Here Are the Best Books for Voracious Readers on Vacation

Swimsuit: check! Wide-brimmed sun hat: check! Great books for the kids to read during those precious minutes of down time? Double check!

With everything you need to remember to pack on vacation, it can be easy to let great books slip your mind, but they can be a total game changer with the kids. Here are nine awesome vacation reads for voracious readers from ages six to 13.

Each of these titles is either light and fun or simply captivating, and sure to keep your kids busy turning pages. 

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Riveting Reads for 6- to 7-Year-Olds

1. Eva and Baby Mo by Rebecca Elliott

Our six-year-old fell in love with the Owl Diaries books on our last vacation, and she literally could not wait to get her hands on every title in the series! The books share the adventures of a positive and enthusiastic young owl named Eva through her own bright and colorful diary entries. In each book, Eva faces a new challenge involving her family or school friends. Each title stands alone so the books can be read in any order. In the most recent release, Eva and Baby Mo, Eva learns that taking care of a little one is more work than she ever imagined when she offers to help babysit her brother. (Reading it, your kids might even gain a new appreciation for all that you do!)

2. Brawl of the Wild by Dav Pilkey

The very funny Dav Pilkey of Captain Underpants fame brings to life George and Harold’s cartoon hero, Dog Man, in this hilarious series of the same name. Half dog, half man (a feat requiring some rather creative surgery following a near-fatal blast), Dog Man is the crime-fighting canine this world needs! In the most recent title of the series, Brawl of the Wild, Dog Man has been framed and sent to the pound for a crime he didn’t commit. How will he ever survive behind bars while his friends try to prove his innocence?

3. Mermaids to the Rescue #2: Lana Swims North by Lisa Ann Scott

Each book in the Mermaids to the Rescue series shares the tale of a member of the Royal Mermaid Rescue Crew’s training school. These very special princesses are responsible for rescuing merpeople and fantasy sea creatures who find themselves in danger. For example, in Lana Swims North, Lana helps Spike, a lost narwhal, find his way back to the Arctic. Both Lana and Spike struggle with fitting in with their respective peer groups, and on their journey, they learn a valuable lesson about accepting themselves for who they are.

Exciting Adventures for 8- to 10-Year-Olds

4. Pug Pals #2: Yay for Vacay! by Flora Ahn

This series is a must-read for dog lovers! Featuring two cute pugs — Sunny (who always thought she would be a solo fur-baby) and new-to-the-family Rosy — each book follows the fluffy siblings as they learn to live together. In Pug Pals #2: Yay for Vacay!, Sunny and Rosy are on vacation at Grandma’s house when they get blamed for destroying her garden. In no time at all, they don their detective suits with a plan to sniff out the real culprit.

5. The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix #6: Kristy’s Big Day by Ann M. Martin

Vacation is the perfect time to introduce your child to your old friends Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, and Dawn, and their adventures in the enterprising Baby-Sitters Club. Through everything from cranky toddlers to bothersome siblings, the friends are always there to support each other. And now, your young reader can be captivated by their stories in a new graphic novel version! In this book, Kristy must prepare to be a bridesmaid on her mom’s wedding day — but 14 kids are coming into town for the event, and it becomes the biggest job the club has ever had to tackle.

6. Star Wars: Jedi Academy #7: Revenge of the Sis by Jarrett J. Krosoczka 

The stories in this graphic novel series revolve around the relatable challenges faced by students in the Star Wars universe. In the latest release, Revenge of the Sis, readers are introduced to the story of Christina Starspeeder. She was at the top of her class at her old school, but she faces a whole new set of school challenges and stress upon arrival at the Jedi Academy — like a droid preprogrammed with major attitude!

Tantalizing Tales for 11- to 13-Year-Olds

7. Wings of Fire: The Hive Queen by Tui T. Sutherland 

The enthralling Wings of Fire series transports readers to a thrilling world of dragons in the grip of a terrible tribal war. It starts with the stories of five young dragons with a prophesy to bring peace to their turbulent world. In this book in the series, dragonet Cricket is immune to Queen Wasp’s powers, and has no idea why — but she does know that she and her friends need answers to prevent an attack, and to possibly topple a regime. 

8. Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

In this sweet novel loosely based on Sleepless in Seattle, Katie finds herself the unwitting host of her school’s new podcast production following her suggestion that it would be great as an advice show. When a boy calls into the show repeatedly, Kate starts to suspect that the caller might just be her best friend’s crush. But as Kate develops feelings for the anonymous caller herself, life becomes a little more complicated for everyone.

9. Spin by Lamar Giles

In this thrilling new YA mystery, up-and-coming DJ Paris (aka DJ ParSec), a 16-year-old, has been murdered. Her old best friend, Kay, and chief groupie, Fuse, both suspect each other — which turns into a tangled mess of public accusations and sabotage. As the two struggle to figure out what happened to Paris, they find themselves being forced to work together as DJ ParSec’s fans demand answers.