Summer is a good time for reading books. It’s enjoyable to find a shady spot outside under a tree and delve into a story.

Here are some we suggest:

• “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. This book is written from the perspective of a philosopher dog who has been educated by an extensive amount of TV watching and listening to his owner, a race car driver. Enzo hopes to be reincarnated as a human.

• “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. This tale is narrated by an introverted teenage boy who goes by “Charlie” and is a freshman in high school in Pittsburgh in the early 1990s. It was published in 1999 but adapted into a film in 2012.

• “Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. This piece of nonfiction puts in perspective the events in American life leading up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the changes the country went through in the aftermath.

• “12th of Never” by James Patterson. If you like murder novels, the “Women’s Murder Club” series is for you. Given the news about NFL player Aaron Hernandez, this tale seems fitting for the times, as Lindsey Boxer investigates a case of homicide where an NFL player is suspected. As the title suggests, this is the 12th in the series, but people can start with any book.

• “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls” by David Sedaris. In this collection of essays, the author explores the world and shares his wit and insight with readers. For instance, he called Australia “Canada in a thong.” If you want a good laugh followed by a touching thought, this is a good one for your picnic basket.