Summer Reading Book List

Now that you are on summer break, what now? If you plan to take some time to play, it may pay off to start a summer reading book list for your kids! Get that library card ready because a plan and good books within reach can really help avoid summer brain drain. Also, keeping that read aloud stamina going can be helpful too!

Family Summer Reading

Just to preface, this is an ambitious list for the short summer break we take. However, some of these are books we are for 2022-2023 curriculum so we can just continue down this list post-summer.

Medieval Readings

• The Magician’s Nephew
• The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Prince Caspian

These are all from The Kind Kingdom, which we are using as a Morning Time this upcoming school year. So far, this series (my first time going through them) is fascinating! This boxed color set, in particular, is really beautiful.

California Readings

• Island of the Blue Dolphins
• Adopted by Indians
• The Cruise of the Arctic Star
• The Story of California
• Junipero Serra, Founder of the California Missions
• Song of the Swallows
• Patty Reed’s Doll
• Jessie Benton Fremont
• By the Great Horn Spoon

All of these books are from Beautiful Feet’s Around California with Children’s Books literature pack. I have been a long time customer with this company, and I keep coming back because the readings are so engaging! If you need a way to lay out your summer plans, grab these simple undated planning sheets from the shop.

Missionary Biography

• C.S. Lewis, Master Storyteller

I figured since we are reading the Chronicles of Narnia, and we love YWAM Christian Heroes Then and Now series, this just makes sense. As the author of so many stories my kids love, this will be a welcome read. YWAM Publishing has generously offered my community a special rate on a bundle our family curated. This includes 5 powerful missionary biographies with FREE shipping for $30 total! Hurry though because this deal is only valid until 6/30/22.

7th Grade Summer Reading

• The Great Race: Around the World by Automobile
• Christy
• The Hobbit
• A Long Way from Chicago

4th Grade Summer Reading

• Crispin
• The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
• Charlotte’s Web
• The Long Way Westward

1st Grade Summer Reading

• Finding Langston
• Abe Lincoln’s Hat
• Merci Suarez Changes Gears
• Charlotte’s Web

The beautiful summer reading list you see is a page out of my favorite homeschool planner. I have the Classic Charlotte Mason Planner, and absolutely have loved using it for the past few years! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the customizations they offer.

I hope this summer reading list is helpful to kickstart or add to your own!