Summer is upon us and we all know that this often times means a little extra down time, or, if nothing else, just a little different schedule than the rest of the year. With all of the kids home from school, we know that you are probably trying to find a few extra ways to fill up their time. Today, we have for you the best, most amazing, top reads for this summer!! You and your family will LOVE all of these options and be coming back to this post time and time again for the next book to pick up!{Let’s be honest, you should probably just bookmark this post right now!}
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28 Great Summer Reads for Kids 29 Top Books to Read with Your Kids 34 Fabulous Books to Read This Summer 34 Books to Read Before Watching the Movie
WOW!! Right!?! We promise that these books are going to be on your ‘must read” list!! 28 Great Summer Reads for Kids
The Black Lagoon Series – A fun and exciting kids’ series all about the scary goings on at school!
American Girl Series – This series has multiple books all about amazing girls from history, and more! {If your younger reader enjoys this one, know that there are many more like this, and this that they can pick up as well!}
Amelia Bedelia Series – Silly Amelia just can’t seem to get anything correct.
Arthur Series – Arthur has so many great stories! Your kids will love reading the whole series!
Berenstain Bears – One of my favorites growing up, my kids already have many of these in their collection.
Cam Jansen Series – Great transition to chapter books about the heroine, Cam Jansen!
Clementine Series – The stories of third grader Clementine are sure to please any young reader.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – A favorite of many kids!
Dr. Suess Books – Dr. Suess’s books are so much fun with their mixed up silly words and phenomenal characters!
Elephant and Piggie Series – Kids absolutely adore the silly stories of Elephant and Piggie!
The Fancy Nancy Series – This fancy little lady has some high adventures!
The Flat Stanley Series – Where will Stanley end up next?
Fly Guy Series – The adventures of Fly Guy are a great read for those just beginning to break into chapter books.
Frog and Toad Series – Frog and Toad are classics that belong on every reading list.
Go, Away Big Green Monster! – We LOVE this book at our house! If you enjoy this one as much as we do you will also love this, and this by the same author!
Hank the Cowdog – This series is based on the humorous antics of the canine Head of Ranch Security.
Henry and Mudge Series – Read all about this fabulous duo in all of the Henry and Mudge books!
Horrible Harry Series – This series will become a favorite in no time.
Humphrey Series – Read all about Humphrey as he navigates the wilds of school with the students of Room 26.
Judy Moody and Friends Series – A great collection for any young reader.
The Junie B. Jones Series – I absolutely adore this series and always enjoyed reading them with my First Grade students when I taught.
The Magic Treehouse Series – These classic stories will never get old!
Pigeon Series – Silly Pigeon will keep your kids laughing with these humorous books!
Pinkalicious Series – The perfect books for every little lady in your life.
The Boxcar Children – There are plenty of these to keep your kids reading all summer long!
The Story of Ferdinand – While this one is only a single book it will always be a classic!
Robert Munsch Collection – So many favorites all packed into one place.
Time Warp Trio Series – No one’s ever bored when the Time Warp Trio is around! SO many great options, right!?! Now that we have taken care of books FOR your kids, take a peek at the fantastic books to read WITH them! 29 Top Books to Read with Your Kids
A Tale Dark and Grimm – Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic fairy tales. {If you love book 1 make sure you grab books 2 & 3 as well!
A Wrinkle in Time – The tales of Meg Murry will become a family favorite!
Anne of Green Gables – This classic just had to make the list.
Beezus and Ramona – The great stories of Ramona will keep your family reading this summer!
Esperanza Rising – Read about how Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances!
Freckle Juice – More than anything in the world, Andrew Marcus wants freckles!
Frindle – What is a Frindle you may ask? Read this fun story to find out!
Goosebumps – A fun and thrilling series that will keep your kids on the edge of their seats.
The Hatchet Series – I LOVED this series growing up! I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to enjoy them as well! {If you love this book then be sure to check out books 2, 3, 4, & 5!}
Janie Johnson Series – The mystery of Janie Johnson will shock and surprise your entire family.
Gregor the Underland Chronicles – Follow along as Gregor pursues his little sister through a grate in the laundry room of their New York apartment building!
Little House on the Prairie Series – This series of stories will forever hold a place in my heart!
My Father’s Dragon Trilogy – A three book set that your family will love!
Naya Nuki – This story includes it all! Authentic information about Indian lore, survival skills, and the West before the white man. Naya Nuki was a favorite of mine growing up.
Peter and the Starcatchers – The story of a young orphan named Peter and how he became the forever-young boy.
Pippi Longstocking – Pippi has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, and a horse that lives on her porch!
Shel Silverstein’s Poems – A quick and easy read for every family.
Running out of Time – Jessie lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana in 1840 – or so she believes.
The BFG – This book will be one that your family will reach for time and time again!
The Borrowers – The stories of the the tiny, stouthearted Borrowers!
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – Trouble brews and friendship bubbles when Elizabeth meets an honest-to-goodness witch!
The Chocolate Touch – Silly story of a boy who acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate!!
The Chronicles of Narnia – Read all about Narnia in this amazing series!
The Indian in the Cupboard – In this classic, a young man receives two presents that will change his life.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Follow Ralph as he journey’s through life in this fun loving family favorite.
The Westing Game – A bizarre chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing’s will.
Percy Jackson Series – Percy Jackson will become a favorite over night!
The Wayside School Series – When the builder misunderstood the plans for Wayside School he starts a series of hilarious stories everyone will enjoy. The kids are now fully taken care of and it is your turn to kick back with a fabulous book! You are going to LOVE every one of these! 34 Fabulous Books to Read This Summer
Edenbrooke – SO many of the Divas suggested this book, it was probably our top recommended book for this post!
A Court of Thorns and Roses – When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it.
And Then There Were None – The mystery and suspense in this story will leave you reading for hours not able to put the book down!
Austenland – Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man.
Choose Yourself – A self help book all about learning how to better yourself!
Darcy’s Story – What is Mr. Dacy’s side of the story!?
Divergent Series – The full Divergent series – you will want to order them all together because you won’t be able to read just one.
Elantris – A one volume fantasy that you will love.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less – The way of the essentialist is about getting the right things done.
His Fair Assassin Trilogy – The trilogy of seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage.
Happy Wives Club – One woman undertakes a worldwide search to learn the secrets of a great marriage – and finds one fundamental truth that could change everything.
Jane Eyre – Originally published in 1847 – Jane Eyre follows the emotions and experiences of Jane as she matures and grows.
Man’s Search for Meaning – An eye opening memoir written by Viktor Frankl. His story will amaze you with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps, and its lessons for spiritual survival.
Matched Series – “The Society” decides every life decision, until there is a glitch for just a moment, and it leaves Cassia questioning everything.
No Excuses!: The Power of Self Discipline – A book about how self discipline is really the true path to success.
Me, Inc. – In Me, Inc., Simmons shares a lifetime of field-tested and hard-won business advice that will provide readers with the tools needed to build a solid business.
Pride and Prejudice – There is no way that we could leave this one off of our list!
Rebecca – Follow Mrs. Maxim de Winter as she recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew
The Book Thief – Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing, when she encounters something she can’t resist … books – inside the war-torn, starved nation of Nazi Germany.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns – This trilogy has it all. It’s packed full of adventure, sorcery, heartbreak, and power.
The Great Gatsby – The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby, and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan!
The Secret Keeper – During a picnic at her family’s farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson witnesses a shocking crime.
The Screwtape Letters – This classic is a must read for everyone.
The Little Lady Agency – Melissa Romney-Jones can bake a perfect sponge cake, type her little heart out, and plan a party blindfolded. But none of that has helped her get far in life or in love.
The Selection Series – 35 girls. 1 crown. The competition of a lifetime.
Theft of Swords Series – They killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They chose poorly.
Throne of Glass – In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle.
The Whole-Brained Child – 12 revolutionary strategies to nurture your child’s developing mind.
Tiger Lilly – A stunning re-imagining of J. M. Barrie’s beloved classic Peter Pan.
Uglies Series – In Tally Youngblood’s world, looks matter.
Unbroken – From a delinquent youth, to the Olympics, and then World War II, discover the story of Louis Zamperini.
Warbreaker – When the youngest sister is forced to wed the silent king of a faraway nation, in place of the eldest, a secret is uncovered that will shake the very foundation of society!
Mistborn Series – You won’t be able to set this one down until you have read the whole series!
The Rent Collector – This fictional story, based on actual accounts, follows a Cambodian family that lives, and makes their living, at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. Oh my! SO many great books! Now lets add just a few more fantastic titles. These great reads also have fabulous movies that have been created about them that you can watch after reading the book! 34 Books to Read Before Watching the Movie
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! – Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair. And it only got worse! {Click here for the movie!}
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass – The classic story of Alice will be the perfect book/movie paring! {Click here for the movie!}
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Who doesn’t love this story!? {Click here for the movie!}
Charlotte’s Web – A favorite of my childhood; your family will adore this fabulous read! {Click here for the movie!}
The Complete Adventures of Curious George – The entire family will love the silly tales of this adventurous monkey! {Click here for the movie!}
Ella Enchanted – At her birth, Ella of Frell was given a foolish fairy’s gift; the “gift” of obedience. {Click here for the movie!}
The Da Vinci Code – A story like no other, that you are sure to LOVE! {Click here for the movie!}
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find them – Get going on this read now so you will be ready to see the movie when it comes out later this year!
Harry Potter – The family will love this series even more when they read them together! {Click here for the movies!}
Holes – A fun family read! {Click here for the movie!}
How to Train Your Dragon – Your whole family will adore this fun story. {Click here for the movie!}
If I Stay – In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen -year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. {Click here for the movie!}
James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl has done it again with this classic! {Click here for the movie!}
Mary Poppins – Reading this story before watching the movie as a family will cause all of you to love the story just that much more! {Click here for the movie!}
Me Before You – Get a jump start on this book so you can watch the newly released film!
Nim’s Island – A girl. An iguana. An island. And e-mail. Meet Nim–a modern-day Robinson Crusoe! {Click here for the movie!}
Nurse Matilda – Your children may already know her as Nanny McPhee! {Click here for the movie!}
Peter & Wendy – Oh, how we love the story of Peter Pan! {Click here for the movie!}
Stuart Little – Silly Stuart will take your entire family on an adventure! {Click here for the movie!}
Matilda – This was one of my all time favorite growing up! {Click here for the movie!}
The Complete Wreck Series {A Series of Unfortunate Events} – All 13 books together in one pack! Read these unfortunate tales before watching the movie! {Click here for the movie!}
The Fault in Our Stars – Read the story of Hazel’s cancer and how it all changes, because of one individual. {Click here for the movie!}
The Help – The tales of Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter, placed in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962. {Click here for the movie!}
The Hunger Games – Even if you have already seen the movies, it is a whole new experience to read the books! {Click here for the movies!}
The Lorax – Another fun family read that everyone can get involved in. {Click here for the movie!}
The Martian – Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. {Click here for the movie!}
The Neverending Story – Bastian embarks on a wild adventure when he enters the magical world of Fantastica; a doomed land that brings him many exciting experiences. {Click here for the movie!}
The Night at the Museum – Check out this funny book that inspired the great film! {Click here for the movie!}
The Notebook – A love story like none other. {Click here for the movie!}
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – An interesting twist on a classic tale. {Click here for the movie!}
The Princess Bride – How can you not love this one? {Click here for the movie!}
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – I can’t wait to read this one to my kids! {Click here for the movie!}
To Kill a Mockingbird – The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town, and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. {Click here for the movie!}
Twilight – Read Bella’s story that became an instant hit! {Click here for the movies!} And there you have it! 125 top books to read this summer! Looking for more fabulous summer ideas? Be sure to check out these fabulous posts! 50 Fun Family Activities for Summer Summer Olympic Yard Games
