Summer is a season when growth feels visible all around us — longer days, greener landscapes and the steady unfolding of something new. Our mySummer reading list is inspired by that same spirit, weaving together the beauty of nature with the journey of personal growth. These books invite you to slow down, step outside (literally or figuratively) and reconnect — with the world around you and with yourself. Whether you’re seeking a fresh perspective, renewed energy or simply a moment of calm, this list is designed to help you grow in ways both subtle and transformative, one page at a time.
Adult Fiction
- “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- “Dear Debbie” by Freida McFadden
- “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
- “Icerigger” by Alan Dean Foster
- “Sea of Charms” by Sarah Best Durst
- “Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II,” edited by Shane Hawk
- “Shadow of the Solstice” by Anne Hillerman
- “A Room With a View” by E. M. Forster
- “The Vagabond” by Colette
- “Mamey” by Anny Caba
- “La Tercera Rebelión” by J. Del Trono
- “Go as a River” by Shelley Read
Adult Nonfiction
- “The Kew Book of Paper Gardens: 50 Botanical Paper Projects to Make” by Fideli Sundqvist
- “If You’re Freaking Out, Read This” by Simone DeAngelis
- “Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy” by Mary Roach
- “Milk Street 365” by Christopher Kimball
- “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand
- “From Farmworker to Astronaut” by José Hernández
- “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey
- “La transformación total de su dinero” by Dave Ramsey
- “Japan Blue: Indigo Dyeing Techniques” by Piggy Tsujioka
- “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan
- “The Light Eaters” by Zoë Schlanger
- “A Little Queer Natural History” by Josh L. Davis
- “How To Be Love(d)” by Humble the Poet
- “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins
- “How to Grow Food” by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper
- “52 Ways to Walk” by Annabel Streets
- “Junglekeeper” by Paul Rosolie
- “Rescue Story” by Zach Williams
Teen (YA)
- “The Girl Who Became a Fish: Maiden’s Bookshelf” by Osamu Dazai
- “I Am the Swarm” by Hayley Chewins
- “Taproot” by Keezy Young
- “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George
- “Hoot” by Carl Hiaasen
- “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” by Kelly Barnhill
Children’s Books
- “The Tree That Sat Down” by Beverley Nichols
- “Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech
- “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- “Tiny Garden” by Deborah Underwood
- “The Dream” by Gideon Sterer
- “More Than a Tree” by Sarah Kurpiel
- “Planting Hope” by Frederick Joseph
- “Growing Together” by Ruth Spiro
- “Into the Wilderness” by Haven Iverson
- “Wonder in the Garden” by Talia Aikens-Nunez
- “Mamá’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas” by Jesús Trejo
- “Las Magníficas Plantitas Bailadoras de Mamá” by Jesús Trejo
- “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey
- “Knuffle Bunny” by Mo Willems
- “Knuffle Bunny Too” by Mo Willems
- “Knuffle Bunny Free” by Mo Willems
- “Here Are the Seeds” by JaNay Brown-Wood
- “The Secret Garden on 81st Street” by Ivy Noelle Weir
Ready to make the most of your mySummer journey? Register for mySummer and receive a special kit designed to inspire both exploration and growth all season long featuring:
- A mySummer folder
- A packet of seeds to help you grow something new
- Fillable bookmarks to track your summer activities
- Adventure tickets to local attractions, including the Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Zoo, and Denver Botanic Gardens (while supplies last)
It’s everything you need to bring your reading — and your summer — to life, so sign up and start growing in new ways today.