The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Kids Ages 3 – 5
by Rosemary D'Urso
Summer is the perfect time to relax, recharge, and dive into a great book! This collection offers stories that celebrate nature’s beauty, adventurous outdoor explorations, spending time with family, and characters bravely facing new challenges. Grab these engaging reads and make this a summer filled with imagination!
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Papilio
Available from:This brilliant collaboration by three talented storytellers is a unique and captivating tale about a caterpillar’s journey through metamorphosis. Told with humor and heart, this book is a must-have for kids eager to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly.
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Nellie’s Big Splash
Available from:When Nellie, the sea turtle, hatches, she knows she must follow her siblings to the sea but finds the crashing waves terrifying. Readers will root for Nellie as she summons her courage to dive in and discover the beauty of the ocean beyond the waves.
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See Marcus Grow
Available from:In this heartwarming story from viral favorite Garden Marcus, a young boy learns life lessons while exploring his grandmother’s garden. Through curiosity, care, and a deep connection to nature, children learn that growth in both plants and people takes time, love, and patience.
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Don’t Trust Fish
Available from:A paranoid narrator comically questions the possibly nefarious nature of fish, painting them as the outlaws of the animal kingdom. This laugh-out-loud tale will have readers seeing fish in a whole new and utterly ridiculous light. This is o-FISH-ially one of my favorite picture books of the year so far.
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The Octopus Escapes
Available from:Unhappy with his recent confinement in an aquarium, a clever octopus plans his daring escape back into the wild. With just the right amount of drama for little ones, this entertaining read will have children clamoring to know more about these brilliant creatures.
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What’s Scarier Than Thunder?
Available from:Summer storms can be scary, but this imaginative tale shows how a creative father uses humor to help his daughter conquer her fear. He encourages her to picture things far more fearsome than thunder, only to reveal their silliness, like a giant squid named Daryl who loves singing Christmas carols!
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In the Wild
Available from:A judo-obsessed guinea pig named Maud explores the great outdoors in this delightful tale. Faced with a new experience, Maud boldly ventures into the elements and makes a new hedgehog friend.
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Worm Makes a Sandwich
Available from:Worm is eager to make you a sandwich. All he needs is garbage! Join Worm on a humorous journey through composting, culminating in a delicious meal made from fresh ingredients he helped grow. Informative and entertaining, this is an excellent introduction to the composting process.
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Animals of the National Parks
Available from:Travel to our majestic National Parks to meet wonderfully wild animals in this stunning alphabet book packed with fun facts. Complete with a beautifully illustrated map of all the parks, this phenomenal book is perfect for nature lovers!
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Bright Lights and Summer Nights
Available from:Get ready to be captivated by this gorgeous bedtime story featuring Mother Moon as she gently lulls her star baby to sleep with dreamy tales of summer nights. This story sets the perfect mood for bedtime with its whimsical rhythm and enchanting imagery.
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100 Goats and Granny!
Available from:It’s goats galore in this hilarious counting tale! Granny’s small flock quickly grows to 100, with mischievous goats following her everywhere and even escaping to go on wild adventures. Readers will love the chaos and comedy of this enjoyable story!
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Sand Cakes
Available from:Readers are whisked away to the beach in this upbeat tale about a young girl who makes culinary creations from sand. The bubbly rhymes are a joy to read aloud, and the eye-catching illustrations of sandy sweets skillfully capture the carefree charm of a beach day.
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A Unicorn on a Unicycle
Available from:This vivacious new book shows a parade of animals zooming down the street on various vehicles. Readers are encouraged to count the wheels on each means of transportation, creating an educational and whimsical tale.
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Icy Fruit
Available from:This fascinating biography of a Taiwanese ice-pop entrepreneur is as cool as it gets! Determined to beat the heat, the author’s grandfather used the delicious fruits from Taiwan to create a refreshing frozen concoction that he shared with an entire nation and beyond.
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If You Spot a Shell
Available from:If You Find a Leaf is one of my favorite fall books, so I was thrilled to see a summer edition featuring seashells. This gorgeous celebration of imagination demonstrates how a simple shell can transform into a myriad of objects. I love how it inspires children to create dazzling masterpieces featuring shells in unusual ways.
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The Day the Crayons Made Friends
Available from:Duncan’s beloved crayons have disappeared again, but through a series of amusing letters, he discovers they are exploring his house and making unlikely friends in the process. Full of charming artwork and quirky characters, this is an engaging new adventure for this endearing series.
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A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book
Available from:When a narrator announces that a unicorn, dinosaur, and shark are in the best book ever, they are less than impressed. What ensues is a hysterical story packed with funny banter and kid appeal! Kids will also love the follow-up tale, A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle.
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Brave Buzzy Bee
Available from:This inspiring tale of persistence stars the endearing Buzzy Bee, who tirelessly trains for the famed Colony Race. On the big day, Buzzy finds the inner strength to be not only a fierce competitor but also a true friend and model of sportsmanship.
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Mother of Sharks
Available from:Join Melissa, a young girl from Puerto Rico who loves the sea, as she discovers the magic of the underwater world and its inhabitants. Just as Melissa is about to leave the water, she meets a wise and friendly crab who teaches her the importance of preserving the ocean's treasures. This exciting tale is perfect to read on a sunny day and will leave readers with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the sea.
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Marianne the Maker
Available from:With her days packed to the brim with activities, Marianne struggles to find time for her true passion: creating! Determined to invent, she hatches a secret plan to skip her dreaded soccer game. When it backfires, she learns the value of honesty and speaking up for what she truly wants. This is an excellent choice for young makers learning to find their voice.
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Duck Duck Taco Truck
Available from:Rollicking rhymes share the high-spirited story of two feuding food trucks in this funny beach read. When a goose moves in on a duck’s taco turf, the feuding fowls learn an essential lesson in collaboration versus conflict.
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You might also like:
- Books To Keep Kids Entertained During Summer Road Trips
- Feel-Good Picture Books for the Warm Days of Summer
- 6 Reasons To Visit the Library This Summer
- Let’s Go Camping: Picture Books to Spark Outdoor Adventures
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2025.