Summer Learning keeps moving forward, and the librarians at San Jose Public are moving forward too! We've got more lists to help inspire your reading and learning this Summer. If you haven't already, you should sign up for Summer Learning to log your reading and win prizes. This week we'll help you beat the heat with some fun summer books about vacation, ice cream, and young love.
So find a good place to chill out - perhaps in the shade of your favorite tree, or under an umbrella on a blanket in the grass - however you can, stake out a piece of cool and pick up one of these books.
Summer Stories
Summer is warming up, and we have a great Summer Stories booklist to dive into. This list has books for all ages sure to get you in the summer spirit. A few favorites include: Summer is Here a simple picture book about a child enjoying a summer day, great for pre-readers and sure to inspire. Sunrise Nights is a YA novel that touches on summer and coming of age, follow Jude and Florence as they venture out together on their last night of sleepaway camp. For the adults, Summertime Punchline, a sweet second chance romance is sure to help wile away the summer blues. Any of these titles are sure to be a great companion on these warm summer days.
Sweet Summer Tales
Nothing says summer quite like frozen treats and we have a Sweet Summer Tales booklist celebrating that with novels and non fiction books for children, teens, and adults, that are all about Ice Cream. Learn about the power of connection through ice cream in Rashin Kheiriyeh's Saffron Ice Cream or by following the Paletero Man through a bustling neighborhood. Delve into one of the ice cream themed adult mysteries like Death of an Ice Cream Scooper or a romance for teens with Melt With You. No matter your favorite flavor, the library has a sweet summer story to suit anyone's taste.
Book Picks n' Flix
There is nothing quite like whiling away the long summer days with a movie, and why not delve into the book the movie was based on too? In the Books Picks & Flix for Kids and the Books Picks & Flix for Teens/Adults booklists there are a lot of titles and their movie companions to explore. Enjoy classics like Clifford, the Big Red Dog in book or movie form, or check out new favorites like The Bad Guys. Explore the entire book series along with the movie.
YA Summer Romances
Finally, nothing says summer more than summer love! Our YA Summer Romance booklist has swoon-worthy novels full of young love and heartbreak. In When Dimple Met Rishi follows the pair of teens over the course of summer program at Stanford. Both The Last Love Song and The Secret Summer Promise delve into the topic of unrequited summer love, two romantic tales that are hard to put down.
That's it for our selections this week, if you're looking for more ways to participate in Summer Learning, leave a book review on Beanstack (the site that powers our Summer Learning program). You can also check out other great recommendations on our Staff Picks Page.
(Information Updated: May 2025)
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