Summer Reading Suggestions

Elena Rides

by Juana Medina (Author) Juana Medina (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

Beginning readers–and beginning riders–will be drawn to this bright, buoyant story of a determined elephant and her loyal sidekick, from the award-winning creator of Juana & Lucas.

Elena wants to ride her bike. She steadies, she readies. She wobbles, she bobbles . . . KA-BANG! Learning to ride a bike is hard. But Elena can do it. She just has to try, try again. With this reassuring story of childlike persistence, Juana Medina, creator of the acclaimed Juana & Lucas series, introduces Elena, a plucky elephant, and the little red bird who is Elena’s faithful cheerleader. Simple, energetic text and bold, brilliant artwork convey a relatable tale of the ups and downs of learning something new (not without protest or tears) and the final thrill of mastery that will have children rooting for Elena and ready for her next adventure.

Mermaid Days: A New Friend (an ACORN book)

by Kyle Lukoff (Author) Kat Uno (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

Series: Mermaid Days

Vera and Beaker make a new friend when they meet a mantis shrimp, in this series perfect for beginning readers!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic’s early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!

Swim along with mermaid Vera and octo-kid Beaker! In these three stories, Vera and Beaker make a new friend with a powerful baby mantis shrimp. Together, they explore the town of Tidal Grove. Then they play fun underwater games! Young readers will love discovering Vera and Beaker’s funny adventures and learning nonfiction information about mantis shrimp. Did you know that mantis shrimp are small but very powerful? They can punch the water to create shockwaves!

With text from National Book Award finalist Kyle Lukoff, and bright, colorful artwork from artist Kat Uno, Mermaid Days is sure to be every young reader’s favorite new series. Balancing easy-to-read text, endless humor and charm, light nonfiction, and a loveable cast of underwater creatures, these laugh-out-loud stories are the perfect fit for new readers!

Pizza and Taco: Rock Out!

by Stephen Shaskan (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Series: Pizza and Taco

Besties Pizza and Taco are ready to rock out! They have a cool band name! And some instruments–sort of. Songs? Well, even without mad musical skills, how hard can it be?

This super-silly graphic novel series by Stephen Shaskan hits a new high note! Pizza and Taco love music! They make lists, and they have tryouts to get more band members. They think they have all the ingredients to rock the scene. But maybe this garage band should stay in the garage!! This hilarious young graphic novel–with chapters–will tickle the funny bones of kids ages 5 to 8 and bolster their reading confidence.

Young graphic chapter books are a great step on the way to graphic novels and longer chapter books.

The Power of the Pearl Earrings (Nguyen Kids #2)

by Linda Trinh (Author) Clayton Nguyen (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Series: Nguyen Kids

A charming early chapter book series that explores Vietnamese culture and identity through the eyes of the Nguyen siblings, with elements of the supernatural, spirituality, and social justice woven in.

I touch my earrings and feel a rush of wind. I can almost hear Grandma Nội’s laughter through them.

Spontaneous and energetic Liz, the middle Nguyen sibling, grew up hearing stories from her Grandma Nội about the fantastically fierce Trung Sisters, freedom fighters in ancient Vietnam. And with a new school year about to start, Liz is determined that her taekwondo classes will prove she is just as important and brave as the famous warriors. That is, until the new boy at school, Michael, threatens her plans by turning her best friend against her, telling her the things she can’t do because she’s a girl. Struggling with both her friendships and her place in her family, Liz finds help where she least expects it–in the pearl earrings her Grandma Nội left her as a gift, reminding her of her Vietnamese heritage. Armed with the earrings’ mysterious power, Liz decides to show Michael exactly what girls are capable of.

Vanishing ACT (Float #2)  

by Laura Martin (Author)

Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade

Series: Float

Fans of the Percy Jackson series and John David Anderson will love this sequel to the acclaimed novel Float, in which inconveniently invisible Hank must find a way to save Camp Outlier from a saboteur–and win the camp-wide challenge.

Hank, Emerson, and their friends have returned to Camp Outlier for another summer of fun and shenanigans. Hank won’t let his RISK (Recurring Incident of the Strange Kind) factor of inconvenient invisibility stop him from having the best summer ever, even when it starts mysteriously turning people and objects around him invisible too. But between his invisibility and an internet celebrity joining their cabin, camp clown Hank is struggling to maintain his spotlight. Hank knows that if he can win the camp-wide challenge for his team, all eyes will be back on him (or, at least, on where everyone thinks the invisible kid is standing). But as the finish line approaches, it becomes clear that someone is trying to sabotage Camp Outlier–and Hank’s pursuit of camp-wide glory puts him in serious danger.

Laura Martin’s books are the perfect blend of humor and heart, starring deeply relatable characters and highlighting classic middle grade themes in engaging, creative ways.

The Ghost of Spruce Point      

by Nancy Tandon (Author)

Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade

A young boy must unravel a curse to save his family’s beloved Maine motel in this spooky middle grade novel sure to delight fans of Whispering Pines and The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street!

Twelve-year-old Parker has grown up in his family’s Home Away Inn, nestled on a wooded peninsula in Maine called Spruce Point. His best friend, Frankie, has been staying at the inn every summer for years with her family. Together, they’ve had epic adventures based out of a nearby old treehouse that serves as their official headquarters for Kids Confidential Meetings.

But lately, business at the inn hasn’t been great, and Parker is pretty sure he knows why. It’s long been rumored that Mrs. Gruvlig, one of the few year-rounders on Spruce Point, has unique abilities of the supernatural kind. And Frankie is absolutely sure she saw a ghost on Mrs. Gruvlig’s property! As more and more spooky happenings occur around the Point, Parker and Frankie are convinced Spruce Point has been officially cursed.