Whether you are reading to your kids, along with your kids, or they are reading independently, the joy of books knows no bounds. Following is a curated list for kids of all ages, written by a dear friend (and mom of three!) who loves all things books… and just happens to have a Ph.D. in children’s literature!
The following post is guest-written by children’s book expert Christina Phillips-Mattson. She is pictured above with her three children, James (8), Luke (6), and Alexandra (3). (See below for her full bio!) She organized the following list, starting with our littlest readers at the top and ending with recommendations for young adults. The included links enable readers to purchase most of these books, if desired, from Bookshop.org, an organization that donates proceeds to financially support independent bookstores.
Without further ado, here’s Christina!
Reading books aloud in the wintertime would perhaps win the award for “coziest experience,” but I’m here to make the case that reading with your kids outside in the sunshine on a picnic blanket or beach towel (or even just some soft grass!) is just as joyful and has the potential for some core summer family memory-making.
And, added bonus, you will be boosting your child’s vocabulary, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills while wiring their brains for lifelong learning.
Truly a win for everyone involved!
BOARD BOOKS for Babies and Toddlers
Your Places (Your Forest: Your Farm; Your Island) by Jon Klassen
In this new trio of companion board books that came out in February 2025, Jon Klassen presents the child reader with three spaces and the familiar things that populate them. The gentle rhythm of these books make them perfect for reading aloud and your child will love Klassen’s signature whimsical touches (the eyes! the ghost!).
Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli
A favorite of each of my three children when they were toddlers and one of the board books I gift the most, Good Night Owl is a hilarious bedtime book about an owl, a persistent squeak, and the chaos that ensues. If you loved Arnold Lobel’s Owl at Home as a child, you will definitely enjoy this book.
Lift the Flap: Tales of the Acorn Wood by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Hands down my kids’ favorite lift-the-flap books, we still love to read these books even though my kids are no longer in the baby stage. With this series (the latest of which just came out in the UK and should be out in the US by the end of summer), Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler create a cozy, familiar world that will delight your baby/toddler while also piquing their curiosity.
PICTURE BOOKS Ages 3-6
Very Good Hats by Emma Straub
Does your child put raspberries on their fingertips, frequently wear a saucepan for a helmet, or try to balance a stack of books on their head? This is the book for them! Emma Straub is a novelist and also the owner of the Books Are Magic bookstore in Brooklyn, which is definitely worth the visit if you are in NYC.
Let’s Be Bees by Sean Harris
A brand-new book by Caldecott winner Sean Harris, Let’s Be Bees! celebrates both the fun and the important imaginative work of the read-aloud experience. It’s a sweet but also weird (in the best way) book for kids and for the grown-ups reading to them.
Mina by Matthew Forsythe
A bookish mouse. Her beloved albeit slightly dotty father. A case of mistaken (squirrel/cat) identity. An unexpected heroic ending. The illustrations of this book are chef’s kiss perfection. One of our family’s all-time favorites.
Du Is Tak? by Carson Ellis
Written entirely in nonsense language with dazzling illustrations, this book about the renewal of the natural world is as brilliant as it is beautiful. Ta ta oodas!
Ode to a Bad Day by Chelsea Lin Wallace
Written in hilarious odes, this story chronicles a day in the life of a preschooler and it is SO. ACCURATE. Your child (and YOU) will feel so seen. (And they will also love spotting the cricket that appears throughout the book.)
Another by Christian Robinson
One of our all-time favorite wordless picture books, Christian Robinson’s story about a little girl and her cat’s imaginative journey to another world is a playful and fun way for your child to experiment with storytelling. And the art is wonderful.
EARLY READER (aka books for kids learning to read by themselves)
Earl and Worm (series) by Greg Pizzoli
A classic buddy series in the tradition of Frog and Toad about opposites who become unlikely friends, the first book (Earl and Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories) in this brand-new series by Pizzoli came out in April and the second and third come out in July and November, respectively.
Cornbread and Poppy (series) by Matthew Cordell
Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell gives us another friendship story about two mice whose opposite personalities cause all sorts of mishaps and adventures. There are four books in this series so far and we love them so much that we gave out copies as party favors for my son’s 6 th birthday.
CHILDREN’S CHAPTER BOOKS Ages 6-10
Mac B., Kid Spy by Mac Barnett
Situated in that wonderful liminal space between picture book and chapter book, this hilarious series (six books so far!) follows a kid who is enlisted to be a spy for the Queen of England in the 1980s and whose nemesis is a KGB agent who loves a good pair of blue jeans.
The Eyes and The Impossible by Dave Eggers
Winner of the Newbery award last year, this book, written from the perspective of a wild dog, is a poignant story about belonging that will have you and your child on the edge of your seats and laughing out loud.
The One and Only (series) by Katherine Applegate
The latest book in this Newbery award-winning series based on a true story about a captive gorilla, The One and Only Family, came out last year and if your child hasn’t already read the first book, The One and Only Ivan, in school and become obsessed with these stories and characters, this summer is the perfect opportunity to start. Endearingly funny, this heartfelt series about friendship, found family, and hope is already becoming a beloved classic.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
The First Cat (series) by Mac Barnett and Sean Harris
I have to admit that a few years ago I was a graphic novel skeptic, not being a part of this current fortunate generation of kids who have so many great ones at their fingertips. But not only are graphic novels a terrific way to turn your kids into voracious readers because they are so visually engaging, they also often have more new and challenging vocabulary words per page than regular chapter books.
One of my family’s current favorites is the The First Cat series by the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett and Caldecott Award Winner Sean Harris, who also happen to be best buddies since the age of seven. The third book, Wrath of the Paperclip, came out last November (and your child can already look forward to the fourth installment, coming November 2025).
YOUNG ADULTS 14+
The Legacy of Orisha (series) by Tomi Adeyemi
I am admittedly a bit biased when it comes to this series because Tomi Adeyemi is a dear friend and former student of mine, but that doesn’t mean these books are not absolutely amazing. Set in a West African-inspired fantasy world, Zélie Adebola remembers a time before magic and those who wielded it were mercilessly rooted out of her country. Now, Zélie has a chance to strike against the monarchy and to bring back magic to her people, but her enemies will stop at nothing to destroy her.
The things I love most about this series are its emphasis on relentlessly fighting for justice against all odds and also the way magic is tethered to heritage and ancestry, making it all the more powerful and intrinsic to the characters’ identities. If you and/or your teen are fans of the works of Suzanne Collins, Leah Bardugo, Sabaa Tahir, or J.K. Rowling, you will love this series. And, as an added bonus, it is being adapted for the screen so you can prep for the Children of Blood and Bone movie which will be released in 2027.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you can find a book from this list that will be perfect for your child’s summer TBR! Happy Reading, Happy Cooking, Happy Everything!
Christina received her Ph.D. from the Department of Comparative Literature at Harvard University in 2015, specializing in children’s and young adult literature. She has published various academic books, articles, and essays on fairy tales, children’s literature, and young adult literature and has hosted and produced a podcast (Exquisitely Ever After) on children’s books. Though she continues to write and consult, she left academia to raise her children and now has three little accomplices on her reading journey. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is cooking—although sometimes she throws caution to the wind and does all three!
You can follow Christina, and keep up to date with her bookish adventures, on Instagram @exquisitelyeverafter.
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