A fresh round up of diverse and inclusive book reviews for 1st through 8th graders, perfect for summer reading!
What’s inside the 2026 Summer Reading Guide?
- In-depth reviews of more than 40 recently published books from a variety of genres including contemporary fiction, comedic books, mysteries, books about animals, fantasy and sci fi, historical fiction, and mythology.
- A mix of traditional chapter books (illustrated and non-illustrated), beginning reader books, graphic novels and novels-in-verse. If you have a reluctant reader at home – so do I! You’ll find plenty of possibilities to choose from.
- Annotations to give you key info about the book and its author. If you’ve ever read a blog post review of a book and still weren’t sure if it was right for your child’s reading level, you’ll love the annotations in the 2026 Summer Reading Guide.
Sample annotation and book review
Who is the 2026 Summer Reading Guide for?
- Families of rising 1st graders through 8th graders, with kids who are voracious readers and reluctant readers alike. If you’re looking for new ideas of fun books to read, especially books starring kids of color, children with disabilities, and LGBTQ kids. Two-thirds of the books in the guide were published within the last 2 years, so you’re sure to find books and series you haven’t heard of.
- Homeschooling families who are searching for new books that could fit with your summer plans or next year’s read alouds or independent reading.
- Educators and librarians who want reviews of the latest diverse and inclusive books for elementary and middle school. Many of the books have summer tie ins (vacations, swimming, summer boredom, and more!)
Frequently asked questions about the 2026 Summer Reading Guide
Why should I pay for your guide when there are free summer reading lists out there?
Yes, there are a lot of free blog posts and lists online of summer reading recommendations. What makes my guide worth its modest cost is:
- the in-depth nature of each individual book review (usually 3 paragraphs) plus all the valuable info in the annotation. As the parent of a reluctant reader who also has a learning disability, I know there are no one size fits all book list. I’ve reviewed 40 new books in all, so there’s lots to pick from.
- RECENT books, not ones that have been around for decades that you’ve probably already heard of. Most of the titles in the guide were published in 2025 or 2026.
- prioritizing of diverse & inclusive books and authors in a time when we need these stories – and the people who create them – more than ever!
- flexible age recommendations. Especially in the lower elementary grades, children’s reading levels can vary widely. While I do have books organized by suggested grade level, each book also has an recommended age range that indicates which kids would likely resonate with the content of each book.
Diversity and justice go hand-in-hand, so I will be donating 15% of the proceeds from the 2026 Summer Reading Guide to The Equity Alliance. The Equity Alliance is a Black woman-led community and political organizing group that is fighting back against suppression of Black voters in my home state of Tennessee.
When and how will I receive the Summer Reading Guide?
The 2026 Summer Reading Guide will be emailed to you as a PDF document that you can either print out or read on your device.
If you place your order before May 19th, you are placing a pre-order and can save 15%. The guide will be emailed to you the morning of May 20th.
What ages is this guide right for? Will I be able to find books that fit my child’s reading level and interests?
The Summer Reading Guide is designed with rising 1st through 8th graders in mind. I have multiple recommendations for kids who are:
- beginning readers who need books that only have a sentence or two on the page.
- emerging readers who are ready for simple chapter books with plenty of illustrations and/or graphic novels.
- confident readers who can handle long chapter books without illustrations.
- older readers who are almost ready for Young Adult books, but who may not be prepared for the more mature themes in some YA books.
I’ve worked hard to find books that fit with lots of interests: books with animal and robot protagonists, graphic novels about changing friendships, new takes on mythology, fantasy books for adventurous kids, and stories starring intrepid kid detectives.
Can I distribute the 2026 Summer Reading Guide to my students or library patrons?
You are welcome to share individual book picks from the guide with your students, but please do not distribute the book reviews themselves or the actual guide. Please do not forward, screenshot, or upload the guide to any websites or Google Drive. The guide is intended to be used by one household.
Have another question?
Email me at info [at] rebekahgienapp [dot] com to ask!