Little Reads: Summer Reading Picks

How about some summer reading picks for littles?

These are really summery books, per say.  Just a few books I hope to add to our collection this summer.

I Had A Favorite Dress was a book I found through the #bookstagram community, which is where I find most of my picture book recommendations.

Open up a fresh and stylish story about growing up and keeping hold of your favorite memories. As the year passes, the narrator’s favorite dress goes through a series of creative changes, from dress to shirt to tank top to scarf and so on, until all that’s left of it is a good memory. Assisted by her patient and crafty mama, the narrator finds that when disaster strikes her favorite things, she doesn’t need to make mountains out of molehills—she “makes molehills out of mountains” instead! Structured around the days of the week, the story is also illustrated to show the passing of the seasons, a perfect complement to the themes of growing older and keeping hold (and letting go) of special mementos.

Lulu & Pip is a book I discovered through Kelle Hampton's blog, Enjoying the Small Things.  She made a similar book for her daughter, Nella. See it here. Lulu & Pip is follow up to Kiki & Coco in Paris, which I should probably add first, but I'm more drawn to Lulu & Pip.

The lovely follow-up to Kiki & Coco in Paris, Lulu & Pip tells the story of a girl, Lulu, and her doll, Pip, as they leave the busy city life for a rustic camping adventure. Featuring once again the beautiful photographs of Stephanie Rausser, the charming doll by Jess Brown, and story by Nina Gruener.

I have seen Swatch all over Instagram and it looks so cute and colorful that we just have to add it to our collection soon.

A vibrant picture book featuring an irrepressible new character—perfect for fans of The Dot andBeautiful Oops!—from acclaimed illustrator Julia Denos. 

In a place where color ran wild, there lived a girl who was wilder still. Her name was Swatch, and color was her passion. From brave green to in-between gray to rumble-tumble pink . . . Swatch wanted to collect them all. But colors don’t always like to be tamed. . . .

This is an exuberant celebration of all the beauty and color that make up our lives.

What Do You Do With An Idea?  is a wonderful picture book about ideas and confidence. I read it a while ago at the bookstore and ended up buying something else instead. I'll be adding this and the followup What Do You Do With A Problem? to our collection this summer for sure.

This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens.
This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It's a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn't going anywhere. In fact, it's just getting started.

Poor Little Guy is one of Amazon's best books of the month for June - another of my top resources for new picture books. If Amazon says it's good, it's worth a shot.

What do you do when you're so tiny that the bigger ocean creatures think you might even tasteadorable?

An itsy-bitsy, glasses-wearing fish is minding his own business when a playful (and hungry) octopus snatches him right up. Luckily, this poor little guy is not quite as innocent as he seems…and he has a BIG surprise up his sleeve!

Told with wit, a wink, and a delightfully dark sense of humor, Poor Little Guy celebrates the very smallest...and all of their giant victories. Hand this cute but mighty book to fans of Bob Shea and Dan Krall.

Open Very Carefully: A Book with a Bite is another #bookstagram find.  It sounds delightfully interactive, with my 3-year-old loves. One of her favorites is Don't Push the Button, so she's sure to love this one.

What would you do if you were settling down for a quiet bedtime story and you realized that a crocodile had fallen into your storybook and was — not to put too fine a point on it — wreaking havoc? Would you slam that book shut and cram it back onto the bookshelf? Or would you be brave enough to peek?

Do you have any summer reads in mind for your littles? Or is it reading as usual for your family? Let me know!