Find Summer Reads at the Library

Looking for the perfect book to keep your child engaged and reading this summer? Plano Public Library is here to help! From babies to adults, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the library. While it’s important to choose books based on your child’s personal interests and reading level, these lists can help point you to some suggestions. Keep reading for some recommended book lists to find your next great read.

Association for Library Service to Children Summer Reading Lists

Every year, the Association for Library Service to Children releases a collection of summer reading lists, collecting popular titles from the past few years. This year’s lists include a collection of print and digital offerings to explore together. You can find lists for birth to preschool, kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3 to 5, and grades 6 to 8. For more ALSC recommendations, check out the Recommended Books page, where you can find past summer reading lists and other relevant topics.

Accelerated Reader Bookfinder

If you’re looking for books on a particular book level or Lexile measure, the Accelerated Reader Bookfinder can help. Use the Quick Search feature to check the available information on any title, or the Advanced Search page to look for books based on interest level, book level, or Lexile level. You can also use the Collection page to find popular titles by grade.

The Horn Book Summer Reading Recommendations

Each year, book review publication The Horn Book releases a series of summer reading lists. Each list features thirteen titles and collects a variety of fiction, nonfiction, folklore, poetry, and more to explore. You can find lists for picture books (recommended for preschool to grade 2), beginning readers and primary grades (recommended for grades 1 to 3), intermediate (recommended for grades 4 to 6), middle school (recommended for grades 6 to 8), and high school (recommended for grades 9 and up).

Scholastic Teaching Tools Summer Reading Lists

Publisher Scholastic has also created several summer reading lists. While titles are limited to those published by Scholastic, you can still find stand alone titles, series, and more to engage young readers during the summer break. Some of the lists are still in development, so check back to see additional offerings. Currently, you can find titles for preschool and kindergarten, first and second grade, grades 3 to 5, and top series for all ages.

School Library Journal

While School Library Journal hasn’t released a 2023 summer reading list (at least not yet!), their website is a goldmine of other booklists to explore. From board books for babies and toddlers to books in verse, there’s something for everyone. You can find all of the lists linked on their booklists page. Each year, SLJ also works on updating recommendations based on previous summer reading classics. For read-alike recommendations, check out the Refreshing the Canon page and stay tuned for this year’s recommendations.

Texas Library Association Reading Lists

Whether you’re two years old or 102, the Texas Library Association has book recommendations for you. While the 2 x 2 (recommended for children ages two to grade two), Bluebonnet (recommended for grades 3 to 6), and Lone Star (recommended for grades 6 to 8) titles are featured in our collections, did you know there are even more lists available? From graphic novels for all ages to bilingual titles, check out the full selection of resource lists on their Reading Lists page.

Be sure to browse the library catalog online, and use your library card number and PIN (generally the last four digits of your phone number) to place a hold request to pick up at any location. For more book recommendations from Plano Public Library, check out our Book Recommendations page, or stop by and visit staff at any library location. Happy reading!