2021 Picture Book Summer Reading List
We’re going to start a new tradition this year here on Dad Suggests, and that’s to make a picture book list for summer reading. I remember fondly participating in the summer reading program at the local public library every year as a child, and it would be quite an honor to give back in our small way and help with promoting summer reading any way that we can.
And naturally we’re going to start this new tradition by focusing on our specialty, which is picture books. And, keep in mind, this list could definitely be used in more ways than one. You could use it as a checklist for read alouds with the kids, or as an independent project for your older, independent readers. Despite the fact that our 8-year-old loves his chapter books and his graphic novels, he’s by no means too old to read the best picture books of the year.
In fact, I don’t think he’ll ever be too old, because even adults aren’t too old for picture books either. Our favorite picture books around here are consistently the ones that we as adults fall in love with too. So you can even feel free to use this summer reading list as your own personal goal for the summer - to read our most recommended picture books of the last year and to discover some new amazing works of art.
However you decide to use this summer reading list, we hope to make the challenge of completing it easier on you by making a handy PDF checklist that you can print out and hang on the fridge - or take with you to the local library. Check off these great books one at a time as your kids read them or you read them out loud, and see if you can be the first one in history to complete the inaugural Dad Suggests Picture Book Summer Reading challenge!
We put together our summer reading list by combining our favorite picture books of 2020 with our shortlist of our favorite picture books of 2021 so far. And we also made sure to throw in this year’s Caldecott winner and honor books for good measure. All in all there are 44 picture books on this list, and I’m hoping that hits the sweet spot of a fun but not impossible challenge.
If you do use the checklist, please make sure to let us know in the comments, or use the hashtag #DadSuggestsSummerReading on social media! I’d really love to know if you end up falling in love with any of these beautiful picture books, and I really want to know if anyone manages to complete the whole challenge!
Happy summer, everybody! And happy summer reading!
You can print out your free PDF copy of the summer reading checklist by clicking on the image below!
Dad Suggests Picture Book Summer Reading Checklist - Click to Download Free PDF Copy!
2021 Caldecott Winner and Honor Books
We Are Water Protectors - Written by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Michaela Goade
Me & Mama - Written and Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera
The Cat Man of Aleppo - Written by Karim Shamsi-Basha & Irene Latham and Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart - Written by Zetta Elliott and Illustrated by Noa Denmon
Outside In - Written by Deborah Underwood and Illustrated by Cindy Derby
Our Favorite Picture Books of 2020
Who’s Your Real Mom? - Written by Bernadette Green and Illustrated by Anna Zobel
Hello, Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers - Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Izzy and Frank - Written by Katrina Lehman and Illustrated by Sophie Beer
Night Walk - Written by Sara O’Leary and Illustrated by Ellie Arscott
I Talk Like a River - Written by Jordan Scott and Illustrated by Sydney Smith
Lift - Written by Minh Lê and Illustrated by Dan Santat
Bear and Fred: A World War II Story - Written by Iris Argaman and Illustrated by Avi Ofer
The Little Ghost Who was a Quilt - Written by Riel Nason and Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler
I Can Be Anything - Written and Illustrated by Shinsuke Yoshitake
No Reading Allowed: The Worst Read-Aloud Book Ever - Written by Raj Haldar & Chris Carpenter and Illustrated by Bryce Gladfelter
My Friend Earth - Written by Patricia MacLachlan and Illustrated by Francesca Sanna
Becoming a Good Creature - Written by Sy Montgomery and Illustrated by Rebecca Green
Addy’s Cup of Sugar - Written and Illustrated by Jon J. Muth
Bird Hugs - Written and Illustrated by Ged Adamson
You Matter - Written and Illustrated by Christian Robinson
We Will Rock Our Classmates - Written and Illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins
Hike - Written and Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Gustavo the Shy Ghost - Written and Illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago
Swashby and the Sea - Written by Beth Ferry and Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
There Must Be More Than That! - Written and Illustrated by Shinsuke Yoshitake
The Wanderer - Written and Illustrated by Peter Van den Ende
Julián at the Wedding - Written and Illustrated by Jessica Love
Lights on Wonder Rock - Written and Illustrated by David Litchfield
The Boy and the Gorilla - Written by Jackie Azúa Kramer and Illustrated by Cindy Derby
What We’ll Build: Plans for Our Together Future - Written and Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Howl - Written by Kat Patrick and Illustrated by Evie Barrow
Julia’s House Moves On - Written and Illustrated by Ben Hatke
Maud and Grand-Maud - Written by Sara O’Leary and Illustrated by Kenard Pak
And the People Stayed Home - Written by Kitty O’Meara and Illustrated by Stefano Di Cristofaro & Paul Pereda
The Oldest Student - Written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Illustrated by Oge Mora
If You Come to Earth - Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
The Barnabus Project - Written and Illustrated by the Fan Brothers
Shortlisted for our Favorite Picture Books of 2021
Windows - Written by Patrick Guest and Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley
The Rock from the Sky - Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Arno and His Horse - Written by Jane Godwin and Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Outside, Inside - Written and Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Milo Imagines the World - Written by Matt de la Peña and Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Anita and the Dragons - Written by Hannah Carmona and Illustrated by Anna Cunha
Wren - Written by Katrina Lehman and Illustrated by Sophie Beer
Are you going to join us in our summer reading challenge? Make sure to let us know in the comments how it goes, or use the hashtag #DadSuggestsSummerReading on social media!
