30+ Best Kids Books to Read in July
Reading aloud is one of our favorite activities, so I’ve put together a list of the best kids’ books to read in July for you to share with your family. There are tons of benefits to reading aloud, even with older kids who can read independently. Plus, it’s a great way to foster connection in your homeschool.
Since we practice interest-led learning, we like to choose books that spark our curiosity and focus on topics we’re interested in learning more about. This often means choosing books that coincide with upcoming holidays and seasons.
During July, there’s a lot to celebrate and a lot to read about too! Keep reading to discover over 30 amazing books for kids of all ages to read this July.
The Best Books For Each Month Of The Year!
Whether we’re reading aloud together or independently, great stories give us opportunities to learn and explore. We love feeding our curiosity with beautiful picture books and diving deep into new mysteries! Now, I’m sharing our passion for discovering new books with printable monthly book lists.
I hope our list of more than 30 best kids’ books to read in July will inspire your family to fall in love with some of these picture books and read alouds too! Get ready to discover our favorite books for Independence Day, Shark Week, and Harry Potter’s birthday as you read together this month.
30+ July Books for Kids of All Ages
This fun collection of books for July is perfect for kids of all ages. You’ll find fascinating new books for Shark Week, patriotic and historical books for the Fourth of July, and Harry Potter-themed stories to celebrate Potter’s Birthday on July 31. Whether you’re searching for picture books, chapter books, or graphic novels, there’s something for everyone on this July book list.
Apple Pie Fourth of July
Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong is a wonderful book to read aloud together as you prepare to celebrate Independence Day. This book follows a Chinese American girl who can’t understand why her family is making Chinese food to sell on July 4th, an All-American holiday. It’s a great story filled with important lessons for kids of all ages on the Fourth of July.
Cannonball
Some of the hottest days of summer happen in July. It’s the perfect time to cool off in the pool. If you’re looking for a great summer picture book, don’t miss Cannonball by Sacha Cotter. This fun summer read teaches kids to overcome their fears, believe in themselves, and most importantly, be themselves as they read about how one child masters a “cannonball” at the pool.
Clark the Shark
We love Shark Week! If you’re celebrating Shark Week with young children this July, don’t miss everyone’s favorite illustrated shark: Clark the Shark. Bruce Hale’s collection of Clark the Shark books features relatable tales about a boisterous and loveable shark just trying to fit in.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
All Potterheads know July 31 is Harry Potter’s birthday. Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the magic of Harry Potter with even the youngest of readers.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is written by J. K. Rowling, Kennilworthy Whisp, Newt Scamander, and illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill. It goes great with our Wizards & Wands Unit Study!
Hot Dog
Hot Dog by Doug Salati is the winner of the 2023 Caldecott Medal for picture books. This delightful book is one of the best picture books you’ll read this summer! Your whole family will love this lyrical story with beautiful illustrations all about a dog who escapes the city for a summer day at the beach.
If Sharks Disappeared
Many people are afraid of sharks, but what would happen if they disappeared? Learn the consequences of a world without sharks this July in Lily Williams’ book If Sharks Disappeared. It’s part of a 6 book series called If Animals Disappeared featuring other endangered animals like polar bears, elephants, and bees.
It’s Not About You, Mrs. Firecracker
This picture book is perfect for teaching children the true meaning of Independence Day. With adorable illustrations, It’s Not About You, Mrs. Firecracker by Soraya Diase Coffelt teaches kids to remember and celebrate the work and sacrifice of brave Americans who declared their freedom during the American Revolutionary War.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
We love this book! It’s one of our favorite picture books and it’s especially perfect for Shark Week with kids. Eugenie Clark is the world’s most famous shark scientist.
Shark Lady by Jess Keating tells her story in a way that’s relatable for young readers and still interesting to older readers too. For more shark lady learning fun, check out our free Eugenie Clark Unit Study.
The Biggest and Best Flag That Ever Flew
Another great book to read aloud this July is The Biggest and Best Flag That Ever Flew by Rebecca C. Jones. It’s a book about one of our favorite characters from the American Revolution: Betsy Ross. It makes a great addition to our America Themed Morning Basket!
The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac
Another great Harry Potter picture book for young readers is The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac by J. K. Rowling. It’s the official magical companion to the Harry Potter books and perfect for inspiring kids to love the world of wizardry. You’ll all love discovering the secrets and magic hidden in these illustrated pages!
If you’re planning a trip to Universal, check out our tips for homeschooling at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for more tips on making the world of Harry Potter a magical learning experience for your family.
The Night Before the Fourth of July
We all know the classic holiday story Twas The Night Before Christmas, but did you know there’s an entire collection of “night before” holiday stories? These fun picture books are perfect for enjoying together before your Fourth of July celebration. This July, don’t miss The Night Before the Fourth of July by Natasha Wing.
20,000 Robots Under the Sea
Picture books are wonderful for kids of all ages, but there are also many great chapter books for early readers, middle-grade readers, and young adults to enjoy this July. If you’re searching for something more advanced readers can enjoy independently or a book you can read aloud together to celebrate Shark Week this month, don’t miss 20,000 Robots Under the Sea by Russ Bolts.
This book is #3 in the Bots book series for first through third-graders. In this story, the robots are taking a beach vacation at the bottom of the ocean! Read along as they stumble upon a robot shark who just won’t leave them alone in this emergent reader book with graphic novel-style illustrations.
Fins
Fins is the first in a series by New York Times bestselling author Randy Wayne White. The world’s shark population is in trouble and while shark fin soup is illegal, poachers are targeting Florida’s biannual migration of blacktip sharks. Follow along as Doc Ford and his team work to tag sharks and save them from poachers.
George Washington’s Socks
The Time Travel Adventure book series is filled with great living books for homeschooling history. This July, check out the first book in the series: George Washington’s Socks by Elvira Woodruff.
It’s a fascinating book about five kids who travel back in time to the Battle of Trenton, meeting George Washington himself during the American Revolutionary War. This book would make an excellent companion book to read along with our Who Was George Washington? Mini Unit Study for added learning fun this July.
History Smashers: The American Revolution
Another fun Fourth of July chapter book is History Smashers: The American Revolution by Kate Messner. It’s part of the engaging 8-book History Smashers series featuring true stories from history for kids that mix beginning chapter books and graphic novels for an engaging read-aloud. Follow the famous ride of Paul Revere as it really happened in this book for upper elementary readers.
Judy Moody Declares Independence
If your kids are fans of the Judy Moody book series by Megan McDonald, they’ll enjoy reading Judy Moody Declares Independence this July. Read along and get the giggles as Judy declares her independence by throwing a bathtub tea party to rival the famous Boston Tea Party.
Julia and the Shark
Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an inspiring middle-grade novel to read as you celebrate Shark Week this July. In the book, 10-year-old Julia falls in love with the mysterious ocean and spends the summer searching for the elusive Greenland shark with her marine biologist mom on a remote island. Julia comes face to face with the mysteries of the sea in this lyrical middle-grade novel about fierce love, resilience, and mental health.
July Jitters
Ron Roy’s July Jitters is part of the Calendar Mysteries book series. This series has mystery books for kids ages 6 to 9 each month of the year. In July Jitters, the mayor is having a special Independence Day costume contest for pets.
Shark Whisperer
Shark Whisperer is the first book in the Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians series by Ellen Prager. In this middle-grade novel, a boy travels to an ocean-themed summer camp in the Florida Keys where he discovers his own special talents and gets some help from shark friends to outsmart an evil shark-finning billionaire.
Smart About Sharks
Did you know that sharks can detect electrical currents from other animals? This and more amazing facts about sharks can be found in Owen Davey’s Smart About Sharks, a nonfiction book filled with beautiful illustrations and scientific facts for curious kids. Pair it up with our All Things Ocean Discovery Deck to learn more about the mysterious and fascinating animals in the ocean.
The 4th of July Heist
This elementary novel by Elaine Heney is part of the Blackthorn Stables Mysteries series. This book series has mysteries for different months of the year.
In The 4th of July Heist, three children are getting ready for their annual Independence Day celebration when their cowboy hats are stolen. Your elementary readers will love this Fourth of July page turner!
The Harry Potter Series
Harry Potter’s birthday is July 31, which makes July the perfect month to begin reading the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling with your whole family! Check out our Harry Potter Themed Morning Basket for all kinds of celebratory activities to engage your kids as you read this series aloud. July is the perfect time to begin spending a year at Hogwarts just like Harry Potter!
Who Would Win? Hammerhead vs. Bull Shark
Finally, don’t miss Who Would Win? Hammerhead vs. Bull Shark by Jerry Pallotta. In this nonfiction book, iconic Hammerheads go head to head with aggressive Bull Sharks in an unpredictable battle to see who will be the last shark swimming.
These books are entertaining and filled with fun facts! Keep the learning going with our Who Would Win? Hammerheads vs. Bull Sharks Mini Unit Study this summer.
Everything Awesome About Sharks and Other Underwater Creatures
There are so many fun nonfiction books to read for Shark Week! Everything Awesome About Sharks and Other Underwater Creatures by Mark Lowery is a nonfiction graphic novel that’s great for reluctant readers, quirky kids, and everyone.
Graphic novels like this one make it easy for kids to explore different mediums for storytelling while keeping them engaged in reading. Plus, books like this are great for helping kids identify context clues, onomatopoeia, and develop reading comprehension skills.
Great White Shark Adventure
Another great graphic novel for Shark Week is Great White Shark Adventure by Fabien Cousteau and James O. Fraioli. Follow along as two explorers join Fabien Cousteau to spend some quality time with great white sharks in this graphic adventure novel. Kids will love reading about shark myths and learning how we can protect sharks from extinction and exploitation in this dramatic graphic novel.
I Survived the American Revolution, 1776
For more history learning fun this Fourth of July, check out the graphic novel version of I Survived the American Revolution, 1776. The books in this series are kid-friendly retellings of actual historic events. Follow Nathaniel Fox, an 11 year old kid who gets trapped on the battlefield during the American Revolution, as he tries to get home to family.
I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916
Another fun graphic novel from the I Survived series is I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916. Did you know that in 1916 a series of sharks attacked swimmers on the New Jersey shoreline killing four people and gravely injuring another? It was an eye-opening event for American swimmers who had previously thought sharks wouldn’t attack humans.
Lafayette! A Revolutionary War Tale
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are fascinating and dramatic stories featuring characters and events we know from history. These books are perfect for interest-led learners! This Fourth of July, check out Lafayette! A Revolutionary War Tale to learn more about the French nobleman who became a hero during the American Revolution: Marquis de Lafayette.
One Dead Spy: A Revolutionary War Tale
Another Hazardous Tale to read this Independence Day is One Dead Spy, featuring the story of Nathan Hale, one of the first American spies during the Revolutionary War. Read the famous last words of Nathan Hale and discover how the outnumbered Americans defeated the British.
Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunter
Finally, don’t miss Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunter by Joe Flood. This book is part of the Science Comics series for middle grade readers. It’s filled with interesting facts and comic book style illustrations to keep kids entertained as they learn.
More Activities for Learning this July
Don’t miss all the fun learning activities in our FREE bundle of July Homeschool Printables! These activities are easy to take with you on an upcoming family vacation and perfect for rainy days this July. Lots of fun printables for the Fourth of July, Shark Week, and Harry Potter’s birthday are included.
If you have a favorite July book for kids that didn’t make my list, please share it in the comments. We would love to read all your favorite books too!