Pick a Perfect Summer Read from Pinterest

This summer may look a little different, but one thing that hasn’t changed is a good ol' fashioned summer reading list! Whether you’re still headed to the beach or plan on spending days lazing in the backyard, let this list bring back a little normalcy to your life and dive into someone else’s story for an escape. Here are a few suggestions, but there are lots more to choose from on our Pinterest page.

For the Young Ones

What Do People Do All Day, by Richard Scarry

Before Netflix and Zoom calls, there was a wide range of activities people of all ages could participate in around town. Explore different jobs from building a house to taking a journey across the sea. Even though times have changed, kids will get a kick out of seeing what others are up to in Busytown.

She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History, by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger 

For those ready to take on the world! Your little activist will delight in learning about the accomplishments of women throughout history and around the globe like Marie Curie, Viola Desmond, and Malala Yousafzai, and they'll see how these strong women dreamed big and stood up for what they believed in, no matter what others thought.

For the Early Readers

Amelia Bedelia, by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril

Reading for pleasure is easier than ever with chapter books that are lighthearted and fun. Not only does Amelia entertain with her literal-minded antics, but she teaches wonderful lessons about family, friends, and idioms.  

Junie B. Jones, by Barbara Park, illustrated by Denise Brunkus

This series of chapter books is a classroom favorite and has been ticking little funny bones for years. Young readers will delight in the situations this silly kindergartner gets herself into.

Middle Grade Novels

Matilda, by Roald Dahl

While Matilda Wormwood's parents may not pay much attention to her, this extraordinary girl leads a magical life and teaches the adults around her some valuable lessons. 

Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

For those who have ever created an imaginary world in their own backyard, the journey across the Bridge to Terabithia should be familiar. Two friends rule in their newfound land as they cope with hardships in their ordinary lives.

Young Adult Novels 

The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger

Even if it isn’t already on a high school required reading list, this classic novel touches on complex issues relatable to many adolescents. Follow Holden Caulfield as he grapples with his own identity, a feeling of connection, depression, and sex. 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon

Christopher John Francis Boone knows a lot about a lot of things--like countries and capitals and prime numbers--but he doesn’t know how a neighborhood dog suspiciously died. What follows is a captivating story about living on the spectrum and solving crime.

For the Parents

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Life in Gilead is supposed to be a safer, more simpler life--free from sin that the modern world has become accustomed to. However, for the women forced into being Handmaids to higher class families, life is much different and anything but simple. While this satire can be funny at times, it’s equally horrifying as the rules of this new order start to sound all too familiar to some current viewpoints.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro

This modern classic tells the story of childhood friends who survived the cliques and rules of an exclusive boarding school. When finally reunited later in life, it sparks memories of just how special they really are.