Children's books about summer

The Penderwicks

Author:

Four eccentric sisters and their loving but distracted father take a holiday cottage in the beautiful Arundel estate.

Beep, Beep, Let's Go!

Author: Eleanor Taylor Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor

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.

Seal Surfer

Author: Michael Foreman

A welcome re-publication of Foreman's timeless and evocative account of a boy's relationship with life and death.

Melrose and Croc Beside the Sea

Author: Emma Chichester Clark

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…

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan

In this leftfield comic fantasy novel, 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that the Greek gods of Olympus are alive and living in …

Buried Alive!

Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt and Sue Heap

This humorous tale sensitively highlights issues such as friendship and bullying.

Clare and her Captain

Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Catherine Rayner

While on holiday in Devon, Clare strikes up a touching friendship with an elderly man and his beloved horse. This moving tale of l…

Tom's Midnight Garden

Author:

With no garden or children to play with Tom feels lonely and unhappy, until one night he hears the clock striking thirteen and dis…

Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth

Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Steven Lenton

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…

Four Children and It

Author: Jacqueline Wilson

Jacqueline Wilson pays tribute to her 'all-time favourite classic children's author' E. Nesbit in this contemporary reimagining of…

Rules of Summer

Author: Shaun Tan

An excellent book illustrating 'what I learned last summer' that would be an inspiring addition to any bookshelf.

Pea's Book of Holidays

Author: Susie Day

Susie Day returns with another hugely fun installment of the delightful Pea's Book series.

Whether or not they've read about Pea'…

The Summer Gang

Author: Cornelia Funke

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…

Rebound

Author: Kwame Alexander

It’s 1988 and Charlie Bell is 12 and going through the hardest time in his life. But while staying with his grandparents, he is in…

Spangles McNasty and the Fish of Gold

Author: Steve Webb Illustrator: Chris Mould

Both ludicrous and funny, join Freddie on the greediest, goldest and fishiest escapade of the summer. And remember, where there's …

The Wind in the Willows

Author: Kenneth Graeme Illustrator: David Roberts

Follow the adventures of Mole, Ratty and Toad in this beautiful new edition of a much-loved classic, illustrated by David Roberts.…

The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog

Author: Jeremy Strong Illustrator: Nick Sharratt

Trevor’s mother offers him £30 if he’ll walk the dog every day for summer. It sounds easy enough, but the dog - …

Finn Family Moomintroll

Author: Tove Jansson Translator: Elizabeth Portch

Moomintroll is cheerful and chubby and lives in the magical Moominvalley with his mother, Moominmamma, his father, Moominpappa and…