Reading Under the Summer Stars

The other day my little boy (4) told me that another kid stole his book from the library. What really happened? Of course, I had returned the book!

While I keep working on helping my little guy understand the premise of checking out and returning books to the library, I want to provide you with some great picture book recommendations to keep you and your little(s) reading under the summer stars.

My first recommendation is Camping Day, written by Patricia Lakin and illustrated by Scott Nash. A rhyming adventure that tells the story of a family on a humorous adventure, this picture book makes for a great read aloud and helps young children focus on rhyming words. Your little will want to read this book over and over again - especially the toot part.

A newer book that my little really loves is John Canty's Heads & Tails Insects. This beautifully illustrated book provides a wonderful introduction to the types of insects your family might see on a nature walk. My absolutely favorite spread is the caterpillar to butterfly one. Today on our walk, my little asked, "Where is the caterpillar?" (We saw a caterpillar the other day). He then said, " He must have become a butterfly and flown away."

If you're looking for a book that encourages younger children to wonder about the stars beyond, try Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician. Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by Raúl Colón, this biographical picture book tells the story of Johnson, one of the women featured in the adult novel Hidden Figures. As a young girl, I loved looking through my telescope, and I know this book will inspire similar excitement for young readers.

And if you are looking for a nature-based children’s picture book about the power of friendship, I definitely recommend Deborah Marcher’s In a Jar. This is a heartwarming tells the story of two friends who share jars of nature’s wonders - until one of the friends moves away and they have to figure out how to share their jars with one another in a new way. What can you and your little collect on your next nature walk?

So whether you are purchasing your books or stealing borrowing them from the public library, I wish you all the best as you and your little read under the summer stars!

Photo from Unsplash