Children's books about summer
Celebrate the sun with these children's books set during the summer holidays.
These books are some of our favourite children's titles about the summertime, with a wide range in terms of genre and reading age, there's something here for everyone.
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The Penderwicks
Author:
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 7+
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The Penderwicks
Author:
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 7+
Four eccentric sisters and their loving but distracted father take a holiday cottage in the beautiful Arundel estate.
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Beep, Beep, Let's Go!
Author: Eleanor Taylor Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Interest level: 1+
Reading age: 4+
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Beep, Beep, Let's Go!
Author: Eleanor Taylor Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Interest level: 1+
Reading age: 4+
A family of dogs are setting off for the seaside in their car. Along the way they are joined by a menagerie of their friends.
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Seal Surfer
Author: Michael Foreman
Interest level: 5-8
Reading age: 6+
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Seal Surfer
Author: Michael Foreman
Interest level: 5-8
Reading age: 6+
A welcome re-publication of Foreman's timeless and evocative account of a boy's relationship with life and death.
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Melrose and Croc Beside the Sea
Author: Emma Chichester Clark
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
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Melrose and Croc Beside the Sea
Author: Emma Chichester Clark
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
Little Green Croc is sulking and won't speak to his friend, Melrose the dog. Melrose decides to cheer up his pal. This is a deligh…
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Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
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Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
In this leftfield comic fantasy novel, 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that the Greek gods of Olympus are alive and living in …
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Buried Alive!
Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt and Sue Heap
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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Buried Alive!
Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt and Sue Heap
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
This humorous tale sensitively highlights issues such as friendship and bullying.
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Clare and her Captain
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Catherine Rayner
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 7+
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Clare and her Captain
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Catherine Rayner
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 7+
While on holiday in Devon, Clare strikes up a touching friendship with an elderly man and his beloved horse. This moving tale of l…
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Tom's Midnight Garden
Author:
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Tom's Midnight Garden
Author:
Interest level:
Reading age:
With no garden or children to play with Tom feels lonely and unhappy, until one night he hears the clock striking thirteen and dis…
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Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
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Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
Prez has one summer to find ten things about the earth that make it worth saving - but can he do it? This book is heart-breaking a…
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Four Children and It
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
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Four Children and It
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
Jacqueline Wilson pays tribute to her 'all-time favourite classic children's author' E. Nesbit in this contemporary reimagining of…
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Rules of Summer
Author: Shaun Tan
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 5+
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Rules of Summer
Author: Shaun Tan
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 5+
An excellent book illustrating 'what I learned last summer' that would be an inspiring addition to any bookshelf.
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Pea's Book of Holidays
Author: Susie Day
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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Pea's Book of Holidays
Author: Susie Day
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
Susie Day returns with another hugely fun installment of the delightful Pea's Book series.
Whether or not they've read about Pea'…
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The Summer Gang
Author: Cornelia Funke
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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The Summer Gang
Author: Cornelia Funke
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
Living on a remote farm, Charlie wants nothing more than sneak off with a gang of friends for adventure. This summer she's going t…
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Spangles McNasty and the Fish of Gold
Author: Steve Webb Illustrator: Chris Mould
Interest level: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
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Spangles McNasty and the Fish of Gold
Author: Steve Webb Illustrator: Chris Mould
Interest level: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
Both ludicrous and funny, join Freddie on the greediest, goldest and fishiest escapade of the summer. And remember, where there's …
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The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame Illustrator: David Roberts
Interest level: 6+
Reading age: 8+
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The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame Illustrator: David Roberts
Interest level: 6+
Reading age: 8+
Follow the adventures of Mole, Ratty and Toad in this beautiful new edition of a much-loved classic, illustrated by David Roberts.…
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The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog
Author: Jeremy Strong Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Interest level: 6-9
Reading age: 7+
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The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog
Author: Jeremy Strong Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Interest level: 6-9
Reading age: 7+
Trevor’s mother offers him £30 if he’ll walk the dog every day for summer. It sounds easy enough, but the dog - …
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Finn Family Moomintroll
Author: Tove Jansson Translator: Elizabeth Portch
Interest level: 5-8
Reading age: 6+
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Finn Family Moomintroll
Author: Tove Jansson Translator: Elizabeth Portch
Interest level: 5-8
Reading age: 6+
Moomintroll is cheerful and chubby and lives in the magical Moominvalley with his mother, Moominmamma, his father, Moominpappa and…
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