9 New Picture Books July 2024
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Here are nine new picture books that I think you’ll enjoy sharing with children.
New Picture Books, July 2024
I Am La Chiva! The Colorful Bus of the Andes written by Karol Hernandez, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez 
LATINE PICTURE BOOKS
The bus in the Andes narrates the rhyming text describing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and activities of the passengers traveling to the market for the day. The story illuminates this warm community of helpful people who sing together, travel together, repair the bus’s tire together, and commune together at the market, illustrated in lovely, warm illustrations.
Seeker of Truth Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child Labor written by Srvidhya Venkat, illustrated by Danica da Silva Pereira
BIOGRAPHY
This is an inspirational life picture book biography about an advocate for children whose name we should all know! Beautiful storytelling, precise writing, and warm illustrations share about Kailash Satyarthi, who started helping others even when he was only a child. “Little by little. Drop by drop.” He wanted to change the world, which led to his lifelong fight against child labor and the rescue of many children. He even fought for new laws and set up homes for the rescued children, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his efforts. What a hero!
The Quacken written by Justin Colon, illustrated by Pablo Pino
FUNNY
When he’s at Cucmonga Campground, Hector makes the terrible mistake of FEEDING THE DUCKS! That’s when the Quacken arrives. The Quacken is a gigantic duck that eats everything, and it’s ready to eat everything and everyone in the campground, starting with the canoes. Run, Hector, run!! Will he escape or be eaten?
My Book and Me written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Chris Raschka
BOOKS
First-person child narrators share how much they love their favorite book, carrying it with them everywhere, reading it again and again, reading it to the dog and the goldfish, reading on the porch, the bus, on and the couch, and so forth. The book ends with a question — do you have a favorite book, too? Cool painty illustrations from the amazing Chris Raschka.
Just What to Do written by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Hala Tahboub
GRIEF
A child wants to make their friends and family feel better when they experience a loss — whether the death of a plant, pet, or person. Each person tells the child what they need, so the child assumes that is what the next person would also want until they realize that the best thing to do is to ask and figure it out together. A simple yet poignant message of “seeking first to understand” before making assumptions. (Sadly, I know many adults who still need to learn this communication lesson.)
Moo Hoo written by Audrey Perrott, illustrated by Ross Burach
EMOTIONS
Milton aka. Moo Hoo cries a lot, no matter his emotions, so he decides to be a bully, which doesn’t work. Even watching sad movies doesn’t get out all his tears. Then, he meet a sheep named Waa Waa, aka. Wanda, who also cries when she feels different emotions. The two animals become best friends that understand each other perfectly. I’m not sure I totally get the point of this book. I wonder what you will think.
Pig in Jeans written and illustrated by Brenda Li
FUNNY
Brian loves wearing jeans. He has his reasons, too. And many of those reasons involve pockets. Pockets are great for storing an abundance of things that he can share with his friends. Your kids will crack up with all the things in Brian’s pockets!
Do I Have to Go to the Party? written and illustrated by Jonathan Fenske
ACCEPTING YOURSELF
Poppy the pufferfish is nervous about going to a party, and when Poppy gets nervous, she puffs up! But when the party planners have a problem, Poppy is the one who solves it — and that makes her feel better. Cute but not buy-worthy. Get this at the library.
Boo Can’t Poo! written by Xiao Jing “Iris” Wan, M.D., illustrated by Rocio Ledesma
CONSTIPATION
For those of us whose kids struggle with persistent constipation, this is a helpful reminder of the things to try, including eating veggies, drinking lots of water, and moving. It’s rhyming, and the main character gets advice from his family, which means he doesn’t have agency (boo), but I still recommend it to have in your family. Also, I would add to NOT become dependent on Mirelax since recent research connects it with food allergies and it’s SO HARD TO stop. And, magnesium is also helpful, which the book doesn’t address either.
Am I a bit grumpy this month about the lackluster books? Maybe. I hope next month is better.
Interesting list – I wonder if authors save book releases for Aug/Sept for the back to school crowd. I did love the one about the bus in the Andes – have seen that on several continents!
I did get a bunch of pitches for more July books this week– so the publicity departments are also late on sending me everything. (Which is really a bummer for authors & illustrators.)