As school holidays, commonly known as the ‘big’ holidays, are underway, presenting an ideal opportunity to encourage reading habits among the young and steer them away from screens, as a good adventure doesn’t rely solely on games, phones, and audiovisual content.
Book pages offer the perfect passport for babies, children, and teenagers to embark on a journey full of imagination, diving into enchanted worlds, secret missions, and fantasy, brimming with emotions, monsters, and talking animals.
To help pack for this journey, Notícias ao Minuto has curated 30 fresh releases that have just arrived in bookstores. These books cater to all ages, budgets, and tastes, much like Berlin Balls. Take a look:
- “Who Moved My Cheese? for Teens” by Dr. Spencer Johnson
Following the success of “Who Moved My Cheese” for adults, the edition for youngsters aged 13 and up is now available in Portugal, published by Bertrand. This book promises to help adolescents better manage life’s unpredictabilities. - “Ajax. From Meow to Worse” by Mr Tan and Diane Le Feyer
For children who have already learned to read, this can be a great option for the holidays, especially if they are familiar with the mischievous Adele and the cat Ajax or simply love animals and comics. This adventure, published by Bertrand, was released last June. - “The Dinosaur Club – T-Rex Attack” by Rex Stone
For dinosaur enthusiasts, Bertrand has just published another book in the series by Rex Stone. Recommended for children over nine years old, “The Dinosaur Club – T-Rex Attack” by Rex Stone promises to bring much adventure to these holidays. - “Paddington – The Classic Tale of the Bear from Peru” by Michael Bond and R. W. Alley
“Tender, comic, clumsy, and generous,” the bear Paddington will be a perfect companion for the holidays, especially for children over three who are already familiar with him from other stories. The “classic tale,” published last June by Bertrand, reveals how Paddington arrived in England, coming from “deepest” Peru. - “Party in the Forest” (Peter Rabbit) by Beatrix Potter
This tactile book, published in June by Bertrand, will delight babies, allowing them to enjoy another Peter Rabbit adventure while exploring various textures, from shiny radishes to rough acorns. - “We Can Do It!” by Nicola Kinnear
Once upon a time, there was a bee named Bizi, who preferred walking to flying, fearing her wings were not strong enough. Will Bizi find the courage to try with the right motivation? This book for children (3+), released in July by Bertrand, speaks about bravery and encouragement, promising to help the young deal with fear. - “The Danger Gang” by Tom Fletcher
For children aged 8 to 12, this might be the ideal book. Released in June by Porto Editora, this story promises to captivate kids from the first to the last paragraph, as it is full of mystery, adventure, and a bit of magic. - “Magic Animals – The Power of the Amulet” by Susanna Isern
Also filled with magic is this story for children aged 6 to 10. A book by Porto Editora, about animals turned into fantastic beings with a mission to stop the evil wizard Otto. - “Family Secret – Flying Over the Sparrow Family Nest” by Álvaro Magalhães and David Pintor
A newly published book by Porto Editora, narrated by a sparrow about the Sparrow family, features two brothers trying to uncover a secret that may lead them to a treasure. The story, for ages 8 to 12, is about unity, greed, and deception, with an unexpected and surprising ending. - “What Do Dinosaurs Do When They’re Afraid?” by Jurgita Smeu
A story about dinosaurs who, like children, have different personalities: some are more fearful, others get easily annoyed, and some are more courageous and fearless. Suitable for children aged 3 and up, it was released last June by Porto Editora. - “Do Emotions Spread?” by Susana Amorim
Also about emotions and for the younger ones, Porto Editora brings us this story “that shows (to kids and grown-ups) that our feelings can ‘infect’ those around us — for better or worse!” - “Grandma Nora and the Map of Chaos” by Joseph Elliott and Nici Gregory
Nuvem de Letras (Penguin) has just published the first volume of this “ruffled” series, featuring a highly unconventional grandmother who defies all stereotypes of “sweet and wrinkly” grandmas knitting. A story full of adventure for children aged 9 and up. - “Forever” by Assia Petricelli and Sergio Riccardi
This graphic novel is ideal for older kids (12+). It deals with themes such as the magic of first love, the joys and disappointments of adolescence, as well as diversity. Released by Fábula, an imprint of Penguin, last June, it is already a success. - “Where Are You, Grandma?” by Maria Inês Almeida and Cátia Vidinhas
This book reflects on the importance of preserving the memories of those we cherish. It talks about loss and longing, the invisible presence of loved ones, one of our greatest treasures, grandparents. A poignant story for those aged 7 and up, published by Nuvem de Letras, from Penguin. - “So Many Fish Everywhere” by Katie Haworth and Britta Teckentrup
Recently published by Nuvem de Letras, from Penguin, this book offers a journey starring fish of all colors and shapes for the young ones (4+). Attention! You will want to repeat it over and over. - “A Monster Story” by Rocio Bonilla
The author of the international hit “What Color Is a Kiss?” surprised us this June not only with a visit to Portugal but with “A Monster Story,” published by Jacarandá, part of Grupo Editoral Presença. In this new story, Rocio Bonilla, who was recently interviewed by Notícias ao Minuto, introduces two new characters, twin siblings, who embark on a “dangerous” adventure while trying to make a… cake. - “The Roar Within You” by Tom Percival
Most of the time, Ricardo can control his temper, but… one day, he unleashes the tiger within him. A smart and captivating book, released by Jacarandá, part of Grupo Editoral Presença, last June, it helps children aged 3 and up manage emotions and learn to express their feelings. - “Honesty Is My Superpower” by Alicia Ortego
If your little one is going through a lying phase, this is the perfect book to gift this holiday. It has just been released by Jacarandá (Grupo Editoral Presença) and is for children aged 3 to 6. - “The Wolf Who Loved Sweets Too Much” by Christine Beigel and Hervé Le Goff
If your children are in the big bad wolf (and sweets) phase, this book, also from Jacarandá, could be a good alternative. But instead of being bad, this wolf is a sweet-tooth, eating sweets from morning to night. An excellent (and fun) read for kids aged 3 to 6. - “First Colors to Touch”, illustrated by Virginie Graire
Recently launched, this book from Jacarandá will captivate babies. It stimulates the senses, develops concentration, promotes vocabulary development, and teaches colors. - “The Big Bad Wolf XL” by Clara Cunha and Natalina Cóias
Livros Horizonte has just launched a limited edition, XL size, specially designed to mark the 10th anniversary of the iconic Big Bad Wolf collection! Although it is designed for children aged 3 to 5, even older kids might be enchanted by this book. - “Discovering Colors” by Helena Paixão, Mafalda Rodrigues de Almeida, and Catarina Vieira
With dynamic and colorful illustrations and accessible language, this book not only teaches colors but also promotes healthy habits from an early age, raising awareness about respecting nature’s rhythm and the crucial role of pollinating insects in maintaining planetary balance. A book from Nuvem de Ideias, for children aged 3 and up. - “How to Hide a Star” by Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers delights us with a new adventure featuring the best friends an eccentric little boy can have. This time, the mission is very sparkly and involves stars, penguins, and more. A book, published by Orfeu Negro, that promises to “grip” children aged 3 and up from the first to the last paragraph. - “An Egg on the Head” by Joana Barata and Henrique Coser Moreira
This book, from UPA, belongs to the “Tell It Again” collection for babies and children. Embrace this story with rhythm, tone, sounds, pauses, and laughter, and they will (re)read and (re)flip through each page many times, ending with: “once more.” - “Lupina in Search of the Forgotten Destiny” by Joana Pais de Brito
Actress Joana Pais de Brito makes her debut in children’s literature with an adventure that promises to keep pre-teens away from screens for at least a while. It makes them dream about their “deepest desires.” The edition is by Tinta da China. - “The Most Boring Day” by Maria Nogueira Nössing
This book, published by Planeta Tangerina, is about those boring days when you don’t want to do anything. Then, something seemingly insignificant happens and changes everything! We all have days like that. It’s for children who have already started reading (6+). - “Cherry Cycle” by Mariana Magalhães, Cristina Quental, and Sandra Serra
Leya has just released another title in the popular children’s series “Where Are We Going Today” through Gailivro. This time, the authors introduce the youngest ones to the benefits of cherries, a very special fruit. Suitable for children aged 4 to 6. - “Emotions Alert – The Girl Who Wants To Be Invisible” by Sara Rodi and Cristina Resina
This is the second title in the “Emotions Alert” series, published by Oficina do Livro (Leya). This time, Sara and Cristina bring us the story of a girl with a very unusual name, Magnificent, who claims she isn’t magnificent at anything and whose only wish is to become invisible. - “Glória – The Girl Who Smiled in Her Sleep” by Isabel Zambujal and João Espírito Santo
Marking the 18th anniversary of the classic children’s literature tale “The Girl Who Smiled in Her Sleep,” Oficina do Livro (Leya) now publishes this graphic novel, which promises to delight children over 10 years old. - “Grandparents” by António Rocha Pereira and Joana Gancho
This book arrives in bookstores from Caminho (Leya) on July 22, just in time for Grandparents’ Day on July 26. It could be a gift that will delight children and adults alike, as it recalls this unique love, described as “a sun hug on a foggy morning,” tenderness, affection, and wisdom that enrich us in a sweet and shared time.
