Tiny Wonders: 5 Picture Books to Welcome Summer

Stories for beach days, backyard days, and that first sticky s’more.

Dear fellow wonderers,

Summer days, quiet pages, and the joy of getting lost in a book. Image Designed by Freepik.

Part of the Tiny Wonders series: short reflections on children’s books, faith, and everyday holiness

We didn’t make it to the beach last summer, but this year, we’re definitely going! And I’ve been getting ready the way I often do: by reading. Not travel guides or packing lists (at least, not yet), but picture books. Stories that smell like sunscreen and old paper, that echo with seagull calls and childhood laughter, that make you feel the tug of tides and time and wonder.

Here are five books I’ve been pulling from our shelves (and the library’s) as we welcome summer. Some are about the sea, others about sunshine, and one involves tents, fears, and bug juice. All of them speak to the season in their own way, and I hope they help you welcome it, too.

1. Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

This is one of my favorite books to teach when I teach picture books, and I still dream of getting a print of the fabulous beachy watercolors to hang up during the summer months. The sea is more than a setting here—it’s a character, grumpy and wise, much like retired Captain Swashby himself. But a little girl moves in next door and begins to soften the edges of both. The language rolls and whispers like the tide. It’s a story of unexpected friendship and grace, and Juana Martinez-Neal, in my mind, is one of the best children’s writers and illustrators alive today.

2. Madeline at the White House by Ludwig Bemelmans and John Bemelmans Marciano

We love Madeline in our house, and this story feels especially perfect for summer travel season. In this adventure, Madeline is invited to visit the White House over Easter break—an American twist on the classic series. If your summer includes a road trip, a visit to grandparents, or a stop in D.C. (like ours once did), this is a charming companion. There’s something delightful about seeing the spunky French schoolgirl explore Washington, fireworks and all.

3. Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey

I found this book a few years ago after picking up Make Way for Ducklings in Boston. Time of Wonder is by the same author, Robert McCloskey, and now it’s a summer staple in our home. And with a title like this, it had to make my Tiny Wonders list, right? His words and bright images drift across the page like wind over water, describing a family’s summer on the coast of Maine. There are sailboats and storms and long, wondering pauses. This one’s a love letter to natural beauty and the fleeting quality of childhood itself.

4. Hot Dog by Doug Salati

The 2023 Caldecott winner is a summer classic in the making! A hot city day, a very overwhelmed (and very cute wiener) dog, and a quick getaway to the sea—this one’s got it all. It’s a breath of fresh air, both visually and emotionally. The illustrations are full of movement, from heat-hazy sidewalks to the cool blue splash of the ocean. A story about care, noticing, and the restorative joy of a day away.
👉 Here’s a YouTube read-aloud for those of you who haven’t checked it out yet. I know you’ll want to.

5. The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp by Stan and Jan Berenstain

My daughter still loves the Berenstain Bears, and this one is pure summer fun. Brother and Sister Bear head to day camp—complete with swimming, canoeing, and some very relatable jitters. There's a little bit of homesickness and a lot of bug spray, but in the end, it’s a story about trying something new and finding joy where you didn’t expect it. Sweet, funny, and delightfully nostalgic.

What’s your favorite summer picture book? Or the one your kids have made you read 42 gadzillion times already this week? I’d love to hear—and maybe bring it along to the beach with us this year.

In hope and holy curiosity,
LuElla