Summer is here, and whether readers are looking to relax, enliven a dull day, or just get the giggles, these picture books will do the trick. 

Daddy and Me and the Rhyme To Be by Chris Bridges and Halcyon Person, illustrated by Parker-Nia Gordon (Scholastic, June 7): Bridges (rapper Ludacris) and Person (head writer of Karma’s World, the basis for this original tale) team for a story about a Black girl trying to write a rap for her musician father’s birthday. With onomatopoeia galore, this is a vibrant testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of the father-daughter bond.

Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Neal Porter/Holiday House, June 7): City dweller Frances longs for the freedom of rural life—an urge that’s satisfied when the young Black girl visits her country cousins. Joy pervades Qualls’ collage illustrations in this gentle tale that offers a far more rewarding conclusion than that of “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.”

I Want To Be a Vase by Julio Torres, illustrated by Julian Glander (Atheneum, June 7): A toilet plunger with lofty ambitions spurs other household objects to rethink their places in life. Illustrations in a psychedelic color scheme ramp up the humor, but when readers stop chuckling, they’ll be left pondering: Why can’t we step out of our circumscribed roles?

Arab Arab All Year Long! by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Sawsan Chalabi (Candlewick, June 14): From making maamoul at Easter to browsing hijab fashion sites for cosplay ideas, a diverse group of Arab families express their heritage throughout a calendar year. Winsome cartoon art and simple text that brims with well-chosen details convey the richness of the Arab experience.

The Adventures of Robo-Kid by Diane deGroat (Neal Porter/Holiday House, June 28): Henry’s favorite comic-book character, the indomitable Robo-Kid, leaps into action to help the light-skinned boy brave swimming lessons. The contrast between cartoonish Robo-Kid—tiny and powerless off the page—and Henry’s lavishly illustrated world is delightful; little ones dreading the pool will be heartened.

Two Dogs by Ian Falconer (Michael di Capua/HarperCollins, June 28): Bored household pets Perry and Augie escape to the backyard, where they do what dachshunds do best: make mischief. Falconer’s tale exudes playfulness, from the utterly expressive images of the doggie duo to the archly hilarious prose.

Jigsaw: Mystery in the Mail by Bob Graham (Candlewick, July 5): Aptly dedicated to “those with time to spare,” this languidly paced tale follows a family who assembles a puzzle, then seeks the final, missing piece. Graham’s minimalistic art and matter-of-fact text will have young readers and their adults taking a cue from the protagonists and slowing down.

A Day by the Sea by Barbara Nascimbeni (Thames & Hudson, July 19): A day at the beach means time to take it easy for Frido’s owner, but the little dog has a packed schedule of swimming, dancing, and much more. Nascimbeni’s spare illustrations pop with color, and the pages burst with activity—readers will long to follow Frido’s enthusiastic example.

Pip and Zip by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Doug Salati (Roaring Brook, July 26): A family channels their listlessness during pandemic shutdown into an appreciation for nature as they watch over two abandoned duck eggs. Richly textured colored-pencil illustrations and lyrical text combine for a reminder to take in the everyday wonders around us.

Giant Island by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Doug Keith (Flashlight, Aug. 1): Giant Island seems a misnomer for such a tiny piece of land, but two kids eventually realize that the island itself is a giant—a living, breathing one. The sumptuous gouache artwork slowly reveals clues and will have readers returning to pick out intricate details.

Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.