Hello and welcome to another New Release Round-Up, where I bring you the latest and greatest in inclusive children’s books. In this week’s post, I’m thrilled to share a collection of new releases that are sure to become fast favorites in your home library. From heartwarming stories about family and friendship to exciting adventures that take your child on a journey of discovery, there’s something for everyone in this selection of books.
As always, these titles cover a broad range of genres and age groups, and all have inclusive themes or characters because every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. So, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to discover the stories that will broaden your child’s horizons and inspire their imaginations. Let’s dive in!
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Board Books
G Is for Gardening by Ashley Marie Mireles, Illustrated by Volha Kaliaha
It’s time to get your hands dirty! With L for leaf, N for nursery, and S for seeds, going from A to Z has never been so fresh. Take an alphabetized trip through the garden and discover the plants, animals, and tools that make gardening fun!
Picture Books
Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi
With radiant and welcoming art, this debut picture book and modern holiday classic captures the magic and meaning of one of the world’s most joyful and important celebrations.
It’s Ramadan, the month of peace, and Moon watches over Ramadan traditions with excitement and longing in this sweetly illustrated debut.
In Egypt, India, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, in Somalia, New Zealand and Indonesia, in Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, children and their families do good deeds in honor of those who have less.
Cleverly blending glimpses of different countries’ celebrations with the corresponding phases of the moon,Moon’s Ramadan makes Ramadan, one of the world’s most widely celebrated traditions, accessible and exciting for all readers. Includes robust and easy-to-understand back matter.
Silver Linings by by Fiona Woodcock
Perfect for story-time and bedtime sharing, Silver Linings is a funny picture book about friendship, resilience, overcoming anxiety, and staying positive in the face of adversity, from acclaimed author-artist Fiona Woodcock.
Pip and Parker live next door to each other and are such good friends that sometimes they don’t even need words to communicate. If something goes wrong, Parker (who always looks on the bright side) helps Pip see the silver lining.
When the clouds roll in, Pip sees a day spoiled by rain, but Parker sees a chance to play a fun cloud guessing game! When Pip accidently drops her sweet strawberry snack into her lemonade, she’s certain disaster has struck. But Parker finds a reason to celebrate their unexpected pink lemonade! But what will happen when Parker makes a mistake and feels blue? Can Pip cheer him up and show him the silver lining?
Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar by Mojdeh Hassani and Samira Iravani, Illustrated by Maya Fidawi
It’s market day for Samira and her grandma! The bazaar is crowded, but this sweet pair knows how to stick together in this silly picture book set in Iran.
Mama Shamsi is off to the market, and today, Samira gets to go with her! Samira loves spending time with her grandmother, and she especially loves her chador, which Mama Shamsi wraps around herself every time they leave the house. As the pair get closer and closer to the market, Samira is worried about getting lost in the crowded streets of Tehran, until she has an idea: She can hide under her grandmother’s chador. But when Mama Shamsi says no—if Samira hides under there, the pair of them will look like a strange animal! In imaginary spreads, Samira and Mama Shamsi turn into a donkey, a giraffe, a kangaroo, a turtle—hiding isn’t working at all. But maybe there’s some other way for Samira to stay safe with her grandma in the crowded market.
Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Music is the heart of our story,” says Momma to young Rosetta, surprising her with her first guitar. Rosetta’s strums sound like ker-plunks. But with practice and determination, she makes music, fingers hopping “like corn in a kettle,” notes pouring over the church crowd “like summer rain washing the dust off a new day.”
In this stunning picture book, author and illustrator Charnelle Pinkney Barlow imagines the childhood of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, whose rural roots inspired the music we still hear today.
Young readers will see a child’s dream become reality through hard work and perseverance. And they’ll learn the overlooked story of a pioneering Black artist, whose contribution to music history is only now being discovered.
Chapter Books
Robot Rebellion (Astrid the Astronaut #4) by Rie Neal, Illustrated by Talitha Shipman
This is the fourth book in the Astrid the Astronaut chapter book series about a young girl determined to be the first hard-of-hearing astronaut in space!
When Astrid and the rest of the Shooting Stars find out that their teacher, Ms. Ruiz, is about to celebrate a big birthday, they band together to create the perfect gift. Her big day happens to be the same as the upcoming robotics competition and they decide to do something there. With the help of Astrid’s big sister, Stella, they program their robot to do a fun dance and give Ms. Ruiz a sweet surprise.
But on the day of the competition, the data for the Shooting Stars robot somehow gets mixed up with another one! Will their fun present end up being a major malfunction?
Middle Grade
It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li! by Nicole Chen
Perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Jessica Kim, this joyful, moving middle grade contemporary follows a big-hearted Taiwanese American girl as she aims to gain her family’s acceptance and save her favorite boba tea shop by selling her handcrafted amigurumi dolls.
Pearl Li is ready to spend the summer before seventh grade hanging out with her two best friends, crocheting the cutest amigurumi dolls, and visiting her favorite tea shop, Boba Time. Its quirky owner, Auntie Cha, is the only adult Pearl can confide in about her art—if only her tech-obsessed family would understand her love of crafts!
After Pearl learns of Boba Time’s financial troubles, she decides to sell her amigurumi to raise money for the shop. But as she navigates the ups and downs of running a business, Pearl realizes that monetizing her passion is more complicated than she could’ve ever imagined. Can Pearl save Boba Time before it’s too late?
Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials by Jamar J. Perry
After his first adventure as the Descendant, Cameron can’t sit through seventh grade classes. Especially when his mother is still trapped in Chidani and his father is still missing. But he encounters a particularly nasty bully in his new school, and it doesn’t take long for Cameron and his trusty friends Zion and Aliyah to realize that the troubles of Chidani won’t stay away for long.
With the Book to guide them, Cameron and his crew end up transported to Chidani sooner than anticipated–and the gods and goddesses they encounter don’t intend to make Cameron’s journey easy. Can he finally outwit and outlast the villainous god set on destroying their worlds?
Inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology, this middle-grade fantasy celebrates the triumphs and challenges of a boy finding his path to greatness.
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
When ten-year-old Lina Gao steps off the plane in Los Angeles, it’s her first time in America and the first time seeing her parents and her little sister in five years! She’s been waiting for this moment every day while she lived with her grandmother in Beijing, getting teased by kids at school who called her “left behind girl.” Finally, her parents are ready for her to join their fabulous life in America! Except, it’s not exactly like in the postcards.
As she reckons with her hurt, Lina tries to keep a lid on her feelings, both at home and at school. When her teacher starts facing challenges for her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of Lina’s courage and resilience to get over her fear in order to choose a future where she’s finally seen.
Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon by Julian Randall
After being magically transported to the mythical island of Zafa and rescuing her long captive cousin Natasha, Pilar is back in Chicago . . . and hiding the shocking truths about Zafa and Natasha being alive. So, when she and her family are invited on a trip to Santo Domingo, Pilar welcomes the distraction and the chance to see the Dominican Republic for the first time.
But when Ciguapa and close friend Carmen magically appears in the DR searching for help, Pilar is soon on the hunt for the escaped demon El Baca and his mysterious new ally. Now, with a cursed storm gathering over the island to resurrect an ancient enemy, Pilar will have to harness her newfound bruja powers if she has any hope of saving her own world, Zafa, and most importantly her family before the clock runs out and ushers in a new era of evil.
Graphic Novels
Goddess Girls: Artemis the Brave by Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams, and David Campiti
Artemis finds her courage in this fourth book in the Goddess Girls Graphic Novel series, based on the popular Goddess Girls series.
Everyone sees Artemis, goddess of the hunt, as the bravest goddess girl at Mount Olympus Academy. What her classmates and best friends don’t realize is that sometimes she isn’t as courageous as she seems. And, when Orion—a foreign exchange student from Earth—enters the picture, she is even more nervous than usual! Can Artemis prove to her friends, and herself, that she can live up to her name?
The Odds: Run, Odds, Run (Odds #2) by Matt Stanton
From bestselling, beloved author Matt Stanton comes The Odds: Run, Odds, Run, the second graphic novel in the hilarious, heart-filled three-book middle grade series about what happens when your imagination comes to life.
A woman in a fancy suit has shown up unexpectedly and unannounced at Kip’s apartment, and she’s asking questions Kip doesn’t want to answer about all odd characters who’ve escaped her imagination.
The Odds have no choice but to go on the run!
But running away isn’t as simple as should be—not when Lance the rabbit and Ninja-Nina are dueling, Racer’s trying to drive everywhere but straight ahead, Booster the rooster wants to leave, and Unicorn and the family cat just can’t seem to get along. Kip is hiding secrets from her dad, Diana the dinosaur keeps scaring Kip, and the Woman in the Suit seems to know their every move.
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.
Dan’s always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn’t stop him from being bullied and feeling like he’s invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe.
At first, he’s right. He’s stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn’t know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him–first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers… and first love.
Which new releases have you been looking forward to? Be sure to share in the comments below!
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