Parents: Try these Coast Guard-themed books for the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge

Editor’s note: The Coast Guard Summer Reading List is courtesy of the PIE program and Base NCR Ombudsman. 

Children in grades K-8 are invited to participate in the Second Lady's 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, taking place from June 1 to September 5. 

Kids who read 12 books will receive a personalized certificate and small prize and will be entered into a drawing for the chance to visit our Nation's Capital with a chaperone. Head over to Summer Reading Challenge – The White House to download the reading log and get started! 

Not sure where to start? With help from Coast Guard ombudsmen, librarians, and the Partnerships in Education program, we’ve created a reading list of Coast Guard-related books perfect for this challenge.  The books listed below are available at the Coast Guard Exchange, your local library, or wherever children’s books are sold.    

Happy reading! 

Available at the Coast Guard Exchange:  

• The Adventures of Connor the Courageous Cutter: Mystery of the Bafflin – ShopCGX 
• "Rosie the Response Boat" (Board Book) by Tyler Benson (shopcgx.com) 
• The Guardians Of The Straits by Tyler Benson (shopcgx.com) 
• The Gales Of November by Tyler Benson (shopcgx.com) 
• The Fight Against the Falls by Tyler Benson (shopcgx.com) 
• The Adventures Of Onyx and The Angels in the Air by Tyler Benson (Book #4) (shopcgx.com) 
• The Mighty Mackinaw by Tyler Benson- Book #5 (shopcgx.com) 
• The Adventures of Onyx and "The Battle Of The Bay Class Dogs" by Tyler Benson- (Book #6) (shopcgx.com) 
• The Adventures of Onyx and "The Far Side Of The Lakes" by Tyler Benson- (Book #7) (shopcgx.com) 
• The Adventures of Onyx and "The Saginaw River Ice Rescuers" by Tyler Benson- (Book #8) (shopcgx.com)       
• The Adventures of Onyx and The Lords of The Lakes by Tyler Benson (Book #10) (shopcgx.com) 
• The Legend of Objee: Mascot of the United States Coast Guard Academy Book (shopcgx.com) 
• The Eastwind Penguin Book (shopcgx.com) 
• The Little Bulker by Katerina Perganti Shaw and illustrated by Paul Nugent 

Coast Guard-themed books available through other book-sellers: 

• "The Little Coast Guard" by Joe Cramer 
  Follows a brave little boat who wants to become part of the Coast Guard, highlighting rescue and duty themes. 

• "To the Rescue: The Coast Guard Adventures of a Station Dog Named Hercules" by Ellie Crowe 
  Based on real Coast Guard missions, seen through the eyes of Hercules the rescue dog. 

• "Coast Guard Boats" by Lynn Peppas (early readers) 
  A factual, photo-rich book introducing young readers to different types of Coast Guard vessels and their missions. 

• "U.S. Coast Guard (Pebble Plus: U.S. Armed Forces)" by Terri DeGezelle 
  An educational beginner’s guide to the Coast Guard's role and duties, perfect for kids interested in military service. 

• "Search and Rescue Boats" by Chris Oxlade 
  Covers rescue missions like those done by the Coast Guard, with simple explanations and strong imagery. 

Nautical-themed books available through other book-sellers: 

• "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge" by Hildegarde H. Swift 
  A classic that connects lighthouses with maritime safety — an important aspect of Coast Guard operations. 

• "Lighthouse Dog to the Rescue" by Angeli Perrow 
  Based on the true story of a dog who helped with a sea rescue near a Maine lighthouse. 

• "Stormy, Misty's Foal" by Marguerite Henry 
  Includes storm and rescue themes on the coast of Chincoteague Island, reflecting Coast Guard work during emergencies. 

• "The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book" by Nancy Tafuri 
  A gentle way to introduce young children to storms and shelter — related to weather emergencies at sea. 

• "Rescue Squad No. 9" by Mike Austin 
  Exciting rescue story with helicopters and water rescues, echoing Coast Guard air-sea missions. 

• "Hello, Lighthouse" by Sophie Blackall 
  Beautifully illustrated Caldecott-winning book that ties to the history of lighthouse keepers, a job now handled by Coast Guard automation. 

• "The Storm Whale" by Benji Davies 
  A boy finds a whale on the beach and cares for it — themes of rescue, sea life, and compassion. 

• "Boats for Papa" by Jessixa Bagley 
  Emotional story that explores love, loss, and the sea, with an implied maritime backdrop. 

• "Captain Kidd's Crew Experiments with Sinking and Floating" by Mark Weakland 
  A fun, STEM-infused pirate tale that teaches about buoyancy and ship design — useful for understanding how real Coast Guard boats work. 

• "Mr. Gumpy's Outing" by John Burningham
  Though not directly related, it features a boat ride gone slightly wrong — can be tied to safety themes promoted by the Coast Guard. 

• The Little Bulker by Katerina Perganti Shaw and illustrated by Paul Nugent 
  "The Little Bulker" is a children's book that educates children about the maritime industry. 

-USCG- 

Resources: 

• Second-Lady-Summer-Reading-Challenge.pdf