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Kindergarten 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.
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1Cover of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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.
2Cover of Where the Wild Things Are
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.
3Cover of Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Moonby Margaret Wise Brown · 32 pagesGoodnight to each of the objects in the great green room: the chairs, a comb, and the air.
4Cover of The Day the Crayons Quit
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.
5Cover of Dragons Love Tacos
Dragons Love Tacosby Adam RubinExplores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them them anything with spicy salsa.
6Cover of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
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.
7Cover of The Snowy Day
The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats · 32 pagesThe adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
8Cover of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
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."
9Cover of The Pigeon Has to Go to School!
The Pigeon Has to Go to School!by Mo Willems · Pigeon series · 40 pagesThe Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems (part of the Pigeon series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade K.
11Cover of Llama Llama Red Pajama
Llama Llama Red Pajamaby Anna Dewdney · Llama Llama seriesAt bedtime, a little llama worries after his mother puts him to bed and goes downstairs.
12Cover of The Book with No Pictures
The Book with No Picturesby B.J. Novak · 48 pages1 volume (unpaged) ; 26 cm490L Lexile
13Cover of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?by Bill Martin Jr. · 24 pagesChildren see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a teacher looking at them.
14Cover of Last Stop on Market Street
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.
15Cover of Corduroy
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.
16Cover of The Gruffalo
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
17Cover of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If You Give a Mouse a Cookieby Laura Numeroff · If You Give series · 32 pagesRelating the cycle of requests a mouse is likely to make after you give him a cookie takes the reader through a young child's day.
18Cover of Press Here
Press Hereby Herve Tullet · 56 pagesInstructs the reader on how to interact with the illustrations to create imaginative images.
19Cover of The Day You Begin
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.
20Cover of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
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.
21Cover of Stellaluna
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
22Cover of The Mitten
The Mittenby Jan Brett · 36 pagesSeveral animals sleep snugly in Nicki's lost mitten until the bear sneezes.
23Cover of Knuffle Bunny
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.
24Cover of The Rainbow Fish
The Rainbow Fishby Marcus Pfister · Rainbow Fish seriesThe most beautiful fish in the entire ocean discovers the real value of personal beauty and friendship.
25Cover of Giraffes Can't Dance
Giraffes Can't Danceby Giles Andreae · 32 pagesGiraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K.
26Cover of We're Going on a Bear Hunt
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.
27Cover of The Kissing Hand
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.
28Cover of Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
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.
29Cover of Dragons Love Tacos 2
Dragons Love Tacos 2by Adam Rubin · Dragons Love Tacos seriesDragons Love Tacos 2 by Adam Rubin (part of the Dragons Love Tacos series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade K.
30Cover of Caps for Sale
Caps for Saleby Esphyr Slobodkina · 48 pagesWhile he is asleep monkeys steal all the peddler's caps. How will he get them back?
31Cover of The Gruffalo's Child
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.
32Cover of Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoesby Eric Litwin · Pete the Cat seriesPete the cat wears his school shoes while visiting the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and more while singing his special song.
33Cover of The Pout-Pout Fish
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.
34Cover of How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?by Jane Yolen · How Do Dinosaurs seriesMother and child ponder the different ways a dinosaur can say goodnight, from slamming his tail and pouting to giving a big hug and kiss.
35Cover of Room on the Broom
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.
36Cover of Each Peach Pear Plum
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
37Cover of No, David!
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.
38Cover of The Napping House
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.
39Cover of Bear Snores On
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.
40Cover of Llama Llama Mad at Mama
Llama Llama Mad at Mamaby Anna Dewdney · Llama Llama series · 40 pagesLlama Llama experiences separation anxiety on his first day of nursery school.
41Cover of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Siteby Sherri Duskey Rinker · Construction Site seriesAt sunset, when their work is done for the day, a crane truck, a cement mixer, and other pieces of construction equipment make their way to their resting places and go to sleep.
42Cover of Little Blue Truck
Little Blue Truckby Alice Schertle · Little Blue Truck series · 32 pages1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 22 x 27 cm.AD390L Lexile; AD390L Lexile
43Cover of The Very Busy Spider
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.
44Cover of Where's Spot?
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.
45Cover of Llama Llama Misses Mama
Llama Llama Misses Mamaby Anna Dewdney · Llama Llama seriesIn 1932 Berlin, thirteen-year-old Gaby Schramm witnesses the beginning of Hitler's rise to power, as soldiers become ubiquitous, her beloved literature teacher starts wearing a jewelled swastika pin, and the family's dear friend, Albert Einstein, leaves the country while Gaby's parents secretly bury his books and papers in their small yard.
46Cover of Bark, George
Bark, Georgeby Jules Feiffer · 30 pagesBark, George by Jules Feiffer. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K.
47Cover of The Three Little Pigs
The Three Little Pigsby Paul Galdone · 651 pagesThe Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone. A recommended summer reading selection for grade K.
48Cover of Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyhead
Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyheadby Ruth KraussThere are a thousand stories in the land of Narnia, and the first is about to be told in an extraordinary motion picture, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media. In the never-ending war between good and evil, The Chronicles of Narnia set the stage for battles of epic proportions. Some take place in vast fields, where the forces of light and darkness clash. But other battles occur within the small chambers of the heart and are equally decisive. Journeys to the ends of the world, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds and
49Cover of Sheep in a Jeep
Sheep in a Jeepby Nancy E. Shaw · Sheep series · 32 pagesRecords the misadventures of a group of sheep that go riding in a jeep.
50Cover of Olivia
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.