The first Tuesday of a new month is always chock full of new books! And this month is no exception. There’s something for everyone this week. Plenty of new additions to favorite series as well as all sorts of new stories to enjoy. Time travel. Star Wars. Mysteries. Superheroes. So many great options this week. Let’s take a look:
Books for Kids
The Case of the Stinky Stench – Picture book mystery with Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast.
Dragons Love Tacos 2 – What’s not to love about dragons and tacos?! The first book was great, and I am eager to see how the story continues.
Elephant and Piggie Biggie – This is NOT a new Elephant and Piggie book (so sad), but instead this combines 5 of their books into one volume. This would make an excellent gift for a mom of preschoolers (Mother’s Day is next week!) or for any Piggie and Gerald fan who doesn’t already have these books in their collection. Two of my favorites – Can I Play Too? and Let’s Go for a Drive – are included in this collection.
Go Sleep in Your Own Bed – This looks like a classic bedtime book in the making. A series of farm animals find other animals sleeping in their places. I love Candace Fleming’s books, and I imagine this one will be no exception.
The Good for Nothing Button – Book 3 in the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series. While these are not new Piggie and Gerald books (still sad…), they are in that sort of style.
Naptastrophe – Jarrett J. Krosoczka is one of my favorite people in the children’s lit world. If he writes it, I will read it. He’s the author of the Lunch Lady graphic novels and the awesome Platypus Police Squad middle grade series. Naptastrophe is definitely on my list!.
Pete with No Pants – This book is getting rave reviews! I have to check this one out – it looks hilarious.
Peterrific – Pinkalicious’ little brother, Peter, gets his own story.
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do – Terrific story about perseverance from one of my favorite illustrators, Ashley Spires. I’ll be reviewing this book here tomorrow.
Pete the Cat and the Tip Top Tree House – New Early Reader starring Pete the Cat
Wonder Woman: Meet the Heroes – Early Reader tie in for the Wonder Woman movie
The Genie’s Curse – Little Legends, book 3. Fun, fractured fairy tale early chapter book series
Goldie Blox and the Three Dares/Rules the School – Early chapter books based on the Goldie Blox building toys
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt – Book 2 in the Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel series
100 Galactic Devotions – Devotional for kids (releases today)
Lego DC The Awesome Guide – Colorful guide to the Lego DC universe with exclusive Wonder Woman mini-figure.
Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults
Camp Half-Blood Confidential – Percy Jackson and friends add their commentary to Apollo’s guidebook for Camp Half-Blood. Fun for fans of the original Percy Jackson series!
Dark Prophecy – Book 2 in the Rick Riordan Trials of Apollo series about the god, Apollo, who has been turned into a normal teenager and sent to earth to figure out what has happened to the Oracles and set things right. Includes the characters Leo and Calypso from the Heroes of Olympus series.
Fairy Tale Detectives (10th Anniversary Edition) – I don’t usually post about re-releases in Book News, but this series is worth a special mention. I loved the series when it first came out. The author has been able to retool a few things for the re-release. Plus those new covers! I like to let folks know if something is truly new or just a re-packaging. This is a great re-package with some updates. If you have never tried this series, give it a go! I plan to enjoy each and every book in the series as they re-release.
How to Be a Supervillain – Victor is not living up to the family legacy of villainy. As a last-ditch effort to live up to his family expectations, Victor gets a supervillain mentor. I love a good superhero/villain story! This looks terrific.
Invisible Emmie – A middle school story in graphic novel form. Looks perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier (see post about Real Friends) or Jennifer Holm (Babymouse, Sunny Side Up).
Lemons – This is a lovely story. Lem has lost her mother and her home. She moves in with a grandfather she doesn’t know in a community where people think Bigfoot is real. I’ll be reviewing this one next week – you should check it out!
Marty Pants: Do Not Open – On the surface this looks like a book in the style of Wimpy Kid or Timmy Failure or Big Nate. The story, though, of a secret take-over-the-world plot sounds like my favorite mystery stories. I will definitely be checking this one out!
Posted – This is one of the books I am most looking forward to reading this summer. It should be showing up at my house tomorrow and I can hardly wait. The author’s last book, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, was amazing. I think this one will be as well!
Real Friends – Graphic novel/memoir from fantastic author, Shannon Hale (Princess in Black, Princess Academy, Ever After High, Squirrel Girl, etc.). I’m really looking forward to this. It looks perfect for fans of similar books by Raina Telgemeier.
The Secret Diary of Apple White (Ever After High) – Second book in the latest series centered on the characters from Ever After High.
Supernormal Sleuthing Service: Lost Legacy – Book 1 in a new series about a stolen artifact and a hotel full of monsters.
Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills (Star Wars Rogue One) – A story for middle grade readers centered on popular Rogue One characters Baze and Chirrut. Since Rogue One just released on DVD, this is perfect timing. Consider this for your Star Wars fan for summer reading!
Time Stoppers: Quest for the Golden Arrow – Book 2 in the Time Stoppers series about time travel and fantasy creatures. This sounds like a series I would love.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean – The third and final book in the Lara Jean trilogy. I read the first book, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, but I didn’t get to book 2. I’m curious to see how things wrap up for Lara Jean.
And We’re Off – A young artist is offered a trip to Europe to paint. Her mother isn’t very excited about the trip, but at the last minute she decides to go along. This sounds like a perfect summer read!
Avenged – Book 2 in the Ruined series. I have book 1 in my TBR pile but haven’t gotten to it yet. Maybe this summer!
Cold Summer – A time traveler with PTSD wonders if it is his destiny to die in World War II.
Court of Wings and Ruin – Book 3 in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. I haven’t tried this yet, but the covers are absolutely gorgeous and make me want to run out and buy them.
Four Weeks, Five People – Five teens struggling with various mental and personality disorders share four weeks in wilderness therapy. I have been enjoying the surge of teen (and middle grade) books that look at mental illness. I’m eager to check this one out.
Lois Lane Triple Threat – Book 3 in this fun Lois Lane series. I just read book one and thought it was fantastic. I’ll be reviewing it here on the blog later this week. Book 2 and 3 are definitely on my TBR list!
Star Wars: Rebel Rising – An original story that fills in the gaps from Star Wars Rogue One about Jyn Erso’s childhood.
Textrovert – A girl accidentally swaps phones with an arrogant football player on his way to football camp. They will have to field each other’s messages until he gets back. This sounds awesome.
Windfall – This book from a favorite author tells the story of a girl who buys a winning lottery ticket for her best friend/secret crush. Looking forward to reading this one!
Books for Adults
Alien Education – Book 15 in the Katherine “Kitty” Katt/Aliens series. These are among my most favorite books ever. I am especially eager to read this one because several plot threads were wrapped up at the end of the last book, so I think we might be heading into some fun, new territory in this book. And the kids in the series are getting older and far more involved in things, which I love. I think they could play a major role in this story. I will be staking out our mailbox all day Tuesday waiting for my pre-order to arrive.
Dead and Berried – Book 3 in the Cranberry Cove mystery series about all things cranberry.
Death in Dark Blue – Book 2 in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. I LOVED book one, A Dark and Stormy Murder! This one is a top pick for me.
Ghostal Living – Book 3 in the Hamptons Home and Garden Mystery series about an interior designer
Killer Characters – Book 8 in the Books by the Bay Mystery series
Love and Death in Burgundy – First in a new series that takes place in France. Sounds lovely!
Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hill – Book 4 in the Honeychurch Hill Mystery series about an antique dealer and her widowed mother. The story for this particular book – a missing manuscript – sounds really interesting to me.
Nightshade for Warning – Book 2 of the Enchanted Garden Mystery series about a perfume shop and garden.
A Purely Private Matter – Book 2 in the Rosalind Thorne Mystery series. I adored book one – A Useful Woman. Can’t wait to read this sequel!
Threads of Suspicion – Book 2 in the Evie Blackwell Cold Case series about a police investigator.
Your Killin’ Heart – First in the Nashville Mystery series about a travel agent in the world of country music stars.
Release My Grip – Interactive book for parents getting ready to launch their high school students to wherever life takes them next. A great gift idea for the parents of graduates or soon-to-be-graduates! Includes reflection questions, scripture, and journaling space.
Rewrite Your Life – The redemptive process of writing fiction. I have read the author’s fiction books before, and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one! I enjoyed her TED talk about how writing fiction helped her heal after the death of her husband.
Topography of Tears – Microscopic look at tears shed in different circumstances by men, women, adults and children. This sounds fascinating! I hope my local bookstore or library orders this one because I am fascinated by this whole idea.
Truth – Devotional from Christian author, Randy Alcorn. I love his work – both fiction and nonfiction. This one is on my list for sure. (releases today)