Great Summer Read Alouds
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
Great Books for Summer Read Alouds
For Children Ages 4 to 6
By Janet Leary, July 12, 2026
Great Benefits to Read Aloud to Your Child
Something very special happens when read-aloud time is part of summer fun. When I taught K, 1, and 2, I saw how read-aloud books were great for building strong reading foundations, demonstrating how words are put together creating sentences, building vocabulary, and even how stories can show us how to be kind or solve a problem. These are critical to building reading readiness.
As a former teacher when June came every year, the number one reason I would encourage summer read-alouds with kids during summer was the opportunity for connection and bonding. Whether it’s parents with their children or teachers teaching summer school, read-aloud time creates positive memories that go beyond reading mechanics. It can hard wire a sense of comfort into the experience of reading making it a lifelong joy.
This is my opinion, informed by my twenty-eight-years of teaching and also choosing books to read aloud at the end of the school year where I sought to send students off to a summer where the desire to read would linger in young minds and hearts.
Here are ten books that I think would enrich any summer read-aloud time and create memorable fun.
1. Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes, by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Showing a positive attitude with a musical rhythm and repetitive pattern. Builds language sounds and resilience when accidents happen.
2. Z Is for Moose, by Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky
A funny and cute friendship story that teaches sharing and patience while reinforcing ABC skills.
3. This Book Is Perfect! by Ron Keres (Author), Brooke Vitale (Editor), Arthur Lin (Illustrator),(Finn the Frog Collection)
Perfect for summer, this is a highly interactive book that will keep kids entertained while it teaches a lesson about not having to be perfect. And it’s really funny, too.
4. Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina.
This classic is so helpful for teaching problem-solving for very young children. A hat seller has to get his hats back when a bunch of monkeys take them while he naps. I picked this book for its repetitive phrases which helps pre-readers and early readers hear the flow of a tale. This reinforces phonics patterns and prepares children to make predictions of what they think will happen next.
5. The Backyard Bug Book for Kids, by Lauren Davidson
Great summer fun and inspiring real-world exploration. Wonderful resource for building vocabulary. The colorful illustrations are engaging which makes learning about bugs fun and exciting. Each page sparks curiosity that can lead to fun in your own backyard. It's a perfect book for parents looking to inspire a love of the outdoors!
6. Supermoms!: Animal Heroes by Heather Lang (Author), Jamie Harper (Author, Illustrator)
A delightful introduction to non-fiction animal nature books. The illustrations will captivate and engage littles ones. It shows animal moms taking care of their babies with comical speech bubbles that will keep children laughing and engaged.
7. Unicorn Go to Bed, by Mike Hensel (Author), Cottage Door Press (Editor), Chiara Galletti (Illustrator)
A fun book with colorful, engaging illustrations and a charming story about a little girl trying to get her unicorn to go to sleep. Relatable repetition when the unicorn keeps saying, “Just one last thing….” Making it easy for little ones to chime in.
8. Big Al, by Andrew Clements
Big Al is a scary-looking fish who has all kinds of problems as he tries to make friends. There is a good lesson here to talk about how we are all unique and what friendship is. This story shows a good way to solve a problem when Big Al helps the other fish, and they come to see how kind he is and that he is not scary at all.
9. The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Another classic that never gets old. The granny takes a nap and is joined by several animals making a mountain of characters. A fun book where children often will chime in on the repeated patterns. Kids also enjoy looking for the flea on each page and anticipating what will happen next. Easy for children to memorize and retell.
A great curiosity builder and mystery book that is also good for making predictions. Detective Rabbit and his animal friends set out to discover why the veggies are disappearing. Sweet, colorful, and detailed illustrations fill this book
with fun. Also, a terrific book for building vocabulary while following the twists and turns of the story.
Have a fantastic summer enjoying great reads with your kids!
Book Release Coming This Fall 2026!
I Love Myself So I Laugh and Giggle by Janet Leary
“This is a must have book for children and students ages 3-6. It is an outstanding book for kids who are learning to read. The illustrations put a smile on your face and the messages feel delightfully empowering.”
*****Silvia Perchuk - Retired Elementary Education Literacy Coach
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