Gather ’round, everyone. It’s time to wish these new releases by SCBWI members a very happy book birthday. These books include self- and traditionally-published work by authors and illustrators from around the world. Support your peers, check out these books, and happy reading!
PICTURE BOOKS
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Crackers, Crackers
by Christy L Schwan, illustrated by Amy E Malczewski
Who doesn’t love crackers, the ultimate comfort food? Join Quackers, the lucky duck, as he munches, crunches, stacks, and snacks wherever he goes. Just be careful not to…
Release Date: June 1, 2020
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Tell ‘em
by Katrina Germain & Rosemary Sullivan, illustrated by Karen Briggs
Tell ’em how us kids like to play. We got bikes and give each other rides. A celebration of life in a remote Aboriginal community.
Release Date: June 1, 2020
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The Battle
by Ashling Kwok, illustrated by Cara King
Edward is anxious about starting school so he puts on his armor and prepares for battle. He soon realizes that things aren’t always what they seem.
Release Date: June 1, 2020
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The Friendly Games
by Kaye Baillie, illustrated by Fiona Burrows
When the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games are overshadowed by world tensions, student John Wing writes an urgent letter suggesting how to save the Games.
Release Date: June 1, 2020
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Aah! Blown Away, Crash! An Alphabet Misadventure
by Brigitte Brulz, illustrated by Alyssa Brulz
Aah! A bird crashes on a deserted island. How will he escape? And who- or what- is following him? Ages 3-6. Free activities available.
Release Date: June 2, 2020
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Dusk Explorers
by Lindsay Leslie, illustrated by Ellen Rooney
In this lyrical ode to summertime, the search is on for tree climbers, firefly catchers, and hide-and-seekers to steal away to the outside world as dusk falls to night.
Release Date: June 2, 2020
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The Sea Knows
by Alice B. McGinty & Alan B. Havis, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
Dive in and explore the wonders of the ocean and its inhabitants in this beautiful, lyrical, fact-filled ode to the sea!
Release Date: June 5, 2020
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Kindergarten Hat
by Janet Lawler, illustrated by Geraldine Rodriguez
Join nervous Carlos on his successful first-day-of-kindergarten journey! What will he give his teacher to wear on her special hat?
Release Date: June 9, 2020
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Lift as You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker
by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Her mother taught Ella Baker to “Lift as you climb.” One of few women leaders in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Ella did.
Release Date: June 9, 2020
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The Starkeeper
by author-illustrator Faith Pray
A girl who wants to change the world around her finds a lost star that needs the girl to help it shine. THE STARKEEPER is a book that empowers readers with the understanding that even the smallest someone can make a difference in the world.
Release Date: June 9, 2020
NONFICTION
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What Do Black Holes Eat for Dinner? And Other Silly, Yet Totally Smart, Questions About Space
by Dr. Grant Tremblay & Katie Coppens
Space facts from an astrophysicist, brought down to earth by a teacher—these are answers to kids’ wacky, smart questions about stars, galaxies, and more.
Release Date: June 15, 2020
To submit your new release to Happy Book Birthday, read our guidelines here. Deadline to submit for July’s Happy Book Birthday is June 22, 2020. Visit here for more promotional opportunities.
Sometimes, we miss a couple book birthdays. That’s why we rounded up books our members released earlier this year and shared with us via the Book Birthday program. Keep scrolling for even more books to add to your TBR list.
JANUARY
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Feet in the Sand (Raitt Mein Paanv)
by Sakshi Singh
Raiit Mein Paanv (Feet In The Sand) is a bilingual poetry book about the stories of the sand and the sea, of you and me. It focuses on the need of the hour to save our earth and clean our planet in a fun and childlike way!
Released January 1, 2020
MARCH
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What Does My Dog Jack Do At Night?
by Adam Mock, illustrated by Segundo Garcia
A little boy gives his ideas of what his dog Jack might be up to at night when everyone is fast asleep.
Released March 2020
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Cheeky Little Pippa and the Hair-y Salon
by author-illustrator Rosanna Montanaro
Cheeky Little Pippa is a bold, funny girl with a playful imagination! Children will laugh as her cheekiness gets her in and out of trouble.
Released March 14, 2020
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A Hatful of Dragons: And More Than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems
by Vikram Madan
An interactive, visually-rich collection of hilarious poems featuring wide ranging subjects, clever wordplay, impeccable rhyme, delicious vocabulary, and recurring subplots for ages 7-12.
Released March 18, 2020
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Never Fear, Meena’s Here!
by Karla Manternach, illustrated by Mina Price
Meena discovers the secret to being a good friend and big sister in this superpower-filled sequel to MEENA MEETS HER MATCH.
Released March 24, 2020
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Tyrone the Terrible: The Chameleon Who Decided He Was an Alligator
by author-illustrator Jan Lis
Tyrone is the skinniest chameleon in the swamp. No one wants him on their team. After going on a fitness program, Tyrone gets carried away with his new self and terrorizes his friends in Gnarly Tree Bend until he meets Sly, the meanest gator in the bayou. Looks like Tyrone is gumbo.
Released March 11, 2020
APRIL
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For Spacious Skies, Katharine Lee Bates and the Inspiration for “America the Beautiful”
by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Olga Baumert
Poet, professor, and suffragette Katharine Lee Bates wrote “America the Beautiful” to help a divided nation unite as a family from sea to shining sea.
Released April 1, 2020
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Down Under the Pier
by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Rachell Sumpter
There’s lots of fun to be had up on the pier—the Ferris wheel, cotton candy, the carousel—but it’s down under the pier, at low tide, where the real magic can be found.
Released April 7, 2020
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ABC: What Kind of Nurse Can You Be?
by Cherice Byrd, illustrated by Kofi Johnson
ABC: WHAT KIND OF NURSE CAN YOU BE? is devoted to educating young readers on the several career paths in the field of nursing from A-Z.
Released April 12, 2020
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Jiemba and Friends
by Scott Ziemer, illustrated by Mariah Ziemer
Discover how friends can be made even in the most unlikely of places with Jiemba and his friends on an Outback adventure.
Released April 13, 2020
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Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music
by Michael Genhart, illustrated by Priscilla Burris
A boy brings the two cultures of his family together through the music of the accordion with the help of his two grandfathers.
Released April 21, 2020
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Earth Takes a Break
by Emily House
Earth feels unwell so she goes to the doctor. What the doctor prescribes seems impossible to Earth until she wakes the next day to surprising change!
Released April 24, 2020
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Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family
by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Andrea Zuill
Dog lives alone with her dad. Cat and a different Dog live with their mom. And they’re about to become one big happy family…whether they like it or not! A Junior Library Guild and 2020 Indie Next List selection; Kurkis and Bulletin starred reviews.
Released April 28, 2020
MAY
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Nature Did It First: Engineering Through Biomimicry
by Karen Ansberry, illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio
Part playful poetry, part nonfiction information, this kid―friendly introduction to biomimicry highlights the remarkable ways plants and animals have helped us solve some of our toughest engineering challenges. One well―known example of biomimicry is the invention of Velcro ― inspired by the sticky burrs from a plant. Discover six more ways nature did first! Back matter includes a glossary and a STEM challenge activity to use at home or in the classroom.
Released May 1, 2020
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The Noisy Classroom
by Angela Shanté, illustrated by Alison Hawkins
A young girl is about to enter the third grade, but this year she’s put into Ms. Johnson’s noisy class.
Released May 5, 2020
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Bunny Overboard
by author-illustrator Claudia Rueda
In this delightfully interactive picture book, eager children will get to blow to put wind in Bunny’s sails, rock the book to make waves and knock on the window of a sunken ship.
Released May 12, 2020
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White Feathers Academy
by Phyllis Cherry
Halo Havens is one of many children who fail to survive their childhood and are whisked away to study with the angels of White Feathers Academy in a galaxy light years away from earth. She learns that different angels have different talents and she must present her talent to graduate. What happens if she doesn’t have one?
Released May 27, 2020