Whether they’re at the pool, the beach, or in their own backyard, young readers will want to catch up with their favorite characters all summer long. This month’s offerings include a creepy illustrated book about the cost of talent, a queer graphic novel series closer following a couple ramping up to graduation, a YA mystery conclusion tracing a group of competitors across the globe, and more.
The Day the Basketballs Stopped Bouncing by Jayson Tatum and Sam Apple, illus. by Parker-Nia Gordon (Abrams, July 7 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7147-7). It’s up to Baby Dunks-a-Lot to uncover why all the basketballs in the world have stopped bouncing in the second Baby Dunks-a-Lot picture book from NBA champion Tatum.
I Want Everything!by Sophy Henn (Beach Lane, July 14 $19.99; ISBN 979-8-347-10187-0). In the picture book companion to I Hate Everything!, a ghost who loves collecting items learns to appreciate the things he already has.
Mysterious Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller (Chronicle, July 14 $18.99; ISBN978-1-797-23988-0). The latest in the Invisible Things series asks readers to consider the many curious phenomena in the world, ranging from dreams, to the ocean, and more.
Graphic and Illustrated Novels
Autumn Antics!by Paige Walshe (Flying Eye, July 7 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-838-74353-6). As winter approaches, Froggy enjoys the fall activities but worries he will be lonely when his friends enter hibernation in the second Froggy graphic novel.
The Best Presentby Suzanne Lang, illus. by Max Lang (Random House, July 14 $5.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-70937-5). Jim Panzee struggles to tell a friend that he doesn’t like their birthday gift in the latest addition to the Grumpy Monkeyseries.
Camping in the Clouds by Ana Punset, illus. by Diana Vicedo (Candlewick, July 14 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-5228-6; $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5362-5229-3). The latest Unicornia book takes Claudia, Pippa, and Sara to the skies for a new adventure, but only if Sara can overcome her fear of heights.
Choose Your Own Adventure Cryptid Chronicles: Chupacabra by Cristin Bishara, illus. by Sofia Cavallari (Chooseco, July 21 $9.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-937-13320-7). Readers are dropped off into San Juan in the middle of a hurricane and must make a series of choices to find their way back home in the latest addition to Choose Your Own Adventure New Classics.
Heartstopper#6 by Alice Oseman (Scholastic/Graphix, July 7 $19.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-546-10244-1). In the final installment of the Heartstopper series, Charlie and Nick come to a head as Nick prepares for graduation, leaving Charlie concerned about their relationship post-high school.
Hikaru in the Light! (Volume 4) by Mai Matsuda (Scholastic/Graphix, July 7 $11.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-546-14107-5). The Hikaru in the Light! graphic novel series concludes with the titular K-pop hopeful entering her last competition.
Jazzy and the Witch in Friend Fiascoby Jessixa Bagley (S&S, July 14 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-665-92235-7). When Jazzy encounters a new peer who is seemingly better than her at everything, they start a prank war that grows out of hand in this sequel to Jazzy the Witch.
The Princess in Black and the Trick-or-Treating Trouble by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Candlewick, July 7 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3410-7). In the latest addition to the Princess in Black series, Princess Magnolia dons pieces of her Princess in Black costume for Halloween, and when she encounters a real monster, she must find a way to save the day without her full hero’s garb.
Travis Daventhorpe Gets a Life!by Wes Molebash (First Second, July 21 $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-80147-0; $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-80146-3). Ahead of a major battle with an enemy determined to destroy the universe, Travis decides to enjoy a bit of civilian life, including a nerve-wracking dance, in the third installment of the Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! series.
Unico: Lost (Volume 3): An Original Manga by Sam Sattin (Scholastic/Graphix, July 7 $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-546-11121-4). In the latest manga adaptation of the Unico series, the titular unicorn seeks shelter with a fey queen while her friends rush to find her.
Yarn Is Everything!by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Peter Brown (S&S, July 14 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-665-96114-1). The newest installment of the Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales! series follows young crotchet fanatic Winona, who upon receiving a mysterious souvenir grows super talented overnight—but the cost of her success may become too high.
Dragon Dreamsby Angela Cervantes (HarperPop, July 28 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-324594-5). When their loved ones start disappearing, it’s up to Ollie and Garen to enter a mysterious new realm to bring them back in the latest addition to the Anomalies 53 series.
The Frog Princess and Peter Pan (or Wendy Darling and the Secret Prince)by Kim Bussing (Random House, July 7 $17.99, ISBN 979-8-217-11782-6; $9.99 paper, ISBN 979-8-217-11781-9). In fourth book in the Princess Swap series, Princess Lissie, who turns into a frog each night, is transported into a world with Peter Pan. Meanwhile, Wendy Darling finds herself battling pirates in the bayou in this twist on two fairy tales.
The Gilded Blade(The Grandest Game #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Little, Brown, July 14 $21.99; ISBN 978-0-316-59308-3). Barnes brings her Inheritance Games universe to a close with this final novel tracing contestants across the globe in their last competition for the Hawthorne prize money.
Royalslingerby Graci Kim (Disney Hyperion, July 21 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-368-10484-5). All eyes are on Royal League of Dreamslingers student Aria as the next assignment is to find a relic that has been stolen by Aria’s mother.
Ruinous Endsby I.V. Marie (Delacorte, July 14 $21.99; ISBN 978-0-593-89884-0). In the second novel in the Souls of Blackwood Academy series, Wren, Augustine, Emilio, Olivier, Irene, and Masika face the university’s wrath after uncovering secrets about a deadly competition.
Shadow over the Pumpkin Queenby Megan Shepherd (Random House/Disney, July 7 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-736-44725-6). Sally and her husband Jack must find the mysterious culprit behind a string of disappearances in Halloweentown in the latest addition to the Pumpkin Queen series.
Tides of Fortuneby Lauryn Hamilton Murray (Roaring Brook, July 21 $20.99; ISBN 978-1-250-34817-3). In order to claim her title as queen, Blaze makes a treacherous journey to find the kingdom’s most potent weapon in the second novel in the Storm Weaver series.
