Happy Memorial Day! Here are some of the books releasing this week – perfect for kicking off your summer reading.
Books for Kids
Jasper & Ollie – A thoughtful sloth and an impatient fox have their differences on display in this book that shows what happens when the friends decide to head to the pool.
Oi Duck-Billed Platypus! – Several years ago I read Frog on a Log? (also called, Oi, Frog!) and loved it. The series continues here where Frog is trying to figure out where Platypus should sit. What rhymes with platypus? I cannot wait to read this!!
Up to Something – Dad invites Billy into his workshop, but will only let him watch. Billy gathers Dad’s scraps and builds a creation of his own.
What Kind of Car Does a T-Rex Drive? – A car salesman is desperate to sell some cars – to anyone! Then the dinosaurs show up. This looks fun!
When Pencil Met Eraser – Based on the true story of how pencils got erasers
The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean – The fourth astronaut to walk on the moon also painted what he saw there. Includes back matter with photos of the Apollo 12 mission and of Alan Bean’s paintings.
Kitten Kingdom: Tabby’s First Quest AND Tabby and the Pup Prince – A new transitional chapter book series kicks off with these two titles. Princess Tabby and her brothers accidentally give away an important scroll when they are tricked by an evil king. They have to keep their mission to save the day a secret from their parents. In the second book, the evil king is at it again and Tabby teams up with a puppy prince to try and save the day. I thought the first book was cute.
Robo-Rabbit Boy, Go! – Book 7 in this Branches series about Super Rabbit Boy.
Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults
Batting Order – Two baseball players with different skills team up to improve their skills to help the team, but how can Matt really help Ben if Ben won’t listen to anything Matt has to say?
The Book Case – After getting expelled, Daphne is off to a girls’ boarding school where she meets a crime-solving genius in need of an assistant. This looks great. I love middle grade mysteries.
The Girls of Firefly Cabin – A group of girls who meet on the first day of summer camp hope to immortalize their summer by becoming the “face” of the camp in the promotional materials.
Other Words for Home – Novel in verse about a girl who must leave Syria for her own safety and finds “home” in the United States.
Rocky Road Ahead – Sprinkle Sundays, book 7. A middle grade story of ice cream and friendship and crushes.
Secrets of a Fangirl – A girl trying to keep her “geek life” separate from her popular “jock life” has a chance to win a contest to go to the movie premier for her fandom. But she will have to go up against older competitors who question her fan cred, and she risks showing her peers this geeky side of herself. This is on my wish list for this week!
She’s the Liar – Sisters at a boarding school have each crafted new personalities for themselves. But their personal plans run up against the agenda of the other sister and a power play ensues. This sounds great!
Solving for M – A fifth grader struggling at the start of middle school uses her math journal (art in math?!) to help her sort out the trouble she’s having both at school and at home. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go on a Class Trip – Book 3 in the fun and silly Two Dogs in a Trench Coat series. This time, the dogs join the kids on a trip to the history museum.
Science Comics: Cars – Engines that Move You – Graphic novel exploration of cars and engines.
Fake It Till You Break It – Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. Even though their moms (who are best friends) think they would make the perfect couple, the two teens can’t stand each other. They agree to fake date so they can have a spectacular break up and get their moms to let them move on to other dating options.
The Kingdom – One of the “princesses” at a fantasy amusement park is accused of murdering a park employee. This looks amazing. I already have this on hold from the library.
Limited Wish – Book 2 in the Impossible Times series. After a time-travel adventure in book one, cancer survivor and reluctant prodigy Nick realizes there are creases in the fabric of time. I have book 1 on my reading list because this series sounds perfect for me!
Not Your Backup (June 1) – Book 3 in the Sidekick Squad. Emma is the only non-superpowered member of team of resistance fighters moving against the Heroes League of Heroes. I have book 1 on my list.
The Voice in My Head – When one twin develops a terminal illness and wants to die on her own terms, her sister starts hearing a voice in her head claiming to be God and telling her to take her sister to a rock formation in Arizona where she can be healed. I am requesting this one, too!
The Wise and the Wicked – In a family with only the barest hint of magic left, the women come of age and see a vision of who they will be when they die. When Ruby’s great-aunt dies and her vision did NOT come true, Ruby and her cousin start digging into their family history to see if they too can chart their own destiny.
Books for Adults
The Amish Cookie Club (Mass Market Paperback) – From the author of the amazing Amish Fairy Tale series. First in a new series about a group of cookie-baking friends and the struggles their families experience in the course of day to day Amish life. This first book focuses on a young woman whose strong personality keeps her from keeping a job and finding a husband.
Crèpe Expectations (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pancake House mystery series is focused on a cold case and an amateur chef competition.
A Daughter’s Truth (Trade Paperback) – A young Amish woman who feels the weight of her mother’s grief receives a gift that raises questions and sets her off to the non-Amish world to find answers. I already have this on hold at the library. I enjoyed Laura’ Bradford’s last Amish standalone, Portrait of a Sister.
The Flatshare (Hardcover) – A man who works nights and a woman who works days share a flat even though they have never met. A series a notes left for one another leads them to friendship, and maybe to something more. I already have this on hold at the library, too. What a clever premise!
Hitches, Hideouts & Homicide (ebook) – Book 7 in the Camper and Criminals Mystery series focused on a power outage, a treasure map and a dead body. I have the first book for this series in my reading pile.
Just One of the Groomsmen (Mass Market Paperback) – Addison is going to be one of the “groomsmen” when one of her best guy friends gets married. Seeing Addison again leaves Tucker feeling like they should give love a try, but if it doesn’t work, he knows it will destroy their friend group permanently. I’m looking forward to trying this one!
Murder, She Uncovered (ebook) – Book 2 in the Murder She Reported series about a young photographer in 1938 working for the Daily Trumpet and covering the aftermath of a hurricane. I don’t often read historical mysteries, but the covers for these are so gorgeous, I’m tempted to give this series a try!
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. When a restaurant critic dies after eating food from the Tea Garden, Daisy and Aunt Iris must track down a killer to protect their business.
Passion on Park Avenue (Trade Paperback) – The first book in the Central Park Pact series. A young woman who is the new CEO of a jewelry empire still feels like she has to prove herself to the Upper East Side elite – including the son of the family her mother worked for as a housekeeper. I am SO excited about this series! Sounds so fun. Book 2 is out this fall, and I have both on my wish list.
Rebel (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the Women Who Dare series. This takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War when a young Black woman sets up a new school and thugs destroy the school and target her.
Sconed to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Cat Latimer series about a cozy mystery writer’s retreat, a local baker stirring up trouble, and a dead celebrity chef. I am way behind on this series, but I intend to get caught up soon.
Seeing Red (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the terrific Red Herring Mystery series. Alex is still working her freelance career while enjoying her relationship with B&B owner, Ian. But when Ian’s father disappears and Alex finds a body in the B&B, she starts to wonder if she really knows Ian at all. This is a must read for me. I loved the first book in the series.
Smitten by the Brit (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sometimes in Love series. An English professor in the aftermath of a broken engagement heads to England for the summer and finds a sexy distraction. I have this on hold from the library, too.
Something Borrowed, Something Mewed (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. This time it is murder at the dress-fitting when a wedding planner is found dead and Daphne has to figure out if one of her sister’s future in-laws is a killer. I loved the first book in this series. I’d like to get caught up on this one soon.
Star Trek TNG: The Missions Continue (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – Graphic novel collection of The Space Between, Intelligence Gathering, Last Generation, Ghosts and Hive.
Star Trek TOS: The Captain’s Oath (Trade Paperback) – The story of James T. Kirk before his service on the Enterprise.
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes (Trade Paperback) – A shy introvert commits to living one year like an outgoing extrovert. I adore books like this where someone digs into a differently lifestyle for a year – A Year of Biblical Womanhood, The Year of Living Biblically, My Life as an Experiment, 7, The Year of Less, etc.
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide (Hardcover) – From the folks behind the podcast My Favorite Murder comes this book with personal stories from the authors’ lives in relation to their mission to encourage self-advocacy. I have this on my list, too.
Taste of Home Handmade Food Gifts (Paperback Cookbook) – Recipes and ideas for edible gifts. I love the idea of food gifts and jars of ingredients that people can use to bake something delicious!