June has arrived, which means it’s time for summer fun in the sun. This June, we are celebrating Father’s Day, learning about the joys of parenthood and pregnancy and making sure we keep our teeth clean with healthy brushing habits for Oral Health Month! Keep young minds active by exploring these topics during summer break.
Board Books
“Families Grow” by Dan Saks
“Families Grow” is a cute rhyming story about families getting a new baby. The book is diverse and inclusive in the families it presents throughout the book, and also depicts a range of scenarios: families getting pregnant or having a surrogate and children being in foster care. At the end, it has a keyword list that parents can use to help talk about the different kinds of families.
“Brush! Brush! Brush!” by Douglas Florian
“Brush! Brush! Brush!” makes brushing your teeth fun! Follow along as the story teaches children how to properly brush their teeth. With fun illustrations and an exciting “Rhyme! Rhyme! Rhyme!” on each page, children won’t want to brush their teeth any other way.
Picture Books
“Wonderful You” by Lisa Graff
“Wonderful You” follows the different size stages of pregnancy, comparing the fetus to different fruits and vegetables. The book is diverse and inclusive in depicting families, and it shows what families are doing while they are waiting for the baby to be born. The repeating phrase “waiting for you” on each page shows how excited everyone is for a new baby to arrive.
“I Love Daddy Every Day” by Isabel Otter
“I Love Daddy Every Day” follows multiple families from diverse backgrounds as it explains why fathers are great. The illustrations are vibrant and inviting, and the words used are positive and fun. This book also helps show men in a caring and emotion-filled role.
Early Elementary
“Beach Day!” by Candice Ransom
Join a family of four as they spend a fun summer day outside. See all the fun things you can do at the beach, including building a sandcastle, flying a kite and going swimming. Afterward, follow the family as they enjoy the summer night at an amusement park.
“Guatemalan Summer” by Keka Novales
Join Lola as she heads to Guatemala for the summer. What starts out as excitement quickly turns to anxiety as Lola realizes her Spanish is not that great. Will Lola’s abuelita be able to help Lola relax and enjoy her vacation?
Middle Grade
“The Summer of June” by Jamie Sumner
“The Summer of June” is sweet, engaging and relatable. June starts her summer by shaving her head and committing herself to overcoming her anxiety and embracing her fierceness. This proves easier said than done, however. Can she achieve her goals with perseverance, loved ones and a delicious
piece of pie?
“Cookies & Milk” by Shawn Amos
It’s the summer of 1976, and 11-year-old Ellis Johnson is stuck helping his father open the world’s first chocolate chip cookie store rather than hanging out with his friends. This tale, inspired by Shawn Amos’ life growing up as the son of Wally “Famous” Amos, is full of fun, family and a little bit of mystery.
Teens
“You Know, Sex” by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth
Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth tackle big topics in a light, colorful way in “You Know, Sex.” This nonfiction title helps teens and caregivers alike navigate the complex world of human sexuality. The authors do an excellent job of representing teens of all genders, sexualities and body types.
“Heartstopper: Volume 4” by Alice Oseman
Fans of the “Heartstopper” series will fall even more in love with Charlie and Nick as they watch their relationship grow and overcome challenges in this latest installment. As Nick struggles with the idea of coming out to his dad and Charlie battles a possible eating disorder, the two learn a lot about love, themselves and each other.
