The Best New Kids’ & YA Books To Read Right Now
by the Brightly Editors
Welcome to the dog days of summer! If you want to prevent summer slide and keep your kids from going stir crazy, there’s no better remedy than handing them a stack of engaging books to read. Whether you’re heading off on a summer trip or just looking for a way to pass a lazy afternoon, here are some fantastic new titles for kids, tweens, and teens to check out this month.
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Picture Books
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A Day Off School
Buy from:When Herbie gets sick, he’s thrilled to stay home from school and spend the day quietly entertaining himself. But when boredom sets in, he starts to wonder what marvelous adventures might be happening at school. This delightful picture book is for any child who has experienced FOMO (fear of missing out) over missing school.
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Big Rig Pig
Buy from:Miles Bacon is a helpful pig who drives a big rig. He spends his day saying yes to every request that comes his way, from hauling logs to rescuing stranded circus animals. But as Miles adds more and more things to his haul, he finds himself slowing down. Soon, he learns that he can’t say yes to everything, and sometimes, he’s the one who needs some help.
(On sale: 7/14/2026)
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Tony Rex's Seven Stomps to Success
Buy from:Get ready to laugh your way through this rib-tickling self-help book from a toothy life coach named Tony Rex. He offers ten tried-and-true pointers for living your best life, including taking a bath (with salt and onions), slowing down (to any speed less than 30 miles per hour), and surrounding yourself with good people (you can be the gooey center). This book will be the star of your bedtime reading stack!
(On sale: 7/14/2026)
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The Haunted Playground
Buy from:It’s never too early to start celebrating Halloween! This spooky picture book from the author of Wonder and the illustrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events is just the thing to get your kids into the holiday spirit. Written in rhyme, this book follows the king of ghosts as he leads a spooky revelry at a playground on Halloween night. But when two human children show up and refuse to be scared away, everyone has the best night of their lives.
(On sale: 7/21/2026)
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The Explorers
Buy from:Etta and Grandma Maisie spend every day together, exploring and going on adventures. So, when Etta starts school, and Grandma Maisie moves into a retirement home, they miss their daily expeditions. Thankfully, a school event allows the two explorers to team up once more. This joyful picture book celebrates the special connection between grandchildren and their grandparents.
(On sale: 7/21/2026)
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The Knight with No Bottom
Buy from:When a dragon bites off his bottom, a brave knight faces an unexpected problem. With no bum to sit on, he can’t ride a horse, and his romantic prospects vanish. After a perilous and painful bike ride across the kingdom, the knight arrives at a shop that will sell him a new butt. Kids and adults alike will laugh out loud at the rhyming text and hilarious illustrations in this delightful picture book!
(On sale: 7/28/2026)
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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The Frog Princess and Peter Pan (or, Wendy Darling and the Secret Prince)
Buy from:Fractured fairy tale fans will be thrilled to get their hands on the fourth book in The Princess Swap series this month. In this book, the Frog Princess and Wendy Darling swap places, leaving both girls in precarious situations. Princess Lissie must figure out how to deal with the pesky Peter Pan while Wendy tries to wrangle her way out of walking the plank.
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Super Unicorn Princess: A Graphic Novel
Buy from:Kids who like Teen Titans Go! will love this new graphic novel featuring a unicorn princess superhero. Each colorful page is packed with enough humor and action to keep kids coming back for more. This series starter contains three stories about Super Unicorn Princess saving her city from villains, threats, and monsters.
(On sale: 7/14/2026)
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Pizza and Taco: Scariest Sleepover Ever!
Buy from:Your favorite snacks are having a sleepover in the latest installment of this popular early graphic novel series. But when Pizza and Taco settle in for the night, a round of spine-chilling storytelling leaves them too nervous to sleep. Young readers who love this series will want to read the latest installment, just in time for spooky season!
(On sale: 7/21/2026)
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Penny & Luck: The Shadows of Rosehall
Buy from:STEM-loving kids ages 6-8 will enjoy this magical chapter book series opener about a girl named Penny and her canine sidekick, Luck. What starts as an ordinary summer turns into a fantastical adventure when Penny and Luck stumble across a portal to a magical land. Now, the girl and her dog must invent a way to help a warrior princess save her kingdom and return home before the portal closes for good.
(On sale: 7/28/2026)
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The Girl Who Loved Monsters
Buy from:Charlotte is thrilled to find a book about monsters at her school library. But she soon realizes that reading from the book has real-world consequences. Now, with one teacher missing and another one acting suspiciously like a werewolf, Charlotte enlists the help of her friends to set things right. This delightfully spooky graphic novel is perfect for kids who can’t wait for Halloween.
(On sale: 7/28/2026)
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Follow the Money
Buy from:This interactive game book teaches kids the ins and outs of earning money, budgeting, and investing. As kids move through the book, they’ll read age-appropriate lessons about money and complete related activities. After each activity, they’ll add or subtract money from their treasure chest, depending on the choices they made. It’s an excellent way to give kids a foundation in financial literacy!
(On sale: 8/4/2026)
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YA
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Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen
Buy from:Get ready for thrills and chills with the third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Pumpkin Queen series, inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas! When mysterious storm clouds roll into Halloween Town and kidnap Jack, Sally sets out on a quest across the realms to save her king and her town.
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So This is Love
Buy from:Disney enthusiasts can now read their favorite alternate Cinderella story in paperback! Join Cinderella after she misses her chance to try on the glass slipper and gets a job at the palace as a seamstress. When she uncovers an evil plot to dethrone the king and the prince she loves, she must do everything in her power to stop it.
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Our Wicked Gifts
Buy from:Magic, fate, and murder combine in this fantasy thriller that will keep you up well past your bedtime. When her uncle gets murdered, Cicely realizes that one of her powerful family’s victims is bent on revenge. But as Cicely gets closer to the killer, she begins to have traitorous feelings toward her family. This gothic paranormal murder mystery is a must-read!
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Ruinous Ends
Buy from:Jump back into The Souls of Blackwood Academy series with the bone-chilling sequel to Immortal Consequences! Now that the Decennial is over and Blackwood Academy’s secrets exposed, six former students hold the future of the school, and the afterlife, in their hands. Deception, unrequited love, and magic combine in this young adult romantasy series!
(On sale: 7/14/2026)
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To Dance the Moon and Stars (A Graphic Novel)
Buy from:Get ready to swoon over this gorgeous romantasy graphic novel about a princess who challenges her kingdom’s traditions. Myra loves to dance, but she is about to become the high priestess to a god who forbids dancing. Now, with dark forces threatening her kingdom, Myra risks everything, including her heart, to save her people. Lush illustrations and a captivating plot will make this romantic fantasy a favorite for graphic novel readers.
(On sale: 7/14/2026)
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Rootbound: A Tangled Novel
Buy from:Rapunzel has lost her healing powers, so she eagerly accepts an invitation to another princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. But when she and Eugene arrive in the neighboring kingdom, they discover a nation being torn apart by deception, corruption, and secret societies. Together, they help the princess untangle the political unrest and save her kingdom from destruction.
(On sale: 7/28/2026)
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