As we head towards summer, bookworms old and young are starting to think about their summer reads. Young readers may be doing summer reading programmes, taking part in book clubs over the vacation, or heading off on a relaxing break. The good news is that there are plenty of great new children’s releases out there for young readers of all ages to take them through the summer months. Whether the child reader in your life enjoys picture books or is reading independently, there are picture books and middle grade releases coming out in June that will appeal to all ages and tastes.
This summer, we have plenty of fun animal-centric stories – some focusing on creatures snuggling up with family members on a fluffy futon, others telling the tale of best friends working out their differences. There are adventure tales featuring dragons and Vikings, children solving mysteries, or zany animal superheroes, alongside time-traveling explorers teaching young readers about popular parts of history. There are also quieter, thought-provoking stories about friendship and community, as well as about accepting people for who they are.
Whatever you or the kids in your life enjoy reading, you’ll find some new additions for your TBR pile on this list of June children’s new releases.
Picture books
The Fluffy Futon by Yuichi Kasano
In this cute, funny story, a grandma washes her futon and leaves it out to dry. But the futon is so clean and comfortable that a cat settles down for a nap, followed by more animals, a little boy, and Grandma herself. With beautiful illustrations and plenty of fun animals for young readers to count and identify, The Fluffy Futon is the perfect bedtime read for little ones.
The Kids Are All Right
Sign up to The Kids Are All Right to receive news and recommendations from the world of kid lit and middle grade books.
Pyramid Boy by Satoshi Kitamura
This time-travel picture book follows a boy who visits a museum and ends up in Ancient Egypt. Full of facts and trivia that will appeal to budding young archaeologists, Pyramid Boy teaches readers how to write in hieroglyphics and what life was like for people living while the pyramids were being built.
Waffles and Julius: No Hugs Please! by Ed Vere
A funny story with an adorable core duo, Waffles and Julius: No Hugs Please! is the tale of a dog and a cat with very different personalities who are best friends. Waffles wants a hug, while Julius hates hugging. Will this challenge their friendship, or will they find a way to be friends that works for both of them?
Tigers Don’t Eat Jelly! by Genevieve Aspinall
Tigers Don’t Eat Jelly follows Tiger, an animal with an unusual favourite food. Tiger loves jelly, which makes her different from other tigers, so she decides to meet different animals to see what kinds of food they enjoy. With plenty of fun animal characters, Tigers Don’t Eat Jelly is a fun read for young kids and their families.
Maya and Marley and the New Friend by Laura Henry-Allain and Yabaewah Scott
Maya and Marley are siblings who live at a huge adventure playground with their parents and their two pet goats. The playground is a favorite hangout spot for the local community, and one day, Maya, Marley, and their family are hosting a big community meal when they spot a new kid who seems shy. Together, the siblings do their best to make their new neighbour feel welcome.
Middle grade
The Mystery of the Lost Cape by Swapna Haddow
Third in Haddow’s The Terrible Trio series, The Mystery of the Lost Cape follows a group of superpowered animal friends: Zeb the zebra, Marg the penguin, and Barry the lemur. During their adventures, the three friends find a cape that gives them the power of flight. Barry starts using the cape and acting like a real superhero. But as time goes on, he finds that there’s more to being a hero than he thought.
Fight of the Flamestrike by Cressida Cowell
The new How to Train Your Dragon School series continues with Fight of the Flamestrike, a story that follows hero Hiccup and his dragons Toothless and Windwalker as they discover a creepy abandoned ship. Perfect for readers gaining confidence, Fight of the Flamestrike offers the high-stakes action and great humour that we’ve come to expect from the How to Train Your Dragon books.
The Children of Wolf Rock by Natasha Farrant
Minna, Kass, and Tom are students at Stormy Loch Academy, where they learn all about the natural world – and how to defend it. When the friends find Addie, an older girl living alone in the wilderness, they suspect something is going on. Their fears are confirmed when she goes missing. Minna, Kass, and Tom have to find Addie and protect the nature that they love so much.
Perfect Enough by Meg Eden Kuyall
Dragon-loving Selah is planning to spend her summer at a writing camp, and she’s excited about all the things she’ll be able to do. But when she arrives, things aren’t as great as she expected. Her bully from school is also attending the camp, and some of the other kids don’t understand Selah’s autism or the accommodations she needs. Can Selah make it through camp without disaster striking?
Want to know about the latest children’s comic adaptations coming out? Try 5 Popular Children’s Books Getting Graphic Novel Adaptations. Getting overwhelmed by the number of great new children’s books coming out? Here’s how to keep track of new children’s books.
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
English (US) · 