18 Must-Read New Picture Books, June 2024
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So many picture books, so little time… (YAY!!!) June brings us a wealth of wonderful new books. Are you ready?
If you’ve been following my Instagram summer reading tips you’ll know that leaving piles of books around is a great way to entice kids into books. It’s what I always did with my older kids to keep them reading picture books. Because we don’t want them to stop reading picture books just because they can read chapter books, right?
Must-Read New Picture Books, June 2024
Home in a Lunchbox written and illustrated by Cherry Mo
IMMIGRATION / NEW LANGUAGE / FOOD
The illustrations in this picture book, drawn in comic panels, are gorgeous with bright colors, emotional character expressions, and filled with magical charm. Almost wordless, this is the story of a little girl who is new at school and doesn’t speak the language. In the midst of confusion and loneliness, when she opens her lunchbox from home, she feels comforted. Then one day, a girl at lunch says hello which leads to sharing food and a new friendship. I love the messages of comfort, culture, and kindness.
Between Words A Friendship Tale written and illustrated by Saki Tanaka
UNFAMILIAR LANGUAGE / FRIENDSHIP
Kai and his dad travel from place to place. Kai watches the children and wishes he could join in with the right words. Wherever he goes, he stacks stones one on top of the other. And then one day, they stay in a place for more than one season. When he accidentally kicks his stone into the water, Kai dives after it and discovers an underwater friend who doesn’t need words. After they play and swim together, Kai goes back above water and meets another new friend. Many spreads are wordless with gorgeous illustrations showing the child making warm-hearted friendship connections.
What We Wear When We Take Care written and illustrated by Sarah Finan
SAFETY
In this clever safety gear story, kids are introduced to the things they wear when they take care of their heads (helmets,) ears (headphones,) eyes (goggles,) and so forth. Filled with lots of onomatopoeia, this is an exciting book about protection with eye-catching, painty blue and yellow illustrations.
Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow written by Nicholas DeShaw, illustrated by Tara Audibert
MODERN-DAY AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE
Narrated by Loaf the cat, Loaf describes her life with the boy, watching him sew ribbons on his outfit and then later finding him down the road at the Powwow. Loaf joins the boy while he dances. I love these cool illustrations!
Building a Beak How a Toucan’s Rescue Inspired the World written by Becca McMurdie, illustrated by Diana Hernandez
RESCUE BIRD
This sweet rescue story is about a toucan missing part of its beak. How can he eat again? The smart scientists create a beak using a 3D printer –and it works to save the toucan’s life! The bird’s journey also changed legislation in the country of Costa Rica to make it illegal to hurt wildlife. Very inspiring and touching!
This is Not a Dinosaur written by Barry Timms, illustrated by Ged Adamson
FUNNY / DINOSAUR
Silly and playful, the child gets a visit from not a dinosaur but a leap-osaur, a sleep-osaur, and a dive-into-the-street-osaur. The child and his dino friend pretend play knight, explorer, pirate, hairdresser, and more. What a great read aloud choice.
Flamingos Are Pretty Funky: A [Not So] Serious Guide written and illustrated by Abi Cushman
FLAMINGOS
Learn all about flamingos in this combination of informational text and silly dialogue. I love the funny flamingo and snake conversations and the pretty, playful illustrations.
Shake it Off! written and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
In this modern-day folktale with a valuable life lesson, a sweet little goat falls into a well and rescues himself, albeit unexpectedly. When the people can’t get the little goat out, they decide to bury her and start shoveling dirt into the well. Every pile of dirt, little goat shakes off the dirt. Little by little, the dirt mound piles up under little goat until she gets to the top and leaves, a little dirty but fine. I love the message of this story — about making the best of your situation and rising above the poor intentions of others.
Imagine Counting All the Stars written by Raewyn Caisley, illustrated by Gabriel Evans
MATH / FRIENDSHIP
Maddie loves math — patterns, shapes, measurements — but she feels different from the other kids who prefer other things like dolls and decorating cookies. When her dad takes Maddie and a friend to the star observatory, both girls share a common interest and awe of the millions of stars. Filled with math vocabulary words, this is a STEM story to celebrate.
Carry Me! written and illustrated by Georgie Birkett
FUNNY
Many kids and parents will find this story SO relatable because it’s about a kid who always wants his mama to carry him. Always, always. Even when she’s tired. But one day, Wilbur gets out of his stroller to grab his stuffie and WALKS. When he returns, his mommy is in the stroller and Wilbur pushes her with the help of some friends. Sweet!
The Mango Tree La Mata de Mango illustrated by Edel Rodriguez
WORDLESS / IMMIGRATION
This is the wordless story of friendship, separation, and new beginnings about a boy and his friend who play in a mango tree. The illustrations are vibrant, graphic, emotional, and exquisite. A storm rips the boy and his mango tree into the sea. The boy travels on stormy oceans until he arrives at a new place with unfamiliar people. So the boy shares his mangos with the new people and sends a mango back to his friend. The story is an allegory for the illustrator’s life when he was taken away from his home in Cuba.
BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON BOOKSHOP
Ahoy! written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
IMAGINATION
I love the interesting, unique illustrations and the story of a dad and son playing pretend sailing on a ship (the rug dad wanted to vacuum BUT the son explained the rug is the ocean.) When a cell phone call takes Dad away for a few mintutes, he comes back into the adventure with a squid attack. The story is a lively adventure sure to inspire your own imaginative play!
A Damsel Not in Distress written and illustrated by Bethan Stevens
FUNNY / GENDER ROLES
The narrator wants readers to believe that this is a story about a damsel in distress — but the damsel disagrees. She argues with the narrator and ends up saving the knight, prince, and gnome herself…and bossing around the narrator and the dragon. A funny meta story with dynamic illustrations!
Boxer Baby written by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Kai Gietzen
FUNNY / BEDTIME
A cheeky announcer narrates the events of Boxer Baby with the big question everyone is asking — will Baby take a nap? After a chase, a poo, a bath, it is time. Will the blanket and pacifier make her nap? She’s not ready to give up yet…With boxing metaphors galore, this is a hilarious and relatable story where Baby prevails!
Once Upon a Friend written by Dan Gemeinhart, illustrated by ShinYeon Moon
META READER STORY
Written from the perspective of the book, the book narrates being best friends with his reader, going on adventures together, braving Big Days and sad moments, until one day the reader doesn’t read the book anymore. After years, the book is opened again to meet the reader and his daughter.
Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins
FUNNY / PETS
You’re going to love this hilarious new story in one of the funniest series ever! Penelope’s parents give her a pet– Mittens, a saber tooth tiger. But Mittens isn’t an easy pet. He eats the trash, toys, and Peoelope’s supper. Also, the attacks and tug-of-wars. But when her parents put Mittens in a crate, Penelope misses him terribly so she puts in the work to get him to be not quite as much trouble as before.
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme written by Abby Monsen, illustrated by Abby Hanlon
FUNNY
Get ready to laugh and try to rhyme! Every time you think you know the next word that will rhyme, it doesn’t which is super funny. Poor Chester, he forgets how to rhyme, and he’s trying not to panic. He’s very worried and doesn’t feel like himself. Finally, he realizes that playing with words should be fun — and that helps him remember how to rhyme.
When You Love a Book written by Kaz Windness, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee
BOOKS
Love books? You’ll love this rhyming ode to books! From chewing on the pages to reading books about snowy days and girls in red riding hoods, this picture book plus all the referential books, would make a wonderful gift at a newborn baby shower!
