Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021 with the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. Many people are still learning about the holiday that celebrates the symbolic end of slavery in the United States. For parents, educators, and anyone interested in books about the new holiday, May’s list has four Juneteenth titles. Coming soon as a “Debut You” feature is Alliah L. Agostini, author of The Juneteenth Story. Agostini’s book, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud, will be released on May 3rd. In her “Debut You” feature, Agostini discusses the book’s journey as well as some family history that made writing the story more meaningful.
Make way for The Queen of Kindergarten on May 24th, where MJ is “going to rock kindergarten.” Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton teamed up for the companion to the outstanding picture book, The King of Kindergarten. This May list is full of good selections, with books about holidays, hands, and hats. Dive into middle-grade magic and mystery, and into a rich variety of YA stories. There are 50 books to explore, so start looking and pre-ordering now. This list may not feature all of May’s new books. Which books are you most interested in? Leave a comment below.
*BCBA is an Amazon and Bookshop Affiliate. Clicking on the book links will direct you away from this site, and BCBA may earn a small percentage on purchases.
1. The Story of Juneteenth (Board Book)
Dorena Williamson | Markia Jenai | WorthyKids | May 3 | Bd Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
2. The Hair Book
LaTonya Yvette | Amanda Jane Jones | Union Square Kids | May 3 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
3. Shout for Joy!: Psalm 100
Jan Spivey Gilchrist | Our Daily Bread Publishing | May 3 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
4. Uncle John’s City Garden
Bernette Ford | Frank Morrison | Holiday House | May 3 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
5. The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States
Alliah L. Agostini | Sawyer Cloud | becker&mayer! kids | May 3 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
6. Most Perfect You
Jazmyn Simon | Tamisha Anthony | Random House Kids | May 3 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
7. Daddy-Daughter Day
Pierce Freelon | Olivia Duchess | Little, Brown BYR | May 3 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
8. Who Is Colin Kaepernick? (Who HQ Now)
Lakita Wilson | Who HQ | Gregory Copeland | May 3 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
9. Marcus Makes It Big
Kevin Hart | Geoff Rodkey | David Cooper | Crown BYR | May 3 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
10. The Marvellers
Dhonielle Clayton | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | May 3 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
11. Ballad & Dagger (An Outlaw Saints Novel, Bk. 1)
Daniel José Older | Rick Riordan Presents | May 3 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
12. Burn Down, Rise Up
Vincent Tirado | Sourcebooks Fire | May 3 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
13. Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl
Joya Goffney | HarperTeen | May 3 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
14. Inheritance
Elizabeth Acevedo | Andrea Pippins | Quill Tree Books | May 3 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
15. Unequal: A Story of America
Michael Eric Dyson | Marc Favreau | Little, Brown BYR | May 3 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
16. Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit
Esau McCaulley | Latonya Jackson | IVP Kids | May 10 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
17. The World Belonged To Us
Jacqueline Woodson | Leo Espinosa | Nancy Paulsen Books | May 10 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
18. Layla, the Last Black Unicorn
Tiffany Haddish | Jerdine Nolen | Jessica Gibson | HarperCollins | May 10 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
19. Smile Out Loud: 25 Happy Poems
Joseph Coelho | Daniel Gray-Barnett | Wide Eyed Editions | May 10 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
20. Daddies and Daughters Stick Together
Aissatou Balde | Diariatou Sow | Nandi Fernandez | Bird Upstairs Books | May 10 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
21. It’s a Sign! (Elephant Piggie Like Reading!)
Jarrett Pumphrey | Jerome Pumphrey | Mo Willems | May 10 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
22. Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom (Step into Reading)
Sharon Dennis Wyeth | Kim Holt | Random House BYR | May 10 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
23. Wildseed Witch (Bk. 1)
Marti Dumas | Amulet | May 10 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
24. Café Con Lychee
Emery Lee | Quill Tree Books | May 10 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
25. My Hands Tell a Story
Kelly Starling Lyons | Tonya Engel | Reycraft Books | May 15 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
26. The Legend of the Spirit Serpent
Adaiah Sanford | Ken Daley | Reycraft | May 15 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
27. I’m Not Small
Nina Crews | Greenwillow Books | May 17 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
28. Caprice
Coe Booth | Scholastic Inc. | May 17 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
29. Swim Team
Johnnie Christmas | HarperAlley | May 17 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
30. Let the Monster Out
Chad Lucas | Amulet Books | May 17 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
31. Pauli Murray: Shouting for the Rights of All People
Deborah Nelson Linck | Angela Corbin | Morehouse Publishing | May 17 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
32. How to Live Without You
Sarah Everett | Clarion Books | May 17 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
33. Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens
Luvvie Ajayi Jones | Philomel Books | May 17 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
34. Hunt a Killer: Perfect Score
A.M. Ellis | Scholastic | May 17 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
35. The Queen of Kindergarten
Derrick Barnes | Vanessa Brantley-Newton | Nancy Paulsen Books | May 24 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
36. Mae Makes a Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat and History Maker
Olugemisola Rhuday-Perkovich | Andrea Pippins | Crown BYR | May 24 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
37. Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem
Sojourner Kincaid Rolle | Alex Bostic | Union Square Kids | May 24 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
38. Sarah Rising
Ty Chapman | DeAnn Wiley | Beaming Books | May 24 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
39. Cookies & Milk
Shawn Amos | Little, Brown BYR | May 24 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
40. Break This House
Candice Iloh | Dutton BYR | May 24 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
41. Only on the Weekends
Dean Atta | Balzer + Bray | May 24 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
42. A Family Looks Like Love
Kaitlyn Wells | Sawyer Cloud | Flamingo Books | May 31 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
43. Who Was the Greatest?: Muhammad Ali: A Who HQ Graphic Novel
Gabe Soria | Who HQ | Chris Brunner | Rico Renzi | Penguin Workshop | May 31 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
44. Kings of B’more
R. Eric Thomas | Kokila | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
45. Finding Jupiter
Kelis Rowe | Crown BYR | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
46. Love Radio
Ebony LaDelle | Simon & Schuster BYR | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
47. Islands Apart: Becoming Dominican American
Jasminne Mendez | Pinata Books | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
48. The Merciless Ones (Bk. 2)
Namina Forna | Delacorte Press | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
49. Deep in Providence
Riss M. Neilson | Henry Holt & Company BYR | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
50. All Signs Point to Yes: A Love Story for Every Sign
g. haron davis | Cam Montgomery | Adrianne White | Inkyard Press | May 31 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
If you enjoy new releases, book news, book lists, and other features on our blog, go here to support BCBA with a tax-deductible donation, and here to subscribe to our newsletter. Thanks for your support!
