While you're packing your beach and pool bags this summer, don’t forget to bring along a few summer reads even for your babies! We asked a few local libraries to tell us their top picks this summer for the littlest members of our family. These picks will help you keep molding young minds and we promise won’t put you to sleep as you read them for the 99th time.
Baby Loves Summer
The perfect way to soak up your favorite aspects of summer in this interactive, lift-the-flap book by Karen Katz. A sunny, brightly colored favorite will reveal a big yellow sun, flip- flops, ice cream and everything else baby loves about summer. This board book is perfect to toss into the beach bag or take on vacation with you this summer.
Llama Llama Sand and Sun
Always a favorite, Anna Dewdney brings little readers along on another exciting adventure with Llama. Read along as he splashes in the waves and plays in the sand. This touch-and-feel board book is a must have this season!
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
#1 New York Times bestselling children’s book by Sherri Duskey Rinker. Help even your roughest and toughest readers settle down after a day by the water as they turn off their engines, rest their wheels, and drift off to sleep. The sweet and soothing rhymes make this a perfect addition to any summer bedtime.
Grouchy Ladybug
From one of the best- selling children’s authors of all time, Eric Carle tells the story of one very grouchy ladybug. Little readers will begin to learn basic concepts of time, size, and shape while also learning that maybe being grouchy isn’t always the best option.
Press Here
This unique, interactive picture book utilizes the power of imagination and interactivity to provide a fun read-aloud adventure book! Written by Herve Tullet, children press the yellow dot and follow the directions throughout the pages and embark upon a magical journey filled with surprises.
Why the Face?
Jean Jullien offers a fun, dramatic book for babies that practices empathy and builds emotional intelligence. This hilarious guessing game of facial reactions is filled with clues for the reader to piece together the facial reactions with the overdramatic reasons for them from stinky socks to loud music.
Where’s Spot?
Everyone’s favorite spotted puppy is hiding within this sweet lift-the-flap book. As little ones move through the book finding other familiar animals they are learning all about spatial concepts and developing language skills. A fun book to encourage conversation and quality time this summer.
Pop-up Peekaboo: Under the Sea
Meet a diving dolphin, stripy fish, and other exciting sea creatures that pop out at you in this exciting summer- themed book for babies. Simple text and rhymes helps support language development while the underwater scenes and characters create an introduction to learning about what lives in the ocean.
Read More:
Summer Reading List for Preschoolers
Summer Reading List for Early Elementary
Summer Reading List for Tweens
Thank you to the Pawling Free Library, Wallkill Public Library and West Hurley Library for helping us compile this list! Hudson Valley Libraries offer an endless amount of summer adventures for your family this year. Stop into the cool air conditioning, pick up all your favorite books for your summer day trips and don't forget to sign up for a summer reading program and sneak learning into summer fun.
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