Great Summer Reading for Children

A Guest Post by Author Cathy Ballou Mealey About Summer Reading

 

SOME READING ABOUT SUMMER READING

By Cathy Ballou Mealey,

Author of Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation

 

 

Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation cover Sloth and Squirrel riding a wave.

 

 

GUEST POST:

 

I’m celebrating summer, my favorite time to read, read, read. The sun lingers high in the sky, my deck chair is comfy, and the next thing I know my family is asking if or when we are having dinner. Just let me reach the end of this chapter…

 

But I don’t become that engrossed in every book. This summer, I’ve put down three promising novels that simply did not engage me. Which makes me worry – how many books should I bring on vacation? I am definitely the donkey in this illustration, with a giant tote of extra books propped just out of view!

 

 

Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation int1 Turtles and Donkey at beach.
Interior spread from Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation, written by Cathy Ballou Mealey and illustrated by Kelly Collier, Kids Can Press ©2025.

 

 

In Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation, the unlikely friends are going on a trip to Paradise Park, but of course, they prepare in very different ways. Sloth, usually the slower of the two, is ready in a flash, bringing only a tiny polka-dotted bindle. Squirrel is a fast and massive over-packer, tossing everything but the kitchen sink into an overstuffed suitcase. Did either of them pack even one book?

 

Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation int2 sloth was ready first.
Interior art from Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation, written by Cathy Ballou Mealey and illustrated by Kelly Collier, Kids Can Press ©2025.

 

 

Well, Sloth and Squirrel did consult a travel magazine when deciding where to go, and that definitely counts as summer reading. Also, audiobooks, graphic novels, comic books, cookbooks, museum placards, seed packets, cereal boxes, and even blog posts count as summer reading. At least they do for me!

 

 

Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation int3 Squirrel opened a travel magazine.
Interior spread from Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation, written by Cathy Ballou Mealey and illustrated by Kelly Collier, Kids Can Press ©2025.

 

 

I recently took a peek at the summer reading lists for students in my hometown. For elementary students, there are suggested titles and a recommendation to read as much and as widely as possible. For older students, there are selected texts, worksheets to complete, and assignments due on the first week of school. I felt grateful, remembering those three novels I chose to put down, that I did not have to puzzle out their exposition and themes, or draw a plot diagram. It’s empowering to have a choice in reading material, and it’s essential that we do our utmost to ensure everyone has access to books that are just right for them.

 

I hope all students are rewarded with a pizza party, sparkly stickers, or extra recess for completing their summer reading, math packets, and All About Me assignments. If you need a funny, sweet story about compromise, friendship, and exciting summer activities, I hope you will look for SLOTH AND SQUIRREL ON VACATION. And if you’ve found the most perfect, un-put-downable summer read for you, I hope you’ll tell me all about it!

 

 

Author Cathy Ballou Mealey headshotBIOGRAPHY:

Cathy Ballou Mealey is a scone lover and picture book author. SLOTH AND SQUIRREL ON VACATION and SLOTH AND SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE are two books illustrated by Kelly Collier, out now from Kids Can Press. MAKE MORE S’MORES, illustrated by Ariel Landy, was published in 2023 by Sleeping Bear Press. Cathy lives north of Boston with her family, where she has seen plenty of squirrels and one moose.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CATHY:

Website: https://cathyballoumealey.wixsite.com/author

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/catballoumealey.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catballoumealey/

 

Description of Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation 

Finding a destination that best friends Sloth and Squirrel can agree on for their vacation is tough, until they learn that Paradise Park has “Something for Everyone!” Perfect! While Sloth happily lazes on the sand, Squirrel enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, paragliding, ziplining… until he starts to miss Sloth, and heads back to find him. Meanwhile, Sloth, finished with his nap, is missing Squirrel, and begins searching for him—in all the places Squirrel has just been! Will the friends ever have fun together? Young readers will appreciate how the two lovable, mismatched friends always find a way to work things out. This endearing story makes a funny and engaging read-aloud, offering lessons on caring for others and being adaptable.

 

BUY THE BOOK:

Purchase links for ISBN: 9781525312564
Bookshop
Barnes&Noble
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Great Summer Reading! Five Novelty Book Faves For Toddlers & Preschoolers

A ROUNDUP OF UNIQUE BOOKS
FOR TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS

 

 

I Thought I Saw a Dinosaur! cover illustrationI Thought I Saw A Dinosaur!
Written and illustrated by Lydia Nichols
(Templar Books; $7.99, Ages 0-3)

I Thought I Saw A Dinosaur! by Lydia Nichols is part of the “I Thought I Saw A” series—the other title right now being I Thought I Saw A Lion!  This compact square-shaped, 10-page board book includes a slide-and-seek feature that encourages manually dexterity. Just move the easy-to-spot loop (it looks like a ring-shaped life preserver) in every spread to the opposite end of the cut-away area and presto, behold the dino! It could be anywhere in the house. Maybe behind the sofa or maybe in the shower (the shower curtain is my favorite slider). One thing is for sure, this chartreuse green dino is adorable and friendly so youngsters will be thrilled to find it. Nichols’s artwork has a cool retro feel, but most of all it’s warm and welcoming and makes for an entertaining game of slide-and-seek at home or on the road.

 

Cover art from Take a Look: More Fun Together! by Liesbet Slegers Take a Look: More Fun Together!
Written and illustrated by Liesbet Slegers
(Clavis Books; $12.95, Ages 18 months and up)

What’s more fun than playing alone? Playing with a friend! In fact, everything’s more fun together and toddlers will agree. First they’ll see bear resting, but after they slide apart the sturdy board book pages, they’ll see bear’s pal revealed. Is bunny crawling into her empty burrow? Nope her little ones await her! Use this 12-page book to discuss friendship, types of animals then come up with your own take on the colorful cast of characters including a cat, an elephant, a fish and some kids. Each slide-and-see page of Take a Look. More Fun Together!, a delightful interactive board book, holds a sweet surprise. An adorable year round read.

 

book cover die_cut art from TouchThinkLearn: Wiggles

TouchThinkLearn: WIggles
by Claire Zucchelli-Romer
(Handprint Books/Chronicle Kids; $17.99, Ages 2-4)

Let one, five or ten fingers linger on every page to explore the tactile fun that is TouchThinkLearn: Wiggles. The “fluorescent die-cut dots and playful, grooved paths” will entertain and engage children as they learn about shapes, color and movement in a totally unique way. According to Handprint Books, “The premise is simple: Hear an instruction, repeat its words, and playfully trace out its action.” Children won’t be able to resist. I couldn’t either, from my very first touch of the book’s spine and cover. The spirals inside pulled me in, but maybe it will be the the squiggles, dots or zigzags for your toddlers and preschoolers. Whatever captures their interest, they’re sure to find new ways to interact with this 26-page, vibrantly colored board book. Its innovative design and exuberant language promises to spark sensory curiosity in little learners. Find half a dozen other books in the terrific TouchThinkLearn series including Little Critters, Fly and ABC.

 

Sam's Hamburger cover artworkSam’s Hamburger
Written and illustrated by David Pelham
(Candlewick Press; $12.99, Ages 3-7)

Samantha’s sad that her burger’s been stolen, “And that’s the second one this week!” she cries to her brother who has a plan—concoct something that resembles a burger only fill it with fake food designed to hide creepy crawlies. What a wonderfully distasteful way to get back at the thief! That’ll certainly give the culprit something to chew on. This convincing, cleverly designed three-dimensional, lift-the-flap book is not for those who easily get queasy. Sam’s Hamburger is a satisfying sequel to the best-selling Sam’s Sandwich, first published in 1990. It will introduce a new generation of young readers to this bright, bold, over-the-top, but cooked to perfection recipe for sweet (or sour) revenge.

 

cover illustration from We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Changing Picture Book

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Changing Picture Book
Written by Michael Rosen
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
(Candlewick Press; $18.99, Ages 3-7)

The award-winning classic from 1989 has had many iterations, but this latest, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Changing Picture Book, is one I think will please even Bear Hunt purists because it’s just so much fun. There are seven transforming pages including the cover in this 20-page board book. Each one brings movement and excitement to the spread where the changing pictures have been designed. The pull-down tabs switch from illustration only to illustration and the beloved sounds we all love repeating and in many cases have memorized: Swishy swashy! Splash splosh! Squelch squerch! Stumble trip! Hoo woo! and the ultimate, IT’S A BEAR! So when thinking of a baby shower gift, add this version to your list and help new parents have a beautiful day or plan on having one yourself!

– Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

Check out another board book roundup here.

 

 

 

 

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