Are you and/or your kids on summer break yet? We are entering our third week off, still trying to get into a good summer groove of projects that we put off all year as well as plenty of rest and relaxation after a good but busy school year. My favorite part, of course, is the rest and relaxation that includes plenty of reading time! Here are some new books releasing this week:
Books for Kids
A Cat Is Better – A cat tries to convince its new owner – and maybe itself – that cats are better than dogs. Looks adorable!
Littles: And How They Grow – An ode to babies. Sounds like a lovely gift for new parents!
Owl Bat Bat Owl – A wordless picture book about an owl family and a bat family sharing a home in a tree. I can’t wait to see this one in person!!
Swish and Squeak’s Noisy Day – Sibling mice notice the sounds of their day. The cover of this one is gorgeous and was really what grabbed my attention. I’d love to see this one in person and check out the illustrations by the author.
I Am Sacagawea – The latest biography in the Ordinary People Change the World series. These books are outstanding! I love that they focus on the character qualities of the subject rather than on the things they did (although those are in there, too). My students loved reading these. If you are looking for quality nonfiction for your classroom or home library, I highly recommend this whole series.
Fergus and Zeke – A new early reader by Kate Messner (one of my favorite authors for kids) about a classroom pet who stows away for a field trip to the museum.
The Great Art Caper – Book 2 in the Pets on the Loose series. It’s hamsters verses mice as the class pets battle at the school art show. Book one, The Great Pet Escape, was darling. This looks like it will be terrific.
Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults
14 Hollow Road – A tornado destroys the home of a middle schooler so she has to share space with her crush at a neighbor’s house while their community puts things back together. Isn’t that cover gorgeous?! I’d pick this one up based on the cover alone.
A Dog Like Daisy – Here is another story told from the perspective of a dog being trained as a service animal. There are several books out that use this concept really well. There’s a military theme in this one, where Daisy is trying to learn to help a colonel with PTSD. This sounds excellent.
Keeper of Myths – Sequel to The Secrets of Valhalla. Buzz and Mary have to find the Keeper of the Myths in order to rescue their friend Sam from the gods. This series sounds great for fans of mythology (in this case, Norse mythology) and books like Percy Jackson or the Kane Chronicles.
Let’s Pretend We Never Met – When Mattie moves over winter break, she’s afraid she’ll have a hard time making friends. But she makes one right away in her neighbor, Agnes. But when school starts, Mattie discovers that Agnes isn’t very popular at school. Is this really the person she wants to befriend when she’s getting established in a new place?
Quest to the Uncharted Lands – Book 3 in the World of Solace series. Stella stows away on an airship headed to the Uncharted Lands. She doesn’t expect to discover another stowaway – and a plot to ensure that no one ever makes it to the Uncharted Lands.
The Shadow Queen – Legendtopia, book 2. Kara and Prince Fred set off on an adventure to save their parents. The story reminds me of some of my favorite series for kids – The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom or The Wide-Awake Princess. I’m going to be looking for book one, The Battle for Urth, and checking this series out.
The Silver Moon of Summer – Book 3 in the Silver Sisters series. I have ADORED the first two books (You can check out my review of book one, The Forget-Me-Not Summer, tomorrow) and have already requested this one from the library!
Obsidian and Stars – Book 2 in the Ivory and Bone series set in the Stone Age about rival factions, love and betrayal. I have book one, Ivory and Bone, on my library wish list.
Roar – While Aurora is set to be queen by birth, without any magic of her own, she may have to marry a prince who has something to hide. Can she instead take the magic she needs for her kingdom and her future? This sounds like a fascinating magical world where people are born with – or try to steal – storm power.
Summer Unscripted – Girl meets boy who seems to understand her. He must be her destiny. Then girl meets another boy who has a complicated past that grabs her attention. One girl, two boys, plenty of drama.
Books for Adults
A Just Clause – Book 11 in the Booktown Mystery series starring the owner of a mystery bookstore. I have several books in this series on my TBR shelves.
Bad Housekeeping – Book one in a new series about a young woman and her eccentric great aunt who find themselves at the top of the suspect list for murder.
All Good Things: A Next Generation Companion – An informational book including interviews and behind the scenes information for all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.