Summer-themed picture books are a fun and varied bunch of reads: anything and everything from going to the beach to visiting family, discovering new creatures to taking fantastical trips with your imagination.

From classics to new titles, here- in no particular order- are some of my picture book picks for summer:

Barnacle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske
Rules for Summer by Shaun Tan
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Wave by Suzy Lee
Fred and Pete at the Beach by Cynthia Nugent
Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion
Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by Julie Falatko, illus. Tim Miller
Oi Frog! by Kes Gray, illus. Jim Field
The Specific Ocean by Kyo Maclear, illus. Katty Maurey
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Poppy Pickle by Emma Yarlett
Land Shark by Beth Ferry, illus. Beth Mantle
Out of the Blue by Alison Jay
Quackers by Liz Wong
Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat
Stella, Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay
This Is Sadie by Sara O’Leary, illus. Julie Morstad
Secret Tree Fort by Brianne Farley
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai
Pool by JiHyeon Lee
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
I’m the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Ideas Are All Around by Philip C. Stead
Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John C. Birmingham
The Crocodile Who Didn’t Like Water by Gemma Merino
Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach by Melanie Watt
Have You Seen My Dragon? by Steve Light
If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, illus. Erin E. Stead

You can find more of my seasonal and ‘best-of’ book lists on this page!