Summer is a time for being outdoors, exploring, inquiring, imagining, and seeking out desperately needed respite from the long school year. It is the perfect season to dive into a new book, listen to a story, and discover a new author, title, or hobby. Whether it is one book or many, try something new. Read outside of your comfort zone and discover what awaits you between the pages of a book. The more you read, the more you will learn about yourself and the world around you.
Here are a few summer reading recommendations to get you started.
Children’s Books
Listen by Gabi Snyder
A young girl steps out into her busy urban neighborhood, taking a moment to focus on the sounds on her way to school. A reminder to take a moment to embrace the sounds around us.
The Lost Package by Richard Ho
What happens when a package leaves the post office? Richard Ho brings a heartening story to life of the simplicity and complexity of sending a package from New York City to San Francisco. Beautiful watercolors enhance the tale.
Little People, Big Dreams Series by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Discover the diverse lives of remarkable people in this simply written series by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara. Be inspired by the breadth of accomplishments and achievements that these young people have driving them into adulthood.
We All Play by Julie Flett
A delightful book that explores the frolicing nature of animals and people, alike. With a soft color palette the illustrations complement the rhythm of the book. Author Julie Flett interlinks Cree and English introducing readers to a North American Indigenous population.
Young Adult Books
Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
Six critically acclaimed, award-winning diverse authors weave romance through a powerful, heartwarming, and often funny collection of short stories.
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
A coming-of-age story that takes the reader on a journey from a London high school to university as a mixed-race teen discovers who he is and how to navigate the world. Fun fact: the audiobook is read by the British author, Dean Atta!
How To and More
Summer is an ideal time to pursue a new hobby. Check out these hands-on titles and learn a new cooking technique or master a new drawing skill.
Mexican Ice Cream by Fany Gerson
Explore the authentic tastes of Mexico in this beautifully photographed collection of 60 ice cream recipes that dives into the cultural tastes of Mexican cuisine. From ripe avocados to Mexican chocolate to shaved ice with a diverse array of fruit syrups, this delicious cookbook will cool off the heat of the summer.
Drawing with Christopher Hart Series by Christopher Hart
Drawing with Christopher Hart Series brings the how-to of drawing anime to life. Learn how to create your own anime characters, and master the techniques behind anime eyes, hands, character design, and fashion. Then, use these techniques to write and illustrate your own manga stories.
