Summer 2019 – best new children’s and YA books – our picks

Here’s our selection of top new children’s books coming out in summer 2019 (June, July and August). These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction for children aged 5-13.

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Summer 2019 new children’s books – our recommendations

New picture books for summer 2019

Where’s Mr Astronaut by Ingela P Arrhenius
That’s Not My Flamingo by Fiona Watt
Look Up! by Nathan Bryon

Oi Duck-billed Platypus! by Kes Gray & Jim Field
Merrylegs by Pam Smy
The Bug Collector by Alex Griffiths

No Longer Alone by Joseph Coelho & Robyn Wilson Owen
The Very Messy Mermaid by Tracey Corderoy & Kate Leake
Duck and Penguin Are Not Friends by Julia Woolf

New fiction 7-9 books for summer 2019

The Paninis of Pompeii by Andy Stanton
King Coo – The Curse of the Mummy’s Gold by Adam Stower
Evie and the Animals by Matt Haig & Emily Gravett

The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell & Davide Ortu
Galactic Hot Dogs – Revenge of the Space Pirates by Max Braillier
Killer Vending Machines Wrecked My Lunch by Matt Brown

The Legend of Kevin: A Roly-Poly Flying Pony Adventure by Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre
In the Mouth of the Wolf by Michael Morpurgo
Tangled in Time: The Portal by Kathryn Lasky

New fiction 9-12 books for summer 2019

My Cousin is a Time Traveller by David Solomons
Owen and the Soldier by Lisa Thompson
The Unexpected Find by Toby Ibbotson

Perfectly Preventable Deaths by Deirdre Sullivan
The Garden of Lost Secrets by AM Howell
Starfell by Dominique Valente

Space Dragons by Robin Bennett
No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton
The Accidental Rock Star by Tom McLaughlin

New 12-16 young adult novels for this summer

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Summer of No Regrets by Kate Mallinder
Sea Change by Sylvia Heir

Lily’s Just Fine by Gill Stewart
My Secret Lies With You by Faye Bird
Birthday by Meredith Russo

A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs
The Shamer Chronicles by Lene Kaaberbol
Black Dog Sunday by Carly Tinkler

New non fiction children’s books for the summer

Let’s Make Art by Susie Brooks
Exploring Canals by Daniel Nunn
The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle Pitman

Cities in Layers by Andres Lozano & Philip Steele
Heroes by David Long & Kerry Hyndman
Ancient Wonders by Avalon Nuovo & Iris Volant

Maths Adventures by Rayanne Viera & William Potter
You’re Crushing It by Lex Croucher
First Space Book by Clive Gifford


This page was first published on Jun 06 2019 and last updated on Jun 17, 2019 @ 6:07 pm.

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About Tom Tolkien

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Tom Tolkien is a highly qualified (BA Hons, PGCE, QTS) children's literature expert and teacher with over 25 years of experience. He has led inset courses, developed curriculum materials, spoken at conferences, advised on longlisting for several international children's literature literature awards and written for educational publishers including contributing to a BETT award-nominated app. Social profiles: X | Linkedin