The Best New Children’s & YA Books of June
by the Brightly Editors
School is out, and summer is just around the corner! Long, warm afternoons in the backyard or by the pool are the perfect time for kids and teens to dive into a new book. Whether you’re interested in reading exciting new picture books to a lap-sitter or sending your tween or teen on a solo reading adventure, you’ll find some excellent options this month. Here are the best new children’s and young adult books releasing this month.
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Picture Books
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The Day the Crayons Made Friends
Buy from:The creative duo behind the #1 New York Times bestselling book, The Day the Crayons Quit, delivers a colorful new adventure for kids. When Duncan finds his crayons missing again, he quickly discovers they have all left to fulfill their dreams. From becoming a chef in the play kitchen to tending a flock of dog biscuits, each crayon finds adventure and friendship in unexpected places.
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Marianne the Maker
Buy from:Although Marianne’s dad signed her up for soccer, she is an inventor at heart. A fake illness gets her out of playing the sport and frees her up to do what she really wants — create something new! With the help of her little dog, Marianne sets out to build a magnificent contraption, complete with a parachute, communications system, and a helmet for safety. This adorable picture book will inspire children to embrace their inventive side!
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The Biggest Dog in the Book
Buy from:Get ready for a cuteness overload! This book compares the sizes of adorable pooches, from the tiniest breeds to the largest. Furry, four-legged friends play, sniff, and run across the pages as they wait to see which one will be the biggest dog in the book. It’s a must-read for dog lovers!
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In the Wild
Buy from:When Kit heads off to camp, Maude the guinea pig goes with her. Soon, Maude finds herself on a whirlwind adventure in the great outdoors. Even though there are a lot of dangers in the wilderness for a little creature, she makes new friends and uses her signature judo moves to stay safe. This is an excellent read for kids who love itty-bitty critters.
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Flat Cat: The Class Pet
Buy from:Flat Cat becomes the coolest cat in school in this hilarious new picture book. When Flat Cat stows away in a neighbor’s backpack, he ends up at the noisy, bustling school. The children use Flat Cat as everything from a paper airplane to a bathroom pass, and it doesn’t take long before he is looking for a way to escape. Kids will laugh out loud at Flat Cat’s quirky misadventure!
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Iris Shines
Buy from:A young girl named Iris knows she is destined for the spotlight. She loves being the center of attention. But when her younger brother shows a talent for acting, Iris sees her dreams of stardom going up in smoke. Thankfully, the siblings soon learn that there’s room for both of them to shine.
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Shoes Off, Please
Buy from:As Korean Americans, Mina’s family has a “shoes-off” policy inside their home. But when Mina invites her friends over, she feels awkward asking them to remove their shoes. With guidance from her mother, Mina learns the reason behind the shoes-off tradition — and how to share it with her friends.
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Tenacious Won’t Give Up
Buy from:Tenacious is a persistent young girl who is used to working hard to get what she wants. But the upcoming Wheel Parade presents her with her toughest challenge yet — learning to ride a bike. This beautifully illustrated picture book encourages kids to be resilient and persist past obstacles that prevent them from reaching their goals.
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Willow and the Wildflowers
Buy from:Willow the bear rarely leaves her home. But when she wants to attend a wildflower festival, she must venture outside her house — and her comfort zone. Young readers will love seeing Willow tackle each challenge that comes her way. This sweet picture book is perfect for fans of Scaredy Squirrel!
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Ruby René Always Gets Her Way
Buy from:Ruby loves hosting the morning announcements at her school. But when she gets an unexpected co-host, she finds herself butting heads with the newcomer. However, both girls learn the value of listening to and valuing each other’s input.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Encounter at Owl Rock
Buy from:This novel has everything young readers could want: aliens, corrupt corporations, and a mysterious disappearance. Cypress is an aspiring film director, and his twin brother, Oakley, and best friend, Jaz, star in all his movies. When Oak vanishes into a granite formation called Owl Rock, Cy and Jaz must outwit the company that owns the land and find out what really happened to Oak.
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On Guard!
Buy from:After a best friend breakup and her parents’ messy divorce, Grace hopes to find friendship and acceptance in her middle school’s fencing club. Readers who enjoy graphic novels and realistic fiction about growing up and self-discovery will enjoy this book.
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Grumpy Monkey School Stinks!
Buy from:Kids who loved the Grumpy Monkey picture books will be thrilled to progress into graphic novels alongside their favorite curmudgeon. In this early graphic novel, Grumpy Monkey heads back to school, where he learns useful information that allows him to help a turtle having tummy troubles.
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AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark
Buy from:The Goonies meets Haunted Mansion in this spooky story about ghosts, pirates, and buried treasure. Best friends AJ and Jayden discover an ancient gold coin on the beach in Miami. Convinced it came from a legendary pirate treasure, the boys enlist the help of a ghost expert named Andrea and strike out to find the rest of the gold on a nearby island. But the pirates still roam the island — as ghosts — and will do anything to keep their treasure hidden.
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YA
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A Forgery of Fate
Buy from:From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes comes another breathtaking fantasy novel that expertly blends Western fairy tales with Asian folklore. Truyan Saigas is a gifted art forger who can paint the future. When her father disappears and her family falls into ruin, she agrees to marry an underwater dragon lord and help him overthrow the Dragon King.
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Kill Creatures
Buy from:If you love dark thrillers with unreliable narrators, you won’t want to miss Rory Power’s spooky new novel that blends reality with paranoia. One year ago, Nan killed her three best friends and got away with it. When one of the dead girls reappears — alive — Nan will do anything to protect her secret. The only problem is that someone already knows what she did.
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Lady or the Tiger
Buy from:Grab your cowboy hat and boot spurs because this young adult thriller will take you on a wild ride! In 1886, Belle King murdered her abusive husband and turned herself in to the authorities. But when he shows up at the jail to take her home, she knows something darker is going on. This captivating story will keep young adult readers glued to the page through every twist and turn!
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Among Ghosts
Buy from:Fans of the bestselling fantasy novel Seraphina will love this ghost story set in the same world. When he sees a ghost, Charl’s relatively peaceful life quickly unravels, and he finds himself on the run from a mercenary dragon and living in an abandoned abbey. He soon learns that ghosts and an elderly nun with a secretive past still occupy the abbey. If you love slow-burn fantasy stories with dragons, ghosts, and mystery, add this one to your reading list!
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