Fun Scholastic Books & Activities For Summer (For Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary, and Middle Schoolers!)

This ‘Fun Scholastic Books‘ post contains Amazon affiliate links.

It’s July! I can’t believe we’re already a full month into summer. Time is truly flying and I have so many more things I want to do with the kids before we start back up our homeschooling year. (We want to head down to Valleyfair one day. More days are needed for lake time and taking out the jet skis. And there’s talk of a tent camping trip too!) So far, the toddlers have been spending a ton of time enjoying the yard including their water table, Lifetime playground, and Blast Zone inflatables. The ‘middle kids’, my tweens and teens, have been enjoying our new Golden Retriever Puppy, named Penny, along with hanging out on the hammock, doing lots of reading, and just enjoying exploring around the farm.

If you’re on the hunt for ways to help keep your kids entertained, check out my ‘School is out but the learning doesn’t have to stop (50+ ideas!)‘ post for some ideas. And then, snag some of these awesome Scholastic goodies below too! Scholastic has some great options and fun Scholastic books for all ages.

Fun Scholastic Books & Activities For Kids Of All Ages!

Board Books For The Babies & Toddlers

Our foster baby loves books but she’s still a bit too rough for ‘regular’ books. So I keep a basket of board books under our coffee table for her instead. Some new additions include the following Scholastic options.

• I’m A Little Hero: Thoughtfully adapted from the hardcover edition of Little Heroes of Color by author-illustrator David Heredia, this novelty board book includes a large shiny mirror that can be fully accessible while reading the story. Little ones will love learning about ten important historial figures of color who made the world a better place by daring to challenge the status quo. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Shell!: These are a hilarious family favorite the kids can’t get enough of! You won’t believe why this old lady swallows a shell, a crab, a fish, a gull, a pail, some sand, and a wave! But watch out when she burps, with hilarious results! With rollicking, rhyming text and funny illustrations, this lively version of a classic song will appeal to young readers with every turn of the page. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• My Little Music Book- I Love Music: I Love Music has a button on every spread, which triggers one of six captivating sounds that introduces a familiar instrument to the reader. An incredibly simple but utterly fascinating interactive book with sounds bound to enchant young readers and ignite an early love of music! Rounded corners and charming art make this a perfect gift for babies and toddlers. (Buy It: Amazon.com)

Short Stories For Kids

When I sit down to read books to the kids, they love short stories with pictures. These types of books are great options for the kids to flip through as well as read on their own once they have the skills needed.

• I Wish I Had A Dragon With Marshmallows: When a little boy wishes that he had marshmallows and a dragon to toast them, he couldn’t have known that the wish would come true! But what happens when the dragon can’t breathe fire? Will he be able to cheer him up? Kids will love this adorable story about friendship, dragons, and the power of imagination and play! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Ballet Brown: Bellen Woodard adores ballet and always looks forward to reaching new heights. Though as a very young dancer, she notices that pink shoes and pink or white tights ― often referred to as ballet pink ― are synonymous with ballet. She realizes that the purpose of ”ballet pink” is to blend with a dancer’s arms and legs. What about welcoming brown tights, shoes ― and more ― in the same way? When her dance studio doesn’t act, Bellen takes matters into her own hands and creates a way for all of us to see the “many beautiful colors of dance” ― coining a new term in the process and naming it “ballet brown.” (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• You Make The World: You Make the World is a fantastical journey between a father and child and the self discovery of the love and power within. Throughout their adventure together, the father describes his child’s contagious energy and range of strong emotions as having the same intensity and beauty as the natural world. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Pikachu’s Nighttime Adventure: Meet cute Pokémon in a whole new way! This original illustrated storybook is perfect for moms and dads who want to introduce their little ones to the most beloved Pokémon of all time. Join Pikachu, Eevee, and Dedenne on their first sleepover ―it’s sure to be an adventure! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Pokémon 5 Minute Stories: A super fun collection of six read-aloud Pokémon stories, geared for kids ages 4-8, — all in print for the very first time! Kids won’t want to miss this big book of action-packed stories about some of their favorite characters. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Becoming Boba: Mindy isn’t like the other classic milk tea flavors, with their sensible straws and varying shades of brown. Instead, Mindy shines with her green, white and red colors. Worried about not being milk tea enough, Mindy decides to dive into their history so she can be less different. As she and her friends embark on this journey, they make a surprising discovery about the truth behind milk tea that could change the town forever… (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Millie Fleur Saves The Night: Garden Glen was afraid of the dark. Millie Fleur knows there are enchanting things that can only be glimpsed in the dark. But ever since she moved to Garden Glen, her nighttime friends are nowhere to be found. Determined to welcome the dark back to town, Millie Fleur bakes delicious moon pies and plants a sweet-smelling moon garden. But before the nighttime creatures will return, Millie Fleur must convince the townspeople to be brave and turn out the lights. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Nothing Ever Happens: Nothing ever happens to two friendly little fish. Same old ocean. Same old seaweed. But when adventure finds them, will these two friends rise to the occasion? Or will they flounder? A fabulously funny picture book about perspective, positive thinking, and unexpected suprises! The perfect read-aloud picture book from award-winning Australian creator Heidi McKinnon. For fans of Finding Dory, The Pout Pout Fish, and Baby Shark! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• To Catch A Ghost: Show-and-tell isn’t for the faint of heart, so grab your camera, flashlight, and backpack — it’s time to catch yourself a ghost! Once you find a good one, spend some quality time together. This will provide all the information you need to build the perfect ghost trap. It will also probably complicate things. So, when the moment finally arrives, you may be confident you can catch a ghost…but can you catch a friend? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Over In The Mangroves: Inspired by the classic nursery rhyme, Over in the Mangroves is a fresh take that layers counting and social emotional moments into a beautiful interactive tale. From dawn to dusk, this enchating story follows forest animals as they fish, swim, dig, and bask before a storm sends them all searching for shelter among the mangrove trees. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Scary Shark A Jaw-Some Halloween: Edgar the Shark and his best friend Lotta team up once more in this hilarious Halloween tale! It’s Halloween night, and Edgar the Shark is frightened of all the scary creatures floating just outside his window. Luckily, his best friend Lotta is there to show him Halloween is just a day to pretend to be scary. Together they carve jack- o-lanternfish, hang magni-fish-ent decorations, and choose the pretend-scariest costumes they can think of! But will that be enough to help Edgar prove he’s not a scaredy-catfish? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• I Spy Ocean Animals: Simple picture clues and rhyming riddles guide the youngest readers through 13 interactive, fun-filled spreads. Perfect for on-the-go fun and summer travel! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Princess Truly I Can Grow It!: Princess Truly can grow it! Across three stories, Princess Truly and her friends grow a garden, she helps a baby bird learn how to fly, and she plants a magical tree! These funny and empowering short stories promote believing in yourself, building confidence, and having a positive self-image. Perfect for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist, Princess Truly fosters imagination and curiosity. (Buy It: Amazon.com)

Starting To Read BOB Books

My kids have all LOVED BOB Books. These are handy little early readers, perfect for helping kids gain confidence and skills. And to be honest, even my toddlers love these mini books and carry them around everywhere to ‘read’.

• Stage 1: Starting To Read BOB Books- Beginning Readers: These are the first books your child can read! Perfect for kids who are just learning letter sounds, each book contains two- and three-letter words that can be sounded out. The first story uses only four sounds (m, a, t, s) and one sight word! Sounds are added gradually until all letters of the alphabet have been introduced (except q). The very simple stories allow kids to read a whole book, boosting their confidence and motivating them to come back for more. Many beginning readers are so proud they can read these books, they read them to everyone they know! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Stage 2: Emerging Reader BOB Books- Advancing Beginners: Bob Books Set 2-Advancing Beginners continues to build reading skills. Use of three-letter words and consistent vowel sounds in slightly longer stories build confidence. Children love the hilarious (and sometimes mischievous) stories and pictures. These twelve books, filled with fun, drama, and surprise keep interest high for even the youngest readers. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Stage 2: Emerging Reader BOB Books- Sight Words Kindergarten: Sight words, also known as high frequency words, are common words that appear again and again in children’s reading materials. Knowing these words “by sight” is essential for reading fluency. Kids learn to easily recognize 30 of these words in Bob Books Sight Words – Kindergarten. Each story introduces three new sight words commonly taught in Kindergarten. The rest of the words in each book can be sounded out. With plenty of repetition within each story, and pictures that support the text, your young reader will quickly master early sight words! (Buy It: Amazon.com)

Graphic Novels

Another really great way to encourage the love of reading is with the help of graphic novels! All of my ‘reluctant readers’ fell in love with books because they were introduced to graphic novels. These self-contained, book-length form of sequential art makes books less intimidating!

• Wish I Was A Baller: Wish I Was a Baller is a graphic memoir chronicling Amar’s real-life experiences as a fourteen-year-old sports journalist covering the golden era of the NBA, when he befriended Shaq and hung out with Michael Jordan and the Bulls―all while surviving the high school, dealing with crushes, and friendships being tainted by jealousy. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Around The Spider-Verse: Take a trip around the Spider-Verse (and New York City) in three comic adventures! The tour guide on his field trip to the Museum of Natural History has Miles Morales’s Spidey Sense tingling… Gwen Stacy’s punk band’s concert at the Central Park Bandshell is interrupted by the Jackal … and Anya Corazón must save her father from a trap laid by Kraven the Hunter at the Bronx Zoo. Filled with tons of action and laughs, this graphic novel is perfect for young readers in search of more spider-thrills! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Pokémon Legendary and Mythical Guidebook: Deluxe Updated Edition: Not a graphic novel per se’, this book is filled with great info that all Pokémon fans will love. You’ll discover the origins of the most fascinating and unusual Pokémon! You’ll get the scoop on Legendary and Mythical Pokémon from every known region in the Pokémon world. It’s the insider’s guide to the rarest and most powerful known Pokémon. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Diary Of A Pug- Super Pug: The local firefighters have asked Bub to star as the pet superhero in their new fire safety commercial. Bub and Bella are thrilled! But when it’s time to film, Nutz keeps trying to steal Bub’s treats, and Bub’s performance ends up not being so super. Then Bub smells REAL smoke at home and jumps into action… Will Bub save the day after all? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Wings Of Fire The Graphic Novel: Peril has been loyal to Queen Scarlet, who used her fatal firescales to kill countless dragons in the SkyWing arena. Now, Peril is loyal to Clay, the only dragonet who has ever been her friend. So when Scarlet threatens Jade Mountain Academy, Peril sets off to find her former queen, stop her, and save the day, no matter what it takes. There’s just one problem: a strangely persistent SeaWing, Turtle, insists on coming along, too. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Owl Diaries- Eva And The New Teacher: In this latest flaptastic story, a new teacher is coming to Treetop Owlementary! Eva and her friends are worried this means that Mrs. Featherbottom is leaving. But luckily, they soon learn that Mrs. Featherbottom isn’t going anywhere! The new teacher, Mr. Brushwing, is teaching a special art lesson! When Eva and her friends are tasked with using their emotions to make art, what kinds of paintings will they make? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Unicorn Diaries- The Secret Of The Lost Gold: In this eleventh book in the USA Today bestselling Unicorn Diaries series, a terrible storm ruins homes all across Sparklegrove Forest. Bo and the unicorns go to the castle to seek help from Queen Juniper. They learn there is an ancient spell that can restore everyone’s homes. But in order to perform that spell, they need to find a cave of ancient gold that is guarded by a mythical creature. Will Bo and the other unicorns be able to save the forest? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Cat on the Run in Hidden Layers!: From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Guys comes another hilarious illustrated series starring a pampered cat who is way tougher than anyone realizes. The third installment of CAT ON THE RUN! Find out what happens to Princess Beautiful in the third book of the trilogy. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Sunny Figures It Out: There’s no question that Sunny has fun whenever she hangs out with Tony. They go to the movies together, talk a lot at school, and support each other when they need it. But are they dating? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Miss Camper: Sue is heading to Camp Willow this summer! She’s looking forward to hiking, archery, and making comics in the fresh air. She’s especially excited about LARPing (live-action role-playing) and can’t wait for the freedom of being away from home. But she won’t be far from family because her big sister, Carmen, is a camp counselor and her little sister, Ester, is a fellow camper and won’t give her any space! All Sue wants is to make memories with her friends, but they’re assigned to only a few of the same activities. To make matters even worse, her best friend, Sam, has a best camp friend named Marisol? And Sue’s good friend Izzy has a crush on Sue?! This summer isn’t at all going as planned! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Adorable Empire: Nothing has been going right for Jinx. People at school think she’s a goth weirdo, and now her parents are getting divorced. She has to move to an unfamiliar apartment building that doesn’t feel like home — and that doesn’t have her dad. And when a new neighbor gives her a mysterious crystal, her life is turned even more upside down by the Adorables, a mischievous band of magical creatures. They are messy, distracting, and, worst of all, they follow Jinx everywhere. She just wants to be left alone! (Well, maybe she’s okay with getting to know another girl in her building, Robyn, a little better…) Getting rid of the Adorables turns out to be harder than expected, but they might just help Jinx find her way back to happiness. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• I Survived The Japanese Tsunami, 2011: It’s hard enough that Ben is visiting Japan only four months after his dad’s death, especially since it’s where his dad grew up. But one morning, Ben’s grief turns to fear when a massive earthquake rocks the quiet coastal village where he’s staying. His family narrowly escapes a collapsing house, only to find that the ocean is rising up. Ben and his family are swept away — and pulled apart — by a devastating tsunami. Now Ben is alone, stranded in an unfamiliar country thousands of miles from home. Can he find enough courage and strength to survive one of the most epic disasters of all time? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• City Of Dragons- Quest For The True Dragon: Daijiang’s continued pursuit of Grace has made it clear that she and Nate are crucial to his plan. But as her Hùnxuè powers grow stronger, Grace can’t help but feel it’s unfair she might be missing out on a normal school life.  When a trip to rendezvous with an old ally goes awry, Grace and her friends find themselves stranded in Tokyo with only one day to wake the Southern Dragon King. But with the race against the clock exacerbating tensions on the team, can Grace get back in sync with Nate and her friends before it’s too late? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Unico: Hunted- An Original Manga: Lost in space and time, Unico awakens in an abandoned factory town. Saved by the resourceful mouse, Garapachi, Unico befriends Chiko, a human girl. But he soon learns that a sinister force is at work in the town’s factory, bent on killing all living things. Meanwhile, Venus unleashes a fierce hunter who will stop at nothing to find Unico. Can Unico save Chiko? Can the West Wind save Unico? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Hulk Teach: Bruce Banner, AKA the Hulk, is a genius scientist and super hero whose rage-outs have led him to damage way too much public property. After his latest meltdown, Tony Stark arranges a PR move to smooth things over. Hulk will perform community service — by teaching. Can Banner make it through the school year without destroying everything? And can middle school kids really learn anything when the HULK is their teacher? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Fresh Start- New School: Ollie Herisson’s dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. She has already lived in Singapore, Korea, France, and the United States. When Ollie starts at a new school, she doesn’t worry about making a good impression because she knows that when her family inevitably moves again, she’ll get a fresh start somewhere else. But after moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn that her parents are going to buy a house so that Ollie and her sister, Cat, can finish grade school in one place. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she can’t run away from her life? (Buy It: Amazon.com)

Chapter Books

Once our kids are confident, then we move on to chapter books. It’s unbelievable what amazing worlds can be opened once you start to read!

• Coral Keepers Search For The Silver Shell: More than anything, Princess Finn and her friends, Moon and Link, want to become Coral Keepers — mermaid magicians sworn to protect the Queendom of Anjeea. Finn is a shark magician, but she is struggling to pass her shark-magic test. And now, an evil magician named Rozaro is plotting to steal the throne! Only the power of the Silver Shell can stop him. Can Finn master her shark magic, find the magical shell, and protect Anjeea? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Pets Rule! Revenge Of The Raccoons: Ember comes face-to-face with evil twin sister raccoons who are looking for trouble! Will Ember and the other pets be able to stop the raccoons from plotting revenge against the entire neighborhood? With laugh-out-loud humor, engaging artwork on every page, and nonstop action that will have readers rushing to turn the pages, Pets Rule! is the just-right series for any emerging reader! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Snoop: If Carter hadn’t been checking his phone, he might have seen his brother coming down the ski slopes in his direction. And if Carter had seen his brother in time and avoided the crash, he might not have two broken legs right now. Oops. Now Carter is stuck at home for weeks, with both his legs in casts. Bored, he starts checking out the live feeds from police cams around his town. What does he see!? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• One Wrong Step: Twelve-year-old Atlas Wade has been trying to forget the memory of his mother by climbing mountains ever since she died when he was nine years old. When his father signs them up for an expedition group hoping to be the first to ever summit the unconquerable Mount Everest, Atlas can’t wait for the chance to prove himself to his father, and maybe finally he can leave his mother behind him on the mountain. But this time, Atlas is the one left behind, as well as a young American girl named Maddie and their sturdy yet injured Sherpa, Chodak. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Dive- Books 1, 2, 3: Sharks, shipwreck, and sunken treasure in this action packed survival series from bestselling and award-winning author Gordon Korman. Kaz, Dante, Adriana, and Star aren’t the best divers in the world. But they’ve been chosen to spend the summer exploring the depths of the sea. Join them in their first three adventures! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Chef’s Secret: Jason Yao has a secret . . . actually, lots of secrets! For one thing, it’s hard being a professional chef, helping to run a motel, and being a regular kid! And now that Mia Tang is officially his girlfriend, Jason’s life has reached a whole new level of exciting―and terrifying! After all, Mia is amazing, and Jason is . . . just Jason. But he’s determined to be the best boyfriend ever, and he knows exactly what he needs to do. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• I Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic 1912: Ten-year-old George Calder can’t believe his luck — he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George’s life changes forever. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Disaster Squad Tornado Rescue: Meet the Disaster Squad! Leela, Jaden, and the rest of the Jackson family travel the country and respond to natural disasters, helping people in need and rescuing animals along the way. In this fourth adventure, the Jacksons are called to Oklahoma, where tornadoes are tearing through town. Green skies, swirling winds, fallen trees… There are people and animals in danger! Will the Disaster Squad be able to lend a helping hand or will they get all twisted up? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• El Nino: Kai Sosa is so passionate about swimming he is practically a fish. This summer, he’s determined to become the athlete he once was on an elite swim team. But something invisible holds him back. His race times are off. Dreams of his sister Cali haunt him. And he hasn’t found her missing gold cuff, her last request. Mom is still talking about grief, even though it’s been two years since she disappeared. He’s fine now, isn’t he? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Dragon Masters- Night Of The Dream Dragon: Evil wizard Zoltan has entered the Dream World without permission. He is searching for the Dream Fountain. Anyone who drinks from it can make their dreams real! With the help of Mamu, a Dream Dragon, and her Dragon Master Kishar, Drake and Worm chase after Zoltan in the Dream World. Can the Dragon Masters stop the wizard before he reaches the fountain? And what is Zoltan’s evil plan? (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Coral Keepers Dive For The Black Pearl: Evil magician Rozaro has put all the Coral Keepers of Anjeea under a sleeping spell! The only magical object that can wake them up is the legendary Black Pearl. Finn and her friends Moon and Link must journey to the icy Sapphire Sea to find it. But the pearl is guarded by powerful orcas and hidden deep in an enchanted tunnel. Can Finn, Moon, and Link reach the pearl and lift the sleeping spell before Rozaro’s next attack? (Buy It: Amazon.com)

Activity Sets

Got a hands-on crafty kid on the home? Scholastic and Klutz activity sets are great! They have a wide variety of themes and options to check out.

• Make Your Own Loom Animals: Make a mini menagerie with a custom, easy-to-use loom. Create up to 14 adorable animal friends with this kid-friendly knitting loom kit. Just wrap the easy-to-use yarn around the loom, and then use the hook tool to weave it together. Add some stuffing and tie the ends together. In no time, you’ll have a little plush nugget you can customize into a cute critter. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Harry Potter Friendship Bracelet Kit: Now, you and your friends can make sure everyone know how tight you are by making and wearing matching Harry Potter friendship bracelets. This craft book includes all the instructions and materials you need to make wizarding world-themed friendship bracelets. It comes with eight different colors of embroidery floss, a variety of beads, and four dangling charms. You’ll find detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for how to make several different bracelet designs. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Face Painting: Make any event more colorful–with face paint! A Klutz classic! For generations, the editors at Klutz have shown folks the easiest way ever to face paint. Follow crystal clear instructions to transform yourself into a character, have fun with your friends, or cheer your favorite team. The kit includes a rainbow of paints, a high-quality brush, and a make-up sponge. Punch-out cards help you set up a face-painting station in a snap, and let kids pick out their favorite designs. With the right tools and techniques, anyone can become a face painter! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Color & Shrink Charms: Make it cute and small with shrink art! Color, and shrink adorable kawaii-style creations. Choose from over 70+ punch-out designs from our printed shrink art plastic, or trace your own with activities from the book. Use the hole punch to connect charms. You can make charms that hang together or charms with parts that move (like tails that wag). With everything you need to get coloring and crafting right out of the box, this kit includes a ton! (Buy It: Walmart.com)
• Wings of Fire Stained Glass Art: Color in your favorite dragons from the bestselling series Wings of Fire. Includes 18 pieces of special vellum paper that look like stained glass. Use the custom double-tipped markers in 10 colors. Then, hang your artwork in a window and watch it light up! Each design is double the magic. Color the stained glass vellum pages for your windows, and the paper pages for your walls. Artwork features Glory, Tsunami, Sunny, and many more. Plus, learn fun facts about some of your favorite dragons! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Super Mini Market: A supermarket that fits in the palm on your hand! (Well, almost.) Punch out the pages in this book to make an assortment of funny groceries, from cereal to cases of soda, and much more! Every package is decorated with detailed and whimsical branding full of klutzy puns and spoofs. Create 100 unique packages and then display them on the store shelves. (Buy It: Amazon.com)

Tell me, what memories do you have from the Scholastic Book Fairs of your childhood? Did you remember any of your purchases? I bought a bookmark with a tassel once and thought it was the coolest thing ever! Did you get any fun Scholastic books at your local fair?

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