The sun is up, school is out and summer reading challenges have launched for kids in Northeast Ohio. There’s no better time to crack open a new book — especially one written by a local author.
Looking for a few new books to check out this season with young readers? Look no further than the area’s lively literary scene. Here are a few releases featuring art or writing from local authors and illustrators, for a range of ages. Check out more reading recommendations at clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/books.
A Friend For Princess Ada, illustrated by Kim Soderberg
Cleveland illustrator Kim Soderberg teamed up with author Emilee Moore to tell a tale of a princess seeking friendship in her kingdom. kimsoderbergillustration.com
Beulah Has a Hunch, illustrated by Katie Mazeika
Famed inventor Beulah Louise Henry, also known as “Lady Edison,” is the focus of this storybook illustrated by Northeast Ohio’s Katie Mazeika. Henry’s unique way of seeing the world — experiencing both hyperphantasia and synesthesia — helped her make inventive advancements in typewriters, sewing machines, toy dolls and more. katiemazeika.com
House Party, edited by Justin A. Reynolds
The same Cleveland-based author behind several Marvel Miles Morales graphic novels edited together a collaborative young adult book House Party, featuring contributions from a handful of fellow young adult authors. justinareynolds.com
I Am A Homeschooler, written by Allison Ryver
This picture book looks at the many forms education can take, and what homeschooling can look like for some students. allisonryver.com
Library Girl, written by Karen Henry Clark
Avid young library-goers will certainly connect with the true story of Nancy Pearl, a knowledgeable and iconic Seattle librarian who fell in love with libraries at a young age. karenhenryclark.com
Looking for True, written by Tricia Springstubb
Acclaimed local author Tricia Springstubb explores a new friendship between Gladys, Jude and a neighborhood mutt named True Blue, and the challenges of family dynamics around adoption and loss. triciaspringstubb.com
Luminous: Living Things that Light Up The Night, illustrated by Julia Kuo
Naturally occurring bioluminescence is the focus of Cleveland illustrator Julia Kuo’s latest picture book. Whether it’s a deep-sea fish, fungi or a firefly, Kuo’s art showcases some of the world’s most unique creatures with loads of scientific facts about the light they can create. juliakuo.com
Olly & The Spores of Sapphire Creek, written by Glenn Somodi
This installment in the kidult fantasy series Olly and the Spores picks up the story of Olly Appleton and his friends, who meet mythical Spore creatures in Massachusetts while fighting overdevelopment in their homey town. The first book, Olly & the Spores of Oak Hill, arrived in November 2022, with a sequel, Olly & the Spores of Sapphire Creek, due out in 2023. glennsomodi.com
Pink Is Not A Color, written and illustrated by Lindsay Ward
Author-illustrator Lindsay Ward follows up her This Book is Gray picture book with a zap of color in Pink Is Not A Color. Here, Pink finds her way to fit in with a whole rainbow of colors. lindsaymward.com
Play Like a Girl, written by Misty Wilson and illustrated by David Wilson
Couple Misty and David Wilson teamed up to write and to illustrate this graphic novel memoir, based on Misty’s own sporty experience: Back in the seventh grade, she was the only girl on her middle school football team. workdavidwork.com
Surprisingly Sarah, written and illustrated by Terri Libenson
The seventh book in Terri Libenson’s acclaimed graphic novel series arrived in May. Surprisingly Sarah follows Sarah’s nerve-wracking crush and all sorts of antics in the group of kid friends whom readers have known and loved since Invisible Emmie, the first in the series, published in 2017. terrilibenson.com
The Great Vandal Scandal, illustrated by Dave Motram
This adventurous middle-grade novel follows the stories of an apartment building’s assortment of pets and their ambitions, featuring spunky drawings by Stow, Ohio’s Dave Motram. davemottram.com
The Note Who Faced the Music, written by Lindsay Bonilla
North Canton’s Lindsay Bonilla penned a heartwarming story about a half-note who feels out of place in a composer’s piece of sheet music — but eventually learns how every note is important in a song. lindsaybonilla.com
The Swing on the Silver Star in the Royal Purple Sky, written by Laura Elizabeth Gray
A little girl goes on a fantastical adventure shaped by her imagination in this colorful debut children’s book by Laura Elizabeth Gray. Amazon page
Time Problems, written by Jason R. Lady
Drawn cartoon characters come to life in Jason R. Lady’s imaginative Time Problems middle-grade novel, featuring Timeduck, Attack Pig and other magical creatures who help Rachel get through middle school. jasonrlady.com
