Every summer I give the kids the challenge to read 100 picture books. The boys are so excited about this and love to mark off the books they read on our chart. Sometimes we need some new ideas for books, so today I thought I’d share 100 of my favorite picture books for summer! I’ve personally read through all these books and can recommend all of them! Hopefully you can get some new ideas for reading!

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These books are great for preschool and early elementary age children. I’ve organized the books by categories and alphabetized them by author.

Books About Summer

Summer: Hot Days Out in the Sun! by Lisa Bell

Berenstain Bears Go Fly a Kite by Stan & Jan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vacation by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe

Harriet and the Roller Coaster by Nancy Carlson

One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews

Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car by Eileen Christelow

Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum

A Sky Full of Kites by Osmond Molarsky

Books About the Beach & Ocean

Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

Gilbert the Hero by Jane Clarke

Swimming with Dolphins by Lambert Davis

How to Survive as a Shark by Kristen Foote

Duck & Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills

Beach Day! By Patricia Lakin

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

Curious George Goes to the Beach by Margret & H.A. Rey

Books About Swimming

Maisy Goes Swimming: A Maisy Classic Pop-Up Book by Lucy Cousins

Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim by Leonard/Shapiro

Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwell

Books About Camping

The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Maisy Goes Camping: A Maisy First Experience Book by Lucy Cousins

Fred and Ted Go Camping  by Peter Eastman

S Is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet by Helen Foster James

Curious George Goes Camping by Margret & H.A. Rey

Books About Baseball

Ballpark by Elisha Cooper

Just as Good by Chris Crowe

Goodnight Baseball by Michael Dahl

Pete the Cat: Play Ball! by James Dean

Baseball Hour by Carol Nevius

The Jungle Baseball Game by Tom Paxton

Books About Dogs

Homer by Elisha Cooper

RRRalph by Lois Ehlert

Rosa: Perpetual Motion Machine by Barbo Lindren and Eva Eriksson

Curious George and the Puppies by Margret & H.A. Rey

Books About Cats

Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue by Peter Caralanotto

Magic Thinks Big by Elisha Cooper

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman

Books About Boats

The Sailor Dogby Margaret Wise Brown

Big Bear’s Big Boat by Eve Bunting

Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera

Busy Boats by Tony Mitton

Toy Boat by Randall de Seve

Books About Bugs & Insects

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle

The Very Lonely Firefly board book by Eric Carle

The Very Quiet Cricket Board Book by Eric Carle

Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin

Diary of a Wormby Doreen Cronin

Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin

Big Rig Bugs by Kurt Cyrus

Pest Fest by Julia Durango

Books About Gardens

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

How Groundhog’s Garden Grew by Lynne Cherry

The Gigantic Sweet Potato by Diane De Las Casas

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

The Little Gardener by Jen Gerardi

Books That Are Funny

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Gile Andreae

Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car by John Birmingham

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Click, Clack, Splish, Splash by Doreen Cronin

Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin

Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure by Doreen Cronin

Oink-a-Doodle-Moo by Jef Czekaj

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! by Ed Emberley

Jump! By Scott M. Fischer

Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks

AlphaOops!: The Day Z Went First by Althea Kontis

Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf by Rachael Mortimer

Ducks Don’t Wear Socks by John Nedwidek

Big Brave Brian by M.P. Robertson

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse by Judy Schachner

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems

Books With Life Lessons

No More Teasing! by Emma Chinchester Clark

A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue by Julia Cook

Give That Back, Jack! (Cautionary Tales) by Phil Roxbee Cox

Don’t Tell Lies, Lucy! by Phil Roxbee Cox

Don’t Be a Bully, Billy by Phil Roxbee Cox

Everyone Needs a Friend by Dubravka Kolanovic

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee

Books That Make You Feel Good

Big Mama by Tony Crunk

My Beautiful Child by Lisa Desimini

Stars Above Us by Geoffrey Norman

Books About Bedtime

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

Can’t Sleep Without Sheep by Susanna Leonard Hill

Good Night, Harry by Kim Lewis

How Do You Say Good Night? by Raina Moore

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Dusky Rinker

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen

Here is a printable list of all 100 books –> 100 Picture Books to Read This Summer

Have you read any of these books? What books would you add to this list? Would love to hear your suggestions!

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