100 Popular Children's Books For Kids To Read This Summer

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In case you haven't heard, my family will be reading 100 books this summer!  And guess what yesterday we challenged you and your family join us. (Click here for more deets!)  It's no secret that my kids and I love to read, but we want to help other families to love or at least embrace reading as well.  With some help from Moo, I was able to put together a list of 100 popular children's books that you can read with your kids this summer.  

This list is also serving as Moo's and JJ's summer reading bucket list for the YUMMommy 100 Books Family Summer Reading Challenge.  Yes, I have my own separate bucket/TBR list.  We hope that you will find some books here that your little ones would like to read even if you don't join in our challenge. So without further ado, I present to you The List!

The List

1. Duck & Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills
2. Summer of the Sea Serpent (Magic Treehouse series) by Mary Pope Osborne
3. Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
4. Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London
5. Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London

6. The Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin! by Mike Berenstain
7. Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly & James Dean
8. Pinkalicious: Fairy House by Victoria Kann
9. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
10. Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

11. Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson

12. The Berenstain Bears' Lemonade Stand by Mike Berenstain
13. The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin
14. I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty
15. The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel by Melissa de la Cruz
16. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
17. Hello, Olaf! by Andrea Posner-Sanchez
18. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby-Powell
19. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown
20. The Berenstain Bears at the Aquarium by Jan & Mike Berenstain

21. Silverlicious by Victoria Kann
22. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
23. Happy to Be Nappy by Bell Hooks
24. Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky
25. Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson
26. Bintou's Braids by Sylvianne A. Diouf & Shane Evans
27. Flossie & the Fox by Patricia C. McKissack
28. I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
29. In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage by Alan Schroeder
30. Bronzeville Boys and Girls by Gwendolyn Brooks

31. Keep Climbing, Girls by Beah E. Richards
32. Rapunzel by Rachel Isadora
33. In the Small, Small Night by Jane Kurtz
34. The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora
35. Come On, Rain by Karen
36. Bravo, Grace by Mary Hoffman
37. Disney Princess: A Pony for a Princess by Andrea Posner-Sanchez
38. Pet Fairies to the Rescue! by Daisy Meadows
39.Pete the Cat Play Ball by James Dean
40. Little Bill: The Best Way to Play by Bill Cosby

41. Lego City All Hands on Deck by Marilyn Easton
42. The Berenstain Bears' Seashore Treasure by Stan & Jan Berenstain
43. Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson
44. Dancing Diva (Sugar Plum Ballerinas series) by Whoopi Goldberg
45. Ruby and the Booker Boys: Brand New School, Brave New Ruby by Derrick Barnes
46. Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pickney
47. Arthur In New York by Marc Brown
48. Sleeping Beauty by Mary Man-Kong
49. Lego Hero Factory: The Brain Wars by Catherine Saunders
50. The Diary of B.B. Brights, Possible Princess by Alice & Caroline Randall

51. Encore, Grace by Mary Hoffman
52. White Socks Only by Evelyn Coleman
53. Perfectly Prima (Sugar Plum Ballerinas series) by Whoopi Goldberg
54. The Berenstain  Bears Play T-Ball by Stan & Jan Berenstain
55. A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson
56. Trivia Queen, 3rd-Grade Supreme (Ruby and the Booker Boys series) by Derrick Barnes
57. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
58. Justice League: I am the Flash by John Sazaklis
59. Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy
60. National Geographic Kids: Trains by Amy Shields

61. Toeshoe Trouble (Sugar Plum Ballerinas) by Whoopi Goldberg

62. The Berenstain Bear by the Sea by Stan & Jan Berenstain
63. Say Hello by Rachel Isadora
64. What's Cooking, Jamela? by Niki Daly
65. Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron
66. A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream by Kristy Dempsey
67. Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon Flake
68. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
69.The Princess and the Pea by Rachel Isadora
70. Lego City: Help Is On the Way by Sonia Sander

71. Minnie's Pet Salon by Bill Scollon
72. The Fisherman and His Wife by Rachel Isadora
73. The Berenstain Bears Go on Vacation by Stan & Jan Berenstain
74.Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
75. VeggieTales: All Is Fair When We Share by Karen Poth
76. The Invincible Iron Man by Billy Wrecks
77. What Mess? by Tom Lichtenheld
78. Fancies Doll in the Universe by Jane O'Connor
79. So Much! by Trish Cooke
80. The Night Before Father's Day by Natasha Wing

81. Minnie: A Walk in the Park by Gina Gold
82. A South African Night by Rachel Isadora
83. Invitation to Ballet: A Celebration of Dance and Degas by Carolyn Vaughan
84. Sugar Plums to the Rescue by Whoopi Goldberg
85. Petting Zoo by Gail Tuchman
86. Alexander, Who's Not (Do you hear me?  I mean it!) Going to Move by Judith Voirst
87. The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies by Stan & Jan Berenstain
88. Fancy Nancy Tea Parties by Jane O'Connor
89. The Best Father of All by Peter Horn
90. Plum Fantastic (Sugar Plum Ballerinas series) by Whoopi Goldberg

91. Minnie: The Case of the Missing Sparkle-izer by Bill Scollon
92. Father and Son: A Nativity Story by Geraldine McCaughrean
93. My Daddy is a Giant by Carl Norac
94. If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
95. Harry and the Lady Next Door Gene Zion
96. I Already Know I Love You by Billy Crystal
97. Caribbean Dream by Rachel Isadora
98. ABC Pop! by Rachel Isadora
99. We March by Shane W. Evans
100. Over the Green Hills by Rachel Isadora

Don't forget to check out my bookstore to grab any the books on this list that caught your eye!  I'll be back next week to update you guys on our progress.

Happy Reading!

The YUMMommy 100 Books Family Summer Reading Challenge

Reading.  It's always been one of my first loves, probably since I came out of the womb.  If you were to ask my mother what things she never saw me without, I have no doubt that her reply would be: "A notebook, a pen and a book."  Thankfully, my children have inherited my same love and adoration for the written word.  And this summer, we want to help you and your family do the same by asking you to join in The YUMMommy 100 Books Family Summer Reading Challenge!

Why Are We Challenging Your Family To Read?

It's simple.  Reading is important!  Regardless if you or child like to read or dread it like a visit to the dentist office, reading is a fundamental part of our everyday lives.  We are parents read our children's homework and school papers, we read road signs when we drive and many of us have to read on our jobs. For these reasons alone, we should show an interest in reading, but the most important reason by far for us to enjoy reading is to help our children become good readers.

Did you know that in many areas students now have to pass an end-of-the-year reading competency test?  Did you also know that some of those school districts are requiring children who do not or cannot read on or at their current grade level to repeat that same grade an additional year?  The fact of the matter is that schools are now requiring more from students than they did when we were school and definitely more than was required of our parents.  As Moo's principal put it at her kindergarten graduation, "Parents, you may have noticed that kindergarten is the new first grade." 

So depending on the teacher ALONE to teach your child everything he or she needs to know in my opinion would be doing your child (and yourself) a great disservice.  In fact, I'd go as far to say that to do so would be foolish.  We are our children's first teachers and our job to teach and instruct our children doesn't stop when they start school.  If nothing else, we need to be partnering with teachers and coming up with specific game plans on how to help our children continue to excel and reach their highest potential.  The key to helping them reach that potential is starting with reading.

How do you participate in the YUMMommy 100 Books Family Summer Reading Challenge?

Well, I'm glad you asked.  It's really quite easy.  All you and your family have to do is read 100 books in total between now and August 18th.  Now I know you may thinking that 100 books seems like a lot, but it's not.  Let's say your daughter reads one book, your son reads two books to you before bed and you finish that juicy crime mystery novel today, that counts as a total of four books read.  See how fast books can add up?!  100 books before the end of summer is totally doable!

I've even decided to help make it easy for you and family to keep up with how many and what books you've read.  Below are two printables.  The first is printable is graph with 100 blocks on it.  Simply coloring in a block each time you and family completely finish a book.  Don't forget that while reading individually is good, reading with your children or encouraging our older children to read with their younger siblings is better.  Plus, who can doesn't need more family bonding time.  And it's a great way to witness and keep track of your child's reading progress.

Just right click and save/print.

The second printable is a reading log.  Counting both the white and turquoise spaces, you can record 19 books on each reading log.  So print out two pages for each family member and get to reading!

Right click to save & print

Be sure to follow the #100Books hashtag on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to keep up with what the YUMMommy family will be reading.  Also, feel free snap pictures of you and your little ones reading and tag them using the hashtag as well!  Stop back by on Wednesday as I'll be sharing a list of books Moo and JJ will be reading this summer for our family reading challenge. (View the list here)

What's on your summer reading list?