Kick Off to a Screen-Free Summer

As summer begins and the school year winds down, many families are seeking ways to slow down, reconnect, and savor simple joys, without relying on screens.

We believe the season begins best not with a screen, but with a story.

This summer, we’re inviting families to say yes to curiosity, togetherness, and books—with a season full of storytelling adventures and less time on screens.

Make the Library a Weekly Ritual

The library is one of summer’s greatest treasures. Let your child get their own library card, browse freely, or join a summer reading challenge. Libraries are full of hidden gems, storytimes for babies, book clubs for older kids, and shelves waiting to be explored.

🐣 For toddlers (1–2 years): Choose a small basket of board books to rotate weekly. Let them help “return” and “check out” by dropping books in the slot—a small task with big meaning.

Create a Cozy Reading Nook

Reading feels even more special when the space invites it. Build a fort from blankets, fill a basket with fresh library finds, or tuck a few pillows under a sunny window. A cozy corner can turn books into experiences.

✨ Let young children have their own nook, filled with board books, soft toys, and chunky pages they can explore independently.

Make Books the Start of an Adventure

Let stories spill into your day. Read about bees and go plant flowers. Read about a lemonade stand, then set one up. Let a single book launch a day of play.

📖 Read Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee, then go on a summer scavenger hunt—look for ants, shadows, dandelions, clouds, or chirping birds. Let the book guide your senses into the slow magic of the season.

📖 Start a Family Book Club

Choose a book to read aloud together (even if kids are different ages) and carve out time each evening to read a chapter or two. Then talk about it—at dinner, on a walk, or while brushing teeth.

Some conversation starters:

• What would you do if you were the main character?

• How would you change the ending?

• What part surprised you?

💞 Little ones might not follow the plot, but they’ll love the snuggles, the voices, and feeling like part of the “club.” 

📖 Summer-Start Book Picks by Age

Books that welcome summer with sunshine, slowness, and wonder—one joyful story for each stage of childhood. These are a few of our many recommendations. To get our absolute favorites, sign up for our seasonal book subscription!

👶 Ages 0–3

Summer by Gerda Muller A wordless celebration of all things summer: berry picking, picnics, pond play, and garden discoveries. A perfect first summer book for toddlers to explore with a caregiver.

🧒 Ages 3–6

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik, illustrated by Madeline Valentine This cozy, rhyming book captures the sensory magic of a summer beach day—from sandy toes to breezy blankets. A gentle, soothing read for winding down after a big day of play.

📘 Ages 6–9

The Raft by Jim LaMarche When Nicky is sent to spend the summer with his grandmother, a mysterious raft leads him into a world of wildlife, sketching, and peaceful connection with nature. A quiet story full of transformation and summer stillness.

📚 Ages 9–12

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Bursting with backyard games, sibling dynamics, and garden escapades, this charming story captures the sweet, endless feeling of summer break and the joys of unexpected friendship.

💛 Let Summer Begin with Story

Let your child be barefoot and bored. Let the house be quiet enough for a story to take root. Let the days stretch without plans—and the books fill in the gaps with wonder.

Because summer isn’t just a break from screens—it’s a return to joy, curiosity, and connection. 

📚☀️ Wishing your family a sweet, screen-free start to summer.