Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles including a picture book about immigration, the story of a nomadic family, a fantastical middle grade novel, a kitty comic series launch, and many more.
I Is for Immigrants by Selina Alko. Holt/Ottaviano, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-23786-6. Author-illustrator Alko, a Canadian emigrant to the U.S., presents an abecedarian companion to her B Is for Brooklyn that celebrates multicultural elements found within the U.S., including food (bubble tea, falafel, guacamole), instruments (drums, xylophone, zither), buildings (mosques, restaurants, temples), and qualities (ambition, creativity, optimism).
The Stars of Whistling Ridge by Cindy Baldwin. Quill Tree, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06-300641-6. With a dash of fantasy, Baldwin (Beginners Welcome) pens a tribute to the places called home and the rigors of growing up in this middle grade novel about a 12-year-old from a nomadic family.
The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-250-76782-0. In this tender middle grade novel-in-verse, protagonists Etan and Malia quickly bond; he admires her singing, she his artwork, and as their friendship deepens, they find solace and support—and, in the nearby forest, seek a magical cure for Malia’s eczema.
Kitty Quest by Phil Corbett. Razorbill, $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-20546-4. Corbett’s debut graphic novel features snappy dialogue, bold illustrations, and colorfully imagined feline characters that complement the cheeky humor and swashbuckling hijinks, resulting in an entertaining series opener for young quest seekers.
Even and Odd by Sarah Beth Durst. Clarion, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-358-35038-5. Twelve-year-old Emma Berry, known as Even, and her 11-year-old sister Olivia, called Odd, share a knack for wielding magic, but the power alternates between them daily, frustrating the sisters who separately prefer magic to the mundane. When the portal between Stony Haven, Conn., and Firoth malfunctions, leaving Even stuck in the form of a skunk, the sisters investigate.
The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor. Kokila, $22.99; ISBN 978-0-525-55489-9. Khor (The American Dream?) straddles myth and harsh realities via stunning digital pencil and hand-painted watercolor art that highlights cornerstones of Chinese culture in this book about a girl working alongside her father at a California logging camp.
The Thing I’m Most Afraid of by Kristin Levine. Putnam, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-525-51864-8. Levine threads Vienna’s history into this middle grade novel set in 1993, in which 12-year-old Becca’s anxiety disorder makes her nervous about many things, but she is determined to visit her father in Vienna for the summer.
Noah’s Seal by Layn Marlow. Candlewick, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1851-0. Noah builds and decorates a seal on a beach with his grandmother in this picture book where place, action, and characters are closely observed. The book earned a starred review from PW.
Those Are Not My Underpants! by Melissa Martin, illus. by Troy Cummings. Random House, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-984831-89-7. When Bear Cub finds a pair of tighty-whities hanging on a tree limb, “No name. No tag,” he decides to find the owner in this picture book with bold graphic pictures, reminiscent of vintage National Park posters.
The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe with Angela May. Aladdin, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-2727-3. In collaboration with journalist May, adult author Monroe makes her middle grade debut with this comforting beach read about the healing power of friendship and nature.
Dino-Gro by Matt Myers. Random House Studio, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-17987-1. Cole’s Dino-Gro is a tiny blue dinosaur of the variety that expands in water. Unlike others, though, this toy seeks out liquid, starting with Cole’s bedside water glass, and grows unceasingly.
Sisters of the Snake by Sasha and Sarena Nanua. HarperTeen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-298559-0. In their traditional publishing debut, the Nanua sisters (the Pendant Trilogy) create a glamorous high-fantasy world, steeped in intrigue and bolstered by Punjabi cultural touches.
You’re So Dead by Ash Parsons. Philomel, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-20512-9. Parsons (Girls Save the World in This One) gently satirizes online culture and the ill-fated Fyre Festival in this frothy YA homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury. S&S/McElderry, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-6528-2. Afro-futurism meets urban fantasy in this strong YA debut, in which 16-year-old Voya crosses into her power. The novel features a cast of BIPOC and queer characters of all ages, and focuses on familial love, individual desires, and making choices that will lead to the greatest good. The book earned a starred review from PW.
The Orpheus Plot by Christopher Swiedler. HarperCollins, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06-289444-1. In this middle grade science fiction novel reminiscent of Robert Heinlein, Swiedler (In the Red) offers a fast-paced tale about defying expectations.
A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang. Viking, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-20344-6. Miniature, toy-like images by Geisel Medalist Yang (Stop! Bot!) follow a solitary boy, based on the sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988), who’s drawn to nature’s elemental forms. The book earned a starred review from PW.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of June, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
