What follows are ten books coming out in June, July, and August that have me interested. REAL interested.
Picture Books
Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Julian Frost
June 5 | Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan) | Grades K-2
We’ve all seen those cool microscope photos that turn everyday items into alien worlds. We haven’t seen a picture book that folds those captivating images into a story. This book does that and it’s a lot of fun.
Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
July 24 | Atheneum (Simon & Schuster) | Grades K-2
Do you remember Lucy Ruth Cummins’s last book? The one about the lion? Well that book was great and so I’m looking forward to this book about a stemless pumpkin.
Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
June 5 | Disney-Hyperion | Grades K-2
This one’s a beaut. A story about bridging the generation and language gaps through art, Minh Lê and Dan Santat have outdone themselves. It’s already garnered a whole bunch of starred reviews to boot.
How to be a T. Rex by Ryan North, illustrated by Mike Lowery
August 21 | Dial (Penguin) | Grades K-2
It looks really funny, and I not immune to the powers of humor.
Chapter Book
The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess (Miranda and Maude #1) by Emma Wunsch, illustrated by Jessika von Innerebner
August 7 | Amulet Books (Abrams) | Grades 1-4
An illustrated chapter book about an unlikely friendship and, in a very 2018 twist, social justice.
Middle Grade
Courage by Barbara Binns
July 31 | HarperCollins | Grades 3-7
A debut novel about a kid who takes up diving to distract from his complicated family situation. Sign me up.
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
August 28 | Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin) | Grades 5 and Up
Oh, you think the Ambassador is going to come out with her first middle grade since Brown Girl Dreaming and NOT be excited about it?
Graphic Novels
Mr. Wolf’s Class by Aron Nels Steinke
June 26 | Graphix (Scholastic | Grades 2-5
I read this. I really like it. I think kids will too. A school story from the teacher’s perspective that has that sort of comfortable familiarity that makes you feel like the characters are already your pals. It’s also the first in a series.
Nonfiction
What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Allison Black
June 19 | Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster) | Grades K-2
Well, don’t you wonder?
The Wright Brothers: Nose-Diving into History (Epic Fails #1) by Ben Thompson and Erik Slader, illustrated by Tim Foley
July 10 | Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan) | Grades 3-6
Perfection is passé. Failure is forever. I have no idea that means, but it sounded kind of like I did. Anyway, this new nonfiction series about the trial and error seems like a good one.
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