As summer days stretch on, keeping your child on a reading routine and encouraging him to practice important reading skills outside of the classroom can be a major struggle. This summer, we're avoiding the dreaded summer slide with our must-read list of picture books — a handful of classic picture books that many of us parents read as children, mixed with brand-new silly stories to discover for the first time.
With 50 titles on this list, there's something for the whole family. Some titles will provoke hysterical laughter, while others will encourage some serious thinking. As we hit summer vacation, I challenge you to read as many of them as possible with your child, whether everyone snuggles up for family read-aloud or your reader picks up a picture book independently.
But keep in mind, picture books aren't just for early readers, they are for all ages. Being read to and reading aloud to others only strengthens literacy skills. Explore them with your older children and younger children alike, having your independent reader read to younger siblings or re-read old favorites with fresh eyes. These books offer readers of all levels a chance to hone their skills, especially comprehension and expressive language.
Here is our list of 50 must-read picture books, curated with the help of Scholastic, perfect to fill up long summer days. And remember to sign up for this year's Summer Reading Challenge and discover how many of these kooky and colorful picture books made the list!