Summer 2026 is stacked with excellent releases from the kids’ book world. We’re getting new installments in the wildly popular Food Group series (think The Big Cheese and The Humble Pie), some Dav Pilkey rereleases, and plenty of excellent spooky titles to ease us into summerween. The great movement of taking favorite elder millennial titles and turning them into graphic novels continues to hold strong! With topics ranging from extremely silly (Capybara Disco Dreams) to solemnly educational (Palestine: A Primer), this slate of new releases gives us plenty to dig into!
When scanning the best new kids’ books coming out this August, I tried to keep my eyes peeled for things that might not be on everyone’s radar. I was particularly delighted to find a new title in one of my favorite subgenres, picture book graphic novels, as well as a new Linda Liu that I know my students will go gaga for. This is a time of year when I am torn between beachy summer reads and scheming for the fall lineup I want to feature in my library; the August releases offer the best of both worlds! Whether you’re planning into the future or simply trying to fill in the last few slots on your summer reading log, one of these books below might be just the ticket.
Off the Wall: Making Stuff Together by Juana Martinez-Neal and Molly Idle
Martinez-Neal and Idle are two of my favorite children’s illustrators, so seeing them release a book together gave me such a happy jolt. The story follows an art project that starts simply and spirals wonderfully. I love so much about this book, from the butcher-paper background to the message about flexibility, collaboration, and happy accidents! I’m gifting this to my art teacher bestie, but I sense that I’ll need a few copies for the library, too.
I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu
As far as marketing goes, I was hooked from my first glance at this cover. Linda Liu is a fan favorite for her bold, colorful, beautifully blunt illustrations. She is also the master of capturing that self-deprecating feeling that every single human is sure they alone have experienced, then flipping it on its silly head with a delightful burst of hope. In her latest, two misfits find each other while indulging in an unlikely snack, reminding readers to be patient. You will find your people!
Owl By Myself by Pete Oswald
Oswald is all the rage as part of the duo behind you The Food Group series. Anyone who has been near a Scholastic Book Fair in the past few years can tell you that these books are everywhere. Even though there are slightly reminiscent vibes in the cover of his new book, I am excited to see this message of self-growth branch off in a new direction! Owl’s mission of independence may be a bit of a hard target to reach, but he’s not giving up. You’ll love him.
The Kids Are All Right
Sign up to The Kids Are All Right to receive news and recommendations from the world of kid lit and middle grade books.
The Path by Pamela Paul and Qin Leng
This book is simply cool. The story of a bustling park space and the tension that can erupt when too many people are in one place culminates in a beautiful natural phenomenon that takes all present from strangers in the way to community, witnessing beauty together. That alone is lovely enough, but I adore the graphic novel format that allows wonderful detail work. You could pore over this book for hours.
Shook by Julian Randall and Nathan Walker
I was first drawn to this title because the cover reminded me of Jason Reynolds’ Ghost. When reading that this was a novel in verse, I instantly thought of Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down. When I finally noticed that the Jason Reynolds himself had a pull quote on the cover, I knew this was a book I needed to read. Malik “Shake” Page knows exactly what’s going to happen: he’s going to work hard, he’s going to make the varsity basketball team in eighth grade, and he’s going to join the ranks of legends like his dad and uncle. One thing Shake didn’t count on? A broken ankle. One of the things that most intrigued me about this book was a promise of “hopeful descriptions of mental health.” More of this, please.
Raise the Bar by Fernanda Frick H.
I’m never going to pass on a book with a strong girl on the cover. My oldest students continue to devour graphic novels about kids their age, and the publishing world continues to meet the need. In this coming-of-age tale, Sam Sanchez will do anything to become Chile’s first weightlifter to win gold at the Olympics. Showcasing her incredible perseverance (and a fair bit of subterfuge), Sam goes after her goals with the strength of someone much older than herself, while still navigating the ups and downs of being a young person.
These are just some of the best new kids’ books to check out this August. I hope one of these great stories will fill a gap in your reading world! Looking for more summer reading magic? Check out this roundup of can’t-miss summer titles, and don’t forget about July’s new children’s books. Happy reading!
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
English (US) · 
French (CA) · 
French (FR) ·