We started out strong with our summer reading and then we went on (a busy, not relaxing) vacation and fell off the wagon. I love to read and our eldest has really gotten into the Harry Potter series. In fact, we just started back up reading again to finish the fourth in the Harry Potter series. So, what to read now? I reached out to our local bookseller, the Bookworm of Edwards for recommendations of summer books for kids. Yes, we are lucky enough to have a local bookseller that also has a cafe and is an excellent place to relax and socialize. Here’s what summer books for kids the team at the Bookworm of Edwards recommended broken down by age. I hope these give you some fresh ideas of books for your kids to enjoy before the summer is over.
Great Summer Books for 5-8 Year Old Readers:
Header photo courtesy The Bookworm of Edwards and Rafael Bonilla Photography
Princess Serena (or as she prefers, Princess Pulverizer) doesn’t want to be a princess–she wants to be knight But her father, King Alexander of Empiria, thinks she still has a lot to learn when it comes to exhibiting valiant behavior. So he presents a challenge.
If you like to laugh super hard then read this series out loud with your kid! It’s about how Andy and Terry get to know each other, the adventures they have together, and one dependable set of emergency inflatable underpants. Silas says it’s an A+. From Nicole
Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he’s armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores.
Katherine Applegate at her absolute best! The world she has built lurks with ruling classes of humans and beasts. Has species of beasts are killed off by humans, the last to live is named the Endling. Byx becomes the Endling of the Dairne species and must keep hope that there are others like him. With an unusual new family of humans and beasts, they fight there way to the truth. I stayed up WAY past my bedtime reading. From Mackenzie
Charlie is thrown into a mystery the moment a deaf stranger signs to him. In a town with a larger population of deaf than hearing, Charlie must learn sign language with his new friend Frog quickly to help find the missing woman. Great mystery and ASL story! From Mackenzie
Need a great spooky book? This is it! Evangeline is a haunt huntress which means she tracks down demons, beasts and ghosts. Her Grandmother and she are called to a job in New Orleans where nothing is as it seems. Beasts from her Grandmother’s day of hunting are back. Be prepared to go on an adventure. From Mackenzie
What does it mean to “be home”? Meet two young girls and their Mother who have been homeless since the death of their Father. Through the love and kindness of friends, they are able to get their feet under them, find their place in their own and within themselves. A beautiful and important read. Great for fans of Wonder or Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus!! From Mackenzie
Whatshisface is an action-packed, high-tech ghost story. Cooper Vega is at yet another new school because his father is in the military. He has the problem of making new friends and dealing with the school bully. To top it all off he’s got to figure out why on earth his smartphone is possessed by a Victorian-era poltergeist! Packed with mystery and a little bit of humor, plus a cool introduction to Shakespeare. From Bart-as
Melly’s on her way to Camp Rockaway with her best friend Olivia, but right before she leaves her parents tell her that they are getting a divorce. While only at camp for 2 short weeks, Melly learns how to channel her feelings about the divorce, and fellow camper Adeline, into her music to become a better drummer. Drum Roll, Please is a beautiful story of self-discovery and standing up for yourself; a great read for musicians and fans of Camp Rock. From Ali
Finding Winnie is one of my favorite picture books, so when I found out this team decided to write a chapter book I just had to read it! This story is about Winnie, a girl cub, who travels from Canada to wartime Europe with Captain Harry Colebourn, and finally to the London Zoo where she became the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh. This is such a sweet story and really showcases Winnie’s loveable nature and her special relationship with Colebourn and his fellow soldiers. Excerpts from Colebourn’s diary and interactions with other animals really elevates the story. This is the perfect book for young readers and families alike. From Allie
On an enchanted island, every generation sees the birth of triplet girls, three queens with special gifts that will eventually be pitted against each other, with the survivor becoming the sole ruler. I enjoyed how the author made each character sympathetic, so it’s not easy to pick who you want to live and die. With plenty of twists and turns, I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. From Ryan
This non-stop thriller will have you guessing until the end. Five friends (with dark pasts) find themselves stuck in Neverworld– reliving the same day that they all died. To get out of Neverworld they have to vote who lives. Before they do, they spend their endless days trying to figure out the real reason for the mysterious death of their friend. Buckle up, this book is awesome! From Mackenzie
This book was a stunning thriller. Sarah is Jewish with blonde hair and blue eyes. After the war leaves her orphaned and on the run, a chance meeting with a mysterious man leads her to a life she never could have imagined. She soon finds herself undercover at an elite boarding school meant for the daughters of Nazi generals. Her mission is to find out their secrets before they find out hers. You won’t be able to put this down! From Sarah
Have your kids read any good books this summer? Any other summer books for kids that you would recommend? Let us know in the comments below!
Liana Moore is a third-culture kid with a hangover from those days that is a severe case of wanderlust. She is more comfortable driving the cliffs of Amalfi, Italy or the dirt roads of Costa Rica or attempting to decipher the street signs of Osaka, Japan than navigating the theme parks of Disney World. But she loves it all. She doesn't believe a vacation is complete without an adventure. Her husband and kids know well that "adventure" often is code for mishap or challenge and it usually results in a good story. They seek outdoor experiences whether in the mountains, on a beach or in the jungle of a tropical country. Her favorite vacation is... all the ones she hasn't yet taken, as well as those she plans on taking again. And, that list is so, so long. But she continues to extensively explore her home state of Colorado, spends lots of time wandering Texas, California, New Mexico, Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway and has even explored Kazakhstan.
