Summer break means more time to read!

Collage of new books for June 2024, including Little Shrew and Brownstone
We Are Teachers; @miyakoshi_akiko; @samuelteer

School’s out, and summer has finally arrived! Now’s the time to grab some new reads and stretch out on the hammock. We’ve combed the reviews to find out what’s about to hit the shelves, and these are the new books for June 2024 we’re most excited to relax with this summer.

New Fiction Picture Books June 2024

Willow the White House Cat book cover
Amazon

Willow the White House Cat by Jill Biden, illustrated by Kate Berube

Though Willow started her life in a humble barn, she soon found herself living in the grandest home in the country. First lady Jill Biden tells Willow’s story, sharing a cat’s-eye view of the White House kids are sure to love.

Buy it: Willow the White House Cat

Cesaria Feels the Beat book cover
Amazon

Cesaria Feels the Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei, illustrated by Priscila Soares

Cesaria may be deaf, but that doesn’t keep her from dancing! The thing is, she needs to dance in her bare feet to feel the beat. Her director insists she wear shoes so she looks like the rest of her troupe, but Cesaria finds a way to stand up for herself and join her friends to embrace the beat of Carnivale.

Buy it: Cesaria Feels the Beat

I See Color book cover
Amazon

I See Color by Valerie Bolling and Kailei Pew, illustrated by Laylie Frazier

A whole generation of children were brought up to “not see color” in an effort to promote equality. We’re realizing now that it’s better to understand and celebrate differences rather than ignore them, so this book urges a new generation to “see color” and recognize the wonders of diversity.

Buy it: I See Color

Desert Song book cover
Amazon

Desert Song by Laekan Zea Kemp, illustrated by Beatriz Gutiérrez Hernández

In the Texas desert, a Latine family combines their traditional music with nature’s night songs. Instruments like the ocarina and maracas blend with cicadas and barn owls as they all enjoy the stars and cool air. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the text, and the entire book is also available in Spanish.

Buy it: Desert Song

Tate's Wild Rescue book cover
Amazon

Tate’s Wild Rescue by Jenny Turnbull, illustrated Izzy Burton

Bighearted Tate writes letter after letter to wild animals, offering to “rescue” them with a place in her home. But orcas can’t live in swimming pools, and tigers love hunting, not cookies. Fortunately, a stray dog is happy to take Tate up on her offer, and she accepts that it’s best to leave wild animals in the wild.

Buy it: Tate’s Wild Rescue

June 2024 New Easy Reader/Chapter Books

Little Shrew book cover
Amazon

Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi

Sometimes the best stories are those about the pleasant moments we experience each day. These three sweet short stories about Little Shrew’s daily life are simple, calming, and perfect for emergent readers.

Buy it: Little Shrew

Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple book cover
Amazon

Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dung Ho

This new series is a welcome addition to the chapter book genre, with the first two volumes available in June. Bibsy is an engaging young heroine, one who sometimes breaks the rules but always looks for ways to “turn the sours sweet.”

Buy it: Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple

Ava Lin, Best Friend book cover
Amazon

Ava Lin, Best Friend! by Vicky Fang

Joining Bibsy in debuting a new chapter book series, Ava Lin is about to start first grade and couldn’t be more excited. But while she loves her new pencils and backpack, what she really wants is a best friend. Can first grade help her find one?

Buy it: Ava Lin, Best Friend!

New Middle Grade Fiction Books for June

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman book cover
Amazon

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

Middle schooler Hank is sadly used to his mom not always coming home at night. But after she’s gone for a whole week, he realizes he needs to ask for help for himself and his toddler sister. That means foster care and new schools and a whole lot of questions that are very hard to answer.

Buy it: The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

Lei and the Invisible Island book cover
Amazon

Lei and the Invisible Island by Malia Maunakea

The second entry in this fantasy series is just as enthralling as the first, skillfully weaving real life with Hawaiian mythology. Lei and her friends are searching for a missing pendant on an invisible island defended by evil spirits. To get there, they’ll face sharks, jump over rainbows, and lean on each other as friends always do.

Buy it: Lei and the Invisible Island

Anatomy of Lost Things book cover
Amazon

Anatomy of Lost Things by Shawn K. Stout

The crisscrossing stories of three teens who’ve all faced recent losses anchor this new middle grade read full of laughter and tears. In addition to their tangible losses, all three are navigating challenging relationships with adults in their lives, making their own growing friendships all the more important.

Buy it: Anatomy of Lost Things

Countdown to Yesterday book cover
Amazon

Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr

Australian tween James is dealing with his parents’ recent divorce, and not particularly enjoying the present. So when he makes a new friend that shows him time travel is possible, he’s eager to join her and try to correct the past. It’s a little difficult to get to the exact time they want, though, so first they’ll experience moments from past and future, navigating their way toward accepting the present as it is and was always meant to be.

Buy it: Countdown to Yesterday

Red Bird Danced book cover
Amazon

Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley

Told in verse, this novel of two tweens living in an Intertribal Housing Complex is intriguing and heartbreaking. Ariel has given up her beloved ballet lessons so her family can use the money to search for her missing aunt. Her friend Tomah struggles in school but finds comfort in nature. As Ariel learns the power of the healing jingle dance from Tomah’s grandmother, and Tomah himself realizes he has a gift for storytelling, the two learn, change—and grow.

Buy it: Red Bird Danced

New Young Adult Fiction June 2024

The Color of a Lie book cover
Amazon

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

It’s 1955 in idyllic Leavittown, Pennsylvania, where Calvin’s family has just moved from Chicago. The problem is that Leavittown is a restricted community, and in order to live there, Calvin and his family must “pass” as white, denying their Black heritage. As his school is integrated and the Civil Rights Movement begins to gain momentum, Calvin must make difficult decisions about who he is and who he wants to be, inside and out.

Buy it: The Color of a Lie

Adventures of Mary Jane book cover
Amazon

Adventures of Mary Jane by Hope Jahren

Mary Jane makes a brief appearance in the classic Huck Finn, capturing the hero’s heart in just a few pages. Now, she’s getting her own book, as she too travels down the Mississippi in the 1840s, facing (and thriving throughout) her own challenges and adventures.

Buy it: Adventures of Mary Jane

Louder Than Words book cover
Amazon

Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood

HS junior Jordan is transferring from a private school to a public one this year, but her past seems determined to follow her. Jordan thrives and makes friends in her new environment, but the popular but catty Tomcat Tea podcast soon threatens to reveal the reason she was expelled from her former school. Now Jordan and her friends are determined to take the podcast down, but can she do it without facing up to the past she’s determined to leave behind?

Buy it: Louder Than Words

The Calculation of You and Me book cover
Amazon

The Calculation of You and Me by Serena Kaylor

Desperate to win back her boyfriend, neurodivergent “STEM nerd” Marlowe makes a deal with her AP English partner. If Ashton teaches her how to be romantic, she’ll help Ash’s goth band improve their website and social media image. But is romance really something you can learn, and even if it is, does Marlowe really want to change?

Buy it: The Calculation of You and Me

June 2024 Graphic Novels for All Ages

Willa and Wade and the Way-Up-There book cover
Amazon

Willa and Wade and the Way-Up-There by Judith Henderson, illustrated by Sara Sarhangpour

Willa is an ostrich, and Wade is a penguin—two birds who were never meant to fly. But they’re determined to learn nonetheless! Maybe they can help each other find their way to the “way-up-there”? (Grades K-2)

Buy it: Willa and Wade and the Way-Up-There

Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone book cover
Amazon

Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone by Sara Varon

Join the newest doggy detective, Sweet Pea, in this series opener, as she searches for the Golden Chew Bone missing from the town museum. She’s new to detective work, but her strong sniffing skills make her a perfect fit for the job. (Grades 2-5)

Buy it: Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone

Sink or Swim book cover
Amazon

Sink or Swim by Veronica Agarwal, illustrated by Lee Durfey-Lavoie

Ty was looking forward to summer camp with his best friends. Then he broke his arm and missed an entire season as swim team captain, and he doesn’t even want to think about swimming again at camp. He and his pals team up to build a canoe from scratch, but Ty’s whole world still feels a bit underwater. This is the perfect read for kids who are headed to a summer camp experience of their own this year. (Grades 3-7)

Buy it: Sink or Swim

Brownstone book cover
Amazon

Brownstone by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia

Almudena’s white mom has to spend the summer traveling for work, so she leaves Almudena with her estranged Guatemalan father in the city. Almudena speaks little Spanish, her father speaks little English, and the two seem to have little in common. But as she spends the summer helping him to restore an old brownstone to create affordable housing for folks in need, Almudena begins to develop an appreciation for her Latine heritage and newly discovered community. (Grades 7-12)

Buy it: Brownstone

The Deep Dark book cover
Amazon

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

Mags, a graduating senior, lives a complicated life with her strict mother and ailing grandmother, part-time job, and convoluted romantic relationship. Oh, and there’s the monster that lives under the basement floorboards that she must appease by feeding it her blood every night. When her childhood friend Nessa, a trans artist, returns to town, she and Mags reconnect, overcoming the terrors of life together and discovering love in all its complex glory. (Grades 10-12)

Buy it: The Deep Dark

June 2024 New Nonfiction Books for All Ages

Life After Whale book cover
Amazon

Life After Whale by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Jason Chin

Whales are the mighty giants of the sea, and when they die, they go on to nurture the ecosystem in amazing ways. Follow a 90-year-old blue whale from its natural death through its fall to the ocean floor below, where her body will feed scavenging creatures for a century or more. The subject matter seems dark, but it’s surprisingly fascinating and inspiring, even for children. (Grades Pre-K to 3)

Buy it: Life After Whale

Lessons From Our Ancestors book cover
Amazon

Lessons From Our Ancestors by Raksha Dave, illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong

Explore 14 different world cultures spanning 40,000 years, learning about their incredible accomplishments and the wisdom they passed along through generations. Visit historic sites and events through archaeological digs and artifacts, and learn fascinating facts you won’t find in most textbooks. (Grades 4-8)

Buy it: Lessons From Our Ancestors

Hike It book cover
Amazon

Hike It by Iron Tazz, illustrated by Martin Stanev

Could there be a more perfect read to get kids ready for a summer of adventure? Learn the basics of hiking and camping, including the equipment, skills, and etiquette everyone should know. Discover some of the best national parks and natural places in the United States too. (Grades 2-8)

Buy it: Hike It

Shift Happens book cover
Amazon

Shift Happens by J. Albert Mann

The history of labor and the labor movement may seem like an unlikely topic to grab the interest of teens. But as their social consciences begin to awaken, they’ll likely find this narrative of capitalism and the labor that supports it surprisingly compelling. This book pulls no punches, and the stories here are bound to shock many who’ve never thought much about how workers’ rights affect their own lives on a daily basis. (Grades 9-12)

Buy it: Shift Happens

The Great River book cover
Amazon

The Great River by Boyce Upholt

For millennia, indigenous people lived in harmony with the Mississippi River, accepting the gifts of its seasonal floods and native wildlife. But American pioneers had different ideas, and over the last few centuries, we’ve spent millions of dollars trying to control the river so it bends (quite literally) to our own needs. Read the Great River’s long history, and you’ll find yourself wondering if perhaps the time has come to let the river run and restore nature’s wonder to what it once was. (Grades 9 and up)

Buy it: The Great River

New Books for Teachers June 2024

Free to Be book cover
Amazon

Free To Be by Jack Turban

Any teacher who wants to know more about gender identity (a topic that’s become incredibly important to many of today’s youth) should add this volume to their summer reading list. Approach it with an open mind, and you’ll find yourself better equipped to help your own students as they question, seek, and find their own true identities, as every generation must.

Buy it: Free To Be

What new books are you looking forward to in June 2024? Come join the discussion in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out Is Summer Slide Real? (Free Toolkit To Fight Summer Learning Loss).