What’s summer without a good book? Sure, the beach makes it all better – ok who are we kidding, a lot better – but summer often lends itself to much needed time to reset and escape.
This year has been challenging. As we find ourselves preparing for back-to-school and taking in the last few weeks of summer, it’s important that we remember to take a little time for ourselves. Whether you’re looking for a distraction or looking to set some time aside to read with your family, there’s something about curling up with a good book that calms the soul and eases the mind.
So wherever the remainder of the summer takes you– even if it’s just the backyard—pick up a book.
Below is a list of favorites selected by our Safe and Sound team. You’ll find we’ve included some much-loved classics and several school safety reads to get you in the back-to-school mindset. Feel free to share any suggestions you have with us. Happy reading!
Family Read-A-Long
- The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis
- Jesus Calling (daily devotional and Phone Application)
- Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Best Books for Kids
Ages 0-5
- Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
- Rainbow Fish, Marcus Pfister
- Anything Dr. Seuss!
Ages 6-10
- Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White
- The Girl Who Hid Her Dreams in a Can, Dr. Tererai Trent
- One Crazy Summer, Rita Williams-Garcia
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
Preteen
- I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World, Malala Yousafzai
- Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell
- Holes, Louis Sachar
Teen
- The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
- Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
- The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Giver, Lois Lowry
- Code Talker, Joseph Bruchac
Top School Safety Picks
- The Ant Hill Disaster, Julia Cook (for elementary ages)
- The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School – How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle, Barbara Coloroso
- The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity, Nadine Burke Harris, M.D.
- It’s Always About the Children, Charles A. Barrett, PhD, NCSP
- Emotional Poverty In All Demographics, Ruby Payne, PhD
Recreational Reading and Inspiration for Adults
- The Selection 5-Book Boxed Set: The Complete Series, Kiera Cass
- Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, Marie Kondo
- Magpie Murders, Anthony Horowitz
- The Gift of Fear, Gavin deBecker
- Talking to Strangers: What we Should Know About the People We Don’t Know, Malcom Gladwell
- Leaving Time, Jodi Picoult
- They Call me Mr. De, Frank DeAngelis