Summer Reading 2025

It's been an awesome year in the Sage Canyon Library, and I want to wish you all a very bookishly delightful summer!
Here are some ideas and resources to help you out (I will update it as more programs/resources become available). See you in the fall! -- Mrs. Bennett

Public Library Info

We have several library systems in San Diego County. The closest branches are part of the San Diego Public Library and the San Diego County Library. I encourage you to get library cards from both.

Get a SDPL card (closest branch: Carmel Valley. Don't miss visiting the Central Library, downtown by Petco Park. It's awesome, and has a big children's section, and various special collections like genealogy and a baseball collection.)
Get a SDCL card (closest branch: Del Mar. My favorite library is the Encinitas library, which has an ocean view, a beautiful mural, and a great children's section.)
SDPL's summer reading program (hopefully coming soon!)
SDCL's summer reading program
With SDCL, you get access to the Libby app, my favorite app for checking out ebooks and audiobooks from the library (more audiobook info below).
You can also get library cards from other places, for example to get an Los Angeles Public Library card, you just have to live in CA. They have a big catalog of digital titles. Also the Central Library in Downtown LA is a great historic destination to visit (you can take an awesome Art & Architecture tour!).
Our local libraries offer more than just books--- visit a local branch to see their events calendar for storytimes and other fun events for all ages (like reading to dogs, concerts, crafts, classes, scavenger hunts, and more).

Little Free Libraries

Make your own Little Free Library to host in your neighborhood, or find one anywhere you go!

Author Events

Check local bookstores and libraries for story times, author visits, and book signings!

I'm excited to share that I learned that San Diego Book Festival is returning to USD on August 23, 10am-4pm.

Here are a couple to check out:

Camino Books in Del Mar (formerly Diesel, now in a beautiful new location)
Warwick's in La Jolla

Reading Challenges & Tracking

Try reading across different genres and tracking your reading with my Genre Tracker and Completed Books Log. All the info can be found on the Reading Across Genres page. I introduced this challenge to some of my 5th grade book club this year.

Last year's summer reading bingo sheet is still available, too, as another way to challenge yourself/your student to try new genres and track them in a fun way.

If you're looking for a more visual summer reading tracker, check out Everyday Reading's summer camp reading charts/posters.

Audiobooks

Do audiobooks count as "real reading?" Of course they do! Audiobooks are a great way to take in books both individually and as a family (especially on long road trips).

How to listen to audiobooks:

Libby is the best library app for audiobooks. You can add more than one library card to your Libby account if you get more cards to have more databases to search, too! You can place holds to wait your turn for popular books and somtimes you'll even get a "skip the line loan." You can use the Libby app on phones, iPads, and even in a computer browser.
SDPL uses Cloud Library for ebooks and audiobooks. Hoopla is another app that some libraries use (LAPL for example has Hoopla access). Hoopla doesn't have as wide of a selection but there are no wait times.
Audible is one option for buying audiobooks, but a great alternative is Libro.FM. With Libro.FM, you get to support a specific independent bookstore with your purchase. It's a very intuitive app as well.
Spotify now also has audiobooks, both for purchase, and a select number are free for premium members (I believe it's one per month, and if you have Spotify Family, it appears only the primary account gets a free listen).

Family audiobook recommendations-- here are some of my faves that appeal to a variety of ages:

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon (she narrates it herself- hilarious!)
Harry Potter books (these are some of the best narrated children's books out there!)
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (a 5-book series)
The Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser (a 7-book series)
The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers (this won the Newbery award last year for most distinguished children's book; the audio is excellently performed by Ethan Hawke)
Roald Dahl's books (funny & irreverent classics that are fun on audio)
The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer (these narrative history texts are great on audio for the whole family)

Summer Book Recs

Here are some summery books to enjoy. Reading levels are just recommendations; you know your child's taste and level best!

A Day at the Beach by Gary D Schmidt & Ron Koertge (upper level fiction)
The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie (upper level fiction)
The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson (upper level fiction)
Shipwrecked by Martin Sandler (upper level nonfiction)
The Wild Robot trilogy by Peter Brown (upper level fiction/grade 2 and up; movie adaption now available!)
The Jules Verne Prophecy by Iva-Marie Palmer and Larry Schwarz (upper level fiction)
Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee (upper level fiction)
Stand Up, Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim, local Carmel Valley author! (upper level fiction)
Hot Dog by Dan Salati (my favorite summery picture book!)
It Began With Lemonade by Gideon Sterer (picture book)
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (fiction)
Holes by Louis Sachar (upper level fiction)
Mindy Kim Makes a Splash by Lyla Lee (early chapter book)
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary (early chapter book)

Here is a great list of summer-themed middle grade books and one for picture books from a trusted recommendation source of mine (I haven't read all of these personally).

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