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Reading summer books with toddler grandchildren is not only a great way to help them develop language and cognitive skills, it’s also a great way to bond. That is true whether you are a long distance grandparent or have your grandkids nearby. This post is all about summer books for toddlers you’ll both enjoy plus tips for reading together!
Choosing the right summer books to read with toddler grandkids will be key to your reading time together. Toddlers love colorful pictures, simple and engaging stories, and interactive opportunities.
Look for books with themes that coincide with activities your grandchild will be participating in.
Nature walks, gardening, swimming, going to the park or a summer vacation might be on their summer to do list. Relevant story lines will help them relate to and engage in the reading time.
Choose fun places to read
This is a great idea and can be used whether you are in person or reading together virtually. For example, go to a park and read a book about parks.
Sit outside and read a nature story.
Pull up a lawn chair by your garden and read while your veggies are busy growing.
If you, or they, are on vacation choose a book that matches the destination and read together virtually.
Visiting the local library would make a great Summer reading adventure.
There are so many possibilities!
Make the stories fun and interactive
Use your silly voice. Make those sound effects and read with enthusiasm.
Toddlers enjoy ‘point and say’ stories that encourage them to name the items in the pictures.
You can also ask simple questions that encourage them to find an object in the book, or tell you what is happening.
Many of the Usborne books have a little yellow duck ion each page that kids love finding.
Those titles will feature a small duck on the lower right front of the outside cover.
Here’s seven great titles to get your Summer books for toddlers list started!
Summer by Gerda Muller
This wordless book is full of captivating illustrations that depict the fun of summer. It’s a great book for beginning conversations with toddlers.
Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson
Adorable little mouse enjoys summer activities such as picnics and fireworks with his family.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Summer by Eric Carle
Everyone’s favorite caterpillar and his friends take toddlers on a sensory adventure as they listen to bugs, smell a yummy cookout, feel the warm sunshine and so much more.
Peep Inside the Garden by Anna Milbourne
A bright and colorful lift the flap book featuring all the things that can be found in the garden. My grandkids really enjoy it. Younger grandkids will need some help with the flaps to keep them in tact!
Flip Flap Fly! By Phyllis Root
This interactive board book introduces toddlers to animals and their mamas as they learn to swim, wiggle and slide. Your grandkids will soon be proclaiming the rhyming word that is sure to come with this sweet story.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Over 30,000 reviews can’t be wrong.
There are lots of great books for the younger set by this author! Your grandkids will love saying the names, and making the sounds for these animals.
We are a farming family, so we can’t end our list of books without including this one:
John Deere Plant and Grow book by Jack Redwing
The description says “nothing runs or reads like a John Deere lift a flap farming book”. This book will help teach the cycle of planting, growing and harvesting in language for our grandkids. After all, the toddlers of today will be the innovators and farmers of tomorrow!
Lastly, be ready to read it “again!”.
You may be able to quote their favorite stories with your eyes closed, but hearing that word after turning that last page is a sure fire way to know you are strengthening the relational bond as well!
Happy reading!