Summer Book List for Reluctant Readers 2026
Summer is a great time to spend more time reading, trying out new books, and exploring different genres to entice your reluctant reader.
These books are perfect for summer reading and for enticing reluctant readers for many reasons! Kids have to see reading as fun – and these books will do that!
- They are all Highly visual which makes them perfect for kids who don’t read much. In many instances, the pictures tell some of the story and encourage reading lots of captions.
- These books are all High interest for the 7 to 12 year old crowd, with topics to lure your kids like trains, dinosaurs and legos.
- With lots of visuals like photos and drawings, the copy is not overwhelming and will help kids feel comfortable with the reading material.
You can see these books and more in my Amazon store. Check back often, because I keep adding to the list.
Lonely Planet’s How Trains Work
Lonely Planet’s How Trains Work is a visual feast for the eyes of train lovers! In this follow-up to How Cities Work and How Airports Work, young readers travel through history and around the world to find out everything they ever wanted to know about trains.
Kids become really engrossed as they unfold pages and lift flaps to reveal bustling stations, old steam locomotives and high-speed trains zooming across Japan at almost 400 miles per hour!
Minecraft Atlas of the World
Minecraft Atlas of the World is a perfect way to get your Minecrafter reading! They will be drawn in with the marvelous ideas, tips, and tricks for creating their own Minecraft builds. They won’t even realize they are learning about real-world locations and natural wonders, at the same time.
Full of fun facts about locations, objects, and animals from around the world, this is more than just an atlas – it’s a treasure trove of exciting Minecraft build ideas inspired by the real world!
A Street Thru Time
We have had this book for years…and my teens still look thru it every now and then. In a Street Thru Time, Kids can watch the same town as it evolves and changes over time. With each flip of the page, there is more to notice and learn about how things have changed over the last 12,000 years.
So much to look at and so much to learn about history. You will want to sit next to your kid and learn along side them!
The Big Book of Lego Facts
I love how this book promotes both reading and building – two great activities to get your kids involved in. The Big Book of Lego Facts is filled with loads of interesting facts about legos since they began!
Did you know there are 68,000 legos made every minute? Your kids will be spouting off facts after reading this book. Great to read in bite-sized bits, super interesting and not overwhelming for reluctant readers. Plus, there are loads of ideas for new builds.
Smithsonian’s Trees, leaves, Flowers and Seeds
Bring this book along on any nature hike and get kids learning about every little detail they see. Over 1,000 amazing pictures will keep your kids interested and open their eyes to the world around them.
Smithsonian’s Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds will answer questions about which plants eat insects, how cacti store water, and which flowers look like bees? Encourage a love of the natural world with this amazing kids’ encyclopedia.
Weird and Wonderful Nature
Kids love weird! Weird and Wonderful Nature tells the stories of over 100 natural plants and creatures, in true DK fashion with amazing illustrations.
Why do Mexican jumping beans jump? How do sea cucumbers defend themselves? What causes the northern lights? This book is filled with facts about the most surprising and curious plants, animals, rocks, and phenomena in nature.
Britannica’s Encyclopedia Infographica
Infographics are very enticing for curious kids who don’t read much – yet! Britannica’s Encyclopedia Infographica has expertly drawn visuals tell the stories of the Earth, technology, and our bodies.
This book includes over 200 infographics, including maps, charts, and timelines that tell interesting facts about the world around us. Your kids’ eyes and minds will be opened up and engaged with the world!
The Stuff That Stuff is Made Of
The Stuff That Stuff is Made Of explores 30 different plants and shows kids how they are part of lots of things they never even imagined. For instance, did you know that there’s seaweed in ice cream and dandelion in truck tires?
This book is great for curious little minds. Your kids will not be able to help themselves from sharing all their newly found knowledge about how important the natural world is to our everyday life. Parents, too, will be amazed at all the ways these plants are used.
Lego 5 Minute Builds
Perfect for kids with a huge pile of legos who might need some new inspiration for simple builds. 5 MInute Lego Builds will inspire your kids to create new creatures and scenes from their bricks.
Simple directions and easy to follow pictures will have your kid engaged for hours!! 40 plus pieces are included with the book to get your kiddo building right away.
Lonely Planet’s Deadly Animal Atlas
Gorgeous photography, illustrations, and original artwork will draw your reluctant reader into the world of dangerous animals. Lonely Planet’s Deadly Animal Atlas is full of maps, diagrams, and fact-packed content that bring your kiddo across the globe, exploring the stealthiest predators of each continent.
I love how the book engages kids with flaps, fold-out maps, and pages that keep children entertained for hours. It also covers topics like climate change and habitat loss and what scientists and animal lovers are doing to help.
On This Day: A History of the world in 366 days
If your kids are not into history, yet, they will be after they spend some time with this book. On This Day : History of the World in 366 Days gives interesting historical facts for each day of the year and spans thousands of years.
Kids will love looking up what happened on their birthday and their freinds’ birthday…and your birthday…and so on. Everyone in the family will learn a little something and all the while your kids will be reading!
