The Best Children’s and YA Books of July 2019
by the Brightly Editors
July brings new installments of old favorites, including a book in Mercer Mayer’s Little Critters series, a Ben Franklin-starring Magic Tree House story, and the latest in the Who Was? series. From a picture book about sharing to a young adult book that spans multiple generations, there’s something for everyone in our round up of the best books of the month. These stories are sure to keep you and your family engaged during the long summer days ahead.
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Picture Books
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Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!
Available from:Change can be difficult, but in Cori Doerrfeld’s newest picture book, she shows children that when one door closes, another opens. Two friends say goodbye and hello to the changing seasons — and then one friend moves away, and they must say goodbye to each other. Doerrfeld’s books always manage to be sweet and uplifting without minimizing difficult feelings.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
Just a Bad Day
Available from:Every child (and adult!) has them: those days that just seem to be no good from the get-go. Little Critter is having one of those days, helped in large part by the rainy, no-good weather that’s keeping her cooped up inside. This Little Golden Book reminds readers that even bad days can have happy endings.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
I Am He-Man!
The classic ‘80s superhero is here to awe the 2- to 5-year-old crowd in an action-packed Little Golden Book. Hailing from the land of Eternia, He-Man is the Most Powerful Man in the Universe. Still, even the strongest hero needs the help of friends if he’s going to beat the evil wizard Skeletor.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Preorder from: -
The King of Kindergarten
Available from:It’s the first day of school, and one little boy’s mother tells him he’ll be the King of Kindergarten! With a pep in his step, the boy approaches the day with confidence and joy, making new friends and remembering it all to share with his parents. Perfect for all incoming kindergarteners, but especially reluctant ones.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
Preschool, Here I Come!
Available from:Upcoming preschoolers can also prepare for the school year with this collection of funny and cheerful poems that celebrate all the milestones of the first year of school. Complete with vibrant and gleeful illustrations, it will have little readers eager for that big first day.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
I’m Trying to Love Math
Available from:In this inviting and fact-filled book, Bethany Barton invites readers to think about math differently by considering its myriad, outside-the-classroom uses: We use math to get to the moon, to make music, to bake delicious treats, and more. It’s a great addition to your STEM reading material, made even more enjoyable by Barton’s whimsical illustrations.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
The Night Is Yours
Available from:The Night is Yours is narrated by a father to his daughter, Amani, as she and her friends wind down the day with an evening game of hide-and-seek. The light of the moon not only helps Amani find her friends but also highlights her beauty and spirit. An ode to friendship, family, and self-love, this one’s sure to be a family favorite.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
Just for Me
Young Ruby has a favorite phrase: “Just for me!” After all, her favorite doll usually is just for her to enjoy. But when a friend comes over for a playdate and Ruby’s catchphrase results in a broken toy, Ruby learns that “Just for us!” is a much more fun and inclusive way to play.
(On Sale: 7/23/19)Preorder from: -
Stop! Bot!
Available from:A simple concept gets increasingly silly in this rollicking picture book by the author of Bus! Stop!. A boy is out for a walk when his bot floats away and up the side of a building. The doorman runs from floor to floor trying to catch the bot with the help of residents — who get quirkier and quirkier the higher he goes. Just wait for the rooftop surprise!
(On Sale: 7/23/19)Also available from:
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Middle Grade
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Exploring According to Og the Frog
Available from:Readers know Og the Frog from Room 26, where he’s BFFs with the other class pet, Humphrey the hamster. Lately, Og has been inspired by stories of adventurers, and he’s curious to see the world outside his tank. Throughout the book, he helps the students of Room 26 recognize their unique talents and learn to take risks while he squeezes in a few adventures of his own.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
Who is Oprah Winfrey?
Available from:Middle grade readers can learn all about Oprah Winfrey’s incredible life in the newest addition to the Who Was? series. Born and raised in the South, Winfrey weathered a number of difficult experiences during her childhood, but she persevered to become one of the wealthiest and most influential women in the world. Kids and parents alike will love learning more about the “Queen of Talk.”
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Also available from: -
To the Future, Ben Franklin!
Available from:Jack and Annie think they know all there is to know about Founding Father and famous inventor Benjamin Franklin, but when the Magic Tree House delivers them back in time and on Franklin’s doorstep, they have no idea what their mission could be! The curious figure is extra-curious to know all about Annie and Jack and their time-traveling tree house, in this whirlwind story from the bestselling series.
(On Sale: 7/9/19)Also available from: -
Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball
Available from:Get ready for a lovable new heroine in Amelia Fang, a vampire girl who lives in the land of Nocturnia with her best friends: Florence the Yeti, Grimaldi the reaper, and her pet pumpkin, Squashy. Amelia wants nothing to do with her parents’ annual Barbaric Ball, but when Squashy is kidnapped by the spoiled Prince Tangine, hijinks ensue.
(On Sale: 7/30/19)Also available from:
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YA
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We Walked the Sky
In this multigenerational novel, two teenagers learn how to start over. In present day, 16-year-old Callie has only ever known life in the VanDrexel Family Circus, but when her mother takes a job in Florida, Callie has to navigate a wilder environment: public high school. In 1965, Callie’s grandmother, Victoria, is a 17-year-old runaway who joins the VanDrexel circus. Across history, the two young women do their best to carry on through tumultuous times.
(On Sale: 7/2/19)Preorder from: -
Spin the Dawn
Available from:Maia Tamarin is the daughter of a once-famous tailor, who — as a girl — has no hopes of following in her father’s footsteps. But when her ailing father is summoned to court, Maia poses as a boy to take his place. To win the role of imperial tailor, Maia must create a gown from the sun, the moon, and the stars. An epic tale of magic and romance, it hits all the right notes and then some.
(On Sale: 7/9/19)Also available from: -
Wilder Girls
Available from:With its bold themes, expect Wilder Girls to be one of the most talked-about books of the summer. The story is set at an all girls’ island boarding school, which has been under quarantine ever since the deadly Tox swept across the island, taking all of the teachers and several students with it. When her friend goes missing, Hetty risks everything to search beyond the quarantine — and finds so much more than she anticipated.
(On Sale: 7/9/19)Also available from: -
Penguin Minis: Matched
Available from:Ally Condie’s bestselling Matched series is now available as a Penguin Mini, pocket-sized reading perfect for busy lifestyles. Cassia is a member of the Society, where no one has to expend any mental energy over pesky decision-making: Officials decide where residents work, when they die, and even who they love. Cassia’s best friend appears on the Matching screen as her mate, but then another face appears, and she’ll have to decide which life she wants.
(On Sale: 7/23/19)Also available from:
