All Good Things N More: The 2025 Summer Reading Guide for Families Who Love Stories with Heart
- Victoria Cortez
- May 18
- 6 min read
By Victoria Cortez, Author & Curator of Childhood Wisdom
Summer, in all its golden glory, invites us to stretch out our limbs and our imaginations. It’s the season where time slows just enough for books to become both passports and pillows—comfort and adventure all at once. While Goodreads has dished out its annual 2025 Summer Reading List, here at All Good Things N More, we’re adding to it with a big-hearted focus on family reads, children’s wisdom, and summer learning with soul.
☀️ Why Summer Reading Matters (and How to Keep Kids Learning Without Losing the Magic)
The “summer slide” sounds fun until you realize it’s not a playground feature—it’s the academic backslide many kids experience over the summer months when they’re away from school routines. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t take workbooks or battle cries to prevent it.
It takes stories.
Stories that ignite curiosity. Books that make a kid laugh so hard they read the whole chapter again. Adventures shared on the couch, in the car, under a tree, or read aloud while mixing cookie dough. That’s the All Good Things way: let learning sneak in like sunlight through the curtains.
✨ Summer Slide Prevention Tips for Parents:
Stick to the “20-minute rule” – Make reading a daily ritual, like brushing teeth or snack time.
Create a family reading challenge – Chart progress, offer a reward, and read together.
Let them choose – Kids who pick their own books are more likely to stick with them.
Pair reading with real life – Reading a book about gardening? Start a mini herb plot. Learning about oceans? Plan a beach day or aquarium visit.
Use audiobooks for car trips – Learning counts, even when it’s listening.
📚 Featured in Goodreads 2025 Summer Guide (And Our Thoughts)
Here are some big hitters from Goodreads’ list we recommend for grownups and teens in your home library:
"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid – A nostalgic love story in the high-stakes world of 1980s space travel. Read it for the drama, stay for the dreamy prose.
"My Friends" by Fredrik Backman – Deeply human, this one explores what happens when childhood friends reunite to face old wounds and big truths.
"Katabasis" by R.F. Kuang – Dark academia with a mythological twist? Sign us up. Think of this as Percy Jackson for the older crowd with academic pressure and existential dread baked in.
"Don't Let Him In" by Lisa Jewell – A twisty psychological thriller featuring three women and one mysterious man. Perfect hammock material if you love suspense.
"Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. Schwab – Epic, imaginative, and haunting. Schwab’s work is always genre-bending and emotionally rich.
📖 All Good Things N More Picks: For Kids, Families & Young-at-Heart Souls
Now, let’s get to the good stuff—books for your littles, middles, and tweens, all curated with care by yours truly.
🌟 Nurturing Hearts Through Stories: Discover the All Good Things N More Series by Victoria Cortez
In a world that moves fast, stories have the power to slow us down—and shape who we become. The All Good Things N More series by Victoria Cortez invites families into a collection of beautifully illustrated picture books that uplift, empower, and celebrate cultural identity. Designed for parents, educators, and caregivers, this four-book series helps children grow in emotional intelligence, courage, and compassion.
Why This Series Belongs on Your Shelf:
📖 Foster empathy, resilience, and cultural pride🎨 Gorgeous illustrations bring every page to life💬 Rooted in real-life parenting experience from a mother of seven🌍 Perfect for multicultural and faith-based households
📘 Elva the Brave Swimmer
Overcoming fear, one splash at a time.
When five-year-old Elva hesitates at the edge of the pool, her older sister swims circles around her. But courage doesn’t mean never being afraid—it means diving in anyway. Even after a wasp sting threatens her confidence, Elva finds her strength in love, laughter, and resilience.
✅ Builds confidence✅ Encourages trying new things✅ Ideal for ages 3–7🎁 Great for storytime and preschool discussions.
🌳 Severino & Saguday Kaykayo (Whisper Tree)
A magical journey through name, heritage, and heart.
When young Severino climbs the legendary Saguday Kaykayo, he’s transported into a living storybook of Filipino tradition. Through whispered histories and golden leaves, he discovers the pride of his Ilocano name—and the roots that make him strong.
🌿 Celebrates Filipino culture and identity📝 Introduces the importance of storytelling🎨 Hand-painted illustrations full of wonder📚 A must-read for multicultural homes and classrooms.
🎤 Judy’s Mic, Magic & Melody
Finding your voice takes a little sparkle—and a lot of heart.
Judy’s got stage fright, but when the school talent show is announced, she dares to dream. With her family cheering her on, she discovers that courage sounds a lot like your favorite song—and shines bright when you believe in yourself.
✨ Empowers young performers💪 Reinforces the value of practice and bravery🎼 Celebrates creativity and self-expression👧 Inspired by the author’s own daughter
🕊️ Camryn and the Light in the Dark
Faith is the brightest nightlight of all.
When the dark seems too big, Camryn turns to her Abuela, a prayer pillow, and the story of St. Michael the Archangel. With traditions from Filipino and Hispanic roots, this touching tale helps children learn that prayer and family can light up the scariest shadows.
⛪ Faith-based comfort story🛏️ Perfect for bedtime routines🌎 Includes prayers in English, Spanish, Tagalog & Ilocano💡 A gentle introduction to courage through Catholic traditions
Each story in the All Good Things N More series comes with built-in reflection questions and activities to spark meaningful family conversations.
📚 For Early Readers & Emerging Thinkers
These are the books that help build fluency and empathy—because smart kids read stories with heart.
"The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney A classroom pet with a point of view? Humphrey is funny, gentle, and surprisingly wise.
"Juana & Lucas" by Juana Medina Set in Colombia, it’s perfect for bilingual homes or kids curious about the world.
"Princess Truly" series by Kelly Greenawalt Empowering early readers with self-love, STEM skills, and sparkly hair.
📘 For Independent Middle Grade Readers
"Ways to Make Sunshine" by Renée Watson A Portland-based story about a resilient girl who always finds her shine.
"Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston Think Men in Black meets Harry Potter, starring a fierce Black heroine.
"Gheeter the Great" (Coming Soon!) by Victoria Cortez Follow a 12-year-old boy from the East Bay as he kicks through hardship to become a Taekwondo champion. A powerful story of discipline, dreams, and cultural pride.
🧠 Books That Build Emotional Intelligence
These reads encourage mindfulness and emotional growth for all ages:
"Listening with My Heart" by Gabi Garcia A gentle reminder for kids to treat themselves and others with compassion.
"The Rabbit Listened" by Cori Doerrfeld An essential for helping kids process emotions with empathy and quiet strength.
"I Am Every Good Thing" by Derrick Barnes Bold, poetic, and powerful—a must-have mirror book for young Black boys.
🌐 Family Fun Beyond the Page
If your kids love a story, bring it to life!
Create a reading nook together with pillows, fairy lights, and a book basket.
Join your local library’s summer reading program—free books, prizes, and community.
Check out Barnes & Noble's summer reading program, proudly featuring books from All Good Things N More, here!
Start a neighborhood book swap or story circle.
Incorporate book-inspired crafts—after reading Kairo’s Kindness Counts, make kindness cards to leave for neighbors.
📬 Download & Share
A free printable from All Good Things N More with weekly activity ideas, reading trackers, and snack-sized affirmations for parents.
💬 Final Thoughts from the Front Porch
In a world that changes faster than the weather, one thing holds steady: stories shape who we are. Summer is the perfect time to slow down and sow wisdom into young hearts—not by force, but by invitation.
Let books be the bridge between your children and the values you want to pass on.
So stock your shelves, visit your library, and sprinkle stories like wildflower seeds. Some will bloom now. Others years from now. But bloom they will.
Start your summer reading journey with us at All Good Things N More — because childhood wisdom is always in season.
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