2024 Summer Reading: Grades K - 1 Book List

Mia likes many of the things other people like--going to the beach, the color blue, drawing. But she doesn't like when strangers stare at her because she looks different from them. Down syndrome allows Mia to see and understand the world in a way that may not make sense to others. She considers it her superpower--and instead of it making her strange, she considers herself a masterpiece. As we all are. In this sparkling picture book, Mia offers a glimpse into the life of a child with Down syndrome, helping some readers see themselves in a book and helping others understand those friends, classmates, and family members who are neurodivergent.

When etiquette coach Ms. Picklepop teeters off her stool and spills a bucket of paint, a creature emerges. Not a scary one, or an evil one, or anything of the sort. Instead, what comes alive is ... BLURP! She'll have to carry on with her lesson, despite Blurp's many, messy distractions. But paint splotches and burps aren't all that disrupt Ms. Picklepop's decorous class. Perhaps through an unlikely friendship, Ms. Picklepop will learn a thing or two about manners herself. Fall in love with Cindy Derby's newest adorable creation - Blurp - in this colorful, heartwarming, and laugh-out-loud funny tale.

Nobody in the world actually enjoys reading aloud, do they? Impossible! After all, any number of terrible things could happen- you might come across a word you don't know how to pronounce. Or get distracted by a volcano eruption and lose your place. Even worse, you might accidentally hear the sound of your own voice!

Once upon a time, in a land where horses were mythical beasts, there lived a unicorn-a Teeny-Weeny Unicorn. He lived with his family in a palace-one that was extra-large for him, full of extra-large rugs and extra-large food. And when his brother and sister played chess, they used him in place of a pawn. When it's just too much to take, Teeny-Weeny Unicorn runs away-and has a chance encounter with a salty gnome. It's then that he suddenly starts to wonder... IS he teeny weeny? Or is he just the right size?

This deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance, from an award-winning creator. The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

Attention, reader: You're going to LOVE this book! No, really, you are. It's got everything you could ever want: comedy, drama, action, heart. Plus--are you ready? It's got homework! Ahh yeah! And a trip to the best place ever, the dentist! Ahhhh yeahhh! Additionally--brace yourself--it's got raisins! Nature's candy. AHH YEAHHH! This book is so great, you won't be able to stop reading it. I DARE you not to have fun.

The Vasylenko family are all adventurers who love wild places and wild things. All, that is, except young Oktober. He also dreams of adventure, but it's the kind that takes place between the pages of a book, indoors, where it's safe and warm. Unlike the rest of his family, he dreads venturing out where it's cold, wet, and home to a creature he calls the Wilderness. One day on a hike, Oktober gets separated from his family, and because he doesn't believe he's brave enough to be an adventurer, he's certain his fate is sealed. But maybe getting lost is just what Oktober needs to find courage and a new perspective . . . and an unexpected friend.

Lotti isn't sure she wants to make friends. She's shy, and she doesn't really know how. While everyone around her is playful, outgoing, and loud, Lotti prefers a quiet place and a book to read. Lotti LOVES books. To her, books are full of magic and aren't as scary as new friends. But perhaps Lotti's books can show her how to find magic in everyday moments, and maybe the friends she can share this magic with are closer than she thinks. Iconic Bibliophile creator Jane Mount makes her children's book debut in this imagination-driven story of a shy booklover's attempts to open her mind and find joy with the people around her.

On a lake in northern Wisconsin in 2019, loon researchers were surprised to discover a mother and father loon caring for a mallard duckling. Normally loons and mallards live very different lives and do not get along. Follow along as the duckling grows and displays a mix of both loon behaviors and mallard behaviors. Intriguing verse and striking illustrations combine in this heartwarming tale of unexpected animal cooperation.

Even from Ramen's small shelf in the supermarket, they see spaghetti propaganda everywhere. They want to be celebrated, too. Maybe, Ramen misguidedly thinks, I have to change to be loved like that . "I want to be spaghetti!" they proclaim to the dismay of the rest of the instant noodle section. But when Ramen's brought home and placed in a warm bowl of broth alongside new friends like Chashu, Narutomaki, and Nori, they realize they've always been perfect exactly the way they are.

This book is covered in germs! But to be fair, so are we. Did you know that there are more viruses and bacteria on Earth than there are stars in the known universe? Learn all about the microbes in and on our bodies that help us survive, the ones that don't, and everything in between.

It all started when John "Minnie" Moore built a mine in Idaho and sold it to Englishman Henry Miller. Then Henry married a local lass named Annie and built her a mansion, hence the "Millers' Minnie Moore Mine Mansion." After Henry died and Annie was hoodwinked--losing all but the mansion--she and her son took to raising pigs in the yard, as some are wont to do. But the town wanted those pigs out. Who could have guessed that Annie and her crew would remove the whole mansion instead--rolling it away slowly on logs--while she and her son were still living in it?

What is home? Revel in the ineffable sense of belonging in anthologist Paul B. Janeczko's diverse selection of poems with sure appeal for children. Whether we hang our hats in a walk-up apartment in the city, a farmhouse in the country, or any place in between, the poems in this collection celebrate the places where we live: our homes, our streets, our towns.

How do you tell a llama from an alpaca, an alligator from a crocodile, or a dolphin from a porpoise? The animal kingdom is full of creatures that look so similar to others that they are often confused for each other. A Llama Is Not an Alpaca pairs rhyming animal riddles with factual responses to both teach and engage young readers as they compare and contrast features of commonly misidentified animals. How many will you get right?!

Words are magic! Have you heard? Pick a letter. Make a word! Encouraging kids to mix words, match words, shout and rap words, Scripps National Spelling champ Zaila Avante-garde takes readers along on a noisy and boisterous celebration of letters, sounds, and reading. It's the perfect first step for new readers, full of fun and energy, from one of America's most exciting and unique young voices.

A boy and his father go on a camping trip! Despite one disaster after another, in the end, father and son agree it was their best weekend ever!

Someone blinks! Og makes a yelp. But Og is nice. Og wants to help! Og is a thoughtful monster who stumbles upon a curious creature trapped in a block of ice! Will Og come up with the perfect plan to break the ice, and possibly make a new friend?

Sniff is a dog. Scratch is a cat. And they're best friends... most of the time! In these three hilarious short stories, Sniff and Scratch find creative ways to reach a pie on the kitchen counter, Sniff panics when Scratch gets stuck in a box, and they meet a strange new dog and cat just like them.

Pia's pop, Pete, is making pizza for Pia. Pizza is easy. Pizza is cheesy. Pia's family says pizza is perfect. Everyone loves pizza...right?

Pete the bird likes living alone on his island . . . . One day, Turtle comes. "May I stay?" says Turtle. Pete says okay. Then a dog and an elephant come too. When a storm rolls in, everyone works together to keep safe. Friends help each other. And friends are fun too!

Kit likes to hug. Hugs scare Kip. Kit likes cake. Kip likes fish. Kit and Kip are total opposites but also best friends! Po likes swimming, while Mo is happy to sit on the hill. One day when brave Kit is swimming and gets a cramp, careful Kip must jump into action to save her best friend! With expressive, colorful characters and illustrations packed with silly shenanigans and actions, young readers will love Kit and Kip.

Join the Day kids as they gear up for field day at school. What's more fun than field day? The Day kids are so excited! They gobble their breakfast and race to the bus. So many fun things are waiting for them! Spoon-and-egg race! Face-painting! Kickball! A bouncy castle! Brother and sister can't wait!

Tweet! goes Coach Dodo's whistle. Gym class is in session. Time to play dodgeball. Ducklings are ducking and dodos are dodging. Why is that chick sitting there reading?

Rolling reptiles, in your places! Time to start the Dino Races! When you hear the whistle blow... Dino Racers, GO! GO! GO! It's an exciting day when a group of dinosaurs decide to race...but which dinosaur will come in first place?

If Bear sends an anonymous letter floating down the river, will it be found by someone nice--someone with whom he has as much in common as he did with Bird? In this quartet of tales, the endearing duo is back to show that even friends who sometimes get their wires crossed can always be each other's best supporter--whether making plans to meet that go comically awry, baking hideously inedible surprise cakes, or savoring a starlit moment together (and getting carried away with wishes for just one more thing to make it perfect).

Get ready for a wild ride with Bunny and Clyde! These by-the-rules buddies, a rabbit and a chipmunk, are sick and tired of being good. For once, they want to know what it's like to be baddies--rotten to the core! They want thrills and excitement! But to get really good at being bad, they're going to need some experience. Unless, of course, their best attempts at mastering bad deeds are strangely misconstrued . . .

Willow Feathers McBeaver, aka Detective Duck, is a crime-solving (and very precocious) little duck. She and her animal pals live on beautiful Dogwood Pond, which is adjacent to Lazy Days, a human campground in New England. A pristine spot with clear water, abundant wildlife, and shady willow trees, Dogwood Pond is encountering puzzling problems--mysteries that arise from human-caused disruptions in nature such as water pollution, garbage, warming climate, and human encroachment. Fortunately, Detective Duck is on the job, solving these puzzling mysteries before they get out of hand and destroy their habitat!

Frankie's mama is leaving to cover a breaking news story. Frankie, Papa, and Frankie's teenage sister, Raven, are all proud of Mama, even though they miss her when she's away. But Frankie has a great idea: she can make her own news show! After all, Mama has told her that news is happening around her all the time. With a little assistance from her friends--including her doll Farrah, Robert the toy robot, and her tabby cat, Nina Simone--Frankie prepares for her first "broadcast." And when she hears someone crying in the house, she knows that's the developing story she must cover. With humor, empathy, and imagination, Frankie gets the scoop--and learns that even mature older sisters can miss Mama sometimes.

Reggie is just like any other kid: always looking for fun and adventure! But Reggie's curious, playful side sometimes gets him into trouble. Like when he tries to give himself a haircut before picture day...and ends up gluing his feathers back on his head! Or when he sneaks a mouthful of cookie dough from the kitchen...then feels the sun baking cookies in his tummy! Or when his babysitter puts him on a kid leash while they walk to the park...and he rebels by acting like a dog!

Meet Bean--a stretchy, cheerful dragon who lives with a grumpy witch named Sally. Whether she's solo or with Sally, from burying bones to meeting new friends, in this debut graphic novel Bean finds herself an adventure no matter where she goes. From the creator of the popular webcomic, Sally & Bean , comes Bean The Stretchy Dragon that follows a day in the life of little Bean who lives in the forest with a witch, Sally. A dash of sweet, a pinch of spooky, and plenty of humor.

Meet Mika! Mika is a young explorer who faces familiar-yet-not-fully- known objects and obstacles around her house. Today's newest challenge? The "gurgler" that spins, spews, whirrs, beeps, and even swallows things whole! But the gurgler isn't as scary as it appears. With the help of her friends, Mika is able to rescue her frog from the malicious machine and learn that not everything is as scary as they may seem. Perfect for the youngest comic readers, Mika and the Gurgler is sweet, simple, and charmingly playful!

Before Cat Ninja grew up and became Metro City's greatest defender, he was tiny, adorable Kitten Ninja and he battled...much tinier foes. (Hey, everybody has to start somewhere, right?) In this spin-off prequel to the enormously popular Epic Original Cat Ninja series, our favorite feline hero takes on everything a kitten-size ninja has to battle on the way to his heroic destiny: a sun spot that won't stay put, an irresistible ball of yarn, and--every cat's archenemy--snow!