Our Most Anticipated New Kids’ Book Releases of June 2022

Julio Torres sees the world differently than most of us. The only thing more brilliant than his perspective is how he presents his thoughts — which usually result in a nod of approval and laughter. In I Want to Be a Vase, Julio, along with animator and designer Julian Glander, gives us an inside look at how household objects behave, interact and cope with their daily lives. This is The Secret Life of Pets but with plungers, toilets, bathtubs, vacuums and more. Perfect for fans of The Book With No Pictures and The Day the Crayons Quit.

From the prolific pens of Halcyon Person and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, comes this endearing and harmonious story about the love between a father and daughter. Karma wants to write a special rap for her father’s birthday but sometimes doing things on your own can be scary. There’s no shame in asking for help and being honest, and that’s true even if your father is Ludacris! With the help of Parker-Nia Gordon’s illustrations, Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be feels like a sneak peek into the fun world of Karma and Chris.

Hattie Harmony is the type of friend every one of us could use. Whether you’re nervous about a new beginning or self-conscious about being in the spotlight, Hattie Harmony has a unique set of coping tools. Anxiety may never go away but managing it can be life changing. From the award-winning actress and star of Wandavision, Elizabeth Olsen, and her musician husband, Robbie Arnett, comes this timely, approachable, science-approved tale that is sure to make you fall in love with Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective.

Zadie Smith (White Teeth) and Nick Laird (Feel Free, Modern Gods) introduce us to Maud. Maud is a guinea pig who arrives one day with little explanation. To Kit, Maud is “her birthday Surprise.” To Kit’s other pets, Maud is an “oddball.” Through a series of serendipitous events, Maud meets Emily Brookstein. For anyone who has ever met an Emily Brookstein, you’ll know things always turn out for the best. Magenta Fox makes her illustration debut in this adorable, heart-warming tale that’s perfect to discuss embracing one’s individuality and also accepting others.

We all know a Stanley the Dog. If you don’t believe me, just look in the mirror. New beginnings can be scary. Where do I go? What do I do? Why am I here? Stanley the Dog: The First Day of School is a great way to not just embrace our fears but move forward past ruff thoughts so we can enjoy these new experiences. Bobby Bones knows how to entertain us on the tv and radio and now, with the help of the good boy that is Stanley the Dog, he’s got our attention for story time.

Kobi Yamada and Charles Santoso follow up their bestselling, heartwarming and inspiring Finding Muchness with Feeling Grateful. Each spread has the power to uplift and enrich, whether you’ve been reading for ages or just at the stage where you listen and watch. There is a soothing magic in these pages. Looking for the perfect gift bundle? Grab Feeling Grateful, Finding Muchness and Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse.

Heidi Woodward Sheffield captures all the emotions, all the nooks and crannies and everything relatable about the most glorious experience of going to get ice cream. Crafted with mixed media, we follow an “ice cream kid” as he goes from excited to frustrated to blissful then dejected and back to happy — with some brain freeze mixed in the middle. This terrific emotional and observational arc makes for the perfect warm weather read-aloud.

Book two in Graci Kim’s Gifted Clans trilogy picks up a few months after the events of the first volume, with Riley navigating her new life as the Godrealm’s last fallen star. This magical story weaves seamlessly between the spirit realm and the modern world, with plenty of fast-paced action to keep young readers enthralled to the very end.

Move over, Alex Cross! Ali Cross, Alex’s son, is shaping up to be just as much of a cunning detective as his father. This exhilarating series from James Patterson is perfect for fans of Spy School.

For most of us, hair is just hair. But for Onyeka, her hair is the key to her psychokinetic powers. This thrilling story about a young British Nigerian girl coming into her powers as a Solari is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.

Gordon Korman’s latest coming-of-age novel about a group of friends who discover an abandoned bomb shelter is filled with all of the humor and heart we’ve come to love from his writing.

History meets mystery in this third installment in Stuart Gibbs’ Charlie Thorne series. This time, kid genius Charlie must follow 2,000-year-old clues left by the clever Cleopatra to find the powerful treasure she left behind before it falls into the wrong hands.

When 12-year-old aspiring naturalist Algie discovers a new species at his wellness resort, it’s up to him to protect it from exotic animal collectors — no matter the cost. Fans of historical fiction, animals and science will be sure to enjoy this rollicking adventure.