Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a middle grade book featuring a robot, a YA time-travel adventure, a picture book about a brave donkey encountering what seems to be monsters, a guide to record-breaking dinosaurs, and more.
Brand New Boy by David Almond, illus. by Marta Altés. Candlewick, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2270-8. New kid George shows up at Darwin Avenue Primary Academy in the last week of the term. When students learn that George is a prototype robot destined for replacement, they launch a plan to free their new friend.
Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg. Inkyard, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-335-28489-1. Klara helps time-traveler from the past Callum acclimate to the modern era and investigate his untimely murder. After she discovers their shared magical gift, she must grow into her abilities and thwart the ruthless murderer to prevent the unraveling of time itself.
Monsters in the Fog by Ali Bahrampour. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5245-2. Hakim the donkey is on his way up the mountain when a shroud of fog appears, making everything around him seem more frightening than it really is.
Book of Dinosaurs: 10 Record-Breaking Prehistoric Animals by Gabrielle Balkan, illus. by Sam Brewster. Phaidon, $19.95; ISBN 978-1-838664-29-9. Ten notable dinosaurs are revealed through a guessing game with hints in this picture book.
Love & Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean. Delacorte, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-42942-6. Following a life-altering soccer injury that places her future at college in jeopardy, high school senior Britt Hanson finds new purpose when she enters a British scavenger hunt with a prize that could put her life back on track.
Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-2506-2220-4. Society ladies of Potosí by day and vigilante duo by night, Kiki and Ana are plunged into chaos as they investigate a mystery more intense than their nightly brawls, and whose implications affect their future and the women of Potosí. The historical YA novel earned a starred review from PW.
The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho. HarperTeen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-305934-4. Aspiring writer Maybelline Chen is stunned when her brother dies by suicide and her town’s blame their family for his death. Maybelline uses her writerly passion to take back the narrative. The YA novel earned a starred review from PW.
The Little House of Hope by Terry Catasús Jennings, illus. by Raúl Colón. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-4716-9. After emigrating from Cuba to the U.S., Esperanza and her family’s small house becomes a safe space for community.
Goodnight Racism by Ibram X. Kendi, illus. by Cbabi Bayoc. Kokila, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-11051-5. In a twist on a bedtime classic, this picture book wishes all children, no matter what they look like, a restful night.
The Last Fallen Moon by Graci Kim. Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-368-07314-1. In the second installment in the Gifted Clans trilogy, Riley’s latest adventure leaves the Gom clan upset, and when they curse her home, Riley must travel to the forbidden Spiritrealm to rescue her community.
Secret of the Shadow Beasts by Diane Magras. Dial, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-7352-2932-7. When her parents’ protectiveness causes Nora to start her beast-slaying Shadow Best career late, she proves her worthiness to her new team, only to discover a frightening revelation about the beasts she must fight next.
Planet Omar: Epic Hero Flop by Zanib Mian, illus. by Kyan Cheng. Putnam, $13.99; ISBN 978-0-593-40717-2. Taking the blame for his friends makes middle schooler Omar feel like a hero, but when a serious incident takes place, it’s up to Omar and his friends to prove his innocence.
See You Someday Soon by Pat Zietlow Miller, illus. by Suzy Lee. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-22110-0. A child muses on how to stay connected with a long-distance grandparent in this picture book.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun Tolá Okogwu. McElderry, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-66591-261-7. A descendent of a Nigerian magical community, 12-year-old Onyeka travels to Nigeria to attend an academy for magical beings like herself and learn more about her family’s history, but learns there may be more secrets than she anticipated.
Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-06-290893-3. When an attack on the kingdom hits too close to home, ruthless Princess Charis secretly takes to the seas to find her enemies.
I Am a Baby by Bob Shea. Candlewick, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1832-9. A baby highlights the causes and effects between his behavior and his lovingly tired parents in this depiction of early childhood.
Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis. Roaring Brook, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-76742-4. When Lucy’s older sister Livy is diagnosed with an eating disorder, Lucy must learn to navigate the hardships of middle school on her own, while forging a new bond with her sister.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of June, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
