Downtime Makes the Summer: a collection of some of our favorite games and read-alouds

It's easy to get sucked into planning mode over the summer. As homeschoolers, we've got curriculum to think about! We have camps and vacations to plan!

And yet, two of the things that really anchor our summers around here are pretty simple and definitely replicable year after year: read-alouds and family board games.

Of course, the best way to get started is to use what you have! We love revisiting our favorite stories and games. These two traditions have definitely established a chord of continuity through our summers, and we have a set of childhood memories that span generations!

Sometimes you just need some fresh ideas, though, and that's what this post is all about. I've compiled a list of some of our favorite books and board games we've explored over the past six years. I hope it helps you find one that your family loves!

** Note: the links (coming soon) are affiliate links to bookshop.org and Noble Knight Games. By clicking on the links to purchase, you help support this blog and stay away from the site that shall not be named. This is completely optional, though, and you're welcome to purchase from wherever you want. **

Our Favorite Books

We are 100% a read-aloud family. It's hard to remember and list all of our favorites! But there are definitely a handful that stand out from our years of homeschooling. Any of these would be a great place to start if you're looking for your next read! I am not going to link to Amazon and I'm a big fan of libraries, but if you'd like to purchase any of these books and support this blog, I have the list saved at Bookshop.org. Click here to browse and buy.

Another note: Many of these include mild peril, which my daughter has always tolerated well. She has not appreciated stories where characters experience physical harm or die, though, until more recently. Those don't show up until the end of the list.

Ramayana: Divine Loophole (Sanjay Patel) – We've been reading this one with our daughter since she was three. It's one of her all-time favorites. If your child likes epic tales filled with demons and heroes, this is a great one.

Ivy (Katherine Coville) - We found this one through Torchlight (Level K), and zoomed through it. Multiple times. If your child likes kind-hearted lead characters and magical creatures, this is a great one.

Aru Shah and the End of Time (Roshani Chokshi) (TL Lvl 1) – The first book in the Pandava series from Rick Riordan Presents. This one is about a Hindu demigoddess, and is full of twists and turns. It was a perfect fit for my Ramayana-loving child, and has a wonderful audiobook that's perfect for roadtrips.

Ollie's Odyssey (William Joyce) (TL Lvl 1) – Another one that we've come back to over and over! Ollie is a lost toy trying to get back to his human. It's full of mild peril and adventure with beautiful illustrations.

Heartwood Hotel: A True Home (Kallie George) (TL Lvl 1) – Heartwood Hotel is a cozy story about finding home in an unexpected place. It's filled with woodland creatures, heartwarming friendships, and mild peril.

The Birchbark House (Louise Erdrich) – This book was a part of Torchlight Level 2, but we read it before we did that level, as a counterbalance to Little House on the Prairie. This one has great characters and illustrates the destructive impact of colonization on Native communities. This was one of the first books we read where a beloved character died. It's an important, but not easy, read.

Warriors (Erin Hunter) – My daughter highly recommends it and insisted I add it to the list! If your child loves cats and epic storytelling, this one will hook them completely. It is an extensive series with lots of books. There's also a lot of fighting between the clans, and many cats die, so you'll want to be sure they're ready to handle that. We started with these in second grade.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Kelly Barnhill) – If you had to pick just one book from this list, pick this one! It's one of my personal favorites, and the first book that earned the accolade "better than Warriors!" from my daughter. The writing is beautiful, the magic and creatures are unique, and it really is unforgettable.

A Spoonful of Time (Flora Ahn) – A middle grade novel about Korean food and time travel! Includes actual family recipes throughout. The story was truly delightful and intergenerational.

The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster) This was a childhood favorite of mine, and I was so happy when our book club picked it. It's perfect if you have a child who enjoys puns and witty, adventurous tales.

The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett) My mom read it to me when I was sick, and I read it to my daughter when she entered into her gardening era. I'd recommend waiting until you're prepared to have some discussions about the impacts of colonization in India and how this book was a reflection of its time.

The Vanderbeekers (Karina Yan Glaser) (TL Lvl 2) The Vanderbeekers is full of rich and interesting characters: talented kids, busy but loving parents, a grumpy landloard, and a connected neighborhood. It's set in Harlem, and the first book is driven by their landlord, the Biederman, notifying them that he's going to sell their home. The Vanderbeeker children band together in a quest to change his mind.

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (Kelly Jones An) (TL Lvl 2) – This is an epistolary novel about a girl whose family inherits a farm and some very unusual chickens. Funny, warm, and great for kids who love animals and a little magic. It inspired lots of letter writing in our home.

Charlie and Frog (Karen Kane) (TL Lvl 2) A mystery featuring a Deaf detective and a hearing boy who must learn to communicate across their differences. This one inspired my daughter to try learning ASL. We're now thinking about ASL as a possible language for middle school.

Wildwood Chronicles (Colin Meloy) We listened to the audiobook for the first book and loved it. I've read all three books, and they feel particularly relevant for us since we live near Portland. Plus, Colin Meloy is the lead singer for the Decemberists. The story is a little bit Narnia, a little bit Wonderland, but still its own adventure.

The Daredevils (Rob Buyea) – Great for summer! This is a coming of middle school-age story, featuring two fraternal twins. They form their own secret society, The Daredevils, with rituals and secret meetings. The author throws in a mix of film references and outdoor survival skills, and it inspired several movie nights for us. It was definitely a fun one.

Over the Moon (Natalie Lloyd) We read this one for Hearth and Story, and my daughter has claimed it as one of her top three favorite books. It's a dystopian novel with a clear class divide and a little bit of magic.

Granted (John David Anderson) (TL Lvl 3) – This one's about fairies, but it's not your typical fairy tale. It's about a fairy who's just been assigned her first job as a wish granter, and everything goes wrong. The characters are completely lovable, and it's a great adventure!

Peter and the Starcatchers (Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson) (TL Lvl 3) I've always loved the idea of Peter Pan more than the execution. My best friend and I used to sit on top of her monkey bars and sing "I Won't Grow Up" at the top of our lungs. This book, which is a prequel to Peter Pan, is a great alternative. It keeps the magical world and the emphasis on the power of childhood, but puts a more modern, progressive spin on it.

Endling: The Last (Katherine Applegate) (TL Lvl 3) – This one surprised us! I did not expect to like it nearly as much as I did. My daughter loved it, too. It's a well-crafted fantasy adventure set in a beautifully built world. We can't wait to get our hands on the second book, Endling: The First.

Games Galore

A note before you dive in: my daughter is not the biggest board game fan. It has taken some work on my part to find games that would actually entice her to play. These are some of the ones we keep coming back to, featured in no particular order.

No Stress Chess – I was a chess club kid. My daughter is not. Learning chess felt like too much pressure, and I really didn't want it to be a stressful thing for her. Then, I found No Stress Chess. This is the perfect introduction to chess! It balances the playing fields and makes it possible for a complete beginner to beat a seasoned player as they are learning. I think that's the thing that turns most people away from chess, really – you can't win until you've played it a few times!

The Classics – My daughter loves classic games like Mousetrap, Uno, Don't Break the Ice, There's a Yeti in My Spaghetti, Slap Jack... These are all winners in our house.

Dutch Blitz – This game takes a little while to learn, but it's worth it. It's like double solitaire plus.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza -- If you only pick one, pick this! Anyone can play. It's fast-paced, funny, and definitely brings people together.

Sushi Go – I'm not sure how to explain this game, but it's fun! And involves some calculation of risk/probability and some strategy. It also involves some multiplication and addition.

Zeus on the Loose – This is a great game for building addition skills. It's fun, and the math is built right in (doesn't feel forced).

The Tiny Dot Game – One of the best early math games out there. Helps with subitizing and number sense, and it's one set of cards that can be used for a bunch of different games.

Trash Pandas – A dice game about raccoons raiding trash cans. It's as fun as it sounds.

Five Minute Dungeon – A cooperative real-time card game, kinda like Dungeons and Dragons. Everyone plays together against the game, and it's a challenge to beat. Great for families who like a little chaos.

Dungeons & Dragons – This one has been surprisingly wonderful for us. If your kids are curious, the D&D Adventure Club is a great place to start, although it requires a commitment on your end, as you'll probably need to be the DM. You can subscribe monthly or buy individual campaigns, and it's designed specifically for younger players. They do a great job building creative, accessible stories that aren't too scary.

Wildcraft – A cooperative herbal adventure game recommended by my daughter. She has fond memories of this one! Players work together to gather herbs and make remedies to help injured animals on their way home. It's great for anyone interested in medicinal and edible plants.

Fox in the Forest Duet – A cooperative trick-taking game for exactly two players. Beautiful artwork and a gentle enough learning curve that it's great for a parent and child to play together.

Trekking Through World History – We loved this one. We tried Trekking the National Parks and it wasn't our favorite, but the World History version has been great. The history is bite-sized and not at all boring.

Have a favorite game or read-aloud we didn't mention? Share it in the community — we'd love to hear what's working for your family.