The official start of summer is right around the corner, and whether you are spending it poolside, on your back porch or on the beach, relaxing and reading a good book go hand-in-hand. So in case you were fishing for something good to read this summer, have no fear, the Dorrance Publishing Bookstore offers lots of different options.

In our bookstore, we have a wide variety of books for the kids, as well as for mom and dad! So, without further ado, here are a few books that you and your family can add to your summer reading lists!

Let’s start with the kids …

Dusty the Island Dog offers the reader a new, refreshing look at the world through the eyes of a young dog living in the Bahamas. After the death of her mother, Dusty must learn to take care of herself. That’s when she meets Winston, a big red dog. Together, the two dogs take on many adventures around the island and meet lots of interesting people along the way. Although these adventures are fun and interesting for Dusty, she still misses her mother greatly; however, she is very happy with her new life. The main lesson that your child will take away from reading the touching Dusty the Island Dog is that all you really need in life is love!

Additionally, the Dorrance Bookstore has a wide selection of books for young adults, and The Adventures in the Secret Valley is a great read for the tween or teenager in your family. Young readers are introduced to a family of eight children and their adoptive grandparents. Unfortunately, the family is scorned by the others in the village because of their physical differences, so they take refuge in the valley hidden in the mountains. As time goes on, they learn a very special secret that is hidden in the valley, and adventure ensues. This book will surely keep your teenage child on the edge of the beach chair!

Now, some books for the adults in the family …

Sometimes mom likes to read a good guilty pleasure romance novel every now and again. That’s why Letters to My First Love is perfect for her! After a strong year and a half relationship ends, Caron is left to pick up the pieces of her life and move on. During this time, she finds herself again and comes to realize that life eventually comes full circle. Letters to My First Love tells a story of love, life and family through a series of letters that chronicles Caron experiences with love and loss.

Now, if Dad loves anything and everything sports, then Touching Home: A 50-Year Journey through the Fields of Sport should be perfect! This non-fiction compilation of essays and anecdotes delves into the world of getting your kids involved in sports. Although sports may seem like a challenging part of family life, which demanding time from the parents, patience from the sports officials and the coaches, not to mention the prioritization of the students, this book offers the realization that sports present families a chance to bond and for the young athletes to discover their strengths.

The pages of this book are filled with essays that include anecdotes of the author’s close encounters with sports throughout the decades and his raw, hilarious observations of sports taken from his years of involvement. Not to mention, through these experiences, the reader will get an inside look at how sports can bring families together.

Although this is only a small sample of the vast array of Dorrance-published books that are available, we invite you to check out our online bookstore to find the perfect book to add to your summer reading list!