“Get Ready” Reads for Summer Reading!
Sign up at one of 24 libraries and start reading on June 1
You don’t need me to remind you (reminders abound!), but summer will be here before you know it!
At the library, we’ve been getting ready for this year’s summer since the end of last summer. Tulsa City-County Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is our biggest program of the year, and we pull out all the stops to make it special, educational and fun.
We’ve got magicians, music, puppets and lots of other free entertainment! We’ve got cool prizes for every age! (Including you, adults!) We’ve got coupons for free food and entertainment! We even have dinosaurs – well, dinosaur-related programs and displays, since this year’s theme is a dino-tastic “Unearth A Story.”
It all begins June 1 at all 24 TCCL library locations and the bookmobile, where you and your children can sign up and start reading!
To get ready for the best summer ever, here are some “getting ready” books about summer and summer camps!
Kitty Camp written and illustrated by Drew Brockington
You’ve packed your child’s summer camp suitcase with everything they will need: swimsuit, shorts, canteen and…tuna fish? In this delightfully daffy fantasy picture book, the main character is all set to go to a normal kind of summer camp, only to discover that this camp is full of cats and kittens. In addition to enjoying more naps with her feline campers, she just might learn a few things about how to be happy.
Moon Camp written and illustrated by Barry Gott
Summer camp on the moon? Pretty cool, right? Jake does NOT agree. Even though it’s the moon, he still faces classic summer camp mishaps like allergies, getting lost on too-long hikes and being homesick. A new friend changes his perspective, and maybe moon camp is not so bad after all. A great read for kids who are nervous about going to summer camp for the first time, but also an excellent discussion-starter about friendship.
Emma’s Awesome Summer Camp Adventure written by Amy Webb and illustrated by Merrilee Liddiard
This is the third in a picture book series about Emma, a young girl living her life like other kids. She just happens to have limb differences and gets around in a wheelchair. Through sweet and simple illustrations, readers follow Emma’s summer camp experiences, including facing everyday fears and unique obstacles.
Bonus! Check out the first two books that feature Emma: When Charley Met Emma and Awesomely Emma
And Then Comes Summer written by Tom Brenner and illustrated by Jaime Kim
If it were possible to fit an endlessly chill summer day into just one book, this one would come pretty close. Beautifully vibe-based, it details the simple joys of summer, from swimming to ice cream to just hanging out.
Fireworks written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien
Summer is not summer without the Fourth of July and FIREWORKS! This picture book beautifully melds words and art to show off the beauty and surprises of a fireworks show, particularly on a perfect summer night.
Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
If your middle grade reader is looking for a Raina Telgemeier read-alike, this graphic novel about Vera Brosgol’s true-life summer camp experience should fit the bill. It hits all the traditional Telgemeier notes of finding friends and dealing with fears and anxieties – all as a new camper at a special summer camp.
2026 Summer Reading Program Starts June 1
Don’t miss out on another fabulous and fun program for all ages! Visit any of the 24 Tulsa City-County Library locations or the bookmobile and sign up to read for prizes and coupons for free food and entertainment! For more information, visit tulsalibrary.org/summer
