is written for ages 4-8 but younger children will also enjoy the colorful illustrations of baby animals as well as the story.
You can purchase Little One, God Made You Special on Amazon.com in hardcover ($7) and kindle ($3).
Read with Me Bible for Little Ones
Bible stories are revealed in a colorful, lively way for young children in Read with Me Bible for Little Ones.
This is the perfect way to introduce young children to God’s Word with short passages and vivid illustrations. The Holy Bible can be intimidating for even adults, so reading it to a child can be difficult.
I’ve found Bibles such as this one as a great starting point for my children. They enjoyed me reading and rereading the stories over and over. Once they grow older, we found more age-appropriate Bibles. This is a great starting Bible for kids, it says ages 4-8 but I personally feel it would be just fine for kids as young as 2.
As your child gets older, he’ll enjoy reading the familiar short stories on his own too.
You can purchase Read with Me Bible for Little Ones on Amazon.com in board book ($10 ) and kindle ($6).
Remember, Just Be You
We all struggle with fitting in, even as adults. Remember, Just Be You takes a journey with Mark, a kid nervous to start his first day at a new school. He struggles to find his place, to fit in and his parents continue to give him advice to “just be you” every time.
Mark learns that being himself is exactly what he needs to be. Readers will be reminded the important truth that they never need to change who they are for friends or anyone in this book.
You can purchase Remember, Just Be You on Amazon.com in paperback ($10 ).
The Berenstain Bears Bear Country Fun Sticker and Activity Book
Keep your child’s mind sharp this summer with creative and interactive fun with The Berenstain Bears Bear Country Fun Sticker and Activity Book. This book includes 32 pages of activities for ages 4-8! Enjoy word finds, mazes, puzzles, coloring pages, and more.
This activity book also includes more than 50 reusable stickers too. Perfect for hours of entertainment at home or while traveling on vacation!
You can purchase The Berenstain Bears Bear Country Fun Sticker and Activity Book on Amazon.com in softcover ($ 7).
Remember, Just Be You
We all struggle with fitting in, even as adults. Remember, Just Be You takes the reader on a journey with Mark, a kid nervous to start his first day at a new school. He struggles to find his place, to fit in and his parents continue to give him advice to “just be you” every time.
Mark learns that being himself is exactly what he needs to be. Readers will be reminded the important truth that they never need to change who they are for friends or anyone in this book.
You can purchase Remember, Just Be You on Amazon.com in paperback ($10 ).
Happy Summer Reading!
Reading with your child from an early age builds a stronger parent and child relationship, as you snuggle up together to read a book, you are nurturing that relationship.
If you have older children in grade school – middle school, check out our Summer Reading Guide for Grade School – Middle School Children.
