Hi Kid Lit Friends!
Before I get to the HUGE stack of new releases today, I wanted to let you know about a survey and a chance to win a $50 gift certificate! We’re always trying to do things better here at Book Riot, so we would love your feedback on this newsletter. Click here to complete the survey and enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Amazon; contest will close on June 30 at 11:45pm.
Now, back to business. Are you ready for a whole stack of new releases? It’s the first Tuesday of the month, meaning I’ve got a whole lot of books to share with you. Check these out and let me know what you think! As always, if I’ve had the chance to read one of these books and loved it, I marked it with a 
. Please note that all descriptions come from the publisher.
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Picture Book New Releases
The Hideout by Susanna Mattiangeli, illustrated by Felicita Sala
It’s time to go, but no one can find Hannah! That’s because she’s in the park with much to do. She needs to collect caterpillars and sticks, make a bow and arrow, and build a bed out of leaves. Deep in the shrubs, she sets up a secret hideout for herself and her companion, an Odd Furry Creature. Together, they hunker down over the campfire, lost in their own little world. But then a voice cuts through the branches and clearly says, “Where are you?” Hannah brushes off her paper, and the reader learns that Hannah was lost—not in the woods—but in her drawing.
The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Dan Hanna
Mr. Fish and his friends have noticed something strange in their ocean―a big, big MESS! How did it get there? What can they do about it? The closer they look, the more they see where the mess came from . . . and they’ll have to work together to get rid of it. This newest jacketed hardcover in the New York Times–bestselling Pout-Pout Fish series will teach little guppies how to take responsibility for their actions and for the environment.
Hold Hands by Sara Varon
Hold hands each time you cross the street.
Hold hands on the bus if you don’t have a seat.
Hold hands when you say goodbye.
And also when you’re jumping high.
Everybody holds hands. You can hold hands with your little brother or your best friend. You can hold hands with your classmate or even your favorite doll! Gather up your little ones, hold their hands, and share this heartwarming book.
It’s Not a Bed, It’s a Time Machine by Mickey Rapkin, illustrated by Teresa Martinez
Bedtime means lights out, with dark corners and spooky sounds. But it also means . . . Adventure! Because it’s not a bed, it’s a time machine. Our hero rides it to the coolest time of all―the age of the dinosaurs. He makes a tyrannosaurus-sized friend, who helps him become the Boss of Bedtime. While tonight’s sleep will span millions of years, it’ll feel like it’s over in the blink of an eye.
How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? by Vanessa Bayer, illustrated by Rosie Butcher
You and your friend Bear
are an excellent pair.
But if your friend gets sick,
And can’t do all the things that you two love to do…
You may wonder–how do you care for a very sick Bear?
When someone dear is dealing with illness, it’s difficult to know what to do or say. The actor Vanessa Bayer experienced this firsthand when she was treated for childhood leukemia. In her first children’s book, she offers gentle, reassuring advice that people of all ages will appreciate.
Bear Out There by Jacob Grant
Bear’s favorite place is inside. He loves sharing his tidy home with his friend Spider. Spider loves the outdoors! When Spider’s kite flies away, Bear must venture out and into the messy forest to help his friend. As their quest in the forest goes from bad to worse, Bear and Spider show readers that being a friend means being there for each other, no matter what.
Welcome to Morningtown by Blake Liliane Hellman, illustrated by Steven Henry
Welcome to Morningtown! In Morningtown, animal families of all shapes and sizes are waking up to a shiny new day. They get up out of fluffy beds, hard beds, and secret beds. They hop, splash, and flutter through their morning routines, getting ready for whatever the day holds. One thing is certain–every day is a beautiful day in Morningtown!
Cece Loves Science and Adventure by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, illustrations by Vashti Harrison
In this STEM-themed picture book, the second in a series, Cece and her Adventure Girls troop use science, technology, engineering, and math to solve problems and earn their camping pin.
Where Are You From? by Yamie Saied Mendez, illustrated by Jaime Kim
This resonant picture book tells the story of one girl who constantly gets asked a simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer. When a girl is asked where she’s from—where she’s really from—none of her answers seems to be the right one. Unsure about how to reply, she turns to her loving abuelo for help. He doesn’t give her the response she expects. She gets an even better one.
A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele
Pip is a normal pig who does normal stuff: cooking, painting, and dreaming of what she’ll be when she grows up. But one day a new pig comes to school and starts pointing out all the ways in which Pip is different. Suddenly she doesn’t like any of the same things she used to…the things that made her Pip.
Your First Day of Circus School by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Melissa Crowton
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages! It’s the most amazing day on earth: the first day of school! It can be a daunting prospect, but don’t worry – your big brother can show you the ropes. Join a nervous boy and his enthusiastic older brother as they navigate the highs and lows of a first day at school . . . except this school is a big top, and the teacher is named Miss Stupendous, and the cafeteria can be a zoo, literally! It turns out, school isn’t so scary when you can let off steam during recess (on a steam train) and walk on stilts to all of your classes. With a bit of help from family and some new friends, you’ll make it to the top of the class in no time!
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Luckoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl’s room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didn’t fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life. Then Mom and Dad announce that they’re going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning–from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does “making things right” actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self.
Is Two a Lot? by Annie Watson, illustrated by Rebecca Evans
Two is not a lot of pennies, but it is a lot of smelly skunks. Ten is not a lot of popcorn pieces, but it is a lot of chomping dinosaurs. One thousand is not a lot of grains of sand, but it is a lot of hot air balloons! While Joey’s mom explains the context of numbers in vivid ways, Joey’s imagination transforms their ordinary car ride into a magical odyssey through a land of make-believe.
Now? Not Yet! by Gina Perry
Peanut and Moe are back!
Peanut says let’s swim
Moe says time to hike
Peanut says let’s swim now
Moe says time to eat a snack
Peanut says now!
Moe says time to put up the tent
Peanut says NOW!
Moe says NOT YET!
Can these two friends come together in time to save their camping trip?
Unicorn Day by Diana Murray, illustrated by Luke Flowers
The unicorns are celebrating their favorite day of the year, complete with rainbows, cupcakes, butterflies, and all sorts of joyful things. But when it’s revealed there’s an impostor in their midst, the party comes to a screeching halt… Will the unicorns welcome all and continue their fun in all its glittery glory?
The Moon’s First Friends by Susanna Leonard Hill, illustrated Elisa Paganelli
From high up in the sky, the Moon has spent her whole life watching Earth and hoping for someone to visit. Dinosaurs roam, pyramids are built, and boats are made, but still no one comes. Will friends ever come visit her? Commemorate the extraordinary Apollo 11 spaceflight mission with this heartwarming story of the Moon who just wants a friend.
Hangry by Drew Brockington
When a young lizard monster gets a hankering for his favorite hot dog spot, he takes the train all the way to the city–only to find that the place is closed for vacation. But when this little monster gets too hungry, he starts to get angry. And when he gets hangry, this poor city is at risk of a full-scale monster attack. As his rage swells, so does he, until he’s the size of a skyscraper, and it falls to the citizens to find him some food–and fast!
The Someone New by Jill Twiss, illustrated by Eg Keller
Jitterbug the chipmunk likes it when things stay the same. So when one day Pudding the snail comes into her woods, Jitterbug worries that everything will be different. What if Pudding spoils everything? What if there’s no more room for Jitterbug? With the help of her friends, can Jitterbug welcome the newcomer and learn that kindness is stronger than fear?
Birthday on Mars by Sara Schonfeld, illustrated by Andrew J. Ross
Mars is our closest neighbor, and a little robot named Curiosity is investigating the planet for us. Join for a tour of the place this rover calls home. Get to know Mars through eye-catching illustrations of an alien landscape and the adorable robot in charge of exploring it all. And this rover’s birthday is a perfect time to celebrate curiosity. For nerdy parents, fans of space, or those who are just curious, relive the moment when the Curiosity rover sang itself happy birthday in 2013 after one year on Mars.
Chapter Book New Releases
Time Dogs: Balto and the Race Against Time by Helen Moss, illustrated by Misa Saburi
When a pack of senior dogs find themselves transported back in time―and turned into puppies!―they must make their way back home, helping real-life historical dogs along the way. In this first adventure, meet Baxter, Trevor, Newton, Titch, and Maia―the time dogs!―as they find themselves transported through time and space to 1925 Alaska. There, deep in the wilderness, the puppies must help Balto in his famous sled race to deliver medicine during a diphtheria outbreak.
Middle Grade New Releases
MonsterStreet: The Boy Who Cried Werewolf by J.H. Reynolds
Max Bloodnight can’t decide what’s more terrifying about his weekend in Wolf County—the fact that he has to stay with grandparents he’s never met before or being stuck on a farm without cell service. If only that was all he had to fear. Determined to solve the mystery of his father’s death, which occurred years before at the claws of a legendary werewolf, Max must hunt to uncover the truth before the full moon rises . . . and the werewolf strikes again.
All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker
SoHo, 1981. Twelve-year-old Olympia is an artist–and in her neighborhood, that’s normal. Her dad and his business partner Apollo bring antique paintings back to life, while her mother makes intricate sculptures in a corner of their loft, leaving Ollie to roam the streets of New York with her best friends Richard and Alex, drawing everything that catches her eye. Then everything falls apart. Ollie’s dad disappears in the middle of the night, leaving her only a cryptic note and instructions to destroy it. Her mom has gone to bed, and she’s not getting up. Apollo is hiding something, Alex is acting strange, and Richard has questions about the mysterious stranger he saw outside. And someone keeps calling, looking for a missing piece of art. . . .
The Story Web by Megan Frazer Blakemore
When Alice was little, she found a gigantic spider web deep in the forest. Her dad called it the Story Web and told her how its strands were woven from the stories that hold our world together. Years later, Alice’s dad has gone away for reasons Alice is sure are her fault. Now she won’t even talk about her dad and definitely no longer believes his farfetched stories. But when animals in town start acting strangely, she can’t ignore them. The Story Web is in danger–and the fabric of our world is breaking. The only way to mend it is to tell honest tales from the heart, even if they are difficult to share.
Shout Out for the Fitzgerald Trouts by Esta Spalding, illustrated by Lee Gatlin
The plucky Fitzgerald-Trout siblings (who live on a tropical island where the grown-ups are useless but the kids can drive) are back! After losing the boat that had become their home, oldest Fitzgerald-Trout, Kim, has put finding a home back on her to-do list. When her sixth-grade history assignment offers a clue about the ruins of a volcanic house built by an explorer on Mount Muldoon, she and her siblings set out to find it. The castle they discover surpasses their wildest dreams. But having a permanent home offers more challenges than the Fitzgerald-Trouts expect, especially when they begin to suspect their home is haunted. The siblings must figure out how to fix the cracks in their family foundation before one of them is lost for good.
Lair of the Beast by Adam Jay Epstein
Thanks to a crew of misfit treasure-seekers, Wily Snare has assumed his rightful place as King of Panthasos. Wily knows how to be a great trapsmith―devising and building various contraptions to keep plunderers at bay―but he has no idea how to be a good king. And he hasn’t escaped his past. Stalag, mage who once kept him locked away, is amassing an army of stone soldiers to seize the kingdom. Wily’s only hope is to tame a lair beast, a giant creature that’s the only chance against the evil wizard’s army. But first, Wily and his friends will need to survive the journey to the strange and deadly “Below” where the lair beast dwells.
Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races by K. D. Halbrook
Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal calls the desert home, but her heart belongs to the waters. Although she’s expected to become a jeweler like her father, Silver harbors a secret and forbidden wish to race water dragons. Destiny comes calling when her friendship with a mysterious old woman leads her to Hiyyan, a baby dragon that can swim and fly. Risking everything, Silver, Hiyyan, and her resourceful cousin Brajon set off across the desert to join the legendary races in the royal city. But the road to Calidia is filled with danger, and the trio must band together as they encounter ferocious cave beasts, clever desert foxes, and cutthroat competition.
Out of Place by Jennifer Blecher
Twelve-year-old Cove Bernstein’s year has gone from bad to worse. First, her best friend, Nina, moved from Martha’s Vineyard to New York City. Then, without Nina around, Cove became the target of a bullying campaign at school. Escape seems impossible. But opportunities can appear when you least expect them. Cove’s visit to a secondhand clothing store leads her to a surprising chance to visit Nina, but only if she can win a coveted place in a kids-only design competition. Cove doesn’t know how to sew, but her friend at the retirement home, Anna, has promised to teach her. And things start really looking up when a new kid at school, Jack, begins appearing everywhere Cove goes.
Riverbound by Melinda Beatty
Only Fallow can see lies–a cunning so powerful that the King insists on keeping her in the palace, tasked with helping him flush out traitors. When the King’s counselor, Lamia, tells Only of her plan to oust the King and put his daughter on the throne, Only is eager to help. Though Only’s cunning would be useful to any ruler, the Princess had promised to send Only home when she becomes Queen. But Only soon learns the truth is a complicated matter–especially when the fate of a country hangs in the balance. Now wound tight in a twisted plot, Only must set the record straight to stop the destruction of everything–and everyone–she holds dear.
The Boney Hand: A Mystery by Karen Kane
All Charlie Tickler wants is for his parents to listen. All Francine (a.k.a Frog) Castle wants is to be the world’s greatest detective. So begins the friendship of Charlie and Frog, who soon become a crime-solving duo, restoring order to Castle-on-the-Hudson. Charlie, the new kid at the Castle School for the Deaf continues to find unexpected mysteries in the sleepy town of Castle-on-the-Hudson with Frog, his new friend and crime-solving partner. Just when Charlie thinks everything has settled down, a piece of the school’s famous history goes missing, and it’s up to the Charlie and Frog to solve the case, before it’s too late.
In Whistler, British Columbia, dogs can be found riding chairlifts, perched on skiers’ shoulders, and even descending from helicopters–all in the race against time to save people caught in the path of an avalanche. Meet Henry, a lovable border collie, and the team of dogs and human partners he works with in the beautiful and sometimes dangerous mountains.
DC SuperHero Girls: Spaced Out by Shea Fontana, illustrated by Agnes Garbowska
Earth’s new Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz, learns that she must report to Oa and introduce herself to the Green Lantern Corps–as if learning new powers and being the new girl at Super Hero High weren’t enough! Luckily, some of her new friends are willing to accompany Jessica. But when they arrive, instead of the Green Lantern Corps they find General Zod, Faora and Non. While the spacefaring girls take on this intergalactic threat, the Earthbound students are faced with their own challenge–pet-sitting Krypto! It’s Kryptonian chaos across the universe!
Nonfiction New Releases
PB indicates Picture Book; MG indicates Middle Grade
Beyonce: Shine Your Light by Sarah Warren and Geneva Bowers (PB)
Beyoncé is bold, talented, confident, and an inspiring voice and power to millions of people all around the world. This captivating picture book biography celebrates the icon’s rise from a shy little girl to a world-famous superstar. Discover the story of Beyoncé as she finds her voice, through trials and triumphs, and understand that you, too, can shine your light like Beyoncé.
Hector: A Boy, a Protest, and the Photograph that Changed Apartheid by Adrienne Wright (PB)
On June 16, 1976, Hector Pieterson, an ordinary boy, lost his life after getting caught up in what was supposed to be a peaceful protest. Black South African students were marching against a new law requiring that they be taught half of their subjects in Afrikaans, the language of the White government. The story’s events unfold from the perspectives of Hector, his sister, and the photographer who captured their photo in the chaos.
Dissenter on the Bench by Victoria Ortiz (MG)
Dramatically narrated case histories from Justice Ginsburg’s stellar career are interwoven with an account of RBG’s life—childhood, family, beliefs, education, marriage, legal and judicial career, children, and achievements—and her many-faceted personality is captured. The cases described, many involving young people, demonstrate her passionate concern for gender equality, fairness, and our constitutional rights.
I would love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.
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