Are you looking for a great list of books to read with your kids this summer? A summer reading list can help you and your kids branch out and discover great new books. A summer reading list can also simplify your library trips. Find the perfect summer reading list for you and your kids right here!

Best of the Best Booklists

• The 50 Best Books for Kids by Elizabeth Bird – A fantastic all-around list of recommended books for kids ages 0-12.
• 60 Not-to-be-Missed Picture Books – 60 picture books that, in my humble opinion, you absolutely do not want to miss sharing with your kids.
• New York Public Libraries: 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know – A list of 100 excellent picture books that includes contemporary picture books as well as classics.
• Teachers First: 100 Best Books – A list of 100 classic children’s books including books for preschoolers, children ages 4-8, and children ages 9-12.
• Scholastic: Top 25 Picture Books – A short list of 25 classic picture books.
• School Library Journal’s Top 100 Picture Books – A democratically-compiled top 100 picture book list that features links to fun and informative write-ups about each book. A newly revised School Library Journal Top 100 list will be available June 13th!

Fun Booklists

• Children’s Choice Book Awards Finalists – A list of wonderful books chosen by children for children. After taking a look at the 5 Children’s Choice Award finalists from 2012, take a look at the finalists from 2011 and from previous years.
• Geisel Award Winners – 31 picture books that are both easy-to-read and entertaining.
• 16 Delightful Summertime Books – 16 picture books with summery themes, from stargazing to berry picking to baseball.
• 10 Super Silly Books – 10 picture books that make my children and me laugh.
• Drew Magary’s Top 10 – While I critiqued Magary’s article here, I like Magary’s list of 10 crowd-pleasing books. Scroll to the bottom of this article for Magary’s book recommendations.

Booklists of Excellent, Recently-Published Books

• Caldecott Medal: Recent Winners
• Kate Greenaway Medal: Recent Winners
• Kirkus Review: Best Picture Books of 2011
• The Atlantic: The 11 Best Picture Books of 2011
• The New York Times: Best Illustrated Books of 2011
• Association for Library Service to Children: 2012 Notable Children’s Books

Booklists for Adventurous Readers

• Read Around the World: Highlights – 24 wonderful stories set in countries around the world.
• Children’s Africana Book Awards – 19 outstanding picture books about Africa.
• Playing by the Book: 49 Brilliant Picture Books Chosen by Award Winning Illustrators  – 49 beautifully illustrated picture books published in the past five years.
• Reading Rainbow Books – The 300+ books that were featured on the Reading Rainbow television show. Warning: This booklist is long and unwieldy, which is why I filed this list under the “Booklists for Adventurous Readers” category.

Booklists for Babies and Toddlers (Ages 0-3)

• Introducing Babies and Toddlers to Books – 10 excellent books for each of three age groups: ages 0-13 months, ages 12-18 months and ages 18-24 months.
• 12 Books for Nature-Loving Babies and Toddlers – 12 nature-themed picture books.
• Reading Rockets: The Big Summer Read 2012 – 13 books for the 0-3 set.
• Best of the Best Books for Babies – The 10 best books for babies published each year, as determined by the nonprofit Best Books for Babies.

Booklists for Early Elementary Aged Kids (Ages 4-6)

• Boston Public Schools: 2012 Summer Book List, Grades K-2 – An excellent all-around summer reading list.
• Dandelions & Roses, Grades K-2 – A summer reading list that includes a variety of genres (e.g. fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biography, etc.)
• Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network, Grades PreK-K – A list of nearly 100 books for those concerned that they may run out of age-appropriate recommended reading.
• Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network, Grades 1-2

Booklists for Late Elementary Aged Kids (Ages 7-10)

• How to Find Chapter Books That Are Appropriate for New Readers by Elizabeth Bird – 5 early chapter book series recommended by librarian extraordinaire Elizabeth Bird.
• Boston Public Schools: 2012 Summer Books List, Grades 3-5 – An excellent all-around summer reading list.
• Children’s Choice Book Awards Finalists, Grades 3-4 – A booklist with big kid appeal. The Children’s Choice Award winners are selected annually by kids.
• NPR: Top 5 Books For Backseat Readers, Ages 9+
• Kirkus Review: Best Graphic Novels & Illustrated Chapter Books of 2011
• Dandelions & Roses, Grades 3-4
• Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network, Grades 3-4

Last but not least…

• The Independent: 10 Best Children’s Audiobooks – With road trip season upon us, this list of recommended audiobooks is sure to come in handy.
• The New York Times: The Best Children’s Books on the iPad – Ditto for this list of recommended children’s books available on the iPad.