10 to Note: Summer Preview 2024

When it comes to looking at the upcoming season and spotting books that look promising, I have to borrow a line from Ice Cream Penguin in The Thank You Book:

“It is what I do.”

So here are 10 books publishing in June, July, and August that I’m excited about. Oh – and I also included a bonus 11th book at the end.

Let’s begin . . .

We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang

August 6 | Tundra | Grades K-3

Do you like humor? Do you like reading funny picture books to kids? Then you will like this book about a group of aliens who try to convince the humans that they are also humans. X. Fang with a tremendous follow-up to last year’s excellent Dim Sum Palace.

The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer

June 25 | Atheneum | Grades K-3

Is Drew Beckmeyer the King of Weird? I mean that in the most respectful, positive way possible. The King of Weird is a high honor in my book. It means originality. It means specificity. After Beckmeyer brought us Long Island and I Am a Tornado, this story about a school experiencing an alien invasion seals the deal. Long live the king.

Makers by Young Vo

August 27 | Levine Querido | Grades K-3

Gibberish was one of my favorite picture books of 2022. This new book looks to capture some of the same inventive spirit, following two friends in their quest to sail across the sea.

Round and Round the Year We Go by Carter Higgins

August 6 | Neal Porter Books (Holiday House) | Grades PreK-1

I’m sort of obsessed with the idea of a story being like a song. The rhythm, the dynamics, the verse vs. chorus elements of a picture book text make for some interesting comparisons. Well Carter Higgins has gone and made an excellent book about the months of the year that reads like a song and I can’t wait to share it with kids.

Chapter Book

Welcome to Scare School (Scare School Diaries #1) by Jarrett Lerner

July 16 | Aladdin | Grades 1-3

Bash the ghost is not very good at “ghost stuff”, so he’s nervous about heading off to Scare School. Will he be able to cut it? Jarrett Lerner knows how to make books that kids want to read, and Scare School – slightly spooky and funny – is another fine example.

Middle Grade Fiction

Perry Homer Ruins Everything by Beth Vrabel

June 18 | Atheneum | Grades 4-6

It’s gotta be nuts living in a family of con artists. Perry Homer knows firsthand – everyone around him is a schemer. Perry dabbles as well. But what if there’s a life outside of scamming? A better life? Can Perry change his bad ways?

Read At Your Own Risk by Remy Lai

August 13 | Henry Holt | Grades 4-6

How’s that for a cover? The dripping blood. The sheer quantity of skulls. That’s a bold cover, folks. And knowing that this book is by Remy Lai, there’s a great shot that this illustrated novel delivers as well. When a game of Spirit of the Coin goes wrong, Hannah starts getting haunted through her journal. Hand this one to you r R.L. Stine fans.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

June 11 | Knopf | Grades 4-6

I interviewed Newbery honor winner Gennifer Choldenko about this book back in February. When people find out that 11 year old Hank Hooperman’s mom has been gone for a week, his whole life could change. Can Hank keep the family together? With starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, this is one to keep an eye out for.

Nonfiction

Evidence! How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Nik Henderson

August 13 | Knopf | Grades 1-3

It’s amazing. One day, we don’t know the cause of a deadly disease and it wreaks havoc on the population. Then a discovery is made and everything changes. This nonfiction picture book tells the story of Dr. John Snow, who traced a London cholera outbreak back to the source – a water pump.

Graphic Novel

Buckle Up by Lawrence Lindell

August 27 | Random House Graphic | Grades 3-7

Lonnie’s parents are recently divorced with shared custody. You know what that means: a lot of car rides, and parents asking big questions. In comic form we see Lonnie navigating these car ride conversations with his mom and dad. This one looks to be funny and poignant.

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Special Bonus Book!

The Ship in the Window by Travis Jonker and Matthew Cordell

August 20 | Viking | Grades PreK-2

Okay, I admit it’s a bit of a conflict of interest to add my own book to this list of recommendations. But here’s the thing: I think you’ll like it. Mabel the mouse live a quiet life but dreams of sailing the high seas. When an opportunity arises, will Mabel risk it all for adventure? Matthew Cordell’s incredible artwork brings the story to life. You can preorder a copy here.

Filed under: Previews