14 Fun, Summer Reading Recommendations for Grades K-8

Our friends at Random House Children’s Books put together a list of 14, fun summer book recommendations for elementary- and middle-school-aged kids! Check out these grade K-8 books.

Interested in one of the titles below? Click the book's title to learn more about it on Random House Children's website.

• Just Like Me is a collection of poetry filled with engaging mini-stories about girls of all kinds. (Ages 4-8.)
• Magnificent Makers: How to Test a Friendship. The Magnificent Makers series is filled with science, adventure, and characters that readers will love! A modern-day Magic School Bus for chapter book readers. Also includes two science activities kids can do at home. (Ages 7-10.)
• Our Friend Hedgehog. A cozy classic-in-the-making about finding your friends and sticking together through thick and thin. (Ages 5-9.)
• Trailblazers: Beyonce, Trailblazers: Simone Biles  and Trailblazers: Jackie Robinson Bring history home and meet some of the world’s greatest game changers! Get inspired by the true story of the most famous scientist to ever live. This biography series is for kids who loved Who Was? and are ready for the next level. (Ages 8-12.)
• Stepping Stones. A contemporary middle-grade graphic novel about family and belonging. (Ages 8-12.)
• Doodleville. An inventive new story from Cardboard Kingdom creator Chad Sell about a group of young artists who must work together when one of their own creations becomes a monster. (Ages 8-12.)
• Clean Getaway. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes a middle-grade road-trip story through American race relations past and present. (Ages 8-12.)
• Isaiah Dunn is My Hero. A coming-of-age tale about a boy who discovers a love of poetry after finding his late father’s journal. (Ages 8-10.)
• It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime. Trevor Noah tells the story of growing up half black, half white in South Africa under and after apartheid in this young readers’ adaptation of his bestselling adult memoir Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. (Ages 10 and up.)
• When You Trap a Tiger. This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother. (Ages 8-12.)
• The List of Things That Will Not Change. At a time when everything is changing for Bea and her family, the important things will always stay the same. A soon-to-be classic by the Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me. (Ages 8-12.)
• We’re Not From Here. A topical, sci-fi middle-grade novel that proves friendship and laughter can transcend even a galaxy of differences. (Ages 8-12.)

Is your child not excited about diving into a good book?

Here are some ideas for how to instill a love of reading into your reluctant reader.

If your child’s hesitation about reading is more rooted in needing some help, though, Sylvan is here for him or her. Our tutors are experts at helping kids progress in reading and excellent motivators and confidence builders! Contact your local Sylvan to learn more, we’d love to chat about how we can help your child.