Children's 2021 Summer Reading Challenge Book Suggestions

The 2021 Summer Reading Challenge is here! Below are a few books for each category as well as links to other articles with book recommendations in case you are looking for suggestions. Remember that you can read any book that meets the criteria for a specific category and each book can only be used for one category. We encourage you to be creative.

Suggestions are broken down by age group under each category.

Click here for the Summer Reading Challenge card and official information. If you are looking for suggestions for the Adult Summer Reading Challenge, click here.

  • Art, an Artist, or Crafts

Younger Children

Frida Kahlo by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

The Arabic Quilt by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan

Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang

Draw What You See: The Life and Art of Benny Andrews by Kathleen Benson

Middle Grade

Henri Matisse Meet the Artist by Patricia Geis

Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes

Teen

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location by Marc Taro Holmes

Vincent and Theo by Deborah Heiligman

More Suggestions:

20 Best Middle Grade Books About Art, Crafting, and Photography

13 Children's Books About Famous Artists Kids Will Love to Read

10 Inspiring Children’s Books for Budding Little Artists

The best drawing books in 2021 | Creative Bloq

10 New Books You Need in Your Classroom Library

27 Incredible Books for the High School Art Room

70 Children's Books About Famous Artists

  • By an Asian or Asian-American Author

Younger Children

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne

Super Satya Saves the Day by Raakhee Mirchandani

Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us by Analiza Quiroz Wolf 

Middle Grade

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

The Emperor’s Riddle by Kat Zhang

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

The Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat Zhang

Warcross by Marie Lu 

Teen

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong 

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Anna K: Away by Jenny Lee

More Suggestions:

20 Amazing Kids' and YA Books by Asian Authors

15 Asian American Books for Kids to Read Right Now

  • A Book with a Blue Cover

Younger Children

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

LOVE by Matt de la Pena

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Middle Grade

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Teen

Lu by Jason Reynolds

Parachutes by Kelly Yang

Anna K by Jenny Lee

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

More Suggestions:

YA Books With Blue Covers

  • A Mystery

Younger Children

Nancy Clancy Secret of the Silver Key by Jane O'Connor

Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

The Clubhouse Mysteries Series by Sharon Draper

Middle Grade

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

The Girl in the Picture by Alexandra Monir

Teen

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

More Suggestions:

50 Must-Read Mystery Books for Kids

12 Best Mystery Books For Kids & Teens, According To Moms

50 Must-Read Middle School Mystery Books | Book Riot

17 Mystery Books That Will Keep You Guessing - Penguin Teen

24 of the Best Mystery Books That'll Keep You Guessing Until the Very End

  • About Love, Managing Emotions, or Mindfulness

    Younger Children

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina

Mindful Me by Whitney Stewart

Already a Butterfly by Julia Alvarez

Big Feelings by Alexandra Penfold

Breathing Makes it Better by Christopher Willard

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse

Meditate with Me. A Step-by-Step Mindfulness Journey by Mariam Gates

Crafting Calm: Art and Activities for Mindful Kids by Lauren Kukla and Aruna Rangarajan

Middle Grade

What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner

Stuff that Sucks by Ben Sedley

Be More Yoda by Christian Blauvelt

Teen

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day by Jennie Marie Battistin

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

More Suggestions:

Best Kids' Books About Meditation

Picture Books That Introduce Mindfulness and Meditation to Kids

Best Picture Books about Love

20 Of The Best Mindfulness Books For Kids (Of All Ages)

15 Books To Teach Kids About Mindfulness - We Are Teachers

Top 10 Children's Books to Help Kids with Stress and Anxiety

  • A Book with a Fairy, Dragon, Witch, Wizard, or Vampire

Younger Children

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri

Dragon Masters “Rise of the Earth Dragon” by Tracey West

Ruby the Red Fairy by Daisy Meadows

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Fairy Wings by Lauren Mills

Middle Grade

Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel Jose Older

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Teen

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Season of the Witch (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) by Sarah Rees Brennan

More Suggestions:

6 Vampire Books Any Kid Would Sink their Fangs Into

10 of the Best Dragon Books for Kids

12 Super Magical Fairy Books for Kids

10 Books About Witches and Wizards

The Best Dragon Books for Teens

13 Witchy Fiction Books For Teens | The New York Public Library

  • By a Black Author

    Younger Children

Chase is Ready for Takeoff by Cousin John

This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

Middle Grade

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Miles Morales Spider Man by Jason Reynolds

Blended by Sharon Draper

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Teen

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

SLAY by Brittney Morris

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

More Suggestions:

children's books by Black authors — the conscious kid

19 Black Children's Books by Black Authors | Book Riot

Books By Black Authors 2021

31 YA Books By Black Authors That You Can't Miss This Year

  • Set in Another State or Country

Younger Children

Maui Hooks the Islands by Gabrielle Ahulii

Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina

Who Pooped in the Park.. Series by Gary D. Robson - Yellowstone, Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Northwoods, Grand Canyon

Middle Grade

Paloma and the Dust Devil at the Balloon Festival by Marcy Heller

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez

I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Teen

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

The Lies They Tell by Gillian French

More Suggestions:

Around The World in 80+ Children's Books | The New York Public Library

Destinations: Children's books organized by Country

50 States of YA: Young Adult Books Set In Each U.S. State

  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

Younger Children

The Girl with a Mind for Math by Julia Finley Mosca

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk

Middle Grade

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Young Readers Edition by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor by Temple Grandin

Teen

Atoms Under the Floorboards: The Surprising Science Hidden in Your Home by Chris Woodford

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Satellite Space Mission by AnneMarie Anderson

Space Chronicles by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

More Suggestions:

Best Kids' Books About Astronomy

27 Fun Outer Space Books for Kids

18 STEM Books That Make Science and Technology Fun for Kids

Helpful STEAM Books for Teachers, Teens, and Kids

Science Books for Teens

50 STEM Books to Update Your Collection

  • A Biography, Memoir, or Autobiography

    Younger Children

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha, and Yuko Shimizu

Shining Star: the Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo and Lin Wang

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford

Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker

Dinosaur Lady by Linda Skeers

Middle Grade

Courage to Soar by Simone Biles

Who is Gretta Thunberg? by Jill Leonard

Who is Sonia Sotomayor? by Megan Stine

Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve

Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton

Teen

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Col. Chris Hadfield

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida

The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande

Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings

More Suggestions:

11 Inspiring Biographies That Introduce Kids to Diverse Heroes

15 Great Diverse Picture Book Biographies for Your TBR

Best Biographies for Teens, as Chosen by Educators

  • A Poem or Poetry

Younger Children

Haiku Baby by Betsy E. Snyder

My Village: Rhymes from Around the World edited by Danielle Wright

Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat edited by Nikki Giovonni

Soccerverse: Poems About Soccer by Elizabeth Steinglass

Ice! Poems About Polar Life by Douglas Florian 

Middle Grade

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle

Teen

Daydreaming by Cydney Brown

The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country by Amanda Gorman

Poetry Speaks Who I Am: Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence and Everything Else edited by Elise Paschen

Poems from Homeroom: A Writer’s Place to Start by Kathi Appelt

Please Excuse This Poem: 100 New Poets for the New Generation  by Brett Lauer and Lynn Melnick

More Suggestions:

Best Poetry Books for Kids in Grades K-12, Recommended by Teachers

25 Of The Best Poetry Books For Teens

Poems for Kids | Academy of American Poets

Children | Poetry Foundation

Poetry for Teens | Academy of American Poets

50 of the Best Poetry Books for Kids Of All Ages To Enjoy

  • Law or Social Justice

    Younger Children

We the Kids. The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow

If You Were a Kid During the Civil Rights Movement by Gwendolyn Hooks

Thanks to Frances Perkins:  Fighter for Workers’ Rights by Deborah Hopkinson and Kristy Caldwell

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, and Nabi H. Ali

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan and R. Gregory Christie

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders

Middle Grade

Mighty Justice: The Untold Story of Civil Rights Trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Katie McCabe

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery

Stonewall: Our March Continues by Olivia Higgins

Kids on Strike! by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

Teen

Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case by Patricia Hruby Powell

March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle E. Pitman

Lift as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne

Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights by Mikki Kendall

A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History by Jeanne Theoharis

More Suggestions:

Best Kids' Books About Women's Suffrage

Books to Teach Kids About Our American Government

25 Fun and Engaging US Government Books for Kids

Best Children's Books to Read on Labor Day

16 Civil Rights Books for the Whole Family

15 LGBTQ History Books to Share with Kids During Pride Month

  • Magazine - Online or In Print

Younger Children

Ladybug

Highlights

Ranger Rick, Jr.

ASK (Art and Science for Kids)

Middle Grade

Sports Illustrated Kids

Ranger Rick

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures

Teen

Youth Runner

Teen Vogue

Real Simple

The Economist

Cooks Illustrated

Travel + Leisure

More Suggestions:

22 of the Best Magazines for Kids to Add to Your Classroom Library

  • About the Ocean

Younger Children

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton

Shark Lady by Jess King

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies 

Wild Orca: The Oldest, Wisest Whale in the World by Brenda Peterson

Middle Grade

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns 

The New Ocean: The Fate of Life in a Changing Sea by Bryn Barnard

National Geographic: The Ultimate Book of Sharks by Brian Skerry  

Teen

Exploring Under the Sea by Mary K. Pratt

Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur by Carl Safina

Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us by Alexandra Morton

Teen

More Suggestions:

11 Books About the Sea that Kids Will Love - Ocean Conservancy

Best Ocean Books for Kids, as Chosen by Educators

18 Resources for Teaching Ocean Science

  • A Book About Food or Try Cooking a New Recipe

    Younger Children

Follow the Recipe: Poems About Imagination, Celebration & Cake  by Marilyn Singer

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang

Guacamole by Jorge Argueta

What’s on Your Plate?: Exploring the Food of the World by Whitney Stewart

Lights, Camera, Cook! Next Best Junior Chef by Charise Mericle Harper

Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres

Middle Grade

Measuring Up by Lily Lamotte

A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucido

MasterChef Junior Cookbook: Bold Recipes and Essential Techniques to Inspire Young Cooks by MasterChef Junior

Teen

The How-To Cookbook for Teens: 100 Easy Recipes to Learn the Basics by Julee Morrison

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America by Maricel E. Presilla

Black Girl Baking: Wholesome Recipes Inspired by a Soulful Upbringing by Jerrelle Guy

Food-Related Stories (Pocket Change Collective) by Gaby Melian

More Suggestions:

31 Delicious Food Books for Kids

10 of the Best Middle Grade Novels About Cooking and Baking

5 Best Cookbook for Teenagers

  • Graphic Novel, Comic, or Manga

Younger Children

*For children under 6, read a picture book.

Pepper and Boo: A Cat Surprise by Cherise Mericle Harper

Little Robot by Ben Hatke

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

Allergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Middle Grade

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

Marble Season by Gilbert Hernandez

New Kid or Class Act by Jerry Craft

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

Teen

Almost-American Girl by Robin Ha

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Shuri: The Search for Black Panther by Nnedi Okorafor and Leonardo Romero

More Suggestions:

30 Best Graphic Novels for Elementary Students K-6

20 High School and Middle School Graphic Novels

50 Must-Read Middle Grade Graphic Novels

20 of the Best Graphic Novels for Teens

Abbie DuFrayne