The Best Children’s and YA Books of July
by the Brightly Editors
Summer is in full swing, and we love the longer days and extra reading time. Did you know that reading just 4-6 books during the summer break can keep your child’s reading achievement scores on track? So, in between camps, hot dog roasting, and firework watching, encourage your child to pick up a book (or four) this summer.
Need some suggestions? Here are the best books for kids and teens coming out this month!
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Picture Books
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Like Lava In My Veins
Available from:From the bestselling author of I Am Every Good Thing comes a beautiful ode to the magnificent teachers who make a difference in their students’ lives. Bobby’s temper feels like lava running through his veins, and it gets him into trouble. With help from a thoughtful teacher and some considerate friends, Bobby turns his anger into a superpower.
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I Want to Be Spaghetti!
Available from:Children and adults will giggle through this delightful picture book about a Ramen packet with an identity crisis. Ramen notices spaghetti getting lots of attention and feels like a second-class noodle. But when Ramen gets cooked in hot broth, they learn how delicious they are. This adorable book teaches readers to practice self-love and resist comparing themselves to others.
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There’s a Beach in My Bedroom
Available from:When a rainstorm ruins their plans for a beach day, Bella and her family create sunny fun at home instead. This charming follow-up to There’s a Rock Concert in My Bedroom is the perfect summertime read from international music star Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle Jonas!
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See the Ghost: Three Stories About Things You Cannot See
Available from:From the award-winning creators of See the Cat and See the Dog comes a new and hilarious tale about the things, little ones can't see. Gather your young readers around for the funniest story time with a scare-happy ghost that has a great time interrupting Max the dog, and Baby Cake the cat's lovely picnic.
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I am Wonder Woman
Available from:Superhero fans will love this fictional biography of everyone’s favorite female warrior — Wonder Woman! Young readers will discover how Princess Diana of Themyscira became the superhero we know and love and how she grew into her powers. Timelines, illustrations, and images from television and movies accompany the simple text that will keep kids coming back for more.
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My First Piano Lessons
Available from:Summer is the perfect time to master a new skill, and the piano is an excellent place to start. This book of simple piano lessons is geared toward kids ages 5-9 and covers the basics with step-by-step instructions. Kids will learn the key names, how to read music, and note values with the help of a friendly giraffe character. Need more beginner-friendly sheet music for your pianist? Pair this book with its companion, My First Piano Sheet Music!
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What a Map Can Do
Available from:Teach your child how to navigate a map with this colorful picture book. An adorable raccoon character shows readers how to read maps for roads and cities, along with unique and surprising maps. It’s a winning combination of funny and educational.
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You Can’t Be a Pterodactyl!
Available from:When a young boy announces he wants to be a pterodactyl when he grows up, he gets bombarded with inconvenient (and practical) questions. Luckily, this ambitious kid has a supportive father who helps him ignore the naysayers and find a creative way to fulfill his unusual ambition. This hilarious picture book is a must-read for anyone who dares to be different!
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Totally Random Facts Volume 2
Available from:Kids that love learning surprising facts will eagerly dive into this volume of surprising trivia. From donut-shaped brains to the tallest ocean waves in the world, this book has over 3,200 strange and fascinating facts for kids to pour over.
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Steve L. McEvil and the Second Wind
Available from:An evil villain in training goes on a treasure hunt in Washington, D.C., in this hilarious follow-up to Steve L. McEvil. Full-color illustrations, a hefty helping of humor, and an exciting adventure make this sequel a sure-fire win for graphic novel lovers. It’s perfect for fans of the HiLo and Ham Helsing series.
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Once in a Blue Moon
Available from:If your young reader adores historical fiction, they’ll want to read this novel-in-verse from Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Sharon G. Flake. It’s about a young boy riddled with guilt over his mom’s death and his journey to healing and acceptance. Set in 1939, it offers a fascinating peek into the past and how people dealt (and didn’t deal) with mental health.
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The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things #1
Available from:Have a kid that craves thrills and chills? They’ll love this new horror novel from the author of My Life As a Teenage Robot. Readers will shiver in delighted terror as they read about a boy named Zenith and the mysterious bag that appears at his door. When a giant spider emerges and drags his sister inside it, Zenith dives into the bag to rescue her. He finds a grotesque world filled with monsters and sinister villains around every corner. Kids will stay up all night to finish this book!
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The Big Flush
Available from:Return to Area 51 with this hilarious sequel to The Area 51 Files. In this installment, Sky and her friends must work together to stop a giant space toilet from colliding with Earth. With a traitor at the base and angry aliens hoping for a messy impact, stopping the toilet is no simple task. Kids who love The Last Kids on Earth series will also enjoy this one.
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YA
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Give Me a Sign
Available from:When you’re in the mood for a super cute YA romance about finding your community, first love, and living with a disability, pick up Give Me a Sign. Lilah goes to work at a summer camp for the deaf and blind, where she learns who she is and unexpectedly falls in love. This feel-good rom-com will leave you with a happy heart and a smile on your face.
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House of Roots and Ruin
Available from:Summer is never complete until you read a spooky gothic YA novel you can’t set down. Return to the world of Highmoor in this companion novel to House of Salt and Sorrows. Verity gets commissioned to paint the portrait of a young heir and eagerly takes the job. She quickly falls in love with the beautiful mansion and the equally gorgeous boy she’s painting. But it doesn’t take long before nightmares set in, ghosts appear, and Verity realizes the home and the boy are not what they first appeared to be.
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The Legacies
Available from:It wouldn’t be summer without a delightfully chilling read from one of the reigning queens of YA thrillers. Three teens head to a glamorous, exclusive ball for the wealthiest kids at their prep school. But each girl has a secret she would die to keep hidden — and their glitzy ball turns into a nightmare when someone does exactly that. This fast-paced novel is perfect for binge-reading on a lazy weekend!
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One of Us Is Back
Available from:If you squealed in delight when you saw this book on the list, you aren’t alone. The third book in the One of Us Is Lying series transports readers back to Bayview for the summer. When one of the Bayview crew disappears, and a mysterious billboard ad teases that a new “game” has started, the summer turns sinister. Their town still has several skeletons in its metaphorical closet, and the Bayview crew needs to avoid joining them.
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