It’s the end of the school year for many districts around the country, and everyone knows it has been challenging for educators, parents, and students. The last thing some students want to think about is reading, but reading for pleasure is altogether different from school required reading—it should be anyway. Although there are some benefits to leisure reading, this article states that “there is evidence to show that children best enjoy reading books they self-select . . .sometimes children just want to curl up with a good book, of their choice, and simply enjoy the process of reading for what it is.” This list features 24 exciting book ideas by debut children’s authors. A few of the selections are available for pre-order as they are not due for release until later this month or July.
Go here to our “Debut You” author series to meet some of the fantastic book creators who have released or have upcoming releases in 2021 and here for “Summer Reading 2021: Part 1: 40 Super Selections.” The last part of our summer reading series will feature nonfiction books. Happy Reading!
1. Family Reunion
Chad And Dad Richardson | Ashleigh Corrin | Barefoot Books | June 1 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
2. Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner
Angela Dalton | Jestenia Southerland | HarperCollins | May 18 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
3. A Neighborhood Walk, A Musical Journey
Pilar Winter Hill | Olivia Duchess | Albert Whitman & Company | April 1 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
4. What the Road Said
Cleo Wade | Lucie de Moyencourt | Feiwel & Friends | March 23 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
5. J.D. and the Great Barber Battle
J. Dillard | Akeem S. Roberts | Kokila | February 23 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
6. Josephine Against the Sea
Shakirah Bourne | Scholastic Inc. | July 6 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
7. Squad Goals
Erika J. Kendrick | Little, Brown BYR | April 6 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
8. Simon B. Rhymin’
Dwayne Reed | Little, Brown BYR | March 2 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
9. Take Back the Block
Chrystal D. Giles | Random House BYR | January 26 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
10. Amari and the Night Brothers
B. B. Alston | Balzer + Bray | January 19 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
11. Root Magic
Eden Royce | Walden Pond Press | January 5 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
12. The Taking of Jake Livingston
Ryan Douglass | Putnam | July 13 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
13. Blood Like Magic (Blood Like Magic #1)
Liselle Sambury | Margaret K. McElderry | June 15 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
14. Where the Rhythm Takes You
Sarah Dass | Balzer + Bray | May 11 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
15. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Joya Goffney | HarperTeen | May 4 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
16. Hurricane Summer
Asha Bromfield | Wednesday Books | May 4 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
17. Witches Steeped in Gold
Ciannon Smart | HarperTeen | April 20 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
18. Home Is Not a Country
Safia Elhillo | Make Me a World | March 2 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
19. Like Home
Louisa Onomé | Delacorte Press | February 23 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
20. The Gilded Ones
Namina Forna | Delacorte Press | February 9 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
21. Wings of Ebony
J. Elle | Denene Millner Books/S & S BYR | January 26 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
22. Your Corner Dark
Desmond Hall | Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy | January 19 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
23. Happily Ever Afters
Elise Bryant | Balzer + Bray | January 5 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
24. When You Look Like Us
Pamela Harris | Quill Tree Books | January 5 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
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