Tag: June New Releases

Our last Tuesday of June is chock full of great new books! Check them out:

Books for Kids

Dear Dinosaur (July 1) – A boy gets a dinosaur pen pal. This would be so much fun to read!
Monkey Brother – This sibling rivalry story looks fun. And since my son had a pretend monkey brother when he was a little guy, this will be a must read for me.
A New School Year – Six kids from Kindergarten through 5th grade share the story of the new school year. This looks like a great story for teachers to use when talking about perspective or maybe even voice.
Pig the Winner – Book 3 in the Pig the Pug series. This time, Pig’s competitive nature gets the best of him.
Super Saurus Saves Kindergarten – A dinosaur hopes to conquer kindergarten in this darling-looking book!
Best in Class – The latest in the Puppy Pirates series for new chapter book readers.
Friendship Fairies series – The latest set of books in the Fairies series by Daisy Meadows is the Friendship Fairies – Kindness, Sharing, Laughter, and Caring fairies. These were my go-to recommendation when I had a young reader who could handle the vocabulary of a 4th or 5th grade book but who wanted something shorter or lighter than some middle grade stories.
March of the Vanderpants – Notebook of Doom, book 12. This is a fun, light “monster” series in the Branches line for kids exploring chapter books.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Escape from the Great Earthquake – Book 6 in the awesome time-traveling series about a search and rescue dog, Ranger. I have described these books as Magic Tree House with a dog. Super fun to read; kids love them.
The Golden Lion – Book 4 in the graphic novel series Cleopatra in Space, a mash up of an historic figure and space-faring science fiction with adventure galore. I enjoyed book one and am looking forward to getting caught up on the series.
Hamstersaurus Rex vs Squirrel Kong – Book 2 in the Hamstersaurus Rex series. This time, a giant squirrel is wreaking havoc, and Hammie Rex is taking the blame. Can Sam prove Hammie’s innocence? This has been compared to Stick Dog or Dog Man. This is one I can’t wait to check out!
In the Shadow of the Sun – A girl and her brother try to escape North Korea with pictures of slave-labor camps when their father is arrested as a spy. Sounds perfect for fans of books like A Night Divided.
Ship of Secrets – Geronimo Stilton Kingdom of Fantasy book 10. My students loved this series, checking them out of the library until the books literally fell apart.
The Someday Suitcase – A story of best friends trying to beat the odds when one gets sick. This sounds like a fantastic, moving story.
Summer Olympics – Full color graphic novel of the kids from Super Hero High. This story has been teased in a comic for Free Comic Book Day and another for Wonder Woman Day. In the story, Wonder Woman heads to Olympus for summer vacation. I’ve read the comic teasers and I’m looking forward to reading the whole book!
Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive! – Crazy but true stories about our world. Terrific idea for kids non-fiction!
What Was the Holocaust? – Kids want to know more about this period in world history, and I trust the folks with the Who Was series to handle it with honesty at a kid-friendly level.
Generation One – First in a new series set in the world of I Am Number Four, full of aliens and super powers. I didn’t read the original series, but this sounds fantastic.
Now I Rise – Sequel to And I Darken, a series compared to Game of Thrones. Looks like I need to check out the first book!

Books for Adults

Booked 4 Murder – First book in a new mystery series starring Sophie Kimball, an account clerk at the local police department called to her mother’s home to investigate a “cursed” book. This looks like a great new series!
A Crime of Passion Fruit – Book 6 in the Bakeshop Mystery series, one of my favorite cozy series. In this book, Jules returns to the cruise ship where her estranged husband works and, of course, finds a body.
Death of a Bachelorette – Book 15 in the Jaine Austen mystery series about a freelance writer. I’d love to dig into this series some time!
Enforcing the Paw – Book 6 in the Paw Enforcement series about a police dog and her handler. While the author’s other series didn’t click with me, I have high hopes for this one. I have several of the books on my TBR shelves, waiting for my attention.
Grace to the Finish – Book 8 in the Manor House mystery series about a curator at Marshfield Manor. I have the first book in this series on my TBR shelves.
Murder at the Puppy Fest – Book 20 in the Melanie Travis series about dogs. In this book, Melanie is helping at a dog rescue charity event when someone is killed.
The Separatists – Book 3 in the Newsmakers series, a Christian mystery series about a reporter and political intrigue. I have the first two books in the series on my TBR pile. Hopefully I’ll get to dig into them this summer.
Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Enigma Tales – Elim Garak was one of the most fascinating characters on Deep Space Nine. This book picks up his story on Cardassia where secrets and lies are still business as usual.
The Tell-Tale Tarte – Book 4 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series, this one with an Edgar Allan Poe theme. Includes recipes.
A Fierce Love – A husband’s affair and request for divorce sends the author on a journey into 1 Corinthians 13 to see what God asks of us when He calls us to love. This sounds emotional and powerful!
Cultivate – A Bible-based exploration of personal development from a gardening perspective. Looks at striving and perfection and living a less-pressured life. Sounds a little like Nothing to Prove which I adored. I am putting this one on my list, too!
Writing to Awaken (July 1) – Self discovery through writing. I am a firm believer in journalling for personal growth and health. I will be picking this one up for certain.

This week marks the official start of summer. I don’t know where you live, but where I am we have already had several hot and humid days, so it already feels like summer has been here for awhile. Thankfully, those days make me want to stay in the air conditioning and enjoy a good book!

Here are some of the books releasing this week:

A Place to Read – While the plot is familiar – a reader looks for a great place to read – the illustration work of the author, Leigh Hodgkinson, is what draws me to this one. I have loved her other work (especially Goldilocks and Just One Bear) and will be searching for this one this week for certain!
Chicken in School – A farm chicken turns the barn into a school and acts as teacher for everyone in the barnyard. Sequel to Chicken in Space. These books sound so fun!
Claymates – A fun picture book about friends made from clay. Perfect inspiration for summer art and sculpture fun!
Twindergarten – Twins about to start kindergarten – in different classes – share their anxiety and excitement.
Class Pet Mess – The kids from My Weird School are now in early readers! This is the third book in this format for kids who are growing in their reading skills (preschool to second grade range, depending on the reader).
Mrs. Master Is a Disaster – Book 8 in the My Weirdest School series which focuses on Grandparents day and a grandma who makes weird inventions. When I was teaching, my students loved these! It’s a fun, silly series with relatively short books at a 3rd or 4th grade reading level.
King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor – A boy king lives next door to an emperor who is up to no good. This looks like a fun new series for kids starting to explore chapter books.
My Weird School Fast Facts: Space, Humans and Farts – Weird but true science facts from the author of the My Weird School series. This series is a great way to engage kids with nonfiction!
Ever After High: Class of Classics – Full color graphic novel collecting 6 fairy tale stories tied to the Ever After High series. My students loved the books in this series, and I’m sure a graphic novel will be a hit with kids as well.
I Love You, Michael Collins – A girl writes to astronaut Michael Collins, the one who stays with the ship during the first moon landing. As her family wanders off, one by one, thinking someone else is watching her, the girl finds herself alone, wondering if in real life anyone actually “stays with the ship.” This sounds amazing. I loved the author’s Sisters 8 series and I can’t wait to read this!
Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth – A boy who has just entered foster care meets an alien (who looks like a dog to everyone else) who is trying to save the Earth from destruction. This sounds fantastic!
The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library – A bug who loves to read saves the school library! Looks cute!
Rocket Raccoon: Grounded – Graphic novel collecting issues 1-5. Rocket, one of the Guardians of the Galaxy, is trapped on Earth. Fans of the Guardians movies might enjoy this comic book collection.
Teen Titans: Damian Knows Best (Rebirth) – Graphic novel collecting issues 1-6. Damian Wayne is Robin, son of Batman and commander of the Teen Titans. In this reboot for Teen Titans, the team faces off against Damian’s grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul. I am intrigued by this series. I’m a huge fan of the TV series Young Justice and I’d like to see if this would be similar in tone and storytelling.

It’s a small week for new releases, so hopefully that will help me catch up a little on my TBR list! What are you reading this summer?

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.

Happy June! It’s the first full week in June which means LOTS of new releases tomorrow. Let’s check them out!

Books for Kids

Don’t Blink – A picture book staring contest!
Garcia and Colette Go Exploring – Two friends want to go exploring, but they have different ideas of where they should go
There, There – A bear tries to teach a grumpy rabbit to appreciate what he has
World Pizza – A wish for world peace plus a sneeze leads to World Pizza!
Shark Lady – Picture book biography of Eugenie Clark.
Aleca Zamm Is a Wonder/Is Ahead of Her Time – New early chapter book series about a girl who can stop time.
Tales of Rapunzel: Secrets Unlocked/Opposites Attract – The first two chapter books connected to Disney’s new Tangled series. Includes two episodes from the show in each book.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Broken Pride – First book in the new Bravelands series by Erin Hunter, author of the Warriors series, about a lion, elephant and baboon.
Doctor Strange – Novelization of the Marvel movie about Doctor Strange.
Exit Strategy – A kid tries to find the scientific formula for “funny” to make  friends at a new school. Part of the MAX line from Aladdin.
Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy – Holly is kidnapped by alien pirates who think she is the Princess of the Galaxy.
Middle School Mayhem – Max Crumbly, book 2 from the authors of the Dork Diaries series.
Princess Juniper of Torr – Book 3 in the Princess Juniper series. I have read – and loved – the first two books. You can read my reviews here. I’ve already got this one on hold from the library!
Rogue World – Book 3 in the Dark Gravity series about a world-wide catastrophe (starting with a new ice age in book one, The Arctic Code) and the kids who are trying to save the day. I have book one on my shelves, but haven’t read it yet.
Spider-Man Homecoming Junior Novel – Junior novel for the new Spider-Man movie releasing in July.
Tournament of Champions – Book 3 in the Rip and Red series for middle grade readers. I really enjoyed the first book and would love to get caught up with this series about two friends (one on the autism spectrum) who love basketball.
What Was the Holocaust? – The latest additions to the Who Was/What Was series.
Who Was Bob Marley?
Who Was Pete Seger?
And Then There Were Four – Five teens seem to be the target of their parents’ murderous plotting. Sounds like a great mystery.
Dividing Eden – From the author of The Testing, this is about a set of twins pitted against each other for control of their kingdom. This is absolutely at the top of my list for this week.
Dramatically Ever After – Sequel to Bookishly Ever After. I just finished this and it was fun.  I’ll be reviewing it later this month. This story focuses on two of the secondary characters from book one – the dramatic Em who is on the hunt for a college scholarship to pursue her dream and her “nemesis,” Kris.
Endgame: Complete Fugitive Archives – Companion to the Endgame series. I have book one in my TBR pile right now. This is a collection of prequel stories.
Here Lies Daniel Tate – Daniel Tate went missing at age 10. Six years later he has returned – except this boy isn’t really Daniel Tate. He’s a con artist who has found the perfect scam. But what if someone knows what really happened to Daniel?
Liberty: The Spy who (Kind of) Liked Me – Spy novel about a teen given the chance to go undercover and maybe find out what happened to her parents. This sounds terrific!
Once and for All – The latest story from Sarah Dessen, ultra-popular Teen/YA author, about a wedding planner with a second chance at love.
Unlikelies – Five teens decide to be Good Samaritans and help right local wrongs.
What I Lost – Teen novel about a girl in an eating disorders treatment program.
Wildman – A stranded young man gets a chance to re-invent himself and discover who he is at the same time.
Words in Deep Blue – A grieving teen works with her former crush and wonders if second chances are possible.

Books for Adults

Before We Were Yours – Historical fiction about orphaned siblings from 1939 and a contemporary young woman who discovers some family secrets. This sounds excellent.
Black Cat Sees His Shadow – Book 3 in the Bad Luck Cat mystery series. I am eager to check out this series from the beginning.
Camino Island – The latest novel by John Grisham about a heist from Princeton University and rare books. This one is on my list!
The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes – Dr. John Watson Jr. joins forces with Sherlock Holmes’ secret daughter, Joanna Blalock. This sounds awesome!
French Fried – Book 2 in the Ethnic Eats mystery series with a French spin this time, celebrating the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty
Love Story – A Baxter Family story from Karen Kingsbury. I’ve only read one book about the Baxter family. Long-time fans will be excited to read this one with the love story of John and Elizabeth.
Once Upon a Spine – Book 11 in the Bibliophile series. I have several books from this series on my TBR shelves.
Only Skein Deep – Book 15 in the Knitting series. Even though I don’t knit, I have enjoyed several of the books in this series.
Patterned After Death – Book 12 in the Southern Sewing Circle mystery series. I am woefully behind in this series, but I enjoyed the first one.
Road to Paradise – The first  Vintage National Parks novel about Mount Rainer in 1927. I’m not much for historical fiction, but the emphasis on our National Parks sounds awesome. Christian mystery/romance.
Treble at the Jam Fest – Book 4 in the Food Lovers’ Village mystery series. I loved book one and would like to get caught up with this series.
Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time Lords – A history of the Time Lords and Gallifrey. Looks like a great resource for Doctor Who fans.
Seed to Vision: How God-Inspired Ideas Become Reality (June 5) – Eight tools you can use to turn your idea into reality. The author’s story sounds inspiring.
Ultimate Exodus: Finding Freedom from What Enslaves You – Looks at the Biblical story of the Exodus and how it relates to freeing all of us from the things that enslave us.

So, what books are you adding to your TBR list this week?