Frederick's Child Magazine
Summer adventures start with stories. Explore these dynamic reads for babies, children and teens.
Board Books
“Baby Loves Summer!”
by Karen Katz
Celebrate summer with this fun, bright board book. Children will love the interactive lift-the-flap pages. Play a game of peekaboo as you read this story with your little one.
“Chu’s Day at the Beach”
by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex
What happens when Chu gets a tickle in his nose? Will his sneeze change everyone’s day at the beach? Come along on this summertime adventure with a panda and his family.
Picture Books
“Froggy’s Lemonade Stand”
by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Plenty of things can go wrong when building a lemonade stand, but you can still have lots of fun. Lemonade makes a great treat for a hot day.
“Leo Can Swim”
by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Ruth Hearson
This fun book about going to a toddler swim class can help prepare your child for his or her first time in the water.
“The Sandcastle That Lola Built”
by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Kate Berube
Building a sandcastle at the beach can also build a circle of friends. This playful spin on “The House That Jack Built” encourages teamwork and creativity.
“Sun”
by Sam Usher
It’s really hot outside, but it’s a perfect day for a boy to go on a picnic with his granddad.
Young Readers
“How to Code a Sandcastle”
by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios
Pearl and her robot friend Pascal have one last chance to build the perfect sand-
castle after a summer of mishaps. By using fundamental computer coding concepts, their creation could be the best sandcastle and best beach day ever. Introduce kids to the fun of coding with this humorous and brightly illustrated book from the computer science nonprofit Girls Who Code.
“Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes”
by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
When Mr. and Mrs. Watson take their pig, Mercy, to a drive-in movie, mayhem ensues when Mercy smells the enticing scent of hot buttered popcorn. This comical book with fun retro-style illustrations captures a nostalgic and newly revived pastime. Mercy Watson is a beloved book series for early-grade readers.
“Super Summer: All Kinds of Summer Facts and Fun”
by Bruce Goldstone
Get ready to explore the amazing abundance of summer. With fantastic photographs, entertaining explanations and creative craft ideas, this nonfiction book presents all the fascinating facts that make summer super.
Middle Readers
“The Best Friend Plan: The Adventures of Allie and Amy”
by Stephanie Calmenson
Best, best, best friends Amy and Allie do absolutely everything together. This summer, they make a list of activities that they will do each and every day. Then Allie learns she’s being sent to sleepaway camp, and all their plans are ruined. How will these BFFs ever make it through the summer?
“Dead End in Norvelt”
by Jack Gantos
In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, 12-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting and countless bloody noses.
“A Long Way From Chicago”
by Richard Peck
Joey Dowdel recounts his annual summer trips to rural Illinois with his sister Mary Alice during the Great Depression to visit their larger-than-life grandma in rural Illinois.
“The Tiny Mansion”
by Keir Graff
Twelve-year-old Dagmar and her family spend a summer living off the grid in a tiny home parked in the Northern California redwood forest, next door to an eccentric tech billionaire and his very unusual family.
Teen Readers
“The House in the Cerulean Sea”
by TJ Klune
Linus Baker is an average man living an average life as a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. But his steady, boring life is disrupted when Extremely Upper Management sends him on a month-long case to an island orphanage that is home to six dangerous children and their mysterious caregiver. As Linus gets to know them all, he’ll have to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about his job and about his own life. Teens will love this deeply moving, sweet and laugh-out-loud funny story about an unlikely family in the unlikeliest of places. Recommended for ages 14 and older.
“Once Upon a Quinceañera”
by Monica Gomez-Hira
Eighteen-year-old Carmen’s life feels like a bad telenovela. She’s spending her summer in a ball gown as a performer for her unpaid internship in the sweltering Miami heat. Even worse, her company has been hired for her spoiled cousin’s quinceañera. And, of course, her new dance partner is also her ex. “Once Upon a Quinceañera” is a coming-of-age story about learning to let go, being comfortable with second chances and taking charge of your own life.
These titles have been thoughtfully selected by Frederick County Public Libraries. You can find these books and more by visiting fcpl.org.
