SLJ Reviews

Our top summer reading picks for picture books and beginning readers.

Highly recommended young adult fiction and nonfiction for teens to enjoy all summer long. 

Highly recommended chapter books for independent readers to enjoy all summer long. 

Highly recommended middle grade fiction and nonfiction for readers to enjoy all summer long. 

From crafting to cooking to stargazing, these lists recommend several books on a common theme or subject with selections for a variety of ages and reading levels—making them perfect ways to inspire reading, talking, and playing together as a family. 

Highly recommended nonfiction for young readers, tweens, and teens to enjoy all summer long. 

Highly recommended graphic novels for young readers, tweens, and teens to enjoy all summer long. 

The young people featured in these middle grade novels are intrepid, confronting racism, grief, queer identity, and more. They’re relatable teens and tweens, making mistakes and stumbling as they find themselves. Looking for more summer reading recommendations? SLJ is publishing lists all summer long—from family stories to mysteries to teen reads. Check out our top picks for beginning readers, realistic middle grade, and realistic fiction.

Starting this week and continuing through the end of June and beyond, SLJ is publishing lists of our top picks for summer reading, from stories to share with the whole family to recommended titles for emerging readers to captivating fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels for tweens and teens.