All Ages
The Best Children’s and YA Books of June
by the Brightly Editors
Ready or not, summer has arrived! With the kids out of school and plenty of long, warm days ahead, it’s the perfect time to stock up on books for the summer. Whether you have little ones in need of picture books or tweens and teens looking for novels to escape into, we have you covered. Here are the best books for children and teens being published this month.
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Picture Books
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I am Dolly Parton
Also available from:Introduce your child to one of the most beloved country music singers of all time. Young readers will learn about Dolly Parton’s childhood, inspiration, and how she uses her fame to make the world better. Check out the rest of the Ordinary People Change the World Series for more books about influential people from history.
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Adurable: Little Pups in Big Trucks
Also available from:Little construction lovers will adore this cute board book about a group of puppies who rescue their teacher from under a rock pile. They must work together and use the lessons she taught them to succeed.
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Kapaemahu
Also available from:Children love reading about legends, and this gorgeously illustrated picture book tells a special one. Four Tahitian Mahu (people with both a male and female spirit) arrived in Hawaii and shared their knowledge of science and medicine with the locals. Grateful for this knowledge, the Hawaiians erected a monument that still stands today.
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Goodnight Racism
Also available from:From the bestselling and National Book Award-winning author of Antiracist Baby and How to Be an Antiracist comes another inspiring picture book about improving society. It’s a fantastic bedtime book filled with dreams, hopes, and promises for a better future.
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Today I'm Strong
Also available from:Most kids will have to deal with a bully at some point, and this beautiful picture book from celebrity chef and author Nadiya Hussain is an excellent reminder to stay strong. A little girl keeps her imaginary tiger by her side, keeps her chin up, and remembers that she is strong enough to handle the bully.
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KINDergarten
Also available from:Get your rising kindergartener ready for school with this beautiful book about kindness. On the first day of school, Leo’s kindergarten class discusses how they can show kindness to each other. This sweet picture book will inspire young readers to create a welcoming classroom environment for everyone.
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The World Needs More Purple Schools
Also available from:Readers everywhere fell in love with the message to find common ground with others in the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book, The World Needs More Purple People. Now, the beloved characters head to school, determined to make it a more inclusive and accepting place. This book is an excellent read-aloud for the classroom or at home.
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Brave Every Day
Also available from:The latest book from the creators of the popular picture book The Invisible Boy is a beautiful lesson in courage. Camila deals with anxiety every day, but when a friend needs her help during a field trip, she faces her fears and rises to the challenge. This book is perfect for kids who are shy or anxious.
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Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective
Also available from:This adorable picture book is for all the little worry warts out there. On the first day of school, Hattie helps her friends with their first-day jitters. But when Hattie’s nerves get the best of her, she turns to self-care to manage her anxiety. Bright illustrations and cute characters make this picture book extra appealing for young children.
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Pizza and Taco: Too Cool for School
Also available from:Your favorite snacks head to the classroom in this early graphic novel for growing readers. Kids will laugh as Pizza and Taco meet their match — B.L.T.! The sandwich is the coolest food they’ve ever met, and they imitate everything he does. The full-color artwork and a hilarious plot make this an excellent addition to the Pizza and Taco series!
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Uni the Unicorn: The Haunted Pumpkin Patch
Also available from:Get a jump-start on your Halloween preparations with Uni the Unicorn. When pumpkins get smashed, and her friend says she saw a mysterious creature in the pumpkin patch, Uni must figure out what’s happening. Kids who love the Uni the Unicorn series will enjoy this new installment.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Fibbed
Also available from:Kids who enjoy stories inspired by folklore will love this book. It’s about a girl named Nana who spends the summer with her grandmother in Ghana and comes face-to-face with Ananse, a legendary spider. With the forest and its magic in danger, Nana and her friends join forces with the trickster spider to save it before it’s gone forever. Part environmental thriller and part magical adventure, this novel is an excellent summer read.
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Ham Helsing #2: Monster Hunter
Also available from:Send your kids to summer camp with Ham Helsing on his second monster-hunting adventure! When Ham and his friends arrive at Camp Fish Head Lake, the camp staff are nowhere to be seen. Monsters appear, campers disappear, and old foes reappear in this action-packed, hilarious graphic novel.
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Wretched Waterpark
Also available from:Things get spooky at the Fathoms of Fun Waterpark in the new middle grade novel from the YA author of And I Darken and the Camelot Rising Trilogy. Siblings Theo, Alexander, and Wil spend the summer with their odd Aunt Saffronia. The already strange visit becomes even more bizarre when they spend a week at a haunted waterpark where the staff spout dark prophesies and patrons disappear without a trace.
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Batpig: Too Pig to Fail
Also available from:A disgruntled school janitor stops time, leaving Gary Yorkshire trapped in math class. It’s a good thing Gary’s superhero alter-ego, Batpig is ready for a new challenge. Readers will love the latest installment in this hilarious graphic novel series!
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Mummies in the Morning Graphic Novel
Also available from:Graphic novel lovers can experience Jack and Annie’s exciting adventures in full color! Send your kids to Egypt with the siblings to explore a pyramid, solve a riddle, and help an ancient Queen. This book is excellent for new and long-time fans of the series.
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YA
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Kings of B'more
Also available from:Harrison’s best friend Linus announces that he’s moving away, so Harrison plans an epic day filled with their bucket list activities. The teens pack everything they can into twenty-four hours while dodging worried parents and the responsibilities of real life. Fans of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist will love this upbeat novel.
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Fireworks
Also available from:Music, romance, and friendship combine into an irresistible YA rom-com. Lulu’s childhood friend and current K-pop star, Kite, returns home for the summer, and she can’t wait to rekindle their friendship. As Lulu and Kite fall for each other, their friends and family try to come between them. This charming novel is perfect for YA readers who love music and friends-to-lovers romance.
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TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
Also available from:Feminism, romance, societal expectations, and a high school debate team collide in this funny and poignant novel about loving yourself. When a cruel meme humiliates TJ and her cousin Siman, TJ decides it’s time to fight back — by growing out her body hair. As her eyebrows inch toward each other and her mustache gets darker, TJ’s resolve gets challenged in unexpected ways.
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Never Coming Home
Also available from:If you love spending your summer reading YA thrillers, don’t miss this one from the author of The Babysitters Coven series. Ten teenage influencers get invited to an all-expenses-paid stay on an exclusive island. But the vacation of their dreams turns into a nightmare as the teens disappear, one by one.
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