Summer reading and activity books to keep kids engaged over the holidays

When the summer holidays begin, many families are looking for books that can do two things at once: keep children entertained and make reading time feel easy to fit into the day.
The best summer books are often the ones that match the season itself. Think travel-friendly formats, sticker activities, seaside themes, short bursts of reading and books children can return to again and again. Our Summer Shop brings together exactly that kind of mix, with titles that work well at home, on holiday and on the move.

Here are some standout Usborne summer books and activity books to include in a summer reading routine.

For easy, screen-free holiday entertainment

Summer often calls for books that can come out at the kitchen table, in the car, at the airport or between days out.

Wipe-Clean Summer Activities is especially useful for this kind of flexible summer reading and play. It is a summer-themed book of drawing, counting and spotting activities that children can enjoy over and over again. With durable wipe-clean pages, it is designed to be revisited, which makes it a practical choice for long holidays.

First Sticker Book Summer is another strong pick for younger children. It follows a group of animal friends enjoying summer sunshine, from sandcastles on the beach to camping under the stars, with over 140 stickers to add to the scenes. It is ideal for long summer days, holidays and road trips.

For children who enjoy more sparkle and seaside colour, Sparkly Sea Creatures brings together dolphins, jellyfish and other sea life with over 120 stickers. It is a bright, summery choice that feels especially well suited to holiday reading time.

For children who love travel-themed books

Travel itself can be a big part of summer, and books that reflect that excitement can be especially engaging.

Sticker Dolly Dressing Travel invites children to dress the dollies for airport check-in, train journeys, cycling tours, pony trekking and more, with over 250 stickers to use across the scenes. It is a good fit for children who enjoy imaginative play and holiday anticipation.

First Sticker Book Airport is another useful choice for younger children. It is a colourful sticker book showing people and planes arriving at the airport, getting ready to fly, taking off and being up in the air. With over 200 stickers and lots to talk about, it can help children prepare for what to expect at an airport while also keeping them entertained there.

For holiday themes and summer adventures

Some summer books work well because they capture the kinds of activities children might be thinking about already.

Sticker Dolly Dressing Summer Camp does exactly that, with summer camp scenes including paddle boarding, nature walks, campfire cooking and team-building activities. It is a lively, seasonal choice for children who like dressing characters and decorating scenes.

For children who want something to make and build

Summer reading does not always have to mean sitting down with a longer story. Activity books can be part of a strong summer reading rhythm too, especially when they encourage children to focus, look closely and talk about what they are doing.

Build Your Own Trucks Sticker Book lets children complete monster trucks, fire trucks and other powerful vehicles by adding sticker details such as wheels, headlights and mirrors. It includes over 100 stickers and is suitable for holidays, car journeys and other moments when screen-free entertainment is needed.

Build Your Own Dinosaurs Sticker Book offers the same appeal for dinosaur fans, with twenty dinosaurs to build and facts about when they lived, what they ate and how big they were. For children who enjoy combining creativity with information, that can make it especially satisfying.

For quieter summer reading moments

Not every summer book has to be an activity book. Sometimes a calmer read is exactly what works best.

Peep Inside the Sea is a lovely example for younger children. It is a first book about the sea, with flaps to lift and scenes featuring sharks, sea dragons, a submarine exploring the deep sea, the shoreline and a sunken ship. It is a gentle choice for quieter holiday reading and a natural match for summer’s seaside mood.

Building a simple summer reading mix

A helpful way to plan summer reading is to mix different kinds of books rather than relying on one format alone.

You might choose:

• one interactive reading book for quieter moments
• one sticker or wipe-clean activity book for travel and outings
• one theme-based book that matches your child’s current interests

From this selection, that could mean pairing Peep Inside the Sea with Wipe-Clean Summer Activities and First Sticker Book Summer, or choosing First Sticker Book Airport, Sticker Dolly Dressing Travel and one of the Build Your Own books for a holiday journey.

Summer reading can look different in every family

There is no single right way to do summer reading.

For some children, it means settling down with a book before bed. For others, it means ten minutes with stickers at breakfast, a wipe-clean activity in the afternoon, or a sea-themed book packed into a holiday bag. What matters most is having books close at hand that feel easy, enjoyable and inviting.

These summer books work well because they meet children where they are: curious, busy, imaginative and ready for a season that feels a little different from the rest of the year.