Summer is heating up but readers can “chill” with their favorite characters in new installments to series, including a picture book featuring a best friend trying to stop a hungry creature, a graphic novel about an attempt to go viral gone wrong, a YA heist novel, and more.
Picture Books
The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home by Adam Gustavson (Charlesbridge, June 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-62354-494-2). In this companion of The Froggies Do NOT Want to Sleep, a group of aliens are having a good time on Earth until their parents say it’s time to head back to space.
The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, June 3 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62236-0). The latest spinoff from The Day the Crayons Quit follows the titular’s crayons adventure outside of Duncan’s room to make friends from all over the house.
Fluffy McWhiskers Crunchazaur Kaboom by Stephen W. Martin, illus. by Dan Tavis (McElderry, June 10 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95612-3). Fluffy McWhiskers and Potato must find a way to prevent hungry Crunchazaur from eating the entire city in the sequel to Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion.
The Goodnight Train Ready for School by June Sobel, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith (Clarion, June 17 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-06-335414-2). The Goodnight Train prepares for the first day of school in this companion to The Goodnight Train Halloween and The Goodnight Train Easter.
Hello, I’m a Toucan (Meet the Wild Things #5) by Hayley Rocco, illus. by John Rocco (Putnam, June 24 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-85875-2). Readers can learn interesting facts about the tropical toucan in the addition to the Meet the Wild Things series.
Little Mouse Saves the Day by Jeff Smith (TOON, June 3 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-662-66545-5). Little Mouse braves the dark to uncover what lurks in closet at bedtime in the companion to Little Mouse Gets Ready.
Make New Friends, Keep the Old by Girl Scouts, illus. by Amber Ren (Harper, June 17 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-331788-8). The latest addition to the Girl Scouts series celebrates the importance friendships both new and old.
Ruby René Always Gets Her Way by Ashley Iman, illus. by Gladys Jose. (Kokila, $18.99 ISBN 978-0-593-85888-2). In the sequel to Ruby René Had So Much to Say, Ruby learns to embrace her listening skills when she’s given a co-host for her school morning announcements.
The Worry-Worry Whale Made 32 Mistakes by Deborah Diesen, illus. by Dan Hanna (FSG, June 10 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39153-9). In the second book of the Worry-Worry Whale Adventure series, Willa the whale is trying to learn something new but feels discouraged when she just can’t get it right.
Illustrated/ Graphic Novels
Grumpy Monkey School Stinks! by Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang (Random House Studio, June 17 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70934-4). In the newest installment of the Grumpy Monkey Graphic Novels, Jim Panzee heads back to school to learn how to make the most of his mistakes.
Have a Good Trip, Mousse! by Claire Lebourg (Transit Children’s Editions, June 10 $18.95 paper; ISBN 979-8-89338005-7). After a storm leaves his town deserted, Mousse decides to follow everyone’s advice to head down South for a vacation in the second volume of the Mousse series.
Hog-Rocket Ruckus by Nathan Hale (Abrams Fanfare, June 10 $15.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7985-5). Trilobite and his friends accidentally create a dangerous monster while trying to shoot a viral video in the third installment of the Mighty Bite series.
The Impossible Trials of Benjamiah Creek by Jordan Lee, illus. by Vivienne To (Simon & Schuster, June 3 $8.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-665-95015-2). In the second book of The Whisperwicks series, Benjamiah has made his way back to Wreathenworld by putting on a magical mask, but finds he cannot take his mask off as Wreathenworld is under threat.
Novels
Adia Kelbara and the High Queen’s Tomb by Isi Hendrix (HarperCollins/Storytide, June 3 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-326638-4). Titular star Adia makes it to her first term at the Academy of Shamans, only to find that reanimated corpses are haunting the school and the kingdom, in the second book of the Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans.
The Blood Phoenix by Amber Chen (Viking, June 17 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62278-0). Ying struggles to deal with tricky pirates at sea, while her sister Nian finds herself bonding with someone new in the palace as she awaits her betrothal to the High Commander in the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons.
The Forest in the Sky by Pari Thomson (FSG, June 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39142-3). The Greenwild series ends as Daisy and her friends make the dangerous trip to find her mother and the Botanists, who are trapped in the Amazon rainforest as the Reaper King advances on their home.
The Great Mouse Escape by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, illus. by Jennifer L. Meyer (Little, Brown/Patterson, June 16 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-41202-5). Isaiah and his human friend Kailey make a cross-country trip to fellow their fellow mouse firne Mikayla from evil scientists in the latest book in the Word of Mouse.
Heiress Among Thieves by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (Little, Brown, June 24 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-316-56679-7). Olivia Owens gathers her old heist crew to pull a job at her grandmother’s party, but discover they aren’t the only ones looking to steal her jewels, in the second installment of the Heiress Heists series.
Masters of Disguise by Lisa McMann (Putnam, June 10 $18.99; 978-0-593-69877-8). The forgotten five have their identities leaked by a corrupt politician and question how much further President Fuerta will go for power in the sixth installment of The Forgotten Five series.
Mystery at the Manor by Alasdair Beckett-King, illus. by Claire Powell (Candlewick, June 3 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-4168-6; $9.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5362-4169-3). In the third book of the Montgomery Bonbon, detective Bonnie is charged with figuring out which of a master thief’s four protégées is responsible of his death.
The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Little, Brown, June 24 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-34839-3). Morrigan’s trip to the wealthy Silver District is turned upside down when a murder occurs, and it's up to her and her friends to find the culprit in the fourth Nevermoor book.
The Unbreakable Bond by Trudi Trueit (National Geographic Kids, June 3 $10.99; ISBN 978-1-426-37693-1). Sailor and the Vela squad will stop at nothing to stop animal-smuggling ring Hydrus in the second book of the Explorer Academy Vela series.
