Whether after a full day of fun in the sun or a rainy day indoors, summertime is the perfect time to snuggle up and read with your little ones and encourage all your young readers! Here is our summer Top 10 children’s books, featuring some of our favorite brand new titles as well as some we’ve loved for a while now:
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The Berenstain Bears 5-Minute Inspirational Stories
Why it’s great:
It’s perfect for bedtime…or anytime. The book is an oversize padded storybook, so it’s great for a lap time read, and the short but well-illustrated 5-minute stories are great for keeping the attention of your young readers. The classic Berenstain Bears style of storytelling helps to teach kids great moral principles from how to be good friends, how to play fairly, where to find courage, and much more.
Jesus Love Me
Why it’s great:
The book pairs sweet, snuggly illustrations with the text of the familiar children’s song, so you can read or sing along! The book features a padded cover that is perfect for little hands.
Hello Stars
Why it’s great:
A terrific read for young girls, this novel from Alena Pitts, star of War Room and tween blogger, is a reflection of Alena’s own life experiences as she reaches for the stars and keeps her faith in balance. In this fun-filled story, central character Lena Daniels must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. She tackles tough choices and learns the value of perseverance, all while keeping her hopes high.
God Bless My Boo Boo
Why it’s great:
It’s the perfect remedy for healing little hurts with a healthy dose of love! As every parent and grandparent knows, even the smallest scratches, bumps, and scrapes can sometimes be traumatic for children. These comforting, sweet, and sometimes silly rhymes will guide you and your young reader through adorable scenes of baby animals and their boo boos to remind your child that God is always there to help. Just like Mommy Zebra makes a scraped knee better or Mommy Walrus helps tend a toothache, you’ll be able to use this book to make your little ones’ boo boos all better too!
Precious Moments: My Noah’s Ark Storybook
Why it’s great:
Full of fun rhymes, songs, prayers, and scriptures—combined with delightful illustrations from Precious Moments—this book is like a trip to the zoo paired with a powerful message of God’s love. You’ll be able to help your child learn one of the most beloved Bible stories and discover the promises God makes to each of His children. “God is with you all the time, and He will take care of you.”
Angels in the Bible Storybook
Why it’s great:
This storybook gives children a fascinating look into how God’s powerful behind-the-scenes helpers interacted with Bible greats from Abraham, Lot, and Gideon to Zechariah, Mary, and Jesus himself, acting as messengers, protectors, warriors, and more. Beautifully written and illustrated, the book asks and answers questions like…Where were the angels when God created the world? Why did an angel force a donkey off a road? Who did the angels get out of jail twice?
My Bedtime Story Bible for Little Ones
Why it’s great:
It’s a perfect addition to the bedtime routine for your little ones. Each of the eight stories tells the day of a favorite Bible character and ends with him or her drifting off to sleep, thanking God for his faithfulness and love.
I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!
Why it’s great:
The book is super cute, playful and comforting for bedtimes with your little ones, letting them imagine all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug. Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, your child will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. The sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between you and your child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.
Every Day a Blessing: A Year of God’s Love
Why it’s great:
It makes a fantastic first devotional for your young readers. Your child will learn to not only see God’s blessings in happy days, but to see His loving hand in hard days as well. Developing a habit of giving thanks in all circumstances will lead your child to a lifelong spirit of gratitude. Each devotion features Scripture and a bite-sized message that will keep the attention of young minds. Devotions also have a takeaway to help children engage with the message and apply its meaning to their lives.
The Berenstain Bears Classic Collection (Box Set)
Why it’s great:
It’s a tremendous collection of some of the best stories from the Berenstain Bears on kindness and forgiveness, how to pray, and much more. With 10 stories in this one box set, it makes a perfect gift to give your young readers.
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Your Turn
Do you and your children tend to read more or less during summer? What are some of your favorite books to read with your kids? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Plus…get more great resources to make reading fun this summer with our Ultimate Summer Reading Kit for Kids.