Summertime is full of possibilities: imagination, curiosity, and friendships help create joyful memories that will last a lifetime. For me, I’ve been coming back to the same beach every year for over twenty years because of the nostalgia and the warmth of old memories with the promise of new ones. When I was growing up, if I wasn’t building sand castles or swimming, I was reading. There is a lot we can learn from books, including important social emotional skills. The books listed below are for kids (and adults) to continue learning and growing this summer. They focus on topics like healthy habits, imagination, perseverance, and family and community. We hope they provide encouragement to seek out adventure and slow down to spend time with loved ones.

Healthy Habits

Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer

From sowing seeds in spring to savoring succotash, follow the creation of a family meal from the farm to the picnic table on a warm summer evening. This book will give children an appreciation for the process by which their food travels to the dinner table.

Wild Mindfulness by Laura Larson

This book is meant to teach children (and adults!) to experience mindful moments through guided imagery and breathing techniques as they follow along a young girl and her adventures camping and exploring in the wild. This book allows children to be fully immersed in the moment while bringing an awareness and calm to their body while they listen or read.

Imagination

Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins

This book celebrates the universal wonder of treehouses and all the adventures that live among branches.

Sun by Sam Usher

It's the hottest day of the year, hotter than broccoli soup, hotter than the Atacama Desert, hotter than the surface of the sun. It's just the right kind of day for a boy and his granddad to go for a picnic. But as the sun beats down, Granddad keeps having to stop for a rest, and by the time they find the perfect picnic spot, some pirates have beaten them to it. Good thing they have enough food to share!

Perseverance

The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor

Lola is building her dream sandcastle--one with a tall, tall tower and sea glass that sends signals to mermaids. As the sandcastle grows, so does Lola's friendly group of helpers. There's only one thing that Lola doesn't want near the sandcastle: a wave! Will the new friends be able to salvage the mermaids' castle when their hard work is washed away?

It Began with Lemonade by Gideon Sterer

One scorching hot summer day, a spunky young girl decides to sell lemonade . . . only to find there are too many other young entrepreneurs on her street with the same idea. So she sets off with her lemonade stand and ends up at the river's edge, where she discovers a most unexpected, quirky, and very thirsty clientele.

Family and Community

Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones

H, Little O, and Baby Em are stuck in the city for the summer with only their pet goldfish for company. It's looking like it might be a pretty boring vacation, but one day, something exciting happens. Someone starts fixing up the old fountain down the street—the one Grandpa says horses used to drink from before everyone had cars—and a sign appears: "Calling All Goldfish Looking for a Summer Home." H, Little O, and Baby Em can't wait to send their goldfish on vacation, and the fish, well, they seem pretty excited too.

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

In a rainbow-colored station wagon that smelled like a real car, the relatives came. When they arrived, they hugged and hugged from the kitchen to the front room. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars.

When they finally had to leave, they were sad, but not for long. They all knew they would be together next summer.

For Parents and Educators

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff

The research of Dr. Kristin Neff and other leading psychologists indicates that people who are compassionate toward their failings and imperfections experience greater well-being than those who repeatedly judge themselves. This book powerfully demonstrates why it's so important to be self-compassionate and give yourself the same caring support you'd give to a good friend. You can also read these tips on how to help your child develop their self-confidence with self-compassion.

Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence--The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice by Dr. Daniel Siegel

An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation's effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle "Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows." Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life. If you would like to introduce meditations to your child, you can read these tips.

You may use this downloadable template to help guide discussion and reflections. You can find additional SEL book suggestions here and here. If you are interested in creating a summer book club, you can review these tips. Whether you are at home on a rainy day, at a park, the beach, or your backyard treehouse these books are great for summer reading!