Summer Reading List for Grades K-2

How big is a crocodile? What about a tiger, or the world’s largest spider?

Can you imagine a tongue that is two feet long or an eye that’s bigger than your head?

Sometimes facts and figures don’t tell the whole story.

Sometimes you need to see things for yourself—at their actual size.

Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother, Ami, insists that she bring her little sister along.

Rubina is mortified, but she can’t convince Ami that you just don’t bring your younger sister to your friend’s party.

Both girls go, and not only does Sana demand to win every game, but after the party she steals Rubina’s prized party favor, a red lollipop.

What’s a fed-up big sister to do?

Caldecott Honor medalist Marla Frazee brings her signature wit, tenderness, and hilarious illustrations to this tale of an irresistible puppy pair.

In this lively alphabet rhyme, the letters of the alphabet race up the coconut tree.

Will there be enough room?

Imagine you live in a small Kenyan village, where the sun rises over tall trees filled with doves.

You wake to the sound of a rooster’s crow, instead of an alarm clock.

Your afternoon snack is a tasty bug plucked from the sky, instead of an apple.

And rather than kicking a soccer ball across a field, you kick a homemade ball of rags down a dusty road.

But with so much going on around you, it’s just as easy for a Kenyan and American child to forget what your mama asked you to do!

Chu is a little panda with a big sneeze.

When Chu sneezes, bad things happen.

But as Chu and his parents visit the library, the diner, and the circus, will anyone hear Chu when he starts to feel a familiar tickle in his nose?

Chu's Day is a story that shows how even the smallest child can make big things happen.

From the award-winning author of Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink comes a clever take on the age-old optical illusion: is it a duck or a rabbit?

Depends on how you look at it! Readers will find more than just Amy Krouse Rosenthal's signature humor here; there's also a subtle lesson for kids who don't know when to let go of an argument.

This moving picture book tells the story of one boy who helped in the hatching of an eaglet.

Featuring vividly detailed paintings from landscape artist Wendell Minor, Jean Craighead George’s inspiring text will motivate readers of all ages to care for the environment and its many creatures.

Energetically illustrated with glowing colors — and offering humorous story-within-a-story views — this all-too-familiar tale is sure to amuse (and hold the attention of) spirited little chicks.

Kids and parents alike will rejoice in this lively read-aloud picture book, as the main character runs into (and away from) a tiger over and over again as the plot gets sillier and sillier.

Perfect for acting out while reading, It’s a Tiger! offers just the right amount of excitement without being too scary, and a sweet ending with a bit of a twist.

Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor — and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

Ling and Ting are two adorable identical twins, and they stick together, whether they are making dumplings, getting their hair cut, or practicing magic tricks.

But looks are deceiving–people can be very different, even if they look exactly the same.

What begins as a simple tale of a child’s fascination with pigeons soon erupts into a full-blown chase!

Join Luke in his breathless quest around Central Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge, through fine dining, and into the sky.

On this hysterically unconventional tour of New York, who knows where a few birds will lead?

Renowned author Monica Brown wrote this lively story to bring her own experience of being mismatched to life as a mestiza Peruvian American of European, Jewish, and Amerindian. 

Her buoyant prose is perfectly matched by Sara Palacios’ engaging acrylic illustrations.

Full of irreverent humor and prime for interactive read-aloud fun, More Bears! is a favorite of parents and kids alike.

Acclaimed poet Kenn Nesbitt is at his best with this silly meta-fictional book. 

With spare text and lush illustrations, Nighttime Ninja is a fun, adventure-filled story about the power of play and imagination.

Follow a day in the life of the panda cubs at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve, the largest research facility for giant pandas in China.

When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song.

But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up.

Oh, but it is a good song, a really wonderful song . . . and Penny wants more than anything to sing it.

Will it ever be the right time to sing it?

Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes.

Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes!

In a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators.

Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop’s larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping!

Joy Cowley’s simple, readable text makes the frog’s story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers.

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It’s way too dangerous out there. 

But as Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting.

If you think Superman vs. Batman would be an exciting matchup, wait until you see Shark vs. Train.

In this hilarious and wacky picture book, Shark and Train egg each other on for one competition after another, including burping, bowling, Ping Pong, piano playing, pie eating, and many more! 

From Kara LaReau, author of the Rocko and Spanky series, here is an irreverent and terrifically funny book about a bully who at last gets his comeuppance.

Young animal lovers will welcome this fascinating and moving portrait of an extraordinary person and the animals to whom she has dedicated her life.

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.

Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.