Ashlie (she/her) is an educator, librarian, and writer. She is committed to diversifying the reading lives of her students and supporting fat acceptance as it intersects with other women’s issues. She's also perpetually striving to learn more about how she can use her many privileges to support marginalized groups. Interests include learning how to roller skate with her local roller derby team, buying more books than she'll ever read, hiking with her husband and sons, and making lists to avoid real work. You can find her on Instagram (@ashlieelizabeth), Twitter (@mygirlsimple) or at her website, www.ashlieswicker.com.
The summer reading season has begun! Summer is the perfect time to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and get lost in a good book. This is especially true for kids. And for younger readers, picture books are a great way to keep imaginations buzzing all season long. An added plus? Picture books are perfect for filling summer reading logs. Whether you’re flipping through pages during a road trip, reading out loud before bedtime, or just enjoying a quiet moment together in the backyard, picture books are easy to fit into summer days, making hitting those summer reading goals a breeze.
Here are a few picture book gems to add to your summer reading list. These stories are perfect for preschoolers through early elementary kids, but with enough cleverness and visual interest to keep adults hooked, too. Even on breaks from school, library reading challenges and summer reading assignments encourage kids to keep reading at the forefront, and these books will make it enjoyable. Bright colors, giggles, and bursts of imagination- these books have it all!
Ahoy! by Sophie Blackall
Sophie Blackall is a Caldecott winnter for a reason. This book follows an adult as they attempt to do chores while a child embarks on an imaginative adventure. Switching between the real-life house and the swashbuckling setting of their game, this story reminds the reader that we don’t have to leave home to have an amazing vacation. Get your best pirate voice ready and cuddle up with this heart-warming tale.
The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed and Hatem Aly
What do kids love? Rhymes, wild tales, quests. What do kids relate to? Annoying siblings bursting into their games. As the story unfolds and the tension dissolves, the two siblings at the heart of this book begin to share the storytelling, resulting in an excellent tale full of hilarious, rhyming fun.
Touch the Sky by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic and Chris Park
Vern wants to be one of the kids who swoop through the air, swinging for the skies. There’s only one problem. He doesn’t know how to pump. Enter Gretchen, a spunky kiddo (please tell me her book is coming), who is more than happy to help Vern get there. Get ready for your heart to soar just like Vern’s feet when he finally touches the sky.
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We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang
The perfect read-aloud does not exist. WRONG. Here are some things I love about this book: the strikingly gorgeous illustrations, the clever plot, the commitment to the bit, the just-right length, the friendliness of the community, the shade of hot pink on the end pages that I’ve never seen anywhere else… I could go on, but I really want you to stop reading this and go pick up a copy of this book. Any (definitely) human of any age will get a kick out of this masterpiece.
Hopefully, you’ve found a book or two to pique your interest. Looking for more great picture books? Check out this list of picture books that celebrate neurodivergent kids. Happy reading!
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
It’s Pride Month, and while we celebrate queer literature here all year long, we go especially rainbow bold in June. This week, we’re excited to take a look at the favorite queer books of beloved queer authors.
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It’s Pride month, which is the perfect excuse to buy and read a bunch of queer books. One method I really enjoy for finding new books is to take the recommendations of my favorite authors. Carmen Maria Machado hasn’t led me astray yet. Unfortunately, I don’t have these authors on speed dial, but luckily, they usually have shared their recommendations publicly.
Below I’ve put together queer book recommendations from 11 beloved queer authors. Some are from interviews where they discussed their favorite books, and others are book blurbs. Both the authors’ works and the books they recommend cover a wide spectrum of genres and formats, including graphic novels, literary fiction, poetry, biographies, horror, sci-fi, YA fantasy, and more, so there’s something for every kind of reader.
Akwaeke Emezi recommends…
Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde
“Some of the most spectacular writing I’ve ever encountered in my life… Vagabonds! brought me to tears because it gave me a world in which my country could be home again.”
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English (US) · 