Children's Picture Books to Read in June
Welcome to my seasonal blog series where I share inspiring picture books to enjoy with your child throughout the year. Each month, I offer book suggestions and themes to help families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers enjoy screen-free time, connect more deeply, and celebrate the wonder of nature and the seasons together.
We’ve been reading books regularly to our son since he was around 6 months old. He may not have understood what was going on back then, but it started a grounding habit and created a feeling of curiosity and excitement around reading books.
Reading in Rhythm with the Seasons
Reading regularly with children aged 0–6 creates a nurturing rhythm, builds language and listening skills, and offers moments of closeness in a busy world (you all know how I hate the modern rat-race!) Reading is also an opportunity to get away from screens for a bit.
Rotating books each month keeps things fresh and playful while supporting natural curiosity. A seasonal book shelf (or basket of books) helps your child to connect learning with nature and its cyclical rhythms, It gives meaningful structure and a better understanding of the seasons - even before they fully understand how the passing of time works.
June SHELFIE
Book display of the month representing playing outside, sunshine, being curious and adventurous, being you and summer nature
June Themes to Explore With Young Children
June is the first full month of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It brings longer days, the bright celebration of the summer solstice (also called Litha), and a sense of growth and magic in the air. This is a wonderful time to explore themes of light, change, and transformation with little ones. You can use these keywords to inspire your book basket, guide library visits, or when planning a few seasonal activities like nature walks, storytelling, role-playing or crafting.
FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER
SUMMER SOLSTICE ~ LITHA
LONGEST DAY
WARMTH ~ LIGHT ~ SUNSHINE
STRAWBERRY PICKING
GROWING THINGS
FLOWERS ~ BEES ~ BUTTERFLIES
FINDING SHADE UNDER A TREE
BRIGHT & VIBRANT COLOURS
LONG EVENINGS
PICNICS
OUTDOOR PLAY
DANDELIONS
IMAGINATION
GROWTH ~ TRANSFORMATION ~ CONFIDENCE
FAMILY ADVENTURES
BIRD SOUNDS
CELEBRATING YOU & BEING UNIQUE
Best Children’s Picture Books to Read in June
Little Bear Lost
Jane Hissey
This comforting tale follows Little Bear as he wanders off during a game of hide-and-seek and the other toys have to search for him. The pencil-drawn illustrations are rich in detail and warmth, offering a nostalgic (a very 90s feel!) and soothing visual world for children to get lost in. These books are gentle, warm and nostalgic. This one includes a summer picnic to suit June’s outdoor theme.
age 3 to 6 years
a classic picture book
text is longer and detailed (best for older toddlers with a good attention span)
works well as a daytime or bedtime read
part of the Old Bear series
Shhh! Quiet!
Nicola Kinnear
A sweet story about a quiet fox who struggles with noise, chaos and being heard. This story encourages children to understand different personality types, feelings, to slow down and notice the little details and the beauty of storytelling. I particularly enjoy Nicola Kinnear’s illustrations with the vibrant colour palettes and quirky animal character designs.
age 2 to 5 years
picture book
text is made up of fairly simple sentences
a daytime read (although the animals fall asleep at the end so could work for bedtime, too!)
one-off story but Nicola Kinnear has written a range of very similar books
Well Done, Little Bear
Martin Waddell & Barbara Firth
I love these books so, so much! I didn’t have them as a child myself but discovered them later on as a parent. They are sweet, warm and calm, touching on all the gentle topics of parenting an infant and toddler.
Little Bear wants to try new things and Big Bear is always there with encouragement and quiet support. The book captures the important of independence in children as well as the trust between a parent and child. The illustrations are my all-time favourite. They are loose, warm, full of character with a beautiful light, warm and earthy colour palette. Barbara Firth is definitely my favourite children’s picture book illustrator.
age 1 to 6 years
picture book
text is gentle and playful with some repetition
lovely bedtime choice
part of the Little Bear series
Hugless Douglas
David melling
Douglas the bear is in search of the perfect hug — and meets all kinds of unexpected characters along the way. This story is filled with humor, warmth, and energetic illustrations. A joyful pick for toddlers who are learning about emotions and connection. I particularly like the illustrations and animal character designs with their animated gestures and wonky style.
age 1 to 4 years
picture book
text is short, lively and playful
daytime read
part of a larger series about Douglas the bear
Elmer
David McKee
Elmer the patchwork elephant stands out from the rest and eventually realises that his uniqueness is something to celebrate. This timeless story has bright, eye-catching illustrations and a gentle message about identity and belonging.
age 2 to 6 years
classic picture book
text is made up of short sentences
daytime read
part of an Elmer series
The Paper Dolls
Julia Donaldson & Rebecca Cobb
A dreamy and slightly bittersweet tale about a girl, her paper dolls, and the power of memory and imagination. The story flows like a poem and the soft illustrations feel tender and nostalgic. A beautiful read for thoughtful children.
age 3 to 6 years
picture book
text is rhyming and poetic
quiet daytime moments
one-off story
Look Inside Nature
Minna Lacey & Carolina Búzio
This interactive lift-the-flap book introduces little ones to nature in a playful, hands-on way. Children can explore how plants grow, where animals live, and what happens as seasons change. The colourful pages and hidden flaps keep small hands busy and encourages curious minds. Great one whilst all the bugs, butterflies and bees are even more visible during this month.
age 2 to 6 years
lift-the-flap nonfiction
text is informative but short and simple
daytime read - perhaps visiting a certain page for reference
part of the Usborne Look Inside series
An Anthology of Butterflies and Moths
Richard Jones
Filled with facts and elegant illustrations, this nonfiction anthology explores the magical lives of butterflies and moths. It’s ideal for slightly older children who enjoy exploring nature in more depth. Use it as a read-together reference before or after a garden adventure. My son and I often find things in the garden - in particular, his favourite, the Cinnabar Moth; it’s great to have a book like this to go to quickly (instead of just relying on smart phones).
age 3 to 7 years and older
illustrated nonfiction
text is factual
daytime read - good for reference
one-off book
Time Now to Dream
Timothy Knapman & Helen Oxenbury
Two siblings go walking in the woods and discover something unexpected. This soft, mysterious story feels like a gentle lullaby with illustrations that are a calming and old-fashioned. Themes include bravery, curiosity and dreaming. Helen Oxenbury also illustrated We’re Going on a Bear Hunt so you’ll most likely recognise her dreamy, watercolour and pencil style.
age 3 to 6 years
picture book
text is lyrical and dreamy, whilst being fairly simple
bedtime read
one-off book
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle
This much-loved classic follows a little caterpillar on a journey of eating, growing, and transforming. With its simple cut-out pages and bold, interesting artwork, it remains one of the most captivating, must-have books for babies and toddlers. It ties beautifully into the themes of nature and the changes in early summer.
We recently read this and made a Play-Doh activity out of it, which is a fun idea! (See the image below).
age 0 to 4 years
classic board book
text is short and repetitive
daytime read (it’s a little interactive with the holes in the pages)
one-off book
Pin & Share This June Booklist
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this list, don’t forget to save it on Pinterest so you can find it later, and share with a friend or fellow parent who enjoys seasonal living with children. You can follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for more seasonal content, ideas for book shelves, and creative life with little ones.
Looking for more kid lit inspired content?
You’ll soon be able to explore my portfolio to see my own illustrated work for children as well as visit my shop for prints, cards and nature-inspired stationery (coming soon in late summer 2025). For now, you can browse the full blog series for monthly booklists and inspiration for slow, seasonal living with young children.
