Beat the heat of simmering summer days with follow-ups and series additions including a disgruntled chimp’s trip into a scary forest; a cat-and-dog duo having their picnic efforts thwarted by a spirit; one teen’s quest to defeat the devil… again; and more.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich, illus. by Tom Toro (Little, Brown, July 11 $18.99, ISBN 978-0-316-62834-1). In this follow-up to I’m Terrified of Bath Time, an anthropomorphic backpack has first day of school jitters alongside students.
Boo Who?: And Other Wicked Halloween Knock-Knock Jokes by Katy Hall, illus. by Steve Björkman (HarperFestival, July 18 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-06-321622-8). The third installment in the Lift-the-Flap Joke Book series tickles funnybones with a volume of Halloween-themed knock-knock jokes.
Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow by Ryan T. Higgins, (Disney Hyperion, July 11 $18.99; hardcover; 978-1-3680-5958-9). Bruce the bear gets wrangled into a spooky story time with a ghostly visitor in the latest installment in the Mother Bruce series.
Caterpillars: What Will I Be When I Get to Be Me? by Kevin McCloskey (TOON, July 11 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-662-66508-0). Readers can follow along the journey of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly in the latest Giggle and Learn book.
Crane Jane! by Andrea Zimmerman, illus. by Dan Yaccarino (Holiday House, July 11 $18.99, ISBN 978-0-8234-5158-6). In the second book of the Big Jobs, Bold Women series, Crane Jane tackles her biggest lift yet: a firetruck.
Earth School by Deanna Kent, illus. by Neil Hooson (Random House Graphic, July 25 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56610-7). In the second graphic novel of the Marshmallow Martians series, the Martians must attend earthling school now that they are without computers.
Grumpy Monkey Don’t Be Scared by Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang (Random House Studio, July 11 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48695-5). Jim Panzee and his friends attempt to trick-or-treat in the creepy jungle in the newest Grumpy Monkey book.
Karen’s Haircut by Ann M. Martin, illus. by Katy Farina (Graphix, $11.99 paper; 978-133-876262-4). In the seventh Baby-Sitters Little Sister Graphix installment, Karen is feeling insecure and gets a haircut, but it only makes matters worse as she tries to boost her self-esteem.
Love and Gravity: A Graphic Novel by Ari North (Little Bee Books/Yellow Jacket, July 25 $24.99; ISBN 978-1-4998-1279-4.) The second book in the Always Human graphic novel series follows as Sunati and Austen consider their plans for the future, just as Sunati gets a new job opportunity on a different planet.
Mermaid Day by Diana Murray, illus. by Luke Flowers (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, July 4 $18.99; 978-1-7282-7132-3). This picture book from the creators of Unicorn Day features another day of celebration, this time for the sea’s most beloved magical creatures: mermaids.
See the Ghost: Three Stories About Things You Cannot See by David LaRochelle, illus. by Mike Wohnoutka (Candlewick, July 25 $9.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1982-1). In this follow-up to See the Cat and See the Dog, Max and Baby Cakes can’t enjoy their picnic due to a prankster ghost.
Viking Strong (Viking, July 25 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-20232-6) The companion picture book to Viking in Love follows Ingrid the Viking, who wants to prove she is the strongest of her people in a competition, but must learn how to swim in order to win.
You’re My Little Baby Boo by Nicola Edwards, illus. by Natalie Marshall (Silver Dolphin, July 18 $9.99 board book; ISBN 978-1-667-20326-3). The newest entry in the You’re My Little series introduces readers to classic Halloween creatures for a bedtime story.
Novels
The Bad Guys in Let the Games Begin! by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic, July 4 $6.99 paper; 978-1-338-89271-0). In the 17th installment in The Bad Guys series, the elusive villain Dread Overlord Splaarghön is finally unveiled.
After Death: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa de la Cruz (Disney Hyperion, July 4 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3680-6700-3). Schuyler Van Allen makes new allies when she meets a member of a secret society who can help her take down the devil in the second book of the duology.
Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller (Feiwel and Friends, July 25 $24.99; ISBN 978-1-250-89192-1). With all three pieces of a sought-after map in her possession, Alosa races to find the treasure in this special edition of the Daughter of the Pirate King series, which includes new metallic designs, sprayed edges, and endpaper maps.
Fire & Fate by Serena Valentino, (Disney Hyperion, July 18 $17.99; 978-1-3680-7657-9). The 10th book in the Villains series follows the backstory of Hercules antagonist Hades, whose lonely rule of the underworld led him to a mysterious bargain with witches.
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig (Delacorte, July 25 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48254-4). Following the revelation that Verity is still seeing ghosts, she flees to Bloem, where friends and foes await in the second book of the Sisters of the Salt series.
My Head Has a Bellyache by Chris Harris, illus. by Andrea Tsurumi (Little, Brown, July 18 $19.99, ISBN 978-0-316-59259-8). The follow-up to the poetry collection I’m Just No Good at Rhyming introduces a cast of paradoxical characters and situations to make readers laugh.
Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu by Erika Lewis (Tor/Starscape, July 25 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-2502-0830-9). In the second book of The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts series, Kelcie and her friends must prevent the source of lights in the Lands of Summer from being stolen.
One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus (Delacorte, July 25 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48501-9). McManus closes out her One of Us Is Lying trilogy as the Bayview Crew investigate the kidnapping of one of their own friends.
Splintered Magic by L.L. McKinney. Disney Hyperion, July 18 $18.99 ISBN 978-1-368-04636-7. Twins Trey and Tai heed the warnings given by their magic and begin to search for their mother in the fourth book of The Mirror series.
