Children’s Summer reading basket

This post contains affiliate links

Our Summer reading basket is full of beautiful books to complement the season and the Australian landscape.

Summer for us is usually bright blue skies, long grasses washed to a yellow-white colour and a blazing sun. And although we have had some soaringly hot days this year (up into the 40s), we’ve also enjoyed wonderful storms bringing cooling relief, with weeks of more gentle temperatures (in the early 20s).

My children love exploring our reading basket each time it is changed. The books I make available follow the seasons and festivals of the year, helping us maintain a rhythm to our days.

Books in our Summer reading basket

Rules of Summer

by Shaun Tan

A new book for Max, about the rules children make up for their games through Summer. An intriguing book to spark the imagination, filled with illustrations of Summer landscapes.

Max is really rather taken with this story and with puzzling out the rules!

All Through the Year
by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

Follow an Australian family through their year. Long days in January at the beach, cooling air in March as the leaves turn colour, and the shortest day and longest night in June. This book relates the seasons to our part of the world with whimsical illustrations and a lovely rhythm.

A lovely story that could be added to any seasonal reading basket.

A Year On Our Farm
by Penny Matthews and Andrew McLean

Nature and the seasons are explored through an Australian family’s life on a farm is this lovely story. With little bits of humour to capture the imagination.

This is one of Max’ favourite stories, and again could be added to any seasonal reading basket.

Today we have No Plans
by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

A book that takes us through what can be a busy family week, ending with a wonderfully amazing day in which there are no plans!

To us, Summer is like a day with no plans ~ as it stretches on, people are more relaxed and days less structured.


Pip the Gnome
by Admar Kwant

This simple board book takes us through the seasons with Pip the Gnome. We meet his friends the robin in Summer and a wren in Winter. This book is not based in Australia, but translates well because it does not anchor the seasons to the months of the Northern Hemisphere.

It is one of Ruby’s favourites, and a good bedtime read.

Two Summers
by John Heffernan and Freya Blackwood

This story contrasts two Summers on the farm, when a friend, Rick visits. One year they play in the dam and help with the animals. The following Summer there is a drought and things are tough.

Many parts of Australia are in drought and this story nicely illustrates the impact.

Many of these enjoyable books were recommended by my friend Jackie from My Little Bookcase. I find it rather hard to resist the books she recommends! Pop on over to see for yourself *grin*

What books do you have in your Summer reading basket?

Happy reading,
Kelly

Previous Post Next Post

You Might Also Like

13 Comments

  • Reply Jackie(My Little Bookcase) January 23, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    Thank you for linking to My Little Bookcase- oh, how I love Australian books!

    Pip, the Gnome is new to me. I will have to hunt this one down for Baby Ike. 🙂

    Lovely to read that you enjoy the storms as much as the summer warmth. 🙂

    • Reply Happy Whimsical Hearts January 26, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      We love Australian books too, and thanks again for the recommendations xx

  • Reply Carrie January 24, 2014 at 3:14 am

    Those look like beautiful books, Kelly!! I’ll have to see if I can find any of them here in the States.

    • Reply Happy Whimsical Hearts January 26, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      They are lovely ones Carrie, let me know if you have no luck and I can send one over 🙂

  • Reply lovestitches January 26, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Thanks for the seasonal book ideas. Its extra hard here in NZ finding seasonal books that aren’t American based with a snowy xmas and halloween etc.

    • Reply Happy Whimsical Hearts January 26, 2014 at 9:24 pm

      I had the same difficulty, so glad to share what we have found 🙂

  • Reply theoldmilkcan January 28, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    If you like the farm books I highly recommend Alison Lester’s books – my kids love ‘My Farm’ and ‘Are we there yet?’ but she has written many, many lovely books.

  • Reply Chelsea Lee Smith January 30, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    Oh oh I love the idea of a seasonal basket! I occasionally put out a basket of books I think the boys would enjoy that we haven’t read for a while, or on a certain theme, but haven’t done it for a specific season. These books looks gorgeous.

  • Reply Jodie Clarke January 31, 2014 at 8:54 pm

    I too love the idea of seasonal baskets Kelly, fantastic and not sure why i haven’t done that before as you mention so many wonderful reasons to embrace the season with books. Shall have to explore these selections!

  • Reply Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky February 1, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    these are some of our very favourites, I love the idea of putting them all together into a collection 🙂

  • Reply Danya atDanyaBanya February 1, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    I love kids books, and it is so good to get some fresh ideas. Thanks, have pinned. 🙂

  • Reply Kate Lloyd February 2, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    Gorgeous book list. I adore ‘today we have no plans’ but need to own a copy for Possum.

  • Reply Beautiful bedtime books ~ Happy Whimsical Hearts August 9, 2016 at 9:34 am

    […] these links to see our Spring, Summer, Winter & Autumn book […]

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.