Happy Summer!
We here at YA Books Central are looking to help you keep cool, we’ve teamed up with wonderful publishers to organize a great giveaway to make it happen!
Summer means happy times and good sunshine. – Brian Wilson
Title: PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA
Author: Aimee Lucido
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Release Date: 7/2/24
A family dinner gets out of hand as guest after guest arrives with a different pasta request in this “delectable” (Kirkus Reviews) and rambunctious rhyming picture book. How much pasta is too much pasta?
Ring-a-ding, the doorbell rings, and oh! What did my Nonna bring?
Nonna Ana from Catania only likes to eat lasagna. But Nonno Titi from Tahiti only eats his spaghettini! Zio Tony wants ravioli, Zia Trini wants rotini, the cugini want tortellini… Family dinners can be tricky when the guests are oh-so-picky! As the kitchen gets more and more chaotic, can family pasta night go off without a hitch?
Title: Clack, Clack! SMACK! A Cherokee Stickball Story
Author: Traci Sorell; illustrated by Joseph Erb
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Release Date: 8/6/24
Vann, a struggling stickball player, competes in a game on the Cherokee Nation. Can he help his team win? Written by award-winning Cherokee author Traci Sorell.
Vann loves playing his tribe’s stickball game, but he’s not as skilled as his teammates. Vann stumbles, and he tries and fails to score. How can he help his teammates win?
Exciting and fast-paced, Clack, Clack! Smack! reminds readers that sportsmanship and being a team player is just as important as being the star. Back matter explains the origins of Cherokee stickball
• Supersized spreads with eye-catching illustrations that capture readers’ attention
• Bite-sized descriptions about each vehicle
• Educational content reviewed by experts
Fans of Colossal will also enjoy other books in the series, Spectacular and Incredible.
• Great family and classroom read-aloud book
• Nonfiction books for kids
• Educational books for elementary school students
Title: Gloriana, Presente
Author: Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, Illustrated by Doris M. Rodríguez-Graber
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Release Date: July 9, 2024
Enter the classroom in this joyful story of growth that will help new students find their voice. With Spanish words throughout the text, this radiant picture book is perfect for fans of Mango, Abuela, and Me.
On the first day of elementary school, Abuela soothes Gloriana’s nerves by telling her stories from their family home in la República Dominicana. But as soon as Gloriana enters the classroom, the tropical scenery crumbles and la música is replaced with English phrases she does not understand. When other kids approach her to play at recess, she freezes, uncertain about how to exist between her two homes, or how to make new friends between her two languages. Abuela recognizes echoes of her own immigration journey on this challenging day at school, and she gently guides Gloriana towards newfound confidence. This beautifully painted, imaginative picture book celebrates the magic of existing in-between, and the transformative power of self-soothing to build confidence.
An essential read for fans of The Queen of Kindergarten.
Title: How We Heal
Author: Adam Schmitt, MD, MS
Illustrator: Michelle Simpson
Publisher: North Star Kids
Release Date: August 1, 2024
When Charlie takes a tumble off her bike and scrapes her knee, her sister Alex reassures Charlie that she’ll be okay. Alex tells Charlie all the ways her skin works hard to heal itself.
Charlie learns how blood begins to clot right away to stop bleeding, how the body removes damaged skin cells and makes new ones, and how soap and water keep germs away to prevent an infection.
Written by a dermatologist and a father of young children, How We Heal is a comforting story that will help kids feel less afraid and more empowered by learning about the resilience of their own amazing skin and how to care for their everyday cuts and scrapes.
Title: The Dictionary Story
Author: Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: August 6, 2024
The much-anticipated new picture book from the best-selling, award-winning creators of A Child of Books.
Dictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn’t what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary’s pages once again.
Title: Who’s in Charge?
Author: Stephanie Allain and Jenny Klion
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: August 6, 2024
With its infectious refrain, this powerful, age-appropriate picture book for young children underscores kids’ right to set boundaries—and take charge of their own bodies, voices, and choices.
Who’s in charge of your giggle? I am!
Who’s in charge of your wiggle? I am!
Who’s in charge of your face? I am!
Who’s in charge of your space? I am!
With playfulness and a powerful sense of confidence, the children in this book assert in no uncertain terms who is in charge of their lips, their hips, their eyes, their thighs, their nose, their toes, their voice, and their choice. “I AM!” comes the response that little readers will echo loudly and happily. From Stephanie Allain and Jenny Klion, debut authors who are longtime friends and activists for equity in Hollywood, comes an invigorating anthem brought to colorful life in the energetic artwork of Marissa Valdez.
Title: Thank You
Author: Jarvis
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: August 6, 2024
With inviting collage illustrations, Jarvis brings his singular whimsy and sweetness to a musing on gratitude that spans the ages.
I thank my hat for stopping my thoughts from floating
up, up, and away.
I thank the cloud for the puddles.
The moon brings nighttime, and the sun the day. With no yellow and blue, we’d be a world without green lights, and without itches we’d never know the relief of a scratch. From oversized plants that offer hiding places to boots that somehow know the way, from siblings who bravely take the first plunge to yourself for being you, award-winning picture-book creator Jarvis spans the gamut from the silly to the sublime and opens the endless possibilities for giving thanks. Strikingly illustrated in bright, clear colors, this uplifting picture book is poised to make a thoughtful gift.
Title: THE IMAGINOODLES
Author: Christopher Eliopoulos
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books
Release Date: 7/9/2024
While on a playdate with an outgoing new friend, a nervous hedgehog finds the courage to use his imagination, in this lively, funny picture book by the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ordinary People Change the World.
It doesn’t take much for Henry, an introverted young hedgehog, to roll up into a tight ball of anxiety. And now he’s on a nerve-wracking playdate with a new neighbor, a very energetic chipmunk named Chester. Chester wants to go on all kinds of imagined adventures in the backyard, but Henry much prefers the safety of experiencing adventure in the pages of a book. What’s more, he’s afraid that if he expresses his own creative ideas Chester will think he’s silly and uncool. But with the help of a “magic” stick, a lizard who knows she’s actually a dragon, and the encouragement of rambunctious Chester, Henry just might find his bravery and save the playdate!
Title: ENOLA’S BEST FRIEND
Author: Katie Kordesh
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books
Release Date: 8/13/2024
An endearing and very funny story of forgiveness and the special relationship between a grandma and her grandchild.
Enola loves her visits to Grandma Mimi’s—full of staying up late, eating great snacks, and playing with a puppy named Hoagie. And even better, during lunch one day Enola realizes the most incredible thing: Her hot dog is perfectly friend-shaped. So she puts him in a stroller and begins taking her new friend everywhere (even if some kids complain that hot dogs can’t play bingo). But disaster strikes when Enola turns her back for a second and Hoagie EATS Hot Dog! How could Grandma Mimi let such a terrible thing happen?! Will Enola be able to forgive Grandma Mimi—and Hoagie—before it’s time to go home?
Title: ANGELICA AND LA GÜIRA
Author: Angie Cruz; illustrated by Luz Batista
Publisher: Kokila
Release Date: 7/30/2024
A young girl harnesses the power of music to bridge the distance between the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights in this jubilant picture book debut by Angie Cruz, bestselling and award-winning author of Dominicana.
Angélica has spent the summer in the Dominican Republic with her tías and primas, her grandparents, and their parrot, but soon she’ll have to say goodbye. The end of summer means returning home to start school on another shore. Before she leaves, her grandfather gives her the perfect gift. It’s something with the power to make people dance as fast as the wings of a hummingbird: a güira. Angélica falls in love with this musical instrument, though nobody shares her enthusiasm at first. “What is that sound,” they say, “pennies inside a tin cup?” But on a hot, sunny day, in the land of Washington Heights, where the frío frío woman scrapes ice for a long line of customers and the men on the corner plunk dominoes on a makeshift carboard table, Angélica shows her neighbors the power of la güira.
Angélica and la Güira lovingly explores music and community, the wisdom and guidance of our elders, and the joy and freedom of dancing in the street. No matter where we are, music brings us closer to home. Don’t miss the Spanish-language edition of this book, Angélica y la güira.
Dracula is ready for his first fang! In this board book, baby Dracula wakes up with a pain in his mouth. After trying numerous things to make the pain go away, Dracula and his parents discover his first tooth is coming in. Perfect for parents to share with young readers who are experiencing their own firsts, Dracula’s First Tooth presents an early childhood milestone through a classic literary monster.
Jekyll’s having a bad day–uh oh! When Jekyll and his friend, Wolfie, go to the candy store and there is only one lollipop left and Jekyll’s bad mood side–Hyde–takes everyone by surprise! After a little time and some big emotions, Jekyll and his parents learn to navigate the highs and lows of big moods. Perfect for parents to share with young readers who are experiencing their own firsts, Jekyll’s Bad Mood presents an early childhood milestone through a classic literary monster.
Indestructibles is the trusted series for easing little ones into story time. Beloved by babies and their parents, Indestructibles are built for the way babies “read” (i.e., with their hands and mouths) and are:
- Rip Proof—made of ultra-durable tight-woven material
- Waterproof—can be chewed on, drooled on, and washed!
- Emergent Literacy Tool—bright pictures and few or no words encourage dialogic reading
- Portable—lightweight books can go anywhere, perfect for the diaper bag and for travel
- Safe for Baby—meets ASTM safety standards
Sesame Street has been voted the #1 trusted brand by parents and has been a hit in households and classrooms since 1969. The same kids who grew up watching the beloved furry muppets are now introducing their own children to the wonderful world of Sesame Street! With the goal of helping kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, Sesame Street continues to expand and delight kids and parents around the world.
This sweet, rhyming, beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates Jewish joy and intergenerational love as it follows a girl and her grandmother preparing for Shabbat dinner by baking traditional challah from scratch.
A little girl and her grandmother spend Friday afternoon preparing for Shabbat by making challah.
In hours full of laughter and love, they mix the ingredients, braid the dough, let it rise, and set the table, and finally, enjoy a scrumptious family dinner and the bread they made together.
Told through Sara Holly Ackerman’s musical, rhyming verse and Alona Millgram’s rich, whimsical art, Challah for Shabbat Tonight will warm readers’ hearts and fill their bellies as they celebrate Jewish joy, familial love, and kitchen magic.
A challah recipe is included in the back for those who want to bake along
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
One winner will receive a copy of each title from the Summer Buzzworthy Book Giveaway 2024 (kids)! ~US ONLY
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
So many great books! Hope to read them all!