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Amazon
Research consistently shows play is as important for healthy development as academic learning, yet the modern world doesn’t leave a lot of room for play, except perhaps during summer vacation. But the summer slide, in which some kids regress academically while school is out, is real, too. So we’ve found summer reading options to combine the two — a little play, while keeping reading skills sharp in the summer.
“Tori and the Muses” by musician Tori Amos (yes, that Tori Amos)
A picture book about inspiration and creativity in which a young Tori struggles to practice for her recital when she would rather make her own music. Ages 4–8.
“Firefly Season” by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muskogee) and illustrated by Kate Gardiner (Nipmuck)
Follow Piper through her playful summer vacations with cousins on the Muscogee and Cherokee Nations as she maintains a friendship with her neighbor Sumi back home in Kansas City. Ages 4–8.
“Kaya Morgan’s Crowning Achievement” by Jill Tew
Enter the cosplaying world of the Renaissance Faire! Even though her Ren Faire-loving dad has died and the rest of her family doesn’t understand her fascination with the Middle Ages, Kaya is determined to become the first Black Queen of the faire. Ages 8–12.
“A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation” by Pablo Cartaya
A reluctant young Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García is sent on a book tour with his children’s book author grandfather. Their road trip from Mendocino to Miami turns epic as they slay demons both real and imaginary and Gonzalo learns lessons about family he never read in a book. Ages 8–12.
“The Cave of Time” by Edward Packer
This book launched the predigital books-as-games “Choose Your Own Adventure” phenomenon, and now it’s being rereleased to introduce a new generation to the idea of playing a book. There are 40 possible endings depending how you play. Ages 9–12.
“A Risky Game” by Alyson Gerber
This is the second book in “The Liars Society” series. Described as a middle grade mix of “The Inheritance Games” and “One of Us is Lying,” in this book, the game takes a terrifying turn, putting Jack and Weatherby in a precarious situation, racing against time to figure out the game. Ages 9–12.
“Girls with Goals” by Clelia Castro-Malaspina
Get ready for the story of how women’s soccer took over the world! This nonfiction book explores women’s involvement in the sport from the origin of soccer through bans and challenges to the eventual explosion of women’s soccer into one of the top sports in the world. Ages 11–15.
“Wandering Wild” by Lynette Noni
This book raises the stakes on camping in this young adult survival story about a disgraced actor and his fake fan who embark on a four-day reality TV wilderness adventure and end up stranded in the outback together. Ages 12 and older.
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