← All gradesKindergarten Summer Reading List
The top 50 summer reading picks for Kindergarten — with descriptions and where to find each book. Download the whole list as a free printable PDF.As an Amazon Associate KitQuest earns from qualifying purchases. - 1
The Very Hungry Caterpillarby Eric Carle · 25 pagesFollows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. - 2
Where the Wild Things Areby Maurice Sendak · 48 pagesThis is an inspired children's book about a boy's passage through tempestuous aspects of life. Max, a naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things, where he becomes their king. - 3
Goodnight Moonby Margaret Wise Brown · 32 pagesGoodnight to each of the objects in the great green room: the chairs, a comb, and the air. - 4
The Day the Crayons Quitby Drew Daywalt · 40 pagesWhen Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them. - 5
Dragons Love Tacosby Adam RubinExplores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them them anything with spicy salsa. - 6
Chicka Chicka Boom Boomby Bill Martin Jr.An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree. - 7
The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats · 32 pagesThe adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day. - 8
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!by Mo Willems · Pigeon series · 36 pagesNo matter how hard he pleads and begs, the pigeon is not supposed to drive the bus while the driver is away, but pigeon tries every persuasive trick a young child knows to get you to say "Yes." - 9
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Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoesby Eric Litwin · Pete the Cat seriesPete the cat walks down the street in his brand-new white shoes, which turn red, blue, and brown as he steps in strawberries, blueberries, and mud — but Pete keeps strolling along and singing his song, because it's all good. - 11
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The Book with No Picturesby B.J. Novak · 48 pagesA book with no pictures might seem boring — until kids discover it forces the grown-up reading it aloud to say ridiculous things like 'blork' and 'bluurf,' revealing the silly, subversive power of the written word. - 13
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Last Stop on Market Streetby Matt de la Pena · 32 pagesEvery Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty -- and fun -- in their routine and the world around them. - 15
Corduroyby Don Freeman · 32 pagesA toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him, he finds what he has always wanted most of all. - 16
The Gruffaloby Julia Donaldson · 32 pagesA mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. The mouse is good enough to eat but smart enough to know this, so he invents . . . the gruffalo! As Mouse explains, the gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo. . . . source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/288946/the-gruffalo-by-julia-donaldson/9780142403877 - 17
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Press Hereby Herve Tullet · 56 pagesInstructs the reader on how to interact with the illustrations to create imaginative images. - 19
The Day You Beginby Jacqueline WoodsonOther students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider. - 20
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Typeby Doreen Cronin · 32 pagesWhen Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. - 21
Stellalunaby Janell Cannon · 156 pagesSeparated from her mother before she is old enough to fly, Stellaluna finds out that not all winged creatures eat fruit. But swallowing food that crawls is just one of the many amazing things this little fruit bat must learn to do. Not all are lessons in survival, however. For as Stellaluna adapts to the habits of her new family, she learns the essence of friendship in humorous and touching ways. --front flap - 22
The Mittenby Jan Brett · 36 pagesSeveral animals sleep snugly in Nicki's lost mitten until the bear sneezes. - 23
Knuffle Bunnyby Mo Willems · Knuffle Bunny seriesA trip to the laundromat leads to a momentous occasion when Trixie, too young to speak words, realizes that something important is missing and struggles to explain the problem to her father. - 24
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Giraffes Can't Danceby Giles Andreae · 32 pagesGiraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 26
We're Going on a Bear Huntby Michael Rosen · 36 pagesNow the very youngest readers can join in the fun with this Classic Board Book edition of *We're going on a Bear Hunt*. Full of delightful comedy and high drama, this tale of a brave family's joyous romp through sweeping landscapes is sure to win new fans. - 27
The Kissing Handby Audrey Penn · 32 pagesWhen Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him. - 28
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?by Carol McCloud · 32 pagesHave You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 29
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Caps for Saleby Esphyr Slobodkina · 48 pagesWhile he is asleep monkeys steal all the peddler's caps. How will he get them back? - 31
The Gruffalo's Childby Julia Donaldson · Gruffalo series · 32 pagesThe Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson (part of the Gruffalo series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 32
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The Pout-Pout Fishby Deborah Diesen · Pout-Pout Fish series · 34 pagesThe Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen (part of the Pout-Pout Fish series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 34
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Room on the Broomby Julia Donaldson · 26 pagesThe witch and her cat couldn't be happier, flying through the sky on their broomstick -- until the witch drops her hat, then her bow, then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items and all they want in return is a ride on the broomstick. But is there room on the broom for so many new friends? And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from the clutches of a hungry dragon? From the acclaimed creators of The Gruffalo, this enchanting story of quick wits and friendship is full of humor and adventure -- and just the right amount of spookiness. - Publisher. - 36
Each Peach Pear Plumby Janet Ahlberg · 32 pagesRhymed text and illustrations invite the reader to play "I Spy" with a variety of Mother Goose and other folklore characters - 37
No, David!by David Shannon · David seriesA young boy is depicted doing a variety of naughty things for which he is repeatedly admonished, but finally he gets a hug. - 38
The Napping Houseby Audrey Wood · 32 pagesIn this cumulative tale, a wakeful flea atop a number of sleeping creatures causes a commotion, with just one bite. - 39
Bear Snores Onby Karma Wilson · Bear seriesOn a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun. - 40
Llama Llama Mad at Mamaby Anna Dewdney · Llama Llama series · 40 pagesLlama Llama gets bored and cranky on a long shopping trip to the store with Mama and throws a full-blown tantrum, until Mama helps him calm down and they finish the errands — and clean up the mess — together. - 41
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Little Blue Truckby Alice Schertle · Little Blue Truck series · 32 pagesLittle Blue Truck beeps hello to all the farm animals as he rolls down the road, but when a rude dump truck gets stuck in the mud, Blue and his animal friends show the power of friendship and lending a helping hand (or hoof). - 43
The Very Busy Spiderby Eric Carle · 26 pagesThe farm animals try to divert a busy little spider from spinning her web, but she persists and produces a thing of both beauty and usefulness. The pictures may be felt as well as seen. - 44
Where's Spot?by Eric Hill · Spot series · 24 pagesWhere's Spot? by Eric Hill (part of the Spot series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 45
Llama Llama Misses Mamaby Anna Dewdney · Llama Llama series · 42 pagesIt's Llama Llama's first day of preschool, and he misses Mama so much he doesn't want to play. With encouragement from his new teacher and friends, Llama Llama learns that school is fun — and that Mama always comes back. - 46
Bark, Georgeby Jules Feiffer · 30 pagesBark, George by Jules Feiffer. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 47
The Three Little Pigsby Paul Galdone · 48 pagesThe Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K. - 48
Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyheadby Ruth KraussA gentle bedtime rhyme in which a little one says goodnight to everything around them — toes, knees, teddy bear, and all — as they snuggle down to sleep, from the author of 'The Carrot Seed,' with cozy illustrations by Jane Dyer. - 49
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Oliviaby Ian Falconer · Olivia series · 36 pagesWhether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good.
