Readers can beat the heat with new installments to favorite series including a picture book about a small dinosaur embracing change, a graphic novel about a community’s inability to share, a YA mystery about a teen competing for a cash prize, and more.
Picture Books
This Is Not My Bed by Jennifer Dupuis, illus. by Carol Schwartz (Tilbury House, July 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-66895-516-1). In the sequel to This Is Not My Lunch Box, readers take a trip across the forest to see where a variety of animals like to take their rest.
Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat by Julien Chung (Beach Lane, July 15 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95478-5). Young readers can learn the alphabet with this ABCs picture book with a spooky spin, the newest addition to A Chicka Chicka Book series.
Creepy Sheepy by Lucy Ruth Cummins, illus. by Pete Oswald (Flamingo, July 15 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69389-6). The titular Sleepy Sheepy is determined to be the scariest sheep of all for Halloween in the newest Sleepy Sheepy title.
Diggers Love Their Friends! by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illus. by Christian Slade (Random House, July 1 $8.99; ISBN 978-0-593-80736-1). Digger celebrates their many different transportation friends in the latest addition to the Where Do... series.
A First Conversation About Disability by Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison with Jessica Ralli, illus. by Jonathan Eden (Rise x Penguin Workshop, July 1 $15.99 hardcover ISBN 978-0-593-89148-3; $9.99 paper ISBN 978-0-593-52102-1). The latest in the First Conversations series introduces young readers to the concept of disability and how to embrace and celebrate all bodies and abilities.
Fish Fry Friday by Winsome Bingham, illus. by C.G. Esperanza Abrams, July 8 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-6693-0. A child is excited to join their grandmother while she whips up a family meal in this companion to Soul Food Sunday.
Hap-Pea Halloween by Keith Baker (Beach Lane, July 15 $9.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94026-9). The pea pals come together to guarantee plenty of scary activities in the latest book of The Peas series.
It’s Almost Time for... Halloween! by Maisha Oso, illus. by Tom Knight (McElderry, July 15 $10.99; ISBN 978-1-665-98012-8). Readers prepare for the spookiest day of the year with the new addition to the It's Almost Time For… series.
Little Owl’s Fog by Divya Srinivasan (Viking, July 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69113-7). The latest in the Little Owl series follows Little Owl’s journey to a mysterious cavern to see his bat friends.
Little Witch’s To-Do List by Helen Kemp Zax, illus. by Kiersten Eve Eagan (Abrams Appleseed, July 15 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7895-7). In the newest addition to A Magical List Book, the titular Little Witch showcases time management skills as she navigates a busy witchy schedule.
The Marvelous Now by Angela DiTerlizzi, illus. by Lorena Alvarez Gómez (Little, Brown, July 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-50003-6). The third addition to The Magical Yet series teaches young readers how to focus on being present when they’re having a hard day.
Messy or Neat? by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin (Random House, July 29 $8.99; ISBN 978-0-593-71220-7). The fifth volume in the Home Edit for Kids series shows readers the difference between an untidy room and an organized one.
Millie Fleur Saves the Night by Christy Mandin (Orchard, July 1 $18.99 ISBN 978-1-339-02337-3). In the sequel to Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, the titular gardener aims to encourage her neighbors to turn off the lights to embrace the beauty of darkness.
Norman and the Smell of Adventure by Ryan T. Higgins (Disney Hyperion, July 1 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-09021-6). In the sequel to Norman Didn’t Do It!, Norman the porcupine is upset when their best friend Mildred the tree makes other plans without him.
Tiny T. Rex and the First Day Oopsies by Jonathan Stutzman, illus. by Jay Fleck (Chronicle, July 15 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-79723-320-8). In the fourth book of the Tiny T. Rex series, Tiny T. Rex tackles his first day of school and learns to embrace change.
Illustrated Novels and Graphic Novels
The Big Mess and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli (Knopf, July 8 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-64970-1). Best friend Earl and Worm must come to each other’s aid when Earl’s mess gets out of hand and Worm’s lucky penny is ruined in the second installment of the Earl & Worm series.
Fright Night! by Dan Gutman, illus. by Jim Paillot (Harper, July 15 $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-329024-2). The Ella Mentry School students enjoy a night of campfire stories in the fourth My Weird School Special title.
The Glitch: A Graphic Novel by Michael Rex (Viking, July 22 $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-20643-0). Fred the Robot encounters a group with an excess of luxury items and no desire to share in the third installment of the Your Pal Fred series.
Hunted (Vol. 2) by Samuel Sattin, illus. by Gurihiru (Scholastic/Graphix, July 1 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-546-11046-0). Unico’s new friendship with human friend Chiko means they’ll do anything to protect them from a force ridding the town of living things in the second volume of the Unico series.
Mothman by Cristin Bishara, illus. by Sofia Cavallari (Chooseco, July 22 $9.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-933390-71-0). The latest in the Choose Your Own Adventure New Classics series lets readers decide how they want to confront the monster lurking in the Appalachian Mountains.
A New Dog in the Den by Bethanie Murguia (Roaring Brook, July 22 $21.99; ISBN 978-1-250-83531-4; $13.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-36741-9). Thunder navigates having a new friend in their space when human Sage brings home foster dog Byron in the second graphic novel in the Wagnificent series.
Penny Draws a First Crush by Sara Shepard (Putnam, July 15 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70034-1). Titular star Penny navigates the lessons of an etiquette class alongside the revelation of a secret admirer in the sixth Penny Draws book.
Sunny Figures It Out by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Scholastic/Graphix, July 1 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-79247-8). In the sixth installment of the Sunny series, tween Summer’s friendship with Tony comes under question by their peers: are they friends or something more?
Novels
Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams (Labyrinth Road, $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-71196-5). Malik navigates rekindling with his estranged mother and joining a secret society at his magical HBCU in the second installment of the Blood at the Root series.
Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Little, Brown, July 29 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-316-48131-1). The seven players competing on Hawthrone Island find the stakes upped in the second book of the Grandest Game series.
A Raging Heart by Kaylie Smith (Disney Hyperion, July 29 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-10887-4). The Fates’ War that will determine the futures of best friends Calla, Hannah, and Delphine and all have something to lose in the series conclusion of A Ruinous Fate.
Sky On Fire by E.K. Johnston (Dutton, July 22 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-984816-16-0). Science prodigy and magicless Morgan Enni has uncovered a secret that could upend the aetherwork industry and is recruited by a group of rebels in this companion book to Aetherbound.
The Thread of Destiny by Aimee Lim (Feiwel and Friends, July 8 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-88622-4). Evie Mei takes over the role of head weaver of the Magical Guild when monsters from the underworld break free in the second and final book of the Weavers of Legacy and Fate series.
