4 must-read summer picture books!

Michael Strouse  //  May 30, 2014

4 must-read summer picture books!

With a 2 and 3 year old in the house, I am very invested in picture books these days. I've always, though, had a soft spot for the picture book. The format is perfect for family bonding while simultaneously developing children into lifelong readers. This summer, there are 4 new books that I'm especially excited about! 

  • Showtime with Sophia Grace and Rosie is the second picture book from those two little girls you have surely seen on the Ellen show! They're getting set for their school talent show and of course, pink tutus abound!
  • Mighty Dads is just awesome! Cranes, backhoes and bulldozers showing their 'kids' to build is really the perfect example of how magical picture books can be. With exciting text from Joan Holub that captures fatherhood perfectly and art from New York Times Bestseller James Dean, they've constructed a hit!
  • The Tree House that Jack Built is the latest from award-winning illustrator Mark Teague with text by Bonnie Verburg. The cast of animal characters with Jack in his tree house are adorable. The setting, though, is my favorite part and PERFECT for summer! With the adventure of the jungle and the peacefullness of the adjacent sea, reading this book is like a vacation in and of itself!
  • Zoe's Jungle is just as lovable as the two previous Zoe books! I will freely admit that these books and Zoe have captured my heart, as Zoe reminds me so much of my daughter Lydia. That makes reading with her so much more special, though. This book transforms a normal day at the park into an exploration of the imagination, leaving tons of opportunities to talk with your kids while reading.