6 great kids’ picture books to help celebrate summer (before it comes to an end)
School might be looming, but there’s still some summer left. Here are six illustrated books to help young kids enjoy the sunny season before it evaporates.
‘Pignic’ by Matt Phelan (Greenwillow, ages 4-8)
The story: Mom and Dad Pig and their little piglets decide it’s a perfect day for a picnic. What could go wrong? A tree that’s too high to climb? No breeze to fly a kite? A sudden storm and lots of mud? No worries, they’re pigs. They love mud!
What kids will like: Any little person who’s ever stomped in a puddle or played in the mud will squeal with delight at this adorable homage to a summer downpour.
‘I Got It!’ by David Wiesner (Clarion, ages 4-7)
The story: In this wordless depiction of a kids’ coed pickup baseball game, an anxious boy of about 12 waits forever for a fly ball to land in his glove. Will he pull off heroics, or will it be out of reach?
What kids will like: Fancifully conceived and illustrated, “I Got It!” scores with the feel-good message that you don’t have to be a superstar to be a winner.
‘Summer Color!’ by Diana Murray; illustrated by Zoe Persico (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ages 4-8)
The story: Kids who live in the country have a wonderful place to explore on a summer day: the great outdoors, filled with flowers and creatures and — what’s this? — rain! But a rainbow might be waiting at the end.
What kids will like: Kids revel in their freedom in this carefree story, which doubles as a pretty, clever lesson in color (“treetops so green,” “petals so pink”).
‘How to Code a Sandcastle’ by Josh Funk; illustrated by Sara Palacios (Viking Books for Young Readers, ages 4-8)
The story: It’s the end of summer vacation — and Pearl’s last chance to build a sandcastle. She’s brought along her rustproof robot pal. Now, all she has to do is code Pascal to fill a pail, dump the sand and shape and decorate the castle. Wait, not with the lifeguard!
What kids will like: Code at the beach? That sounds like work. But this whimsical “Girls Who Code” book finds the fun (and the funny) in computer science for girls.
‘Sun’ by Sam Usher (Templar, age 3-7)
The story: On a hot, sunny day, a boy and his granddad escape the city looking for just the right place for, yep, a picnic. They gather provisions and a map and begin a trek that somehow takes them across a meadow, along a desert and tropical beach and into a cave — where a pirate ship awaits! Some picnic.
What kids will like: Summertime often means a visit to grandparents, and this lovingly imagined adventure will tickle any kid who has one (or more).
‘Picnic With Oliver’ by Mika Song (HarperColllins, ages 4-8)
The story: When Oliver the cat and Philbert the mouse pack for a picnic in the park, the wheels threaten to come off. Literally. But a bagel makes a great replacement for their cart, and Oliver and his trusty umbrella ride to the rescue after a storm swamps Philbert’s tiny boat.
What kids will like: This gentle, sweet celebration of an unlikely friendship shows a ruined picnic doesn’t have to spoil the day — especially once you’re back inside with cookies.