Summer Reading Recommendations
Get started on summer reading with some of our favorite books by partnering Wondermore authors and illustrators.
🏳️🌈Denotes Pride Month Selection
PICTURE BOOKS & EARLY READERS
Janet Costa Bates, illustrated by AG Ford, Time for Bed, Old House Bates’s tender story and Ford’s cozy illustrations will have families—and extended families or friends—eager to take Grandpop’s cue and embrace a new nighttime tradition.
Jason Chin, Grand Canyon Home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals that have lived and evolved within its walls for millennia, the Grand Canyon is much more than just a hole in the ground. Follow a father and daughter as they make their way through the cavernous wonder, discovering life both present and past.
Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Juana Medina, Twas the Night Before Pride 🏳️🌈 A glittering celebration of queer families puts Pride gently in perspective--honoring those in the LBGTQ+ community who fought against injustice and inequality. Pride Day is a day that means "Together, we are strong!"
Lulu Delacre, Rafi and Rosi Menu! (and companion early reader books) Tree frog siblings, Rafi and Rosi, are excited to help Abuela make her holiday order for sixty pasteles, a traditional Puerto Rican root vegetable dish.
Mike Curato, Little Elliot, Big City and companions Elliot the little elephant has a hard time with a lot of things in the city he loves until he meets Mouse, who is even smaller--and hungrier.
Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar, Summer Is For Cousins Ravi spends vacation with his cousins sharing in all their favorite activities, from. A summertime book celebrating the bond between cousins and extended family members.
Ruth Chan, Thank You, Neighbor A young girl and her dog walk through their urban neighborhood, stopping to greet assorted kids, adults, and workers on their stroll.
MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Andrea Beatriz Arango, It’s All or Nothing, Vale 🏳️🌈 Vale finds her way back to her life’s passion and discovers that the sum of a person's achievements doesn’t amount to the whole of them.
Angelica Del Campo, illustrated by Liniers, The Ghost of Wreckers Cove Two young girls and their father move next to an abandoned lighthouse, where the girls meet a strange new friend and work together to try to solve the mysteries of Wreckers Cove.
Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Stephanie Yue, Katie the Catsitter (and sequels) Twelve-year-old Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead until she realizes the mysterious neighbor who hired her to cat sit is one of the city's greatest supervillains.
George O’Connor, Asgardians (series) The popular Greek mythology graphic novels series Olympians is now accompanied by a Nordic follow-up. Titles so far include Thor, Odin, and Loki.
Jerry Craft, New Kid (and sequels Class Act and School Trip) A timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real. Winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal.
Kwame Mbalia, Tristan Strong Punches the Sky (and sequels) An epic fantasy series set in a richly-imagined world populated with African-American folk heroes and West African gods. Also available in its original novel format.
Lori Lobenstine, illustrated by Il Sung Na, The Barking Puppy (and sequel) 🏳️🌈 Sophie and her friend Juno invent the first-ever newspaper "by dogs" to raise funds for their pug's surgery. A heartwarming and humorous series that celebrates friendship, community, and the power of creativity.
Mark Oshiro, You Only Live Once, David Bravo 🏳️🌈 A laugh-out-loud, time-bending adventure story that explores how our choices make us who we are.
Pablo Cartaya, A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation Reality proves more epic than fantasy in this family road trip story starring a reluctant young hero and his curmudgeonly grandfather.
Ruth Chan, Uprooted Chan’s debut graphic memoir about moving to Hong Kong at 13. Despite missing her friends and feeling unmoored, she gradually puts down roots, knowing that home will always be where her heart is.
Raúl the Third, The Snips: a Bad Buzz Day (series) A fun and zany early graphic novel series starring a crew of scissor-wielding hairdresser superheroes saving the city from evildoers bent on creating havoc and bad haircuts.
Susan Tan, Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards Mo must overcome her worries to find the truth behind her town's urban legend. With her new friend, Nathaniel, she investigates the town, its people, and their history.
Victoria Jamieson, Roller Girl At roller derby boot camp the summer before middle school, Astrid faces the challenges of derby while suffering through turmoil with her best friend. At the big end-of-summer bout, Astrid’s newfound confidence helps her grow comfortable in her own skin.
NOVELS & GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS
Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw, Kiss Number 8 🏳️🌈. Venable’s YA graphic novel is a layered, funny, sharp-edged story of teen sexuality and family secrets.
Ibi Zoboi, Pride Pride and Prejudice gets remixed in this smart, funny, gorgeous retelling of the classic, starring all characters of color.
Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by AJ Dungo, Wake Now in the Fire In this graphic novel based on a true story, a group of high schoolers in Chicago work to overturn the system-wide ban of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis.
Kwame Mbalia and Erin Entrada Kelly, On Again, Awkward Again Pacy and Cecil share a look of love at first sight that sparks a series of mistakes and awkward interactions that conspire to keep them apart. But when they join their school's freshmen dance committee, they learn to be themselves and find they are perfect for one another.
Mark Oshiro and Rick Riordan, The Sun and the Star: A Nico Di Angelo Adventure 🏳️🌈 Demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace must endure the terrors of Tartarus to rescue an old friend in this thrilling adventure.