Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for June! We checked out a nice range of books over the past month, including a number of new graphic novels that we simply adored. Have a look at our reads for June below!
Fiction
Jonny and the Mystery of the Sun Disc – Melania Giofre (pub. The Book Guild)
Thank you to the author for sending us this book!
Things become dangerous when dreams collide with reality in this striking debut set in Italy.
Jonny has worries, from his family to the school bullies. He finds escape and comfort in his dreams, even if Nonno Peppe says that ‘dreaming is for losers’. But then his dreams become worryingly strange, and seep into the everyday world.
When he’s visited by a strange creature carrying a message of pending doom and a call for help, Jonny must seek the God of Dreams in the Dream Library, and face untold nightmare creatures in a strange fantastical realm. Does he have the courage and skill to become the powerful dreamer he’s destined to be?
Full of adventure, friendship and betrayal, we will be eagerly awaiting Giofre’s next book!
Letters to a Dog – Piers Torday and Alice McKinley (pub. Barrington Stoke)
Jamie and his dad have been alone since mum died, and they’re not finding it easy. Jamie really wants to talk to his dad about her, but his dad really doesn’t.
Now Jamie is in hospital awaiting an operation for a serious condition, and is refusing to speak to his dad after they argued just before he was admitted. And this is where our story begins.
Written in the form of letters between Jamie and a dog he longs to have as a pet, we see his feelings and hopes as the ‘dog’ writes back.
A beautiful story that deals with serious issues with gentle humour and a lot of heart.
Non-fiction
The Shark Book – Hannah Alice (pub. Nosy Crow)
Get to know how a shark’s body works with this amazing book that allows you to literally look inside a shark!
The detailed images highlight the seven different systems that make the shark so special, from its digestive system to its skeletal system (sharks actually don’t have any bones!), using inventive see-through pages.
It’s also full of information on a shark’s skin, and the amazing way that it feels electrical currents to find its prey.
This is a fascinating book that will keep shark lovers enthralled!
Mighty Myths and how to survive them – Thiago de Moraes (pub. Alison Green Books)
Enter the world of myths and legends in this wonderfully illustrated book, with two cheeky ravens to show you the way.
With advice on where not to go, who is likely to eat you (yikes!), and what the gods themselves eat, you’ll meet all kinds of creatures, as well as who – or what – makes storms and rainbows.
Including stories from different parts of the world, some better known than others, this is an ideal book for anyone even slightly interested in myths.
Graphic novels
Amelia Cheeseheart Investigates: Mummy Mayhem! – Cat Weldon and Nene Lonergan (pub. Guppy Books)
Young readers will love meeting Amelia Cheeseheart and her best friend Webster (who just happens to be a banana-loving spider) in this colourful new graphic series.
When items start disappearing from displays in the museum and upsetting their friends, Amelia and Webster know they will have to solve the mystery – especially as the Vikings and Romans are about to come to blows.
A brilliant addition to the growing number of graphic novels for younger readers, we can’t wait to read Amelia and Webster’s next adventure.
Supa Nova – Chanté Timothy (pub. Nosy Crow)
This one’s a new STEM graphic novel bursting with colour, with a fantastic science-loving main character in Nova, a girl who knows she has what it takes to be a genius.
Science is in Nova’s DNA (both her parents are scientists), so when she sees the problem caused by plastic in the world, she immediately heads to her lab ready to solve it.
But things don’t go quite according to plan when her ingenious invention goes beyond her control…
Join Nova at the start of this SUPA fun and dynamic series full of star quality!
Squid Squad: Nothing To Sea Here… – Aoife Dooley (pub. Scholastic)
Dooley, who is best known for the Frankie’s World graphic series, is definitely on to another winner with her new hilarious aquatic graphic series.
We follow the escapades of Ollie the vampire squid, Zing the sea bunny, and their weird and wonderful friends in Nowhere (well it is somewhere at the bottom of the sea!), in four mini story episodes.
From hearing strange noises to finding a toilet portal, the zany shorts and bright layout are certain to appeal to all primary-aged graphic readers.
Little Habitats: Barnacle Bay – Jana Curll (pub. Greystone Kids)
Staying with the sea theme, Barnacle Bay is the first in the new graphic series Little Habitats, each based in different ecosystems, revealing the animals and plants that live there.
Crab is showing the newly-arrived Larva around, and introducing Larva to their many underwater inhabitants. Along the way, Crab gives us lots of inside information on sea kelp, shell fish, sea urchins and much more.
Full of jokes and some truly awful (and by that, we mean excellent) puns, it’s a great way for children to learn while having fun. We loved it, and look forward to visiting Fern Forest in the next book!
Picture books
My Bright Shining Star – Fatima Whitbread and Rhian Wright (pub. Words & Pictures)
Young Fatima lives in ‘a big house with lots of other children’, in this beautiful book full of hope and love brought magically to life with vibrant illustrations.
It’s a book that’s full of heart, based on Fatima’s own experience in foster care, featuring the delightful Aunty Rea, Fatima’s favourite grown-up, whose care, love and comfort helps the children to deal with daily life.
This is a tender story that doesn’t shy away from the realities of life in care, but rather handles them with sensitivity and understanding. We think it’s a very special book that should be included in all primary collections.
Tiger, Don’t Worry – Daishu Ma (pub. Post Wave)
Best friends Mei and Tiger are back and hoping to have fun helping make tea, but it’s not as easy as it looks!
When things first go wrong, Tiger tells Mei not to worry, but when something gets broken Tiger suggests running away. Finally realising that’s not the answer, Mei convinces Tiger that they must go home and face the consequences.
A lovely tale about being honest and taking responsibility for your mistakes. This boldly illustrated book will have young children eager to see Mei and Tiger find the courage to go home and own up to their actions.
That’s it for June’s recommendations; whether you’re looking for fun, mystery, or underwater creatures, we’ve got you covered! Join us on Threads/Instagram, Bluesky, or Twitter/X, and let us know what you’ve been reading!
If any of the books have grabbed your attention, then you can pick up a copy of them via our recommendations list below.
(Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.)
If you’re looking for more book round-ups, check out our previous reviews here.
