Summer vacation is a great time to continue building up essential social and emotional skills. These books combine the excitement of summer vacation with valuable lessons about emotions, relationships, and personal growth, making them engaging and educational reads for kids.
"Last Day Blues" by Julie Danneberg
This book follows a group of students and their teacher on the last day of school before summer vacation. It touches on themes of friendship, saying goodbye, and dealing with emotions related to transitions.
"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Mark Teague
In this humorous story, a boy spins an imaginative tale about his summer adventures. It’s a fun read that can spark discussions about creativity, storytelling, and sharing experiences with others.
"Summer Days and Nights" by Wong Herbert Yee
This book captures the joys of summer through the eyes of a young girl. It explores themes of exploration, nature, and the simple pleasures of summer, encouraging mindfulness and appreciation for the present moment.
"The Berenstain Bears Go on Vacation" by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears series often addresses social-emotional themes in relatable ways. In this book, the Bear family goes on a vacation, providing opportunities to discuss family dynamics, problem-solving, and making memories together.
"Summer According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
This book, part of the Humphrey series, follows the adventures of a classroom hamster during summer break. It explores themes of friendship, empathy, and adapting to new situations, making it a great choice for discussions on social-emotional skills.
"A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee" by Chris Van Dusen
This delightful story follows Mr. Magee and his dog, Dee, on a camping adventure. The book highlights themes of problem-solving, resilience, and teamwork as they navigate the challenges of their trip. It’s a fun and engaging read that also teaches important social-emotional skills through the characters’ experiences.
Take your summer reading to the next level by following up after the story with discussion prompts to talk through the themes and characters with kids. Ask open-ended questions to encourage more dialogue.
Or download the Summer Reading Challenge to make reading through the summer even more fun. Complete as many challenges listed below as you can. Color in each box as you complete it. Have fun and happy reading!
