Books to Inspire: June 2026

How to Do Nothing

By Jenny Odell

Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing feels like a gentle but necessary pause especially during the summer months when the pressure to “make the most” of time can quietly become overwhelming. Rather than promoting idleness, Odell reframes “doing nothing” as a conscious choice to step away from constant productivity and reconnect with what truly matters.

Reading this through the lens of family life, it becomes a reminder that summer doesn’t need to be packed with plans to be meaningful. Slowing down—whether through unstructured play, shared moments outdoors, or simply being present—creates space for deeper connection. Odell invites us to notice, to linger, and to value attention as a resource. In doing so, she offers a powerful message: the most meaningful summer memories are often found not in doing more, but in noticing more together.

How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell was published in the United States by Melville House in 2019. A copy can be found in the nonfiction section of Neilson Hays Library. 

Wait 

Written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis

Wait by Antoinette Portis is a gentle reminder of how easily we rush past meaningful moments. The story follows a caregiver encouraging a child to hurry, while the child repeatedly pauses to notice small details in the world around them. These simple moments of observation gradually reshape the rhythm of the story. 

Particularly fitting for the summer months, Wait encourages readers to slow down and be present. In a season often filled with plans and activity, it suggests that value is found less in doing more and more in noticing what is already there.

The book highlights the beauty of unstructured time, where curiosity can lead without direction and everyday surroundings become sources of interest. From a snail moving across the pavement to the sounds of a busy street, these quiet observations create lasting impressions. Wait gently shows that when we move at a child’s pace, we make space for presence, connection, and a calmer way of seeing the world.

Wait by Antoinette Portis was published in the United States by Neal Porter Books in 2015. Portis is a children’s author and illustrator known for her simple, thoughtful storytelling that encourages observation and patience. A copy can be found in the children’s section at Neilson Hays Library

Prepared by Kit Lang @mskitlang. The Neilson Hays Library is Thailand’s premier English-language library. The Children's Program offers Saturday Story Time, a cozy Children's Corner, and special holiday events. Adult Programs include concerts, art exhibitions, book clubs, and book sales. Located in a UNESCO-awarded historic building with a garden and cafe on site: 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.