The Best Summery Board Books for Babies and Toddlers
by Keith Rice
There’s nothing quite like spending summer days with your little one. It’s the perfect time for sun-drenched walks, afternoons in the park, and lazy days basking in that summer sunshine. With thoughts turning to games and beach trips, ice cream and picnics, it’s also the perfect time to start introducing your baby to all the joys this particular season has to offer. I’ve rounded up our favorite board books to while away those sunny days with your littlest soon-to-be reader.
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The ABCs of Summer
Buy from:From beach days to backyard fun, this sunny alphabet book captures the magic of summer. Playful rhymes and colorful scenes make it a perfect seasonal read for little ones learning their letters while celebrating all things warm and wonderful.
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Llama Llama Sand and Sun
Buy from:Summers are for spending time at the beach! With this touch-and-feel book, your baby joins Llama Llama and Mama Llama for a day of seaside adventure, splashing in the waves and building sandcastles. The bright illustrations and tactile touches are a great way to keep babies entertained.
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Glow
Buy from:There's just something magical about seeing fireflies light up a summer night sky, and this delightful board book brings that same magic to story time. Little readers will love following Firefly as he searches for his lost glow. With vibrant illustrations plus interactive lights and sounds, this joyful book offers an uplifting message of empowerment.
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Baby Botanicals: Good Morning, Garden
Buy from:Say hello to the garden in this bright, nature-filled board book designed for the youngest readers. With simple text and cheerful artwork, it’s a lovely introduction to the natural world — and a sweet way to spark curiosity from the very start.
Little readers will also love the companion book, Peekaboo, Flowers.
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Hello, World! Garden Time
Buy from:One of my favorite parts about summer is the amazing produce that comes into season (corn, tomatoes, strawberries, oh my!). Introduce your little one to the magic of gardening with Hello, World! Garden Time, where they’ll learn how the fruits and vegetables we eat come from tiny seeds we plant in the garden. And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Hello, World! series to keep your toddler learning all year round.
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Frog
Buy from:Get ready for an exciting adventure - the lifecycle of a frog! This board book follows this amazing frog's journey from a tiny egg to a cute tadpole, to a full-grown frog that can ribbit and hop around. With interactive features, little readers can be a part of the fun and learn all about these fascinating creatures.
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Is it Warm Enough for Ice Cream?
Buy from:This is perhaps the most important question of the season: Is it warm enough for ice cream? This board book is a highly visual and basic introduction to the seasonal change. It’s an excellent way to begin teaching your little reader that with the changing seasons comes new and fun activities to try. Ice cream, of course, is at the top of the list.
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Smart Senses: Seeing Big, Seeing Small
Buy from:Take your little ones on a thrilling journey through the senses! From the wonders of our eyesight to the magic of seeing big and small, this book will ignite your child's imagination and inspire them to explore the world around them in new and exciting ways!
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Spot Goes to the Beach
Buy from:Everyone loves Spot, and now the tail-wagging yellow puppy is ready for his day in the sun. This isn’t just any beach trip, though — today, Spot’s going to learn how to surf! Babies will love following along with Spot and his new friends, including a gutsy penguin.
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Pop-up Peekaboo: Under the Sea
Buy from:This bright and colorful pop-up book is a charming and wonderful way to introduce your little book lover to the ocean and all the creatures that live there. From Diving Dolphin to Stripy Fish, there are a host of colorful sea creatures waiting to surprise and delight your baby under each flap. The rhyming structure is also an ideal way to support those developing language skills.
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Guinea Pigs Go Bug Hunting
Buy from:Guinea pigs Bob and Ginger are off to hunt for bugs! Can they find one for every letter of the alphabet? From ants to zebra butterflies, toddlers can learn their ABCs while exploring 26 different kinds of insects.
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A Ball for Daisy
Buy from:This winner of the 2012 Caldecott Medal is the perfect way to help your toddler learn to cope with the loss of something special. Told through Raschka’s engaging, impressionistic illustrations, the bittersweet story of what happens when Daisy’s favorite toy pops teaches little ones a valuable lesson and is perfectly suited for long, play-filled days of summer.
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Red Wagon
Buy from:Renata Liwska’s lively artwork is the star of this wonderfully imaginative tale for the youngest of readers. Lucy only wants to play with her brand-new red wagon, but her mother has chores for her to do. Fortunately, Lucy discovers that with her new wagon and a little imagination, anything is possible and fun can be had anywhere — a perfect lesson for all those summer playtime sessions.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Garden Friends
Buy from:From a cat's soft fur to the bumpy back of a frog, little hands will love this touch-and-feel story featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Follow this beloved critter as he meets some friends in the garden.
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You might also like:
- Best Touch-and-Feel Books for Your Baby’s Bookshelf
- Potty Training 101: Helpful Books for Kids and Their Parents
- Delightful Butterfly Books for Young Nature Lovers
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2025.