Summer is such a sweet season for slowing down, soaking in sunshine, and savoring stories together. Whether you’re enjoying extra snuggles during morning read-alouds or winding down with a book after a full day of play, this is the perfect time to build sweet memories around Summer picture books.
As a homeschool momma, I love weaving seasonal stories into our days—not just for the fun of it (though it’s SO fun!), but because stories are such a beautiful way to connect learning with life. And let’s be honest—some days, a good picture book is the smoothest way to keep little hearts and hands engaged when it’s just too hot to play outside!
So today I’m sharing Our Favorite Summer Picture Books—the ones we come back to year after year, and the new treasures we’ve added to our collection lately. These are perfect for toddlers through early elementary kiddos, and many even include gentle lessons on nature, family, and gratitude that we love reflecting on together.
Table of Contents – Click to jump ahead!
5 Charming Summer Picture Books
1. “Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer” by Kenard Pak
This brand new book completes one of our favorite book series! The simple story and the beautiful illustrations do such a lovely job of showing littles how the seasons transition, and highlight the special little perks in each one of them! I am SO thrilled for this release!
2. “And Then Comes Summer” by Tom Brenner
This one reads like a love letter to summer. From hearing the buzz of lawn mowers to standing in line for ice cream, this book captures the little signs that summer has arrived. It’s perfect for sparking conversations about your own summer traditions and memories!
3. “The Relatives Came” by Cynthia Rylant
Oh, how we love this story! It’s all about a big family reunion—something many of us enjoy in the summertime! The illustrations are full of life, and the message of joyful connection with extended family warms my heart every time. Bonus: it’s a great pick to practice sequencing and storytelling with your early learners!
4. “Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey
An old classic that never goes out of style. We love reading this one when we’re learning about berries, bears, or just enjoying a slower pace. The black-and-white illustrations draw little ones right in, and Sal’s adventure is always a hit with our preschoolers!
5. “A House for Hermit Crab” by Eric Carle
Summer is a great time for ocean-themed learning, and this book is a sweet and simple introduction to sea life and growing up. Hermit Crab’s journey of finding a new shell—and learning to decorate it with help from his ocean friends—gives us lots of opportunities to talk about bravery, change, and God’s provision.
Dozens MORE Summer Picture Books
Now, friends… I LOVE picture books. It’s quite an obsession of mine. So as you can imagine, this list of 5 favorites is the SHORT list. If you’d like to see more of Summer picture books we love, head over to my full list on Amazon using the button below!
A Few Tips for Using These Books in Your Homeschool
- Create a Summer Book Basket: Keep a seasonal basket in your living room or school area. Rotate a few of these titles in weekly, and let your kiddos explore them freely! Switching out weekly also gives you another good Summer activity – trips to the library! I guarantee you’ll have such a great time with this FREE Summer activity! CLICK HERE to learn more about our Summer learning plan!
- Pair with Nature Walks: Read a book like Summer Days and Nights or Fletcher and the Summer Show, then head outside to observe signs of summer together. Or take your Summer books basket outside for some sunshine and stories! This is an especially great activity for getting outside in the morning for some good morning sunlight to begin the day. Treat it just like your cozy living room reading time and take some pillows, a picnic blanket, and some of your favorite snacks or breakfast to begin your day!
- Keep It Light and Fun: Summer learning doesn’t have to be heavy. Let the stories lead your activities—whether it’s a berry-themed snack, ocean sensory bin, good ‘ole fashioned puppet show, or a family storytelling time.
- Add to Themed Learning Units: We LOVE a good theme in our house, and Summer is no exception! I love to pair our favorite Summer books with our favorite Summer learning units! For toddlers and Preschoolers some of our favorite Summer themes are ocean, beach, Summer, camping, pond, and SO much more! CLICK HERE to learn more about our favorite Summer learning themes for little ones!
Friend, I hope these books bring joy, peace, and togetherness into your home this summer. Whether you’re in full homeschool mode or taking a more relaxed rhythm for the season, sharing stories is a beautiful way to stay connected and rooted in God’s goodness.
Do you have a favorite summer picture book? I’d love to hear your picks—share them in the comments or tag me on Instagram so we can grow our summer bookshelf together!
With love and coffee,
The Stay-at-Home Teacher
LET’S HANG OUT!
I’d love to chat and get to know you better! You can find us below in some of our favorite places to hang out. Can’t wait to learn more about your homeschool journey!
SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
Was this post about our favorite Summer picture books helpful? Make sure you can come back to it as much as you need by saving it for later on Pinterest! Click the image below to save this pin to your favorite Summer homeschool board!
0