When you're not relaxing at the beach, the pool, or the woods this summer – or even when you are! – remember to take time to read with your family. Here are some fun suggested reads from our own children’s lit expert, Rob Reid, a senior lecturer of education studies at UW-Eau Claire.

Picture Books

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies

HMH Books for Young Readers, 2006. Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy a day at the beach or in this case, a night at the beach. Bats not only bring their blankets and picnic baskets, they also bring their moon-tan lotion.

Chu’s Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex

Harper-Collins, 2015. Chu is a panda bear with an explosive sneeze. In fact, when he sneezes at the beach, the waves split apart and the sea creatures are all stuck.

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Weekend by Marla Frazee

HMH Books for Young Readers, 2008. So, what’s better for two boys when they get to spend time at one of the boy’s grandparents’ beach home? Explore nature or stay inside and play video games all day long?

Up North at the Cabin by Marsha Wilson Chall and Steve Johnson

HarperCollins, 1992. Minnesota author Chall knows and shares the quiet joys of spending time in a northwoods cabin. A girl fishes, swims, and goes water skiing and also takes the time to reflect on the natural world.

Chapter Books

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

Yearling, 2005. Four girls and their father spend the summer vacationing in a cottage on a rich woman’s estate. It’s there they meet her son in this thoroughly enjoyable, old-fashioned style tale.

For After Summer Vacation

How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague

Dragonfly Books, 1995.In this picture book, Wallace gives a class presentation on how he spent his summer vacation. He was sent by his parents to spend time with his aunt in order to curb his overactive imagination. We see during his retelling of the summer that his imagination is as active as ever.