Sam with Ants in His Pants written by April Reynolds and illustrated by Katie Kordesh is a wildly clever adventure. Momma tells Sam it’s naptime, but Sam is absolutely not sleepy. He can’t stop moving! Momma says Sam has ants in his pants and he needs to calm down. Instead, Sam opens African Wildlife, his favorite book, and it comes to life. Gazelles, lions, and zebras parade out and into his room! They’re jumping and prowling until there’s a growling. It’s coming from Sam’s tummy. After a snack, he’s finally feeling tired from a crazy fun-filled day. This picture book is perfect for animal lovers and children who resist naptime! 

Check it out along with other summer-themed books we’ve gotten this month below!

Gnome and Rat
Written by Lauren Stohler
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available Now!

How to: Go Hiking
Written by Jean Reagan and Janay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Lee Wildish
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available Now!

The Ice Cream Vanishes
Written by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available Now!

Mary, Olive, and Dexter Play Hide-and-Seek
Written by Catherine Rayner
Published by Candlewick Press
Available Today!

Our Pool
Written by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Published by Atheneum for Young Readers
Available Now!

Sam with Ants in His Pants
Written by April Reynolds and illustrated by Katie Kordesh
Published by Anne Schwartz Books
Available Now!

Picture Day by Sarah Sax is a high-energy graphic novel about self-exploration. Viv is in seventh grade and preparing for an extraordinary picture day. The night before, she live-streams cutting her own hair, which is in her normal, boring braid. Outside of Viv’s two best friends, Milo and Al, she hopes she will finally be noticed. She gets her wish and becomes an overnight sensation and influencer at Brinkley Middle School. All her classmates want to be her friend. She is so busy with dance proposals and mathlete championships she doesn’t even have time for Milo and Al anymore. But this was what she wanted, right? This inclusive and charming story is great for middle-grade students going back to school.

Check it out along with other back to school books we’ve gotten this month!

All Are Welcome Back!
Written by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
Published by Random House
Available Now!

Bear With Me
Written by Kerascoet and illustrated by Sebastian Cossett
Published by Random House Studio
Available Now!

Bitsy Bat: School Star
Written by Kaz Windness
Published by Paula Wiseman Books
Available Now!

Breathe Like a Bear: First Day of School Worries
Written by Kira Willey and Illustrated by Anni Betts
Published by Rodale Kids
Available Today!

Our Classroom Rules!
Written by Kallie George and illustrated by Jay Fleck
Published by Rodale Kids
Available Now!

Picture Day
Written by Sarah Sax
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available Today!

The Probability of Everything
Sarah Everett
Clarion Books
June 27, 2023
Ages 8 to 12

Kemi thinks she will keep her perfect school attendance record squeaky clean, spend time at the diner laughing with her family, and evaluate the science of probability for the rest of the year. Everything is great in her world, until an asteroid is predicted to collide with Earth in four days. Kemi loves her family: Dad, Mom, seventeen month sister Lo, and unborn Baby Z. She worries about their history being erased, so she begins creating a time capsule. In the process Kemi is learning how to say goodbye.  

Everett’s story is an exploration of grief and acceptance. In her author’s note, she describes her personal experience of losing a loved one and the sorrow of the death being a result of a hate crime. Kemi’s father was murdered because of a racial conflict involving their neighbor. The narrative is told from Kemi’s perspective, but she disguises her mourning and deceives the reader with the asteroid and her time capsule mission. Along with other characters like Kemi’s mom, her cousins, and aunt, the author depicts the many different ways individuals cope with death. Kemi’s bravery and loyalty is ultimately what leads her to a place of acceptance. The character development paired with haunting flashbacks gave the plot a whole new meaning of healing and advocation. The Probability of Everything is a heartbreaking story about strong relationships, bereavement, and social justice.

Best-selling author Jewell Parker Rhodes reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel with Treasure Island: Runaway Gold. Zane lives in Rockaway, Queens, and is always seeking out adventure. He becomes entrusted with a treasure map and immediately begins his journey around Manhattan, recruiting his friends Kiko, Jack, and his dog Hip-Hop to join. On their way, they meet a sailor, John, who knows everything about Black New Yorkers’ buried history. Hidden in this information is the gold. They encounter dangers like rival skateboarder gangs and much more. Children who enjoyed the original Treasure Island will find this hunt captivating! 

Check it out along with other books we’ve gotten this month below!

An Impossible Thing to Say
Written by Arya Shahi
Published by Allida
Available September 23rd!

Ink Girls
Written by Marieke Nijkamp and Sylvia Bi
Published by Greenwillow Books
Available November 21st!

The Kingdom Over the Sea
Written by Zohra Nabi
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available Today!

A Prayer for Vengeance
Written by Leanne Schwartz
Published by Page Street YA
Available September 19th!

The Queens of New York
Written by E.L. Shen
Published by Quill Tree Books
Available Now!

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold
Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Published by Quill Tree Books
Available October 3rd!

Award-winning author, Jen Ferguson’s new novel Those Pink Mountain Nights is full of unexpected events and connections. Berlin has her future planned, Cameron dropped out of high school after his Native cousin Kiki’s disappearance, and Jessie is labeled at school as a rich girl. All three teens have a connection to Pink Mountain Pizza and find themselves acknowledging their own pain and coping skills. This exciting, snowy adventure will keep teens engaged!

Check it out along with other books we’ve gotten this month below!

The Blackwoods
Written by Brandy Colbert
Published by Balzer + Bray
Available October 3rd!

The Blood Years
Written by Elana K. Arnold
Published by Blazer + Bray
Available October 10th!

Charming Young Man
Written by Eliot Schrefer
Published by Katherine Tegen Books
Available October 10th!

Take
Written by Jennifer Bradbury
Published by Atheneum
Available Today!

Those Pink Mountain Nights
Written by Jen Ferguson
Published by Heartdrum
Available September 12th!

Time Out
Written by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, and Carlyn Greenwald
Published by BFYR
Available Now!

Beth Turley’s This Close to Home is a representation of tweens’ confusing and exciting transitions. Brooke loved softball but when she loses her mother, she loses her connection to her favorite sport. Now she doesn’t spend time with Dad or her older sister, Calla. One day, Brooke and her best friend Derek decide to revive a lost tradition that brought her whole community together at her parents’ lake house. She is determined that Lakefest will bring back joy to her town and her family. This heartwarming story is great for middle grade children. Check it out along with other books we’ve gotten this month below!

Check it out along with other books we’ve gotten this month below!

Happily Ever After (Once Upon Another Time Series #3)
Written by James Riley
Published by Aladdin
Available Now!

Nowhere Special
Written by Matt Wallace
Published by Katherine Tegen Books
Available October 4th!

Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels (Onyeka #2)
Written by Tolá Okogwu
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available Now!

The Probability of Everything
Written by Sarah Everett
Published by Clarion Books
Available June 27th!

Talia’s Codebook for Mathletes
Written by Marissa Moss
Published by Walker Books Us
Available Today!

This Close to Home 
Written by Beth Turley
Published by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available Now!

Ruffles and the New Green Thing
David Melling
Candlewick Press
Ages 2 to 5
March 24th, 2022

David Melling returns with Ruffles in Ruffles and the New Green Thing to encourage picky eaters to try new foods. Ruffles enjoys grubby, canine activities like howling, digging, and running. One day, he discovers broccoli, referring to it as “the new green thing,” in his bowl but anxiously ignores it. Ruffles instead plays with his friend, Ralph. The two dogs have similar interests, except Ralph’s curiosity leads him to try broccoli. Ruffles admires Ralph’s bravery and also takes a nibble, discovering his love for the new green thing. 

Melling uses adorable illustrations to support the text focused on Ruffles’ journey through social-emotional learning. The neat pencil and digital illustrations enhance the canine’s story through a contrasting color scheme that is eye-catching. The full-spread illustrations represent pivotal moments. The vibrant backgrounds make the characters stand out and accentuate the bright green broccoli in Ruffles’ bowl. They are paired with text revealing the fear of broccoli, Ralph’s introduction, and the first nibble of the new green thing. Ralph is depicted as larger compared to Ruffles by carrying bigger branches and jumping higher fences, highlighting his big brother qualities. The scenes with vignettes portray Ruffles’ emotions throughout his path of fear and courage with Ralph, establishing that Ruffles trusts Ralph. Ruffles’ hesitation disappears when Ralph is by his side, inspiring his friend to challenge himself. Ruffles and the New Green Thing is an entertaining and educational story for children’s social-emotional literacy.  

 A is for Australian Reefs written and illustrated by Frané Lessac is a vibrant treasure full of captivating facts. Within these rich pages, readers will find underwater reefs on the Australian coastline filled with fascinating sea creatures. Lessac introduces each one, exploring their unique diets, survival threats, and special biology. Readers will find familiar marine life such as dolphins and discover new ones like the leafy sea dragons and zebra seahorses. This intriguing information with beautiful images will amaze young children in kindergarten.

Check it out along with other books we’ve gotten this month below!

 A is for Australian Reefs
Written and illustrated by Frané Lessac
Published by Candlewick Press
Available June 13th!

America Redux: Visual Storeis from our Dynamic History
Written by Ariel Aberg-Riger
Published by Balzer + Bray
Available Now!

Great White Sharks
Written by Claire Saxby and illustrated by Cindy Lane
Published by Candlewick Press
Available June 6th!

How to Spacewalk: Step-by-Step with Shuttle Astronaunts
Written by Kathryn D. Sullivan and Illustrated by Michael J. Rosen
Published by mit Kids
Available June 6th!

I Have Something to Tell You: Memoir, A ( For Young Readers)
Written by Chasten Buttigieg
Published by Atheneum Books for young readers
Available Now!

Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion: A True Story
Written by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Julia Sarda
Published by Candlewick Press
Available June 6th!