2023 Picture Book Summer Reading List
We are officially in the last week of school around here, and you know what that means. It’s time for summer reading! Taking part in summer reading programs every year at my local public library gave me some pretty wonderful memories when I was little. And this tradition of putting out a Dad Suggests summer reading list makes me feel like I’m a small part of that tradition in some way - and that makes me pretty happy.
As is our tradition, this is a picture book summer reading list, and it’s primarily our favorite picture books released over the last 2 years. But there is one other way we get the books for our annual reading list, and that’s from the very prestigious Caldecott awards. As always, you will find the 2023 Caldecott medal winner and honor books on this list too. It’s like watching the movies nominated for Best Picture every year - important and interesting to be familiar with what the critics think.
But the bulk of the picture books on this list come from that other prestigious award ceremony - the Dad Suggests Picture Book Awards - both our 2022 top 10 as well as some of the honorable mentions. This is the Dad Suggests summer reading list after all. And the rest of the list is rounded out by picture books that we’ve already shortlisted for the 2023 Dad Suggests Picture Book Awards. Traditionally, if we shortlist a book, there’s a pretty good chance it will end up in next year’s top 10!
If you complete the entire checklist this summer, not only will you have a satisfaction-guaranteed good time, but you’ll also be intimately familiar with basically all of the picture books we consider our very favorite of the past 2 years. I suppose if you enjoy the kinds of stories that we do then that must count for something!
Below you’ll find a free PDF printout of this year’s checklist - if you or any other littler members of your family are up for the challenge! If you print one out and want to share your progress on social media, you can use the hashtag #DadSuggestsSummerReading. I’d love to hear about any little bit of summer fun this tradition might bring to you - and I’d be extremely impressed to see someone finish the whole list this year!
Happy summer to you and yours - and happy summer reading!
You can print out your free PDF copy of the Dad Suggests 2023 summer reading checklist by clicking on the image below!
2023 Caldecott Winner and Honor Books
Hot Dog - 2023 Caldecott Medal Winner
Berry Song - Honor Book
Choosing Brave - Honor Book
Knight Owl - Honor Book
* Ain’t Burned All the Bright is another wonderful 2023 Caldecott Honor book, but it is much longer and recommended for ages 12+ - so we left it off of our picture book summer reading list.
Our Favorite Picture Books of 2022
Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers
Lizzy and the Cloud
Mina
The Queen in the Cave
The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back
Patchwork
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
My Self, Your Self
Telling Stories Wrong
Ways to Make Friends
Leila the Perfect Witch
Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day
Night Lunch
Bedtime For Bo
Meanwhile, Back on Earth…
Calling the Wind
Will It Be Okay?
Shortlisted for our Favorite Picture Books of 2023
Twenty Questions
Mulysses
Manolo and the Unicorn
The Bear and the Wildcat
Afterward, Everything was Different
I hope you have a great time reading with your little ones this summer. Make sure to let us know in the comments if you’re participating - or use the hashtag #DadSuggestsSummerReading on social media!
