So, when does school start again?
You know the answer. You’ve been eyeballing the date with mixed emotions, eager to see your friends and teachers but not done with summer yet. Hey, don’t worry, though. There’s lots of summer left and lots of time to enjoy these great books…
So, you’ve got big ideas for this summer. You’ve started lots of projects but, as in the new book “The Stuffie Stand” by Maddie Frost (Hippo Park, $18.99), did you forget something?
Moose loves stuffed toys. A lot. He sells them at his very own stand, and he’s happy with his business but when a girl named Mabel asks him to sell her stuffies, which are totally blinged-out, well, what should’ve been a great partnership turns out to be nothing but problems. That makes a cute story for 3-to-6-year-olds who love their stuffies, and kids who can’t seem to know when it’s time to ask for help.
For the kid who faced loss this year, “Our Guncle” by Steven Rowley, illustrated by Eda Kaban (Putnam, $18.99) might be a balm.
After Maisie and Grant lost their mother, they went to stay with their beloved GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick), who tried everything he could think of to help them heal. Even the best intentions don’t last long enough, though, until the night they begin to understand that creative bandages and wide-eyed openness are sometimes what’s best. That makes a great tale for 5-to-7-year-olds who need it.
Who doesn’t like summertime food? Even a picky eater does, and “WillieBoy Eats the World” by Steve Schirripa and Philip Lerman, illustrations by Kirk Parrish (Akashic Books, $16.95) digs in.
WillieBoy is a dog and Steve is his “favorite dude.” They do all kinds of things together, including eat! But one day at the dog park, the other dogs encourage WillieBoy to try some of their hometown yummies and favorite snacks – which sends him and Steve on an adventure around New York City in this adorable rhyming story. This book will surely make mincemeat of your 4-to-7-year-old’s pickiness.
And finally, don’t forget about your outdoor-loving 7-to-12-year-old, and find “The Official National Geographic Kind Survival Guide” by Julie Beer (National Geographic Kids, $14.99). This is a great book for the child who loves to camp or tromp around in the woods. It’s also perfectly appropriate for the kid who’s just content with a back yard. Even children who don’t have much access to the great outdoors will learn how to make a compass, how to know what’s safe to drink, what to do if they find a tick on their body, and more useful summertime things. Bonus: take it on vacation!
If these books aren’t exactly to your child’s liking, then head to your favorite bookstore or library and ask for help finding the right reading material. The staff there will assist you in your search, and they’ll fill your hands with books your kids will love. Do it soon, because there’s still a lot of summer left to enjoy.
Summertime Books for Kids by various authors and illustrators
c.2026, various publishers
$14.99-$18.95
Various page counts
