Elementary Summer Reading
Hidden gems to grab this summer!
Reading NEVER wears me out. – Olivia by Ian Falconer
Elementary Reads, starting with Picture Books!
Senorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer
A bilingual love poem for the millions of monarch butterflies that journey south to Mexico every year. Señorita Mariposa invites readers to follow the monarch butterfly as it embarks on a journey spanning thousands of miles. Almada Rivero’s warm and friendly illustrations showcase the various people and animals the monarch encounters in its 3,000-mile journey. Uplifting and inspiring of further research. Get it here!
Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raul the Third
Little Lobo is tasked with nourishing nine famished luchadores. A mouthwatering experience follows as Little Lobo picks up tacos, diced fruit, freshly made tortillas, flan, and buñuelos. Pages filled with interesting characters make readers wish they could jump into the pages and experience the bustling town. After enjoying the story, readers will keep going back to savor all the minuscule details. A delectable bilingual experience.
The Bear's Garden by Marcie Colleen
One little girl understands that urban spaces need tender loving care. Inspired by a true story of a stuffed bear found in what has become the Pacific Street Brooklyn Bear’s Community Garden, this tale of urban renewal shows how one person with an imagination, a little dirt, and a few seeds can transform a concrete village into something beautiful. A well-illustrated, beautifully written tale of encouragement for budding gardeners. Get it here!
Tallulah The Tooth Fairy CEO by Tamara Pizzoli
Tallulah (Tooth Fairy, CEO) is Fashion-Week chic. Dressed from head to toe in stylish clothes—often with a subtle tooth pattern or accessory—this high-fashion, thoroughly modern Black woman will win the admiration of all young readers. This is a must-have for all collections. Children and adults alike will fall in love with this hilarious picture book. Get it here!
How To Solve a Problem by Ashima Shiraishi
Free solo climbers refer to boulders as “problems,” and in this book, rock climbing serves as a metaphor for solving any problem that confronts you. Xiao’s digital illustrations are full of movement and bold color, juxtaposing small Shiraishi with a boulder whose contours stretch off the page. Engrossing and inspiring.Get it here!
In A Jar by Deborah Mancero
Llewellyn collects items to remind him of “all the wonderful things he had seen and done.” Fall leaves, heart-shaped stones, seashells all go into glass jars that line the shelves of his living room. This joyful account of friendship will charm readers, but its deeper message of maintaining relationships over a distance will comfort those who have moved or know someone who has. Stunning. Get it here!
Generation Wild Summer Activities
Find 100 Things To Do Before You're Twelve list and other suggestions.
And some amazing beginning chapter books...
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian
When Omar's family moves to a new house, that means the 10-year-old must start the year at a new school.Told from Omar's point of view, the playful text is bolstered with illustrations throughout that show off his creativity and imagination. VERDICT A great #OwnVoices story for children to learn more about connection and empathy. Get it here!
Everything Awesome About Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Beasts by Mike Lowery
If a library could only have one book of general knowledge about dinosaurs, this book would be a serious contender for that spot. This book will be popular for the simple fact that it is just plain fun to read. This book will rarely be found on library shelves, but very often in a reader's hand. Get it here!
Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero by Kara West
Mia Macarooney is a klutz, but does her klutziness revolve around secret superpowers? Spunky Mia, renamed Mia Mayhem by the end of the book, fills a need for a fun and funny female superhero accessible to primary grade readers. The fun-filled, humorous stories are further enlivened by the abundant action-packed, comic-book-style illustrations.Get it here!
Denver Museum of Science and Nature At Home!
Find cool home science and curiosity projects here.
Here are the upper grade titles.
The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy
Actor and debut author Pancholy draws from his own experiences as a young Indian American to create this funny, uplifting story about identity. Pancholy charts his rocky path to pride in his layered identity, while protagonist Rahul finds unconditional acceptance with his family and friends, which sends a powerful, positive message to young readers about choosing self-acceptance. Get it here!
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
After receiving a letter from her incarcerated father, whom she’s never met, 12-year-old Zoe sets out to prove his innocence. An extraordinary, timely, must-read debut about love, family, friendship, and justice.
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
Stone's heartwarming, humorous middle-grade debut is a sure-fire winner in this timely story about a boy retracing the South's segregationist past with his grandmother. An absolute firecracker of a book and a must-have for children's collections. Get it here!
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
This incredible middle-grade novel delves into one boy’s journey to self-acceptance while wading through the profound grief that has engulfed his family. King, a Black child living by the bayous of Louisiana, is dealt the double blow of losing his beloved older brother while trying to contain an identity he is sure will cause his father to stop loving him. Strongly recommended for all children’s collections. Get it here!
Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun
An empowering celebration of identity, friendship, and embracing one’s roots, Yun’s loose reimagining of Great Expectations follows a first-generation Korean-American girl learning to navigate her new life at an elite private school. A subplot involving her aloof math tutor and his musical older brother adds another layer to the story, revealing Pippa’s capacity for empathy and the value of family in her world. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Get it here!
Jinxed by Amy McCulloch
Vividly imagined Toronto-set middle grade series opener intertwines smartphone technology with the hallmarks of classic science fiction via a fun, insightful narrative and bright voice.With a sharp eye toward the rising awareness of device addiction and a keen sense of wonder, McCulloch’s tale is a feast for the imagination that celebrates women in STEM fields. Get it here!
Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
A young boy must become an adult overnight when his mother is deported. Twelve-year-old Efrén Nava’s world is turned upside down the day he comes back from school and his mother is nowhere to be found. Cisneros celebrates the kindness of the Mexican American community and its richness of food, culture, and resilient spirit. Honest and tender: a must-read. Get it here!
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
A beautifully rendered series of vignettes featuring a Black girl developing into her own personhood, this is a strong start to a new middle-grade series by Newbery Honor Book author Watson The few illustrations sprinkled throughout add a lot to the depiction of a childhood rich in familial love and Black girl magic. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY. Get it here!
We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan
Hank’s deep dive into trouble starts with a sad book Mrs. Vera is reading to her fourth-grade class. Hank dislikes the book so much he tries burning it in the boy’s bathroom. Explore bullying, physical and mental differences, empathy, trust, inter-generational friendships, and compassion for animals. A sweet story with excellent read-aloud potential. Get it here!
Creativity Connection!
Step into the Denver Art Museum's endless inspiration here.
Don't forget these great Graphic Novels!
Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani
How women got mad, busy, and finally, reluctantly, accepted into NASA’s corps of astronauts. The core of the tale is a frank and funny account of how women shouldered their way into NASA’s masculine culture. Exhilarating—as well as hilarious, enraging, or both at once depending on the reader. Get it here!
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
When middle schooler Snapdragon’s dog goes missing, Snapdragon dares to enter the house of a reputed witch and finds the hound recuperating from an accident. Full of magic and humor, this intersectional, layered tale offers joyful and affirming depictions of social outsiders and comfortably complicated families. Get it here!
Hotel Dare by Terry Blas
Charlotte, Darwin, and their recently adopted sister, Olive, are spending the summer with their grandmother, Mamá Lupe in Mexico. While sneaking around her office, they find a strange artifact that opens glowing magenta doorways to other worlds. Aguirre’s cinematic page layouts and artwork, featuring exaggerated figure designs, a lush palette of saturated jewel tones, and plenty of luminescent lens flare, perfectly match the fantasy-adventure atmosphere. Get it here!
CultureGrams, Tumblebooks, Databases and More!
Databases YOU subscribe to! So much fun, all for free.
Need more resources for finding books to read?
Sora's Series STARTers Collection
- Book in one to start many great series!
- Fill out an online form based on what you like and don't like to read. Librarians will send you back a list of books to read!
This flyer is a part of Library Services Diverse Books Initiative that seeks to support culturally responsive education in Denver Public Schools where all students have equitable access to reading materials that reflect and honor their lives, and connect them with the world.
Denver Public Schools Library Services
Email: library_helpdesk@dpsk12.org
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