Author: Kaytee Smith
Whether you're planning a trip to the beach, a museum, or just staying home this summer, here are 10 children's books to activate the imagination and spark curiosity!
1. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
Looking for a book to read to your little one?
From brave and bold to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin's rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children.
2. Tails by Matthew Van Fleet
This is a great book to read at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences!
Tails are irresistible to toddlers, and in Matthew Van Fleet’s sturdy touch-and-feel board book, preschool-age pokers and prodders can finally tug to their heart’s content. Pull tabs, lift-able flaps, tufts of fur, and even a scratch-and-sniff skunk tail provide plenty of tactile surprises. Along the way, youngsters will learn about counting, opposites, and how animals use their tails.
3. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Planning a trip to the North Carolina Zoo?
A child writes to the zoo for a pet. The zoo send a series of unsuitable pets, revealed behind flaps in the form of crates and packing cases. These animals are all sent back for different reasons, except the last one, which is perfect! And with an updated look, this classic children's storybook about a youngster looking for a perfect pet is sure to delight a new generation of readers!
4. Whose Poop Is That? by Darrin Lunde & Illustrated by Kelsey Oseid
If you are visiting one of the many North Carolina State Parks you may see some scat!
No, don’t say “Ewwww.” Ask, “Whose poop is that?” This simple, and yes, charming book asks this question about seven examples of animal poop. By investigating visual clues, young readers can learn to identify the animal through its droppings.
5. Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach (My First I Can Read) by James Dean
Heading to the beach this summer?
Pete the Cat is one groovy cat at finding shells and building sand castles at the beach. But when it gets too hot, there’s only one way to cool off—jump into the ocean!
6. Sam the Man & The Chicken Plan by Frances O'Roark Dowell & Illustrated by Amy June Bates
Looking for a book from a North Carolina author?
Sam the Man wants to earn some money and he’s got a cluck-worthy plan in this endearing chapter book that’s the first in a new series from North Carolinia author, Frances O’Roark Dowell.
7. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt & Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Need a book for a budding artist?
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This book would be great to read at the North Carolina Museum of Art!
8. Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
Searching for an award winning book?
Described as a a "compelling, nuanced tale of loving family under segregation." When the Ku Klux Klan's unwelcome reappearance rattles Stella's segregated southern town, bravery battles prejudice in this Depression-era tour de force. Learn more about African American history at the North Carolina Museum of History.
9. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin & Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Want to add a bestseller to your list?
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. The award-winning team of Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri has created an unforgettable tale of new friends and the perfect snack.
10. Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott
No road trip would be complete without this book!
What happens to race car drivers when they eat too much? They get indy-gestion. Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids provides children ages 7-10 many hours of fun and laughter.