The Best New Children’s Books of May 2020

Pride 123

Out in time for Pride Month (June) this early reader board book is the perfect way to engage kids, especially if you can't attend a Pride Parade this year. "1 Parade in the month of June/2 DJ's spin fabulous tunes." Michael Joosten's rhyming prose is perfectly accompanied by Wednesday Holme's bright illustrations. 

Ages: 1-5

Get it here. $7.99

The Camping Trip

Wishing you were camping right now? Whether your kids love camping or not, they’ll love this book by Jennifer K. Mann. Ernestine's been invited to go on her first camping trip with her aunt, Jackie. She needs a new sleeping bag and new flashlight, of course. But these are plenty of other new things she encounters as the book unfolds. At its heart Ernestine's is a story about how to approach new situations, especially ones that are challenging. 

Ages: 3-7

Find your copy online. $17.99

Clever Hans

Seattle-based author, Kerri Kokias and illustrator Mike Lowery retells this German story that introduces kids to Hans, a horse who can tell time, count, solve equations, even spell. Hans’s amazing abilities draw as many crowds as they do questions, and eventually people start to wonder if this horse really is as clever as he seems. Find out how the mystery of Hans’s intelligence is solved (or is it?) when you read this playful book.

Ages: 4-8

Order your copy,$17.99

Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans

At home with the kids? We've got a plan for that! Read Laurie Ann Thompson’s upcoming book Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans to your kids. This picture book bio chronicles the Senator’s life from childhood, to teacher, to lawyer, to presidential hopeful. Susanna Chapman’s beautiful illustrations make Warren’s impressive life story accessible to kids of all ages. 

Ages: 4-8

Find it online. $17.99

The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish

A Doll for Grandma

This story about a little girl who is very close with her grandma and the girl's experience as her grandma's dementia progresses. It is an excellent child's eye view of this often confusing and heartbreaking disease and a great tool for parents and caregivers to engage kids in the conversation of aging, dementia and alzheimers. 

Ages: 5-8

Find online here. $17.99

Guion the Lion

With bright watercolor illustrations, this book tells the story of how an imaginative lion named Guion shows his friends how to see magic in their everyday world. Inspired by the author's three kids, including her oldest with Down syndrome, the book shows readers how to change their perspective and find a little magic in their own lives too. The book ends with suggestions for fun activities for families to play together, building on the themes in the book.

Age: 5 and up. 

Find it here. $17.99

Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses

Tara Stiles new book helps kids go with the flow––yoga flow, that is. This introduction to the practice of yoga helps kids learn basic poses by curling like a cat, stretching like a dog and bending like a gorilla! The perfect way to do yoga as a family, the picture-based work offers both the animal and actual names of poses, along with detailed instructions on how to do each pose so everyone stays safe.

Ages: 4-8

Find it here, $15.29

Bark Park

Sometimes, you just need a good dog mystery in your life. Join Scout and her doggy detective friends as they em"bark" on a mission to find out what's amiss at the local dog park. Written by Brandi Dougherty with illustrations by Paige Pooler. 

Ages: 5-8

Find it here, $6.99

Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best?

What's better: a slice of pizza or a crunchy taco? In this graphic novel, the first of a series, kids are introduced to besties Pizza and Taco who have a friendly-ish competition to find out who is really, truly the best. In the end, they find out being best friends is best. Written and illustrated by Stephen Shaskan. 

Ages: 5-8

Find a copy here. $9.99

Out of Time: Lost on the Titanic

.Another awesome Epic! Originals book, Out of Time: Lost on the the Titanic takes us along with siblings Allie and Vic, their buddy Max and their puppy, as they travel back in time to the deck of the RMS Titanic. Written by Jessica Rinker and illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe. 

Ages: 6-9

Find it here. $6.99

Adventures in Kindness: 52 Awesome Kid Adventures for Building a Better World

Written by a mother-daughter duo, this interactive activity book is perfect for adventurous spirits. Packed with ideas on how to make the world better, families can get inspired by plenty of ways on how to help out their schools, communities and those around them, like learning how to tip generously, say hello in 35 languages and more.

Ages: 6 to 12

Get it here, $18.95

Katarina Ballerina

Katarina's dreams are bigger than city life. The ten-year-old has it in her heart to become the best: a prima ballerina. Despite not having any training, Katarina sets out to win a coveted spot in an international dance camp that is sure to make her a start.

Ages: 8-12

Get it here, $16.99

Any Day with You

This is the second middle grade novel from Bay Area author Mae Respicio and it is full of Filipino folklore, history and cuisine. Any Day with You is a warm, tender story about a creative girl who hopes that by winning a filmmaking contest, she’ll convince her great-grandfather not to move back home to the Philippines. 

Ages: 8-12

Find it here, $16.99.

Jacky Ha-Ha: A Graphic Novel (Jacky Ha-Ha (1))

James Patterson's novel Jacky Ha-Ha adapted by Adam Rau comes to life as the first-ever graphic novel from James Patterson! Based on the adventures of class clown Jacky Ha-Ha, who uses humor to keep kids from laughing at her and to keep herself distracted from not-very-funny, real life situations like her mom fighting in a far-away war and her semi-absent father. 

Illustrated by Betty Tang.

Ages: 8-14

Get yours here. $8.03 

Stepping Stones (Peapod Farm)

This graphic novel about the realities of a blended family, from the point of view of young Jen, will entertain kids while bringing to light the definition of family and love. Jen doesn't want to leave the city, or her dad, to live with her mom and new step-dad on a farm. And she doesn't want to (but she does) compare herself to her new step-sister, who seems to get everything right when Jen does everything wrong. Brings the complexities of family life, divorce and blending families to the table in an easy-to-read and share format. Funny, too! Based on author illustrator Lucy Knisley's real life. 

Ages: 8-12 

Get it here. $12.99