Alice Nuttall (she/her) is a writer, pet-wrangler and D&D nerd. Her reading has got so out of control that she had to take a job at her local library to avoid bankrupting herself on books — unfortunately, this has just resulted in her TBR pile growing until it resembles Everest. Alice's webcomic, writing and everything else can be found at https://linktr.ee/alicenuttallbooks. Her debut novel, The Zombie Project, is coming out in January 2025 with Chicken House.
Summer’s here, and it brings with it another fantastic set of new children’s book releases. Whatever the age of the young reader in your life, there are a load of new books that can be added to their TBR pile, or borrowed from the library for some reading over the summer break. For picture book readers, there are uplifting stories that teach children that it’s okay to be different and show them ways to boost their confidence. There are ADHD-positive stories of first days at nursery, superhero tales featuring superpowered goats, and much more, all with beautiful illustrations and strong messages that will help young readers and their families navigate challenging situations for the first time.
For fans of middle grade stories, July sees the publication of some brilliant mystery tales, from a murder on a summer vacation to a thriller where a boy who’s been spying on his town realises that the people he’s been watching may be a danger to him. There’s also plenty of madcap comedy, high-concept fantasy adventures, and historical fiction that will be fascinating to any kids learning about World War One. Whether the young reader you know is a budding sleuth, an explorer of fantasy worlds, or a fan of laugh-a-minute comedy tales, you’ll find something for them among the new children’s books published this July.
New Picture Books: July 2025
Bessie’s Bees by George Kirk and Ana Gómez
This picture book is a fantastic read both for neurodiverse kids and their families, and for neurotypical readers who want to understand more about ADHD. Bessie is a young girl who loves her neurodivergent brain and thinks of her quick, buzzy thoughts as a head full of bees. When she starts at nursery, Bessie realises that the other kids don’t have heads full of bees, and feels that she needs to keep hers to herself—but this soon makes the bees feel overwhelming. With the help of her Granny, Bessie learns to negotiate the new situation and share her unique way of thinking with the other kids.
All Access members, read on for more new picture books and middle grade books out in July.
Alice Nuttall (she/her) is a writer, pet-wrangler and D&D nerd. Her reading has got so out of control that she had to take a job at her local library to avoid bankrupting herself on books — unfortunately, this has just resulted in her TBR pile growing until it resembles Everest. Alice’s webcomic, writing and everything else can be found at https://linktr.ee/alicenuttallbooks. Her debut novel, The Zombie Project, is coming out in January 2025 with Chicken House.
Super Goat Girl by Tracey Baptiste and Dapo Adeola
Super Goat Girl sees a young goat on her first day at superhero school, where she instantly feels like the odd one out. The other kids at school all have obvious superpowers, cool costumes, and capes, while Super Goat Girl doesn’t have anything like that. As the school day unfolds, strange events begin to happen, and Super Goat Girl has to discover what makes her special. With awesome illustrations and an empowering story, Super Goat Girl will help young readers feel more confident, especially in new situations.
Little Owl’s Fog by Divya Srinivasan
Little Owl’s Fog helps young readers feel braver about moving out of their comfort zone, in a slightly spooky but empowering tale about an owl who decides to explore a new part of the forest. Little Owl and his friend Raccoon go to visit the forest’s bats in their cavern, but encounter some fog along the way. As they go on their adventure, Little Owl and Raccoon see their home from a different perspective, and they learn that they can always count on friends to help them out.
What’s Going On Inside Your Head? by Molly Potter and Sarah Jennings (UK Release)
While fiction can be a great way to explore mental health and challenging situations, nonfiction picture books are also helpful resources for families. What’s Going On Inside Your Head? looks at mindfulness, self-image, and managing relationships, and teaches young readers how to develop good coping mechanisms and process the difficulties that come up in life. With plenty of prompts and situations to relate to, What’s Going On Inside Your Head? is a fantastic conversation-starter.
New Middle Grade Books: July 2025
The Girl With Gills by Becca Rogers
In this fantasy debut, people with gills called larkers live on the fringes of society, hiding their true nature from the humans around them. Effra, a larker, is taking care of her brother, Fleet, when the villainous Rivermun begins to threaten them. To protect her brother, Effra must travel deep into the water and face down terrifying monsters, or risk losing not only Fleet, but her people’s entire way of life.
Grimwood: Rock the Vote! by Nadia Shireen
The fifth book in Nadia Shireen’s hilarious Grimwood series, Rock the Vote!, sees election season come to the forest. The former mayor, Titus, is retiring, and so the residents of Grimwood need to choose a new mayor—and there’s no shortage of candidates. Unfortunately, not all the forest creatures are in the mayoral race for the right reasons. While some want to work to make Grimwood better for everyone, others have different agendas. As the election goes ahead, only one thing is certain: there’s bound to be plenty of laughs.
My Soul, a Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin
Set during the First World War, My Soul, a Shining Tree tells the story of Khudadad Khan, a gunner fighting with the British Army who received the Victoria Cross for his bravery. As well as telling Khan’s tale, the story is told from the perspective of two young people, Lotte and Ernst, and also from the point of view of the tree itself, as all of them try to survive the war and deal with the terrifying world events.
Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson
The Queen of YA thrillers makes her middle grade debut with Blood in the Water, a high-stakes murder mystery. Kaylani lives in Brooklyn, but is spending her summer with friends on Martha’s Vineyard, and is enjoying the vacation—until a local boy is found dead. When she realises that the boy’s death is suspicious, Kaylani decides to solve the mystery, but she soon learns that there are more secrets in town than she’d bargained for.
Snoop by Gordon Korman
Another book for fans of middle grade mysteries, Snoop is the story of Carter, a boy stuck at home while his two broken legs mend. Unable to leave the house, Carter starts looking at live feeds from security cameras around his town, a way to pass the time which quickly becomes an obsession. Carter learns everyone’s secrets, but then finds himself in danger when some of the people he’s been spying on discover his new hobby.
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Looking for more great new children’s books? Try 13 Great New Children’s Books Out in June 2025 and The 12 Best New Children’s Books Out in May 2025.
As always, you can find a full list of new releases in the magical New Release Index, carefully curated by your favorite Book Riot editors, organized by genre and release date.
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