2026 Summer Reading Kindergarten – 2nd Grade Guide
I’m trying something new this year! I’m creating great reading suggestions for different age groups for summer reading. And each guide will also include some great reading activities that you can do as a family or to encourage reading throughout the summer! Today’s guide is for kids in the Kindergarten – 2nd grade arena. I envision this guide can be used for all kids entering kindergarten through graduating 2nd grade. But, also know that you can use the Pre-K Guide for younger kids as well as the Grades 3 – 5 guide for older students as well!
Summer reading can feel overwhelming whether you’re trying to get kids to read assigned books over the summer from school or to just pick up anything over the summer to keep up their reading skills. And while I can’t do much about the assigned reading part, I can help with the reading for fun part! I’m going to break these guides down to age groups, to make them a little easier to manage, but that doesn’t mean you can check out each one and find the books that speak to you and your family!
Our next list is for Kindergarten – 2nd grade students with a list of 25 books that have been published over the past few years, plus a couple of different reading log options as well as a number of different reading and literacy themed activities and a printable list of the titles that you can use when going to your local library! And what’s more? You get this entire 25-page summer reading pre-k guide for FREE!
What kinds of books should my kids be reading?
I’ve combined a lot of great picture books, easy readers, and a handful of chapter books here to create a list that should be a great starting point for a lot of kids. Kindergarten – 2nd grade can be difficult to provide specially curated lists for because the reading levels between these three grades can differ dramatically. Some kids are just beginning to practice sight words while older kids may be reading chapter books without a problem! So, I included a little bit of everything and remember, just because your kids are starting to read on their own, keep reading aloud to them! It’s not only helpful for them in their reading journey as they can hear more complex sentences and vocabulary in higher level reading, but it’s also a great family activity to share together!
But, the most important thing to remember is, is that it doesn’t matte what your reading! It just matters that you’re taking the time to do it! So be intentional about it. Does that include a trip to the bookstore to pick out a brand new book? Regular visits to the local library to get new books every week or so? Deciding to host a family book club to encourage everyone to read and share? A dedicated reading time each day for the whole family?
What does summer reading look like?
Summer reading doesn’t have to look the same for each and every family. The important part is that you’re doing it! So take a moment to download this amazing reading guide to get started. Take a few moments in the next few days to think about how you want your summer reading to look. And then make a plan and stick to it! Try a reading log or chart from the guide posted on the fridge, try pairing reading with a special treat as a summer reading kick-off (reading and ice cream goes great together!), and make sure you keep reading fun. It can be ordinary and special, exciting and normal, and it’s never a waste! So take a moment to download the 2026 Summer Reading Kindergarent – 2nd Grade Guide now! Check back each Thursday in May for a new Summer Reading Guide! Enjoy your summer reading!
