Books can take you to all sorts of cool places! You can visit with aliens from another planet, hang out with some fun-loving dinosaurs, explore the inside of a beehive, and make lots of new friends! Here is a list of terrific books that will give you some adventure, some laughs, and some amazing facts this summer. Look for them at the library or the bookstore. (Most of the authors listed have written other wonderful books for you to read!) Then just find yourself a comfortable spot, settle in, and read up a storm.
(S) means the book is one in a series.
Bearsie Bear and the Surprise Sleepover Party
by Bernard Waber
On a snowy night, all the animals want to sleep in Bearsie Bear's warm bed.
A Friend for Minerva Louise
by Janet Morgan Stoeke
The silly chicken doesn't know the new one in the house is a baby. (S)
The Hat
by Jan Brett
Hedgie the hedgehog finds Lisa's woolen stocking and, when it sticks to his head, pretends it's his new hat.
In the Rain with Baby Duck
by Amy Hest
Baby Duck hates rain, but Grandpa knows what to do. (S)
McDuff Moves In
by Rosemary Wells
A lost dog finds the perfect new family. (S)
Miss Bindergarten gets Ready for Kindergarten
by Joseph Slate
It's the first day of kindergarten, and both the teacher and her 26 students can't wait to start.
The Squiggle
by Carol Lexa Scaefer
On a walk with her class, a Chinese girl finds a red ribbon and pretends it is many things.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
by Simms Taback
A hole in each page shows the animals the old woman eats.
Walking Through the Jungle
by Debbie Harter
A girl is chased by animals as she makes her way through the world.
Amelia's Notebook
by Marissa Moss
Amelia writes and draws about moving, her new school, and her big sister. (S)
Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Bashful Beaver
by Eth Clifford
The fox detective is hot on the trail again. (S)
Forever Amber Brown
by Paula Danzinger
Amber's mother remarries. (S)
Harry the Poisonous Centipede
by Lynne Reid Banks
Harry ignores his mother's warning to stay away from Hoo-mins.
Hey, New Kid!
by Betsy Duffey
New in class, Cody tells lies about himself to get the kids to like him. (S)
Hot Fudge Hero
by Pat Brisson
Bertie decides to become friends with mean Mr. Muckleberg.
Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook
by Barbara Park
America's favorite kindergartner wants to keep the pen she found. (S)
Lizzie Logan Wears Purple Sunglasses
by Eileen Spinelli
Heather's new friend is very bossy, but always interesting.
Marco's Monster
by Meredith Sue Willis
Marco is jealous when his best friend wins the lead in the class play.
More Stories Huey Tells
by Ann Cameron
Huey grows flowers, plays basketball, and tries to get his dad to quit smoking.
Pinky and Rex and the Bully
by James Howe
A tough kid knocks Pinky off his bike and calls him a sissy.
The Puppy Sister
by S. E. Hinton
Nick's new puppy, Aleasha, is turning human.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
by Rudyard Kipling
In India, a pet mongoose saves a little boy from two deadly cobras.
Rockin' Reptiles
by Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole
Three alligator friends fight over two tickets to a hot concert. (S)
Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter
by Diane Stanley
The king wants more gold, and the child of the miller's daughter knows just what to do.
The School Mouse
by Dick King-Smith
Living in a kindergarten classroom, mouse Flora learns to read.
See You Around, Sam
by Lois Lowry
Preschooler Sam is running away - to Alaska! (S)
Tornado
by Betsy Byars
After a tornado, a family finds a doghouse with a dog in the front yard.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
by Kevin Henkes
How dare her mean teacher take mouse Lilly's show-and-tell treasures!
Lunch Bunnies
by Kathryn Lasky
Thinking about the lunchroom worries rabbit Clyde on the first day of school.
The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive
by Joanna Cole
Take a trip with the wacky teacher and her students. (S)
Martha Blah Blah
by Susan Meddaugh
Talking dog has trouble speaking when her daily dose of alphabet soup is missing half its letters. (S)
Math Curse
by Jon Scieszka
Everything in a girl's life is a math problem.
Meanwhile...
by Jules Feiffer
Raymond finds himself face-to-face with pirates, a posse, and Martians.
My Brother, Ant
by Betsy Byars
Little brother Anthony drives his big brother crazy sometimes. (S)
My Life with the Wave
by Catherine Cowan
After a vacation at the beach, a boy brings home his new friend, a wave.
Mystery of King Karfu
by Doug Cushman
Seymour Sleuth is off to Egypt to find a stolen chicken.
Nate the Great Saves the King of Sweden
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Super Sleuth Nate the Great is on a new case. (S)
Officer Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy Rathmann
Officer Buckle's safety lectures are boring until wonder-dog Gloria steps in.
Piggie Pie
by Margie Palatini
Gritch the Witch sets off to find eight plump piggies at Old MacDonald's farm.
Poppleton
by Cynthia Rylant
When Poppleton the pig moves to a small town, he makes friends and visits the library. (S)
Sam and the Tigers, A New Telling of Little Black Sambo
by Julius Lester
Sam outwits the tigers who take his clothes.
Saving Sweetness
by Diane Stanley
Sweetness runs away from the orphanage and saves the sheriff from an outlaw.
Snapshots from the Wedding
by Gary Soto
Flower girl Maya describes each photo taken at a Mexican American wedding.
Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat
by Sara Swan Miller
Put yourself in your cat's shoes. (S)
Verdi
by Janell Cannon
A young yellow python declares he will never turn green like the grown-up snakes.