2022 Picture Book Summer Reading List
It’s the 2nd Annual Dad Suggests Picture Book Summer Reading List! Summer reading lists are wonderful traditions, and they’ve been tremendously successful at keeping kids interested in reading during the summer months away from school.
Of course when libraries offer incentives like coupons and toys and whatnot for completing checklists, it does a great job of capturing the attention of kids. But I think a good portion of the magic comes from the fact that many kids discover - contrary to the way it often works in school - that you can actually read whatever you want for fun.
This list, of course, is specifically a picture book summer reading list. Which means it will be used with children who aren’t independent readers yet as well as children who are (we enjoy our picture books with 1 in each category). This also means a good deal of the onus is still on the parents to inspire a lifelong love of reading. Good for you just for reading this article! Your kids are most assuredly on the happy path already towards a love of stories and art.
In keeping with the tradition that we started last year, we’ve combined our favorite picture books of last year with our favorite picture books of 2022 so far. And, once again, we’ve thrown in the most recent Caldecott winners and honor books for good measure.
My recommendation is that you print off the PDF list available below, take it with you to the library, and check out every single one of them in one trip! And, most importantly, if your library doesn’t have one of these books, make sure to put a request in so they’ll buy it! Tell them Dad recommended it. Obviously they’ll definitely know what that means immediately.
If you do use the checklist, please make sure to let us know in the comments, or use the hashtag #DadSuggestsSummerReading on social media! We really want to know if anyone manages to complete the whole challenge!
Happy summer, everybody! And, of course, happy summer reading!
You can print out your free PDF copy of the summer reading checklist by clicking on the image below!
2022 Caldecott Winner and Honor Books
Watercress
Have You Ever Seen a Flower?
Mel Fell
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
Our Favorite Picture Books of 2021
Milo Imagines the World
The Rock from the Sky
Julia’s House Goes Home
The Midnight Fair
The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess
It Fell from the Sky
There’s a Ghost in this House
I am the Subway
Negative Cat
Amos McGee Misses the Bus
A Kid is a Kid is a Kid
Arno and his Horse
The Capybaras
How Beautiful
Outside, Inside
Shortlisted for our Favorite Picture Books of 2022
Mina
The Queen in the Cave
I Won’t Give Up My Rubber Band
Lizzy and the Cloud
The Boy with Flowers in His Hair
Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers
Tomorrow is a Brand New Day
Make sure to let us know in the comments if you’re participating - or use the hashtag #DadSuggestsSummerReading on social media!
And if you need even MORE summer reading, check out last year’s list!
