With summer upon us and little ones to amuse for weeks on end, I thought some fabulous picture book suggestions might be appreciated… plus, a GIVEAWAY! Sweet reads to ignite tiny imaginations, encourage questions and conversations, and occupy at least some of the time in meaningful ways. Check out these six summer picture books and a giveaway:

 

 

 

“When I say to a parent, “read to a child”, I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate. ” Mem Fox

I hope you enjoy my recommendations and mini-reviews—picture books are a passion of mine and I never tire of them! From spending time at the library, in the forest, smelling flowers, hanging out with glam-ma, or playing in water, here are some great picks for your summer (and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!)

I’ve included my Amazon affiliate links in case you want to grab a copy now (full disclosure here) which means I get a tiny commission while you pay the regular price for any of the books. Here we go:

 

    LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Dena Seiferling     AMAZON.COM     AMAZON.CA     AMAZON.UK

This stunning book follows a baby bumblebee as she learns that the secret to flourishing is kindness. Inspired by floriography using flowers to communicate feelings and with lavish illustrations in muted yet beautiful shades, the story of Beatrice Bee shows the reader how words of encouragement bring joy to others—a lesson for us all!

 

     SUNFLOWER SUMMER by Wendy Dunham & Michal Sparks    AMAZON.COM     AMAZON.CA     AMAZON.UK

Sunflower Summer is a delightful tale of seven woodland creatures and their sunflower journey. To celebrate the first day of summer, Raccoon decides to call his friends and they work together in the most imaginative ways in order to each plant a sunflower seed. In a world of instant gratification, this story reminds us that many good things are worth waiting for…

 

     I LOVE MY GLAM-MA by Samantha Berger    AMAZON.COM     AMAZON.CA     AMAZON.UK

This bright light of a book celebrates the awesomeness of grandmothers! With colorful illustrations depicting glam-mas of every shape, color, age, style, and ethnicity, it’s a fun reminder that grandmothers rise to the occasion with their beloved grandchildren, whatever that may look like: glamorous, adventurous, skillful, active, patient, loving, and kind… glam-mas just adore being glam-mas!

 

     MADELINE FINN AND THE LIBRARY DOG by Lisa Papp    AMAZON.COM     AMAZON.CA     AMAZON.UK

When Madeline struggles with reading—especially aloud—she decides she does not like to read at all. Even so, she dreams of receiving a star sticker from her teacher, who encourages her to keep trying. On a visit to her local library, Madeline has the opportunity to read to a friendly dog named Bonnie, and as her confidence increases, her dislike for reading decreases… A wonderful story for reluctant readers, book lovers, and library enthusiasts alike!

 

   BEAR WANTS TO SING by Cary Fagan & Dena Seiferling    AMAZON.COM     AMAZON.CA     AMAZON.UK

A charming story of friendship and kindness told with dry humor and stunning illustrations, this book is adorable! When a bear finds a ukelele in the forest, he wants to share a song with his mouse friend. But as the other animals find instruments and play their own tunes, the bear realizes he’s not the only musician in the forest and insecurities abound! There follows a tender moment between the mouse and bear, which is utterly heartwarming encouraging readers to be kind, inclusive, and sensitive toward others.

 

     BAPTIZED IN THE WATER by Glenys Nellist    AMAZON.COM     AMAZON.CA     AMAZON.UK

In this beautiful picture book, baptism is celebrated in all its forms, explaining that whatever the method, we become part of God’s family. From Jesus’ baptism, infant baptism, full immersion for older ones, in churches, lakes, or oceans, what really matters is that “we’re covered in God’s great love and grace”.  With gorgeous, colorful illustrations including a variety of races, ages, and cultural backgrounds, several Bible verses, and a baptism prayer, this book is perfect as a baptism gift, a way to discuss baptism with curious young readers, or just a delightful addition to your picture book collection.

And… one of YOU will receive a copy in our giveaway!

Extra stuff:

*FREE  Activity Guide with coloring, word search, bookmarks, discussion tips, and more!

*Watch a short promo video HERE:

*Glenys has written a plethora of board books and picture books—you can find all the details on her website HERE!

 

🎉 GIVEAWAY!  UPDATE on June 14th: Congratulations to our winner, Sherri!

To win a beautiful copy of Baptized in the Water, simply leave a comment below! Easy-peasy! The winner will be randomly selected on June 14th and notified by email. This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Zonderkidz, and is open to entrants living in the USA.

 

 

“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” Maya Angelou

Happy reading, friend—and feel free to leave a picture book recommendation for us in the comments!

P.S. If you are looking for a “grown-up” summer read, why not check out my Christian romantic suspense novels? Details to all my books are HERE!

 

Also linking up with some fabulous encouragers… check them out:

INSPIRE ME MONDAY INSTAENCOURAGEMENTS; TUNE-IN THURSDAY;  LET’S HAVE COFFEE;   GRACE & TRUTH LINK-UP