4 Popular New Summer Reads for Kids

Your Baby’s First Word Will be Dada, by Jimmy Fallon
The jacket of this charming picture book asks, “Everyone knows that fathers wage a secret campaign to ensure that their babies’ first word is ‘Dada!’ But does it work?” Allow Mr. Fallon to show you how to at least attempt the feat in this hilarious tale for your littlest comedy fans. The story is simple enough for even the youngest readers to enjoy: barnyard animals are introduced one father-child pair at a time on opposite pages—father cow on the left, baby cow on the right; including a variety of different animals, from sheep, to frogs, to bees. Each dad encouragingly shouts “Dada!” at his offspring, in the hope that it might be the little one’s first word. Of course, the babies’ response is one more typical to each of their species. “Moo,” says the wide-eyed calf. “Squeak,” says the little gray mouse. “Oink,” says a blissfully unaware piglet. While parents will enjoy the humor of this book, their little ones will enjoy the sass, even as they also learn about animals and the sounds they make.

Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen, by Rachel Renée Russell
OMG! Nikki Maxwell is back in an all-new Dork Diaries book, Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen, the ninth in Rachel Renée Russell’s crazy-popular tween series. But something is majorly wrong: there’s been a huge misunderstanding between Nikki and her crush, Brandon, and mean girl MacKenzie hates Nikki even more than usual right now. Worst of all, a member of the CCP (cute, cool, and popular) clique gets her hands on Nikki’s diary. The Dork Diaries books are perfect for whiling away those hot summer days. Part comic and part notebook-style novel, they’re super-quick, hilarious reads full of detailed entries, drawings, and doodles from Nikki’s day-to-day life, at Westchester Country Day and beyond.

Middle School: Just My Rotten Luck, by James Patterson 
Rafe Khatchadorian is a hero for every kid who is just a little bit different—a little weird, maybe a little arty, and definitely a little bored with school and itching for rebellion. Patterson’s Middle School series follows Rafe as he breaks all the rules at Hills Village Middle School while outsmarting bullies, battling the school administration, and navigating crushes, friendships, and parents who just don’t understand. The latest novel in this madcap series finds Rafe joining the school’s football team—where he’s playing alongside one of his worst enemies. Filled with zany illustrations that will entice even the most reluctant of readers, and plenty of jokes and asides that are right on a sixth grader’s silly wavelength, the Middle School series is perfect for a kid who isn’t sure he fits in, and isn’t sure he wants to, either. Best of all, this special B&N Exclusive edition includes Rafe’s Flick Football game, complete with an origami flick football.

The Phantom Bully, by Jeffrey Brown
The third in Brown’s Jedi Academy series, this marvelously illustrated book finds Roan in his last year and busier than ever as he prepares for graduation. In addition to his schoolwork, however, Roan is faced with figuring out who’s setting him up to get in trouble with just about everyone at school, including Yoda himself. Roan soon realizes that if he doesn’t get to the bottom of the mystery, he might actually be expelled. The invisible “phantom” bully offers the likable Roan—and young readers—lessons on how to handle conflict and how to survive the pressures of school and other children, while delighting young and old alike with charming illustrations and a story that’s surprisingly deep and affecting for all its impish tweaking of established Star Wars mythology.