2024 Kids Summer Reading

Going Into 1st Grade 2024

Printable List: Going into 1st Grade 2024.PDF

Picture Books

Spark, Shine, Glow!

Lola M. Schaefer

"A look at what light is and how it affects our world"–

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When Summer Comes

Aimée M. Bissonette

Poetic children’s book celebrating nature and wildlife in the summer season. Summer is the perfect season for families to embrace the outdoors. When Summer Comes celebrates playing and exploring in the wilderness during the summer months. When summer comes, and the sky soars blue above us, and the days stretch long and warm before us, some people head to ball games and outdoor markets. Instead we gather our gear. Binoculars. Hiking poles. Backpacks. Butterfly nets. Shovels and buckets for trips to the shore. Summer’s the season when we explore. This follow up to When Winter Comes is about the joy of being outdoors and discovering wildlife during the summer months.

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Dim Sum Palace

X. Fang

A little girl's love of dim sum spills over into her dreams, taking her on a fantastical food-filled adventure, in this picture book love letter to Maurice Sendak's In the Night Kitchen. Beautifully illustrated with a gold foil cover, this is the perfect gift for foodies of all ages. Liddy is so excited about going to the Dim Sum Palace tomorrow with her family that she can't sleep. So when a delicious smell wafts into her room, she hops out of bed, opens her door and steps into . . . an actual palace of dim sum! There are dumplings, baos, buns and more delicious treats than one girl can possibly eat. Liddy just has to take a bite, but she slips and falls . . . into a bowl of dumpling filling. The chefs are so busy rolling, folding and pinching dough that they don't notice they've prepared a most unusual dumpling for the Empress — a Liddy dumpling! Worst of all, she looks good enough to eat . . . This deliciously humorous debut picture book, inspired by X. Fang's memories as a child of epic dim sum feasts, is a dreamworld adventure that is at once a glorious celebration of the sensory world of childhood and a loving helping of food, family and culture.

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The Umbrella

Beth Ferry

From the New York Times bestselling creators behind Stick and Stone comes an inspiring story of persistence, kindness, and curiosity—a perfect read-aloud, rain or shine. In a dreary town where it always rains, a little girl and her dog discover an unexpected way to spread the light. Told with surprise and humor, here is a story of generosity, perseverance, and the way that happiness can be contagious—all it takes is one person and a bright idea. This gorgeously illustrated story is a feel-good classic in the making for all bedtimes and story times.

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We All Play

Julie Flett

A BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR: New York Times, Washington Post, New York Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, Globe and Mail, Horn Book, and Boston Globe STARRED Reviews in Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, The Horn Book, School Library Journal A 2022 Best Book for Babies From Julie Flett, the beloved author and illustrator of Birdsong, comes a joyous new book about playtime for babies, toddlers, and kids up to age 7. Animals and kids love to play! This wonderful book celebrates playtime and the connection between children and the natural world. Beautiful illustrations show: birds who chase and chirp! bears who wiggle and wobble! whales who swim and squirt! owls who peek and peep! and a diverse group of kids who love to do the same, shouting: We play too! / kimêtawânaw mîna At the end of the book, animals and children gently fall asleep after a fun day of playing outside, making this book a great bedtime story. A beautiful ode to the animals and humans we share our world with, We All Play belongs on every bookshelf. This book also includes: A glossary of Cree words for wild animals in the book A pronunciation guide and link to audio pronunciation recordings

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I Hope

Monique Gray Smith

Poignant words from award-winning Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith about all the hopes adults have for the young people in their lives. The hopes we have for the children in our lives are endless. We want our young people to thrive and experience all that life has to offer, but we also feel protective of them. Using simple but powerful statements, Monique Gray Smith delivers a touching message about loving, nurturing and wishing the best for our children. Paired with Gabrielle Grimard's warm and enchanting illustrations, the message in I Hope will resonate with all parents, grandparents and caregivers. Praise for Monique Gray Smith: ★“Joyful and tender…celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections.”—School Library Journal, starred review for My Heart Fills With Happiness “Smith's text is heartwarming!”—Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature for You Hold Me Up “Gentle…Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities—and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others.”—Publisher's Weekly for When We Are Kind ★“Smith tackles difficult and complex conversations with straightforwardness and compassion.”—School Library Journal, starred review for Speaking Our Truth

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This Is the Planet Where I Live

K.L. Going

This picture book celebrates and honors the interconnectedness of everything here on planet Earth. The planet where we live is full of people, animals, insects, birds, trees, clouds, rain, oceans—and everything is interconnected. With a cumulative text and rich, highly-detailed collages, this book is a joyous ode to our wondrous planet.

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One Sweet Song

Jyoti Rajan Gopal

In an ode to the power of music and community, this vibrantly illustrated picture book steps out on the balcony for a shared moment of spontaneous joy and celebration. In a quiet neighborhood, a single note trills through the air. Another note joins, and then another. One by one, curious people are drawn to their windows, doorways, and balconies to support the medley. Professional musicians play instruments from around the world, while others bang pots and pans. All are welcome as the notes swirl and dip and crescendo, coming together to make one sweet song. And when the music fades and this diverse neighborhood is once again silent, the reverberations of unity remain. Written by a kindergarten teacher and inspired by the balcony singing in Italy during the pandemic–with a countdown from one to ten and back gently woven in–this rhythmic synergy of text and art is a buoyant, global-minded celebration of how music connects us, even in the darkest of times.

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Big

Vashti Harrison

From a New York Times bestselling and award-winning creator, this deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance. The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

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Granny and Bean

Karen Hesse

A loving grandmother and her grandchild enjoy an adventure by the sea and stop to have tea.

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Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone

Amy Hest

A celebration of the joy and comfort to be found in alone time and the joy and comfort that a friend can bring. Sometimes it’s nice to be alone. Just you, eating a cookie, alone. But what if a friend drops in? In Amy Hest and Philip C. Stead’s accomplished hands, anyone can become a potential friend—and that includes horses, whales, crocodiles, and even dinosaurs. The book’s effortless lilt and joyous illustrations are reminiscent of the very best work of Margaret Wise Brown and Charlotte Zolotow. It’s a complete treat for any lonely kid with a big imagination.

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A New Friend

Lucy Menzies

Follow the heartwarming story of a new friendship in this innovative title, comprised of two books telling two different perspectives of the story of Joe and Mae! It's Joe's first day at a new school. It's big, scary and different. He misses his school, his old friends and his old life. Can't he just go back to the way things were? When Mae hears that there's a new kid starting school, she can't wait to meet him. Is this her chance to make a true friend? A New Friend is the next book in the One Book, Two Stories format. With this innovative format,two books, telling two different stories, are bound together. One book follows Joe on his first day at school, and the other shows Mae on her quest to make friends with the new kid. The stories can also be read side-by-side, as spreads from each book complement each other and are linked with corresponding page numbers. The final spread at the back of the book reveals a shared ending, in which Joe and Mae are united in the playground! This uplifting tale of overcoming fears and making new friends is the perfect gift for anyone struggling with new challenges, and the innovative format means kids can read the story again and again, each time in different ways!

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365: How to Count a Year

Miranda Paul

"This unique take on a concept book will introduce young readers to numbers both big and small, and give them the tools to understand all of the time that passes by in mysterious and exciting ways each year. It takes the Earth 365 days to spin around the sun. But what does that actually look like? Find out in this fun numerical breakdown of a whole entire wonderful year!"–

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Lost Cat!

Jacqueline K. Rayner

Spare, simple, funny, and perfect for preschoolers, the saga of a cat who doesn't show up for dinner and the little girl who wishes she knew where he might be–but the reader knows! In this lost pet story with a fun, comforting twist, a little girl worries about her missing cat, Fred, while the reader gets a behind-the-scenes view of where he is and what he's doing–having adventures! While the text tells the girl's side of the story, wordless pictures reveal what Fred is up to: driving a car, sunning at a resort, and traveling in Egypt, China, and the Alps. Fred even meets some friendly space aliens, who eventually help him get back home to reunite with the little girl he's been missing too. Spare text and cheery, action-filled illustrations make this a satisfying adventure that's perfect for very young cat lovers and their grown-ups–or anyone who needs reassuring when someone they love is away.

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A Day in the Park

Robert Salmieri

A celebration of the wonders of nature and life–all waiting for you to discover when you spend a day in the park! With its chirping birds, bounding dogs, and flickering fireflies, a day at the park bursts with life–from sunrise to sunset to sunrise. Though no more than some acres in a big city, the park still hums with the richness, variety, and mystery of the natural world. This picture book was inspired by artist Robert Salmieri's love for Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY. With a mixed media technique including collage and painting, each spread reveals the variety of activity and moods that he observed at different times and different locations in the park. He hopes that this book will inspire young readers to seek out and enjoy nature and wildlife everywhere it is found, from the smallest towns to the biggest cities.

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Simon and the Better Bone

Corey R. Tabor

One day, down by the pond, Simon meets another dog just like him. And that dog has a bone just like his, only better! How will Simon ever get him to trade, when the other pup knows all the same tricks? Using the same innovative format as his Caldecott Honor winner, Mel Fell, Corey R. Tabor reimagines Aesop's "The Dog and His Reflection" in a clever, charming tale of empathy and generosity.

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What to Do with a Stick

Jane Yolen

In this last installment of Jane Yolen's trio of books about ordinary objects with extraordinary uses, the humble stick is lauded as "a sword to tame monsters of dread" and "an oar for a rowboat in puddle or pond," among other imaginative functions. As with most things, though, it fulfills its truest purpose when combined with others: what can be made with a stick, a box, and a string? "Music that goes with … everything!"

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Rising Readers and Graphic

That Egg Is Mine!

Liz Goulet Dubois

The first book in Duck & Cluck, a brand new funny graphic novel series for beginning readers—perfect for fans of Mo Willems and Elephant and Piggie. Meet Duck and Cluck. They are friends. Mostly. But they do not always agree. Duck has found an egg. Cluck thinks the egg belongs to her instead. And sharing? Out of the question! This simple but hilarious read-aloud follows the two friends as they make their case for why the egg belongs to them. And in the end, they both learn important lessons about manners and sharing. That Egg is Mine is the perfect laugh-out-loud purchase for any kindergarten or first-grader learning to read, or for anyone searching for comic books for ages 6-8.

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Hot Cat, Cool Cat

Laura Manaresi

Kit likes to run. Kip likes to sit. Can they be friends? This level G book is perfect for new readers. Kit likes to hug. Hugs scare Kip. Kit likes cake. Kip likes fish. Kit and Kip are total opposites but also best friends! Kit likes swimming, while Kip is happy to sit on the hill. One day when brave Kit is swimming and gets a cramp, careful Kip must jump into action to save her best friend! With expressive, colorful characters and illustrations packed with silly shenanigans and actions, young readers will love Kit and Kip. Perfect for kindergarteners and first graders to read on their own. This book has been officially leveled by using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level GradientTM leveling system. For early-to-mid first grade readers, Level G books feature more complex storylines than prior levels, and a wider variety of structure and punctuation. Illustrations offer support for decoding the more challenging vocabulary words introduced. The award-winning I Like to Read © series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators–including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors–create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own!

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Elena Rides

Juana Medina

Beginning readers—and beginning riders—will be drawn to this bright, buoyant story of a determined elephant and her loyal sidekick, from the award-winning creator of Juana & Lucas. Elena wants to ride her bike. She steadies, she readies. She wobbles, she bobbles . . . KA-BANG! Learning to ride a bike is hard. But Elena can do it. She just has to try, try again. With this reassuring story of childlike persistence, Juana Medina, creator of the acclaimed Juana & Lucas series, introduces Elena, a plucky elephant, and the little red bird who is Elena’s faithful cheerleader. Simple, energetic text and bold, brilliant artwork convey a relatable tale of the ups and downs of learning something new (not without protest or tears) and the final thrill of mastery that will have children rooting for Elena and ready for her next adventure.

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It's a Sign!

Jarrett Pumphrey, Jerome Pumphrey, Mo Willems

One, Two, Kat, and Four want to form a club so together they figure out how to make a sign saying what their club should be called.

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Graduation Day!

Candice Ransom

It's time to graduate Kindergarten in this Step 1 Reader featuring the family from Pumpkin Day!, Apple Picking Day!, and all the DAY books. The school year is nearly over, and little bro is ready to graduate kindergarten! He and big sis head off for the very last day of school. He learned so much and can do so much on his own now. His cubby is cleaned out, he has his cap and gown, but—oh no!—his shoe is untied! No worries, he'll show everyone what he can do! Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. A day with family is always a great day! Read all the DAY books: Apple Picking Day! Pumpkin Day! Garden Day! Beach Day! Snow Day! Grandparents Day! School Day!

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The Big Mix-Up!

Dana Regan

Meet Mike, a helpful hedgehog who lives in the town of Happy Rivers in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read! Although helpful, sometimes he gets involved in some silly mix-ups, like delivering ants instead of pants and pigs instead of wigs! Jay needs a fan. Mike brings a pan! Val paid for pens. Mike brings her hens! Mike is busy making deliveries to his friends. The problem is, he is accidentally mixing up the deliveries, resulting in some very silly mistakes!

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I Really Want to Be First!

Harriet Ziefert

Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends Cat, Pup, Mouse, and Rabbit. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something – to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be the leader – to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy, or brave. And when he feels something, he really feels it. Each story is an entertaining, character-driven caper based on relatable social/emotional themes, delivered with surprise twists, high drama, and expert comic timing. Along the way, lessons are learned about qualities such as teamwork and compassion. The emphasis is on character growth and development through creative problem-solving. Friendship and emotional engagement are at the heart of every story. In I Really Want to Be First!, Really Bird is usually in line behind his two best friends, Cat and Pup. He wants to be first for a change, so he thinks up a scheme to become the leader of the group. Along the way, Really Bird discovers that being the leader involves more than being first.

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Non-Fiction

The Yawn Book

Diana Kim

"Why do we yawn? Do animals yawn? And why are yawns so CONTAGIOUS? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this fact-filled and funny nonfiction picture book. Why did you yawn before your piano recital? Do you yawn more than your grandmother? And is your pet dog really yawning because you are? Find out in The Yawn Book, a funny and fascinating book of facts, including the most unbelievable one: no one knows for sure why we yawn at all."

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Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider

Jessica Lanan

From critically acclaimed illustrator of The Lost Package comes a bold nonfiction story following a day in the life of a backyard jumping spider – meticulously researched and utterly charming. What if you were small as a bean, Could walk on the walls and ceiling, Sense vibrations through your elbows, And jump five times your body length? That is Jumper's world. Open this book to discover the vibrant, hidden life of a backyard jumping spider.

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Animals in Pants

Suzy Levinson

An irreverently illustrated picture book of simple and silly poems featuring all kinds of animals wearing all kinds of pants What? You’ve never seen animals in pants? A dog in yoga pants, a goat in overalls, a yak in slacks? Animals in Pants presents a parade of impeccable poems about animals wearing perfectly pressed pants.

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Hidden Creature Features

Jane Park

Some animal features are easy to see—long tails, large wings, patterned fur, or sharp beaks. But look closer—you might be surprised by what you find! A penguin’s sharp beak hides a textured tongue that helps it grip fish. A red-eyed tree frog has a golden eyelid that covers its eyes so it can see predators while it sleeps. A platypus fends off predators with a venomous spur. Rhyming text and eye-catching photos offer an up-close look at lots of fascinating hidden creature features!

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Need even more books to read? Check the shelves for these authors we love!

• Helen Frost
• Anita Lobel

Going Into 2nd Grade 2024

Printable List: Going Into 2nd Grade 2024.PDF

Picture Books

How to Write a Poem

Kwame Alexander, Deanna Nikaido

In this evocative and playful companion to their New York Times bestselling picture book How to Read a Book, Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander teams up with poet Deanna Nikaido and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet to celebrate the magic of discovering your very own poetry in the world around you. Begin with a question like an acorn waiting for spring. From this first stanza, readers are invited to pay attention—and to see that paying attention itself is poetry. Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido’s playful text and Melissa Sweet’s dynamic, inventive artwork are paired together to encourage readers to listen, feel, and discover the words that dance in the world around them—poems just waiting to be written down.

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Farmhouse

Sophie Blackall

A lavish and moving tribute to a beloved place in the vein of Hello Lighthouse from two-time Caldecott Medallist, Sophie Blackall Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artefacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. Join the award-winning, bestselling Sophie Blackall as she takes readers on an enchanting visit to a farmhouse across time, to witness the way that history spins stories. 'Hums with life and the joys and tribulations of a large family … The story itself is told in lilting text which reads so well aloud, and the accompanying illustrations are colourful and joyous. I loved this book without reservation' Readings PRAISE FOR SOPHIE BLACKALL: 'Painted with the featherlight touch that distinguishes Caldecott Medallist Blackall's work, this graceful account of a lighthouse keeper's life celebrates a lost era … A jewel of a creation and a gift to those who dream of retreat' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf

Davide Cali

An unseen reader goes head-to-head with the big bad wolf in this hilarious counting-book twist on The Three Little Pigs. Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. Then the wolf ate them. THE END. This story is too short! I want a longer one! In this clever counting book, the big bad wolf doesn’t want to tell a long story. He wants to get to the eating part. But the reader has other ideas. From a pig soccer team to a pig for every letter of the alphabet to 101 pigs in an animated movie, the stories get more and more fantastical . . . but they’re always too short and they ALL end the same way. Using an abacus as the basis for her illustrations, Marianna creates beguiling little pigs and a menacing but slightly bored wolf that perfectly complement the inventive story by Davide Cali. Come for the counting, stay for the storytelling! This book has it all.

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There's a Lion in the Forest!

Mônica Carnesi

Everyone knows there are no lions in the forests of South America . . . or are there? Toucan heard it first. It was deep. It was growly. It was a deep, growly growl. And that can mean only one thing: THERE’S A LION IN THE FOREST! But how can that be? Everyone knows that lions don’t live in tropical forests. But the growls keep coming—and now even Capybara and Coati are anxious, especially when they get a glimpse through the trees of a long, terrifying tail and a thick, menacing mane . . . With a rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud, Mônica Carnesi’s clever tale illustrates the importance of not rushing to conclusions. Young readers will get a kick out of sleuthing along with the forest animals as they try to get to the bottom of this sweetly suspenseful mystery.

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A Human for Kingsley

Gabriel Evans

Kingsley had decided to own a human. This was not a decision to be taken lightly. After all, owning a human is a responsibility. But finding the right kind of human is much harder than Kingsley expected. Some are too bossy. Some are too busy. And some just don't seem to appreciate a dog the way they should. Will Kingsley ever find a human that is exactly right? A sweet, tender and deeply funny story about the power of friendship, and one dog's mission to find his perfect person.

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The Wishing Machine

Jonathan Hillman

On their last trip to the laundromat before moving, a mom invites her child to make a wish on a washing machine, which spurs everyone else in the laundromat to share their wishes.

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Ship in a Bottle

Andrew Prahin

A valiant mouse sets sail in her ship in a bottle to seek a better life in this gentle allegory about refugees and immigration. All Mouse wants to do is eat gingersnaps, lie in the sun, and enjoy her ship in a bottle. All Cat wants to do is eat Mouse. This is a problem. So one day, Mouse sets off in her ship in a bottle in search of a new home. But the great big world is a scary place for one small mouse. As she sails downriver, she faces grabby seagulls, selfish rabbits, and stormy waters before finally finding refuge in a park on the shores of an enormous city, where she is welcomed by friends of all shapes and sizes. Readers will cheer Mouse's quiet perseverance on her epic journey as she seeks a tiny spot to call her own.

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There Was a Party for Langston

Jason Reynolds

A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991.

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A Delicious Story

Barney Saltzberg

"You ate the story?" says one mouse to the other in this funny, heartfelt read-aloud with pitch-perfect repartee and Barney Saltzberg's signature take on the joys of creativity. Two mice—one big and one small—have a terrible problem. Little Mouse is looking for a story—they’re in a book, after all!—and Big Mouse has to admit the truth. The story is gone. And (gasp!) he ate it. That is not okay with Little Mouse, who is all ready to hear a story and will settle for nothing less. Saltzberg's improvisational dialogue showcases both the patience required of true creativity and the dazzling on-the-spot storytelling that can happen when you get in the flow. In the end, these endearing mice work out their conflict— and make the reader realize that they’ve been delivering a story all along. Parents and children will want to take this satisfying comedic journey together again and again.

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King Kong's Cousin

Mark Teague

From bestselling author-illustrator Mark Teague comes a laugh-out-loud, black-and-white picture book introducing Junior, King Kong’s cousin! Junior wants to be as big and as strong and as special as his cousin, Kong, but he always seems to come up short. Kong climbs skyscrapers; Junior is afraid of heights. Kong does whatever he wants; Junior does chores. When Junior’s beloved cat gets stuck in a tree, will this be his chance to save the day?

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Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country

Kelly Yang

From #1 NYT bestselling author Kelly Yang comes a gorgeously illustrated picture book about Asian American changemakers doing everything they dreamed of and inspiring all of us to reach for new heights! From creating beautiful music like Yo-Yo Ma to flying to outer space like Franklin Chang-Díaz; from standing up to injustice like Fred Korematsu to becoming the first Asian American, Black and female vice president of the United States like Kamala Harris, this book illuminates the power of Asian Americans all over the country, in all sorts of fields. Each spread is illustrated by a different renowned Asian American or Asian artist. Alongside the poetic main text, Yes We Will includes one-line biographies of the person or historical moment featured on the page, with extended biographies at the end. Readers of different ages and needs can use the book in different ways, from classroom discussions to bedtime readalouds and more. Yes We Will answers the question, can we accomplish whatever we dream? With love, courage, determination, and lots of imagination, we can—and we will! Featured changemakers: Franklin Chang-Díaz Lia Cirio Tammy Duckworth Jenny Han Kamala Harris H.E.R. Fred Korematsu Padma Lakshmi Sunisa Lee Jeremy Li Yo-Yo Ma Amanda Nguyen Sandra Oh I. M. Pei Mamie Tape Peter Tsai Philip Vera Cruz Vera Wang

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Rising & Graphic

Henry, Like Always

Jenn Bailey

A Schneider Family Book Award Winner A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book A NPR 2023 Books We Love Pick A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023 A 2023 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book A beginning chapter book series based on the award-winning picture book, A Friend for Henry! Henry likes Classroom Ten. He likes how it is always the same. But this week, Henry's class will have a parade, and a parade means having Share Time on the wrong day. A parade means playing instruments that are too loud. A parade means this week is not like always. Join Henry as he navigates the ups and downs of marker missiles, stomach volcanoes, and days that feel a little too orange. From the creators of the Schneider Family Honor-winning picture book A Friend for Henry, this warmly funny book starring a child on the autism spectrum is a reassuring read for school-bound kids of all stripes. GREAT FOR BEGINNING READERS: With short chapters and simple text, this book is perfect for newly independent readers who are just moving into longer books. BACK TO SCHOOL: Familiar school scenarios—from new schedules to making new friends—are portrayed with humor and understanding in this series that will appeal to and reassure any child starting or continuing in school. DIVERSE STORIES: Representing neurodivergent kids is a vital aspect of expanding diverse representation across books for all ages. Henry, Like Always provides a mirror and a window for kids on the autism spectrum and their friends to see themselves in the stories they read. AN AWARD-WINNING TEAM: Jenn Bailey and Mika Song were awarded a Schneider Family Honor Award for their picture book A Friend for Henry. See how the story continues in this classic-feeling early reader series based on the same character! Perfect for: Newly independent readers An excellent resource for parents of kids on the spectrum Librarians, teachers, and booksellers looking for a children's book that offers a window into the experience of autism A reassuring read for kids with varying levels of social anxiety Gift-givers looking for a sweet and relatable book about friendship

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School Day Drama

Jennifer Fosberry

A chicken and penguin with seemingly nothing in common see if they can be birds of a feather in the first book in this sweet new Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics series about celebrating differences! Classmates Chi-Chi and Pey-Pey are as different as night and day. Chi-Chi is a chicken who likes cheese puffs and cheerleading. Pey-Pey is a penguin who likes pirates and pogo sticks. If these two can find some common ground and become friends, anything is possible! Ready-to-Read Graphics books give readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling that is spot-on for beginning readers. There’s even a how-to guide for reading graphic novels at the beginning of each book.

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Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble

Mirka Hokkanen

Is there room for two unicorns in the Gnome Woods? Mossy and Tweed find out in another silly, slapstick adventure in this over-the-top funny early graphic novel series. Mossy and Tweed enjoy a perfect day by the pond with their friend the Wise Old Unicorn (who is really just a goat). But when a baby bird falls in the pond, a NEW—and very shiny—unicorn appears and saves the day! Everyone loves how strong, smart, and brave the new unicorn is. . . But what about the Wise Old Unicorn? Surely he can save the day too! Mossy and Tweed set out to help their friend realize that the forest needs him too. Cozy Scandinavian illustrations, oodles of “oopsies,” and easy-to-read banter are sure to delight in this series for emerging readers. Kids will laugh themselves silly at Mossy and Tweed’s slapstick misadventures. I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds. Like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterparts, these books are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.

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Bug Catchers

Megan Litwin

Meet Dirt and Bugsy–best buds who catch all kinds of bugs–in this fun early reader! Dirt and Bugsy are neighbors, best friends, and bug catchers. They love bugs: Bugs that crawl. Bugs that fly. Bugs that slide. Bugs that hide. But when it begins to rain one day, their brains buzz with a plan: They will build a bug barn to keep the bugs dry! Together, they gather supplies and make a structure to shelter the insects from the storm.

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Beginning Chapter

Billy & Rose: Forever Friends

Amy Hest

Billy and Rose, friends with different ideas, always end up coming together in these charming stories from masterful creators Amy Hest and Kady MacDonald Denton. Best friends Billy and Rose, an industrious sheep and a laid-back pig, sometimes see things differently. When they play catch, Rose insists that Billy throws too high, and he counters that she throws too low. While Rose thinks washing clothes is the world's biggest chore, Billy contends that playing the cello holds that distinction. Still, these endearing friends always find a way to work things out: What if Billy plays a cello serenade for Rose while she does her laundry? After all, what they really want is to be together. These four sweet stories by beloved children's author Amy Hest are filled with gentle wit and enhanced by Kady MacDonald Denton's delightfully expressive illustrations.

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The Great Mathemachicken 1: Hide and Go Beak

Nancy Krulik

A new young chapter book series about a chicken who loves math, science, and learning new things–by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Krulik for fans of Unlimited Squirrel and Bumble and Bee. Chirpy is a young chicken stuck in the family coop. But she's not like the other chickens who just sit around peck peck pecking all day. She's intrigued by the children who come home from a place called school. They always look so happy! (Well, most days.) So Chirpy sneaks onto the bus one morning, hides in the classroom . . . and discovers a true love of math. When she shares what she's learned with the other chickens, they think she's one kernel short of a cob. Even so, Chirpy is determined to find a formula for fowl success by pecking away. But when a hungry fox tries to attack the coop, can she find the equation for a simple solution? With lively two-color art throughout and a fun hands-on simple machine activity, this eggs-ellent hilarious young chapter book series starter is a Grade-A pick for emerging readers to get them eggs-ited about science and math.

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Drag and Rex 1: Forever Friends

Susan Lubner

Meet Drag and Rex, the sweet, silly best friends who find joy and adventure in the simplest places in this charming and cheery modern Frog and Toad. Drag is a dreamy, literal, impulsive, (and sometimes a little bit scatter-brained) dragon. Rex is a dapper, practical, methodical (and sometimes a little bit stuffy) T.rex. The two may have their differences, but they are both gentle and caring, and the best friends. Forever friends. Whether it’s deciding what to have for breakfast, working through those tricky zippers, buckles, and buttons to bundle up tight, how to make the best of a snowy day, or how to face down something scary, through patience, cooperation, and a good dose of silliness and humor, these buddies always figure out how to push through their challenges. Together. Forever Friends features three stories told in short chapters, accompanied by bright, joy-filled full color illustrations, allowing developing readers to gain confidence and a sense of accomplishment as they follow the adventures of their new forever friends. A Kirkus Reviews' Best Beginning Reader of the Year

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The Girl in the Tree

Ellen Potter

A girl raised by squirrels in Central Park tries to make human friends in this laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated first book in a new chapter book series perfect for fans of Sophie Mouse and Critter Club! Cordelia is a girl who lives in a tree in Central Park. Found as a baby and raised by an adoring squirrel named Shakespeare, Cordelia acts just like any other young squirrel, leaping across treetops, chasing her squirrel friends, and sleeping in her treehouse. Still, she wonders what it would be like to have a human friend, and when she stumbles into a gymnastics class, it seems like she might have her chance. Living in a tree might have made Cordelia an exceptional gymnast, but people skills are a whole other matter. Even if Cordelia can’t fully fit in with the other kids, can she at least make one friend? Cordelia starts her journey to be—not exactly a girl, but more than a squirrel—squirlish!

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José and El Perro

Susan Rose, Silvia Lopez

Join José as he trains his new dog in this fun early reader that uses both Spanish and English! José loves his family: his Papi, Mami, and little sister, Sofi. But something is missing—he dreams of having a dog, un perro of his own. Finally José gets to pick el perro perfecto, the perfect dog, from a shelter. But when he tries out commands like "¡Siéntate!” (sit) and “¡Échate!” (lie down), his new pet simply tilts his head to the side in confusion. Then he realizes that the dog does understand commands—he just doesn't understand Spanish! Follow along as José teaches su perro inteligente some new words en español. This early reader, co-written by notable Broadway producer Susan Rose and children’s book author Silvia López, is the perfect introduction for English-speaking children who have just begun learning Spanish. The inclusion of the Spanish/English translations at the end of the book also makes it an excellent teaching tool. Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.

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Non-Fiction

When the Sky Glows

Nell Cross Beckerman

Uncover the science behind the beautiful and vast array of natural events that make the sky glow all over the world in this enlightening nonfiction picture book. Sunrises and lightning storms, rainbows and volcanoes, meteors and eclipses—these beautiful, awe-inspiring events that light up the sky might seem like magic. But there is a fascinating scientific explanation for each. Nell Cross Beckerman’s playful and illuminating text and David Litchfield’s vibrant illustrations are certain to capture the curiosity of young sky watchers everywhere.

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This is tap!: Savion Glover finds his funk

Selene Castrovilla

A bouncing picture book biography of the tap dancer behind the Happy Feet penguin, illustrated by the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Winner of Hidden Figures. This is a story about tap dancing, a distinctly American art form that blended English-Scottish-Irish clog dancing with African tribal dancing. And it’s about a boy, Savion Glover–who was born to feel the music—to dance and perform and invent. And to delight and awe audiences with the movements of his body. Soul meets sole. From that day on, Savion danced. All the time. Not practicin’. Livin. ’Tippity, tippity, tappity, tappity, TROMP, TROMP, TROMP! Follow Savion's journey as beats crescendos into a love of dancing as self-expression. This picture book biography creates music with words and story, and dance with color and composition. Child and parent can read the rhymes and onomatopoeia together while enjoying the bold artwork. Savion Glover revitalized modern tap dancing with his jazz and hip-hop influenced “free-form hard core” style. From his appearances on Sesame Street and choreographing Happy Feet to his Tony award-winning musical Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, Savion has inspired a new generation of tap dancers. Read more about his impact on music and dance in the afterword. Feel the movement with bright, electric art from Laura Freeman, winner Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for Hidden Figures. Hear the music with Selene Castrovilla’s bouncing, bold rhymes. This is Tap! brings Savion’s exuberant story of creativity and passion to young readers. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

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At the Pond

David Elliott

Poems and illustrations celebrate a day at the pond.

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Where I Live: Poems about my Home

Paul B. Janeczko

"This diverse selection of 34 poems, paired with bright illustrations that capture daily life, celebrates the places where we live: our homes, our streets, our towns"–

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Luminous: Living Things that Light Up the Night

Julia Kuo

In this “surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world” (Kirkus STARRED Review), kids aged 4 to 8 will marvel at the science of bioluminescence through stunning images of glowing creatures and other organisms. When it’s dark out, we need light to see. But what if your body could make its own light? From acclaimed author-illustrator Julia Kuo comes a remarkable picture book about bioluminescence, the light made from living things, and its many forms: fireflies and foxfire, fungi and glow-worms, deep-sea fish and vampire squids. Kuo’s radiant art portrays a young child and adult discovering different bioluminescent creatures, accompanied by simple lyrical text and informative sidebars that reveal fascinating scientific facts about each of them. An introduction to an extraordinary natural phenomenon, Luminous shines a light upon how truly wondrous the world is. Luminous features: Brilliant and unique illustrations: The depiction of vibrant bioluminescent species against an unusual black backdrop creates an unforgettable visual experience for readers. The science of bioluminescence: Shares the real-life magic of bioluminescence with sidebars about the various places and species in which bioluminescence is found. Text can be read on two levels: Kuo’s simple and poetic narrative is accompanied by scientific facts about bioluminescence.

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Watch me bloom: a bouquet of haiku poems for budding naturalists

Krina Patel-Sage

Mindful haiku poems to help us rediscover our natural surroundings, without traveling too far from home. Some flowers are the subject of nursery rhymes and childhood games while others help us celebrate love, remember our homelands or mark the passing seasons. These mindful haiku poems invite us to explore twenty-four flower species growing close to home, from wildflower meadows to urban window boxes. The nature-themed follow up to My Mindful A to Zen, this gorgeous collection of poems teaches us that treating ourselves and our planet mindfully can also be a treat for the senses.

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Pizza! A Slice of History

Greg Pizzoli

From Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli comes a hilarious and mouth-watering history of pizza. Do YOU like PIZZA? Because right now, somewhere in the world, someone is eating it. Did you know that in the United States we eat 350 slices of pizza every second? Or that in Sweden they serve pizza with bananas and peanuts? All over the world, people love pizza—but where did it come from? And who made the first pizza? Join award-winning author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli as he travels through time and around the globe to discover the mouth-watering history of pizza. Bursting with color, flavor, fun facts, and a family-friendly English muffin pizza recipe, Pizza!: A Slice of History reveals the delicious story of the world's best food.

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All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson

Carole Boston Weatherford

Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, is an inspiration and role model to children of all ages. Award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford tells her story of perseverance, dignity, and honor in this uplifting picture book biography filled with colorful and dynamic illustrations from Ashley Evans. Whatever she did, wherever she was, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose to the top. From the time their daughter was born, Ketanji Brown’s parents taught her that if she worked hard and believed in herself, she could do anything. As a child, Ketanji focused on her studies and excelled, eventually graduating from Harvard Law School. Years later, in 2016, when she was a federal judge, a seat opened on the United States Supreme Court. In a letter to then-President Barack Obama, Leila Jackson made a case for her mother—Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Although the timing didn’t work out then, it did in 2022, when President Joe Biden nominated her. At her confirmation, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black female Supreme Court justice in the United States. Lyrical text by renowned author Carole Boston Weatherford and evocative illustrations by Ashley Evans combine to make this an inspirational and timely read.

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Need even more books to read? Check the shelves for this series and author we love!

• Surviving the Wild by Remy Lai (J Graphic)

Going Into 3rd Grade 2024

Printable List: Going Into 3rd Grade 2024.PDF

Fiction

Mehndi Boy

Zain Bandali

BIPOC PROTAGONIST: demand is high for early chapter readers featuring BIPOC main characters CELEBRATE SELF-EXPRESSION: celebrates creativity, artistic expression, and being unapologetically yourself with positive, uplifting representation of a boy exploring queerness and gender expression DEBUT: a success story from Annick’s mentorship program for authors from communities historically excluded from children’s publishing, this is Zain’s first book VIVID ILLUSTRATIONS: vibrant, full-color illustrations feature throughout COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION: rich and nuanced representation of Indo-East African, Ismaili Muslim community BACKMATTER EXTRAS: an activity available for readers and a glossary of terms used throughout the book LEVELLING INFO: F-P Guided Code: K – Grade Two II. Lexile Code: 790L

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The Puppets of Spelhorst

Kate DiCamillo

From master storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes an original fairy tale—with enchanting illustrations by Julie Morstad—in which five puppets confront circumstances beyond their control with patience, cunning, and high spirits. Shut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends—a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl—bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark. Individually, they dream of song and light, freedom and flight, purpose and glory, but they all agree they are part of a larger story, bound each to each by chance, bonded by the heart’s mysteries. When at last their shared fate arrives, landing them on a mantel in a blue room in the home of two little girls, the truth is more astonishing than any of them could have imagined. A beloved author of modern classics draws on her most moving themes with humor, heart, and wisdom in the first of the Norendy Tales, a projected trio of novellas linked by place and mood, each illustrated in black and white by a different virtuoso illustrator. A magical and beautifully packaged gift volume designed to be read aloud and shared, The Puppets of Spelhorst is a tale that soothes and strengthens us on our journey, leading us through whatever dark forest we find ourselves in.

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Shiver-by-the-Sea 1: Bella and the Vampire

Erin Dionne

For fans of Eerie, Elementary, Bailey School Kids, and The Notebook of Doom, the first book in a magical, spooky new chapter book series about friendship, community restoration and involvement, and helping your neighbors . . . even if some of them may be monsters. Bella Gossi just moved from New York City to the Massachusetts beach town of Shiver-by-the-Sea to live with her Uncle Van. Bella’s excited about helping her mom fix up the old movie theater, but she’s already missing her old home and her old friends, and just driving through downtown, it’s pretty clear that this place has seen better days. After meeting Cooper and his adorable basset hound, Casper, things start looking up. But when mom tasks them with clearing out an old trunk from the theater and picking the first movie they’ll show, that’s when the trouble begins. Out of the trunk pops a bat! But not just any bat . . . a kid vampire. A very hungry, very scared kid vampire, who’s lost and doesn’t know how to get home to his family. Bella and Cooper are a little frightened at first, too, but soon they’re on a mission to help Bram find his way home, because that’s what real friends do.

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Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business

Bree Galbraith

Meet the unbeatable hero of a fresh new early chapter book series — Wednesday Wilson! The most important thing to know about Wednesday Wilson is that she’s an entrepreneur. Well, she almost is. She and her best friend, Charlie, are hard at work thinking up business ideas to make it big. Only now there’s been an incident with the Emmas (whose last initials happen to spell M.E.A.N.) involving a bearded dragon named Morten and a piece of kale . . . it’s a long story. But maybe this is just the opportunity Wednesday and her friends needed. Maybe they’ll invent something brilliant that will save the day and make them millionaires. Or . . . not? It’ll take more than one incident with the Emmas to keep this girl down. Wednesday Wilson is bound for success!

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Newbie Fairy

Kate Korsh

In this hilarious, highly illustrated new chapter book series, lovable newbie fairy Oona has big ideas, only her magic always seems to go a little wonky. But she won’t let that stop her! Oona Bramblegoop is a Newbie fairy, and she’s determined to do big things, especially if they can impress her idol, the Tooth Fairy. There’s just one problem: Oona’s magic never goes quite how she planned. Oona’s protection spells work great, but only if you don’t mind getting a wedgie from a pair of magical underwear. And don’t even mention the smell disaster that resulted from her first fire spell . . . yikes! Good thing Oona is creative, and she never gives up, no matter how surprising her magic gets. Packed with Fun Fairy Facts, humor, and lots of heart, this magical series celebrates finding friendship and your place in the world, even if you fit in a little sideways.

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Shermy and Shake, the Not-So-Nice Neighbor

Kirby Larson

Will summer break be a drag or a blast for meticulous Shermy when rambunctious Shake moves in next door? From Newbery Honor recipient Kirby Larson comes a bighearted chapter book about two boys’ friendship. When a new kid comes to stay with his grandmother at the house next door, Shermy’s plans for a quiet, relaxing summer are completely upended. That’s because Shake is nothing like Shermy. And Shermy is nothing like Shake. Shermy likes to read quietly in the shade of a tree. He knows the proper way to do a puzzle. He collects treasures in the pouch he wears around his neck, and the books on his shelves are alphabetized by author. Shake likes to play street hockey or space explorers. He gobbles up rocket ice pops and Toaster Tarts. He shows up unannounced and plays board games by his own rules. As the two boys are forced to spend more and more time together, will they learn how to get along? Or will it be one long countdown until Shake goes home? Newbery Honor recipient Kirby Larson teams up with debut illustrator Shinji Fujioka to create a humorous and heartfelt ode to summer—and to unexpected friendships.

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Climbing the volcano: a journey in haiku

Curtis Manley

Through haiku, a young boy narrates his family’s invigorating hike to the peak of Oregon’s South Sister volcano. For centuries, haiku has offered meditation on the grace and majesty of nature. In Climbing the Volcano, old meets new as a young protagonist uses the poetic form to voice his wonder. Trekking uphill, the family encounters tiny toads, colorful butterflies, soaring birds of prey, and so much more to see, do, and feel. dormant volcano— but at sunrise each day it blazes Climbing the Volcano is a call to adventure in the natural world, and a wonderful introduction to poetic forms. Young readers will be inspired to summit their own peaks and to find their own voices to share what they discover there. Whether you live in the shadow of a volcano, amid sprawling flatlands, or anywhere in between, Climbing the Volcano invites you to get out there and explore. Jennifer K. Mann’s breezy, childlike artwork harmonizes with Curtis Manley’s poetry to detail this mesmerizing Pacific Northwest journey. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

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Bunny and Clyde

Megan McDonald

Two New York Times best-selling creators–Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, and lauded illustrator Scott Nash–team up for a droll comedy about an endearingly inept pair of outlaws. Get ready for a wild ride with Bunny and Clyde! These by-the-rules buddies, a rabbit and a chipmunk, are sick and tired of being good. For once, they want to know what it's like to be baddies–rotten to the core! They want thrills and excitement! But to get really good at being bad, they're going to need some experience. What if the dastardly duo started returning library books late on purpose? Or borrowing markers without asking? Everyone knows it's a swift downhill slide from there–as long as there's an unprotected piggy bank in town! Unless, of course, their best attempts at mastering bad deeds are strangely misconstrued . . . Author Megan McDonald brings her quick wit and ear for dialogue, matched by Scott Nash's deft animal characterizations, to a hilarious caper of criminal intentions gone awry.

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The Story of Gumluck the Wizard

Adam Rex

Meet Gumluck the Wizard, the star of a new chapter book series by the inimitable Adam Rex! This is a story about magic, if you like that kind of thing. It is also a story about a ghost with amnesia, an unpopular fairy, an ungrateful little town, and an extremely wise and helpful raven (who happens to be a pretty talented storyteller). But mostly, it is about a friendly little wizard who lives inside a big hill and really, really, really wants to be a hero. His name is Gumluck, and he is a bumbling noodlehead. In this tall tale about a short wizard, celebrated author Adam Rex proves once and for all that the biggest heroes often come in the smallest nightgowns. THE DELIGHTFUL ADAM REX: Adam Rex's first chapter book series is a zany caper, with heart and humor across every page. A NEW CHAPTER BOOK CLASSIC: With simple sentences and glorious black-and-white illustrations, this series hearkens back to classic chapter books and is perfect for newly independent readers. FANTASTICAL FUN: With a lighthearted mix of fantasy and fairytale elements, this imaginative book is perfect for young fans of wizardry and magic. FAVORITE AUTHOR: Acclaimed children's book creator Adam Rex is known for his funny and smart stories. The winner of countless state list awards, Rex is the author of beloved books including On Account of The Gum, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, School's First Day of School, and many more. Perfect for: Fans of Adam Rex Parents and grandparents seeking funny children's book series Teachers and librarians looking for engaging children's fantasy and magic books Anyone looking for fantasy chapter books Readers who enjoy Chris Colfer's A Tale of Magic, the Unicorn Academy series, and Magic Tree House books

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Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister?

Chitra Soundar

Can Sona be the best big sister ever when she’s not sure she even wants a baby sister or brother? Brimming with warmth and charm, this story set in India will resonate with new older siblings everywhere. Sona Sharma's house is full of three generations of people who joke often and argue sometimes. Relatives come over unannounced, the phone rings frequently, and friends drop by all the time. Then one day Amma tells Sona that she is going to have a baby. Is that good? Sona isn’t so sure. She doesn’t want to share her room or her things with a new baby, not to mention the attention of Amma, Appa, Thatha, and Paatti. And despite Amma's assurance that the sky always has room for new stars, Sona doesn’t feel stretchy or bighearted like the sky. But when she learns there will be a baby-naming ceremony, she’s determined to find the best name for her new brother or sister—one as nice as her own, a Hindi word for “gold.” Perfectly pitched to young readers, this tale of warming up to change is followed by a glossary of words from India to explore in the story.

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Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe

Sherri Winston

Can Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, sniff out Mrs. Winter’s missing cat before her big trip? This is the first book of a fun full-color early chapter book series about the best detectives in the Midwest! Detective Tip #1 Try not to jump to conclusions. Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, are the best detectives in the whole world—or at least their neighborhood. But can they find Mrs. Winters’s missing cat before her big trip? Or will the case of the cat-napped kitty be their first unsolved mystery? HarperChapters build confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they're the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read!

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Graphic

Cat of Death!

Aaron Blabey

What happens when the World's #1 Cat Video Star gets accused of a crime she didn’t commit? She becomes a Cat on the Run, that’s what. But how do you avoid capture and prove your innocence when you are the most famous feline on the planet?! Well, it ain’t easy …

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Skeleanor the Decomposer

Emily Ettlinger

An instantly charming and vivid chapter-book graphic novel, starring a music-obsessed skeleton, Skeleanor, and her quest to find her sound (and her confidence) by debut creator Emily Ettlinger. Skeleanor loves music more than life itself. There’s just one problem: She has a bit more rattle than rhythm at the moment. No matter what type of instrument she plays—from the fiddle to the xylobone—she always seems to scare the people of Little Casketon away. But with the Little Casketon Summershine festival coming up, and the town band missing a player, maybe Skeleanor (along with the help of her best friend, Batima) could show people her skills and finally take center stage. Hilarious and heartfelt, Skeleanor the Decomposer by debut author and illustrator Emily Ettlinger is a story about chasing your passions no matter what other people say. Sometimes, all you need is a dream, your friends, and a little music.

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The Adventures of Invisible Boy

Doogie Horner

In this hilarious debut middle grade graphic novel, when an impossible wish comes true, a wild adventure begins! "Can't be missed!" —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth Think your wildest wish can’t come true? Just wait! It’s his first day at a new school, and Stanley wishes he could disappear. He can hardly believe it when, after a big spill at the science fair, POOF! Stanley is invisible! It’s awesome! He can do anything he wants, and no one will know! But Stanley isn’t the only one who turned invisible. The inventor of the potion is not happy about the accident and takes his anger out on kids all over town. Stanley wants to use his power for good . . . which means going up against the one person who can make him visible again. Get ready for a battle of the ages.

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Jurassic Jeff: Space Invader (Jurassic Jeff Book 1)

Royden Lepp

Dinosaurs, aliens, and world domination?! Introducing a graphic series about what it means to be a friend (and how to take over the world!)–perfect for fans of Cat Kid Comic Club, and Investigators. Jeff has one mission and one mission only: to take over the world . . . too bad he crash lands on planet Earth a few million years too early. Dinosaur friends Carl, Hungry, and Spike find Jeff and get roped into his mission to take over their favorite (and only) planet. But when Jeff's search for the "leader" brings big surprises, will this alien be able to complete his invasion? This action-packed adventure is filled with hijinks, talking fish, and the best thing ever: friendship!

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Lost Time

Tas Mukanik

Jurassic World meets How to Train Your Dragon in this gorgeously drawn, adventure-packed middle grade graphic novel about a girl who gets trapped 65 million years in the past and must learn to survive with only her wits…and the pterosaur she befriends. Twelve-year-old Evie didn’t mean to get lost—especially in the Cretaceous period! Now she’s alone, without her parents or anyone else to turn to for help. That is until she rescues a baby pterosaur and raises it on her own. As the baby grows into a giraffe-sized flying reptile, which Evie names Ada, the two manage to to find a way to survive in the prehistoric wilderness. But Evie will have to risk everything when she makes a discovery that may just be her only chance of returning home. Putting Ada’s flying skills to the ultimate test, the duo must embark on a journey halfway across the world—battling all nature throws at them, from fearsome dinosaurs to raging storms. Will Evie manage to overcome all the odds and find a way back to her family… or is she truly lost in time?

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Schnozzer & Tatertoes: Take a Hike!

Rick Stromoski

A buddy adventure through the forest, starring two best-pal pooches! Two best-friend dogs, Schnozzer (the smart one) and Tatertoes (the cheerful one), set off into the forest on a journey to visit Tatertoes’s mom. Along their adventure, they encounter bees, bears, quicksand, characters from fairy tales, something called “nose spiders,” and lots of yo-yo action. Their adventures are told as a series of vignettes, propelled by easygoing but giggle-inducing humor. That plus Rick Stromoski’s lush, illustrative style and charming character designs make for page-turning, chuckle-filled reading. Praise for Schnozzer & Tatertoes: Take a Hike!: "Funny and lovable…this entertaining story moves along quickly and never sags. Two excellent new characters off on their first quest." —Kirkus “This is a joyous, uproarious, early-reader graphic novel that has a laugh count that’s as high as the first InvestiGators graphic novel. Take A Hike! operates in that early graphic novel space that lower to upper-elementary school kids crave. It’s relentlessly silly, has chapters to provide confidence to those young ages, full-color illustrations, and effortlessly entertains readers whose minds can easily be distracted.” —Daddy Mojo “Delightfully funny and totally engaging. (And Tatertoes is tops!)”—Terri Libenson, author of the Emmie & Friends series “Take A Hike is the best buddy comedy in years. And! It stars two dogs.”—Judd Winick, author of the Hilo series “If you like funny, silly dogs (and who doesn’t), this book is for you!”—Patrick McDonnell, Mutts cartoonist and author of Me . . . Jane “Schnozzer and Tatertoes are a hoot! Adventure, friendship, AND snacks? Count me in!”—Rob Harrell, author of Wink and Batpig

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Gnome and Rat

Lauren Stohler

Readers will get a kick out of the whimsical and hilarious everyday shenanigans of best friends, Gnome and Rat, in the first book of this new early graphic novel series. Gnome and Rat are best friends who live together in a charming forest. Rat enjoys drinking tea and finishing crossword puzzles. And Gnome… well, Gnome likes to polish his pointy red hat and eat delicious sausages. Join these funny friends on their various adventures, whether it's celebrating Hat Day, perfecting magic tricks, or tracking down a new signature hat for Gnome. Whatever their antic, these two know exactly how to have a good time: with each other.

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Non-Fiction

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals

Linda Ashman

Kids discover animal extremes through playful poems and fascinating facts. Who’s tops in the animal world? Readers get to find out, as they play a guessing game that uses delightful persona poems to introduce 19 animals who are the best in some way. Each poem offers hints about the identity of an animal and what makes it so amazing. Included are popular categories, such as Biggest Animal Ever (blue whale) and Fastest Short-Distance Runner (cheetah), as well as more unexpected ones, such as Best Engineer (North American beaver) and Longest Tongue (giant anteater). It’s a lively, fun way to learn – for animal lovers of every stripe!

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Words of Wonder from Z to A

Zaila Avant-garde

An inspiring picture book from Scripps National Spelling Bee champ Zaila Avant-garde, filled with her favorite motivational words from Z to A. Perfect for your little book lover and spelling ace! When 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde became the first Black American student to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021, the world took notice. Now, this extraordinary speller, writer, and basketball champ celebrates the world of words, with 26 of Zaila's favorite words, such as KINDNESS, HOPE, and RESILIENCE, alongside Zaila's encouraging and poetic thoughts. Each bright and busy page also includes an inspiring quotation from a famous thought leader. And an afterword to the book details the fascinating origins of each word. It's an uplifting picture book packed with motivation, learning, and fun, from one of America's most promising, unique, and accomplished young people.

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Tiny jumper: how Tiny Broadwick created the parachute rip cord

Candy Dahl

This thrilling biography tells the story of Tiny Broadwick, the first woman to ever parachute from a plane and the inventor of the parachute rip cord, and how her determination, courage, adventurousness, and joy in doing what she loved lifted her up to stand as tall as a pioneer in flight. The crack of a pistol shattered the silence- Tiny's signal to jump. Her hands trembled as she cut her parachute away from the balloon. Tiny Broadwick, a teeny, uneducated mill girl, had big dreams of soaring above the earth, out of poverty, and above expectations. She became the first woman to parachute from an airplane, and her idea for the rip cord paved the way for pilots to safely escape in-flight emergencies. This thrilling biography shows how Tiny's determination, courage, adventurousness, and joy lifted her up to stand tall as a pioneer in flight.

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Desert Queen

Jyoti R. Gopal

This picture book biography in verse follows the life of beloved Rajasthani drag performer Queen Harish, known as the Whirling Desert Queen of Rajasthan. Lit by an inner fire and propelled by a family tragedy, Harish defied the gender conventions of middle class Indian life, battled discrimination and intimidation, and eventually grew up to dance with Bollywood movie stars and on stages across the world. Jyoti Gopal's rhythmic phrases evoke the particular sounds and beats of the music Harish danced to, and capture the passions and conflicts of his life. The poignant and inspiring tale is interpreted by internationally acclaimed Rajasthani artist Svabhu Kohli in kohl-black lines and shapes and brilliant jewel-like colors.

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Jimmy's Rhythm and Blues

Michelle Meadows

Celebrate James Baldwin's one-hundredth birthday anniversary with the first-ever picture book biography of this legendary writer, orator, activist, and intellectual. Before he became a writer, James "Jimmy" Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories. He found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books. But Jimmy also found the blues, as a Black man living in America. When he discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice. And that voice opened the world to Jimmy. From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly. Michelle Meadows, author of Brave Ballerina and Flying High, introduces young readers to the great American novelist, essayist, poet, playwright, orator, and artist James Baldwin, who, with the fire of his pen, dared a nation to dream of a more equitable world filled with love. Brought to life with warm illustrations by Jamiel Law, Jimmy's Rhythm and Blues chronicles the life of an incredible visionary who left an indelible mark on American literature and history.

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Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller

Breanna J. McDaniel

From an award-winning author and illustrator comes this picture book biography about beloved librarian and storyteller Augusta Braxton Baker, the first Black coordinator of children’s services at all branches of the New York Public Library. Before Augusta Braxton Baker became a storyteller, she was an excellent story listener. Her grandmother brought stories like Br’er Rabbit and Arthur and Excalibur to life, teaching young Augusta that when there’s a will, there’s always a way. When she grew up, Mrs. Baker began telling her own fantastical stories to children at the 135th Street branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem. But she noticed that there were hardly any books at the library featuring Black people in respectful, uplifting ways. Thus began her journey of championing books, writers, librarians, and teachers centering Black stories, educating and inspiring future acclaimed authors like Audre Lorde and James Baldwin along the way. As Mrs. Baker herself put it: “Children of all ages want to hear stories. Select well, prepare well and then go forth and just tell.”

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Srinivasa Ramanjuan: Friend of Numbers

Priya Narayanan

Age range 6+ A toddler captivated by patterns…A little boy filling his slate with numbers, rubbing them out with his elbow and starting again…A teenager solving complex maths problems…A young man matching the best minds in Cambridge. Bringing the story of brilliant mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan to children, this book follows his singular fascination with numbers!

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The Last Plastic Straw

Dee Romito

Learn how and why a useful, 5000-year-old invention has become a threat to our planet–and what you can do about it–in this history of the simple straw. From reeds used by ancient Sumerians to bendy straws in World War II hospitals, people have changed the straw to fit their needs for 5000 years. Today however, this useful tool is contributing to the plastic problem polluting our oceans. Once again, the simple straw needs a reinvention. With bright illustrations and well-researched text, children can read about the inventors behind the straw’s technological advancements, including primary sources like patents, as well as how disposable plastic harms the environment. See the newest solutions, from plastic straw alternatives to activism by real kids like Milo Cress who started the Be Straw Free campaign when he was 11 years old. Learn about what kids can do to reduce plastic waste. The backmatter includes more information on the movement to stop plastic waste, action items kids can do, a bibliography, and additional resources on plastic pollution. Books for a Better Earth are designed to inspire children to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

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Dare to question: Carrie Chapman Catt's voice for the vote

Jasmine Stirling

To coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, this nonfictionbook tells the inspiring story of Carrie Chapman Catt, who fought for women's suffrage. Out with the dour and stern. Out with the grim old gals. In with suffrage sundaes, good-looking girls flipping griddlecakes, ball games, boxing matches, sandwich boards, and socialites. By 1915, American women had been working for the vote for more than six decades. They had tried everything they could think of–speeches before Congress, petitions a mile long, elaborate ground campaigns, and even Supreme Court cases. But they hadn't seen what the invincible duo, Carrie Chapman Catt and her life partner, Mary "Mollie" Garrett Hay, could accomplish together. The suffrage movement was about to get a wake-up call. We Demand an Equal Voice follows Carrie's life from her earliest days as an Iowa farm girl through her growth as the nation's preeminent suffrage leader, a role for which she was handpicked by her mentor, Susan B. Anthony. Carrie's career hit its stride in 1915 when she and Mollie turned their fringe cause into a mass movement with a campaign that was bigger, more spectacular, more outrageous, and more, well . . . fun than any campaign, for any movement, in the history of the country, if not the world. This groundbreaking campaign propelled the movement forward through gripping twists and turns as Carrie attracted more than two million women from every color, class, and creed to the cause–ultimately demonstrating that when everyday people take everyday steps towards big, bold ideas, they can change the world.

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Need even more books to read? Check the shelves for these series we love!

• Buddy and Bea by Jan Carr (J BEG CHP)
• Sejal Sinha by Maya Prasad (J BEG CHP)
• Adventures of Salma by Danny Ramadan (J BEG CHP)

Going Into 4th Grade 2024

Printable List: Going Into 4th Grade 2024.PDF

Fiction

Dogtown

Katherine Applegate, Gennifer Choldenko

From beloved authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko and with illustrations from Wallace West, Dogtown is at once an uplifting story and a page-turning adventure, sure to find a forever home in readers’ hearts. Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them. Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since her owners unwittingly left her with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town. Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home. And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves. When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way.

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Alice Atherton's Grand Tour

Lesley M. M. Blume

The heartwarming story of a young girl sent to live with the extraordinary Murphy Family in southern France. Ten-year-old Alice Atherton is sent by her father to spend the summer with his dear friends the Murphys who live with their three children and pet monkey in the French Riveria. There, Alice will meet and learn from some of the most extraordinary luminaries of the time. She visits a junk yard with Pablo Picasso looking for objects to make into art, performs a dance inspired by celestial bodies with the renowned Ballet Russes, and imagines magical adventures with Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. An uplifting story that will appeal to readers who love books by authors like Kate DiCamillo and Jeanne Birdsall.

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Oliver's Great Big Universe

Jorge Cham

‘Mind-expanding and hilarious!’ Jeff Kinney, author of the bestselling DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series. This hilarious new illustrated series will make you laugh-out-loud AND grow your brain. Perfect for readers age 8+ and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The 13-Storey Treehouse. Hi, I’m Oliver! I know what you’re thinking: what does an 11-year-old kid know about the universe? Am I a famous scientist? No. Am I a super-genius? Not really. I’m just trying to figure out the usual stuff: new school, new friends, how to avoid my annoying sister. But there’s one thing that DOES make sense: science! Outer space is totally my thing and I can tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about awesome stuff like: time-bending black holes how the Big Bang is like a fart aliens! (Well, there could be aliens.) From bestselling writer and robotics engineer Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is the first book in a STEM-themed, diary-style series. PRE-ORDER NOW! ‘An absolute gem!’ Lincoln Peirce, author of the bestselling series BIG NATE.

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Flora la Fresca & the Art of Friendship

Veronica Chambers

From an NYT bestselling author comes the first in an illustrated middle grade series about a Panamanian American girl who uses humor and a little mischief to navigate her best friend moving away and her sister’s overbearing and all-consuming quince preparations. Flora Violeta LeFevre, aka Flora "la Fresca" (so called because she tells it like it is, occasionally to her parents' chagrin) can always count on her best friend Clara Ocampo Londra to turn anything-from a day at the skate park to dreaded Saturday Spanish school ­into an exciting adventure. But amidst Flora's personal nightmare that is her sister Maylin's never-ending dress try-ons and dance practices for her upcoming quinceañera, news breaks that Clara's moving, and Flora doesn't know how she'll survive without her. The girls quickly roll up their sleeves and use their larger-than-life imaginations to make the most of each passing day together. But things get complicated when Clara moves and starts making new friends, an unlikely alliance blossoms between Flora and a new student, and preparations for Maylin's quince take a disastrous (but hilarious) turn.

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The Case of the Missing Tarts

Christee Curran-Bauer

When someone slips into the precinct and steals Mama Pigeon's tarts, pigeon detectives Martin P. Sweets, Felix Danish, and Ralph Custard follow the clues to find out who stole the delicious treats.

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The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow

Elaine Dimopoulos

This timeless early middle-grade adventure about friendship and community will charm animal-loving fans of The Tale of Despereaux and Clarice the Brave. Illustrated by Caldecott winner Doug Salati. Butternut lives in the burrows of Milkweed Meadow with her nine rabbit brothers and sisters. Together they practice strategies for survival and tell stories. With disastrous scenarios blooming in her mind, Butternut embraces the lesson of her families’ stories: stick to your own rabbit-kind. But after befriending an incorrigible robin and a wounded deer, Butternut begins to question what she has been taught. When the three friends discover other animals in crisis, Butternut must decide whether she can help, rally her friends and family, and be as brave as the heroes in the stories she tells. Beautiful and arresting black-and-white illustrations bring the animals to life in this heartwarming story about friendship, community, and doing what is right. “With the confidence of a maestro, Elaine Dimopoulos breathes vigor and beauty into a tale of a brave and thoughtful young rabbit . . . A chorus of woodland cheer for such a remarkable rescue." —Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and Cress Watercress

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Maggie Lou, Firefox

Arnolda Dufour Bowes

Maggie Lou’s grandpa doesn’t call her Firefox for nothing. She’s always finding ways to make life more interesting — even if this means getting into big trouble. When her grandfather Moshôm finally agrees to teach her how to box, she decides that the rank odors, endless drills and teasing won’t stop her from wearing a tutu to the gym. Joining her father’s construction crew uncovers a surprising talent — besides learning how to use a broom — and a great source of scrap wood to build a canine hotel for her dogs. And when she turns thirteen, she figures out an ingenious way to make some smokin’ good camouflage to wear on her first deer hunt, where she joins a long family tradition. Through it all she is surrounded by her big extended gumbo soup of a family, pestered by annoying younger siblings, and gently guided by her strong female relatives – her mother, her kohkom and her ultra-cool cousin Jayda. “Keep taking up space,” Maggie’s mother says. “You’re only making room for the girls behind you.” A heroine for today, Maggie Lou discovers that with hard work and perseverance she can gain valuable new skills, without losing one iota of her irrepressible spirit. Key Text Features author’s note biographical note chapters dialogue epigraph illustrations

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The Apartment House on Poppy Hill

Nina LaCour

A charming new chapter book by bestselling author Nina LaCour. Welcome to 1106 Wildflower Place: It is no ordinary apartment house, but you, reader, are no ordinary visitor. So, please, come in! Two new tenants have just arrived, and nine-year-old Ella is determined to help them settle in. Who better to teach them about the glitchy lights and the nighttime noises? After all, Ella knows all the neighbors. Well, almost all. No one has met the mysterious Robinsons who live on the top floor. Will a special neighborly celebration change all that? This bighearted chapter book by bestselling author Nina LaCour, highlighted by lively illustrations throughout, celebrates community, friendship, family, and home. It is a place of walking dogs that aren't yours, keeping surprises secret, and making everyone feel welcome. Here, the eccentric joy of Armistead Maupin's Tales of The City merges seamlessly with the antic fun of Ivy + Bean, the family tenderness of The Penderwicks, and the madcap adventure of Eloise in an irresistible story that will leave you eager for the next one! BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR: Nina LaCour is a highly acclaimed author of both YA and adult novels. This is her first novel for younger readers and a terrific introduction of a talented writer to the next generation. HILARIOUSLY UNIVERSAL: Ella is a strong protagonist that readers of all ages and genders will love. She is bighearted, curious, and just a tad mischievous. DIVERSE CAST OF CHARACTERS: Featuring many different family structures, this story is wonderfully diverse and inclusive. Any reader can imagine themselves living at 1106 Wildflower Place. DRAWN FROM AUTHOR'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: The charming characters and their stories were conjured by LaCour and her young daughter during the long walks they took through San Francisco during the early days of Covid-19 and inspired by the people they encountered along the way. Perfect for: Parents, teachers, and librarians Gift-givers looking for entertaining chapter books for kids who enjoy stories full of humor and heart Readers who love such bestselling book series as Ivy + Bean, Clementine, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones

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Dear Brother

Alison McGhee

Sister, who constantly feels overlooked, especially when the family gets a pet of Brother's choice, decides to send him letters expressing how she feels, and to her surprise, he thoughtfully responds.

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Nell & the Netherbeast

Adi Rule

The Netherbeast, a slinking creature with an overwhelming stench, impossibly charms young Nell. Befriending this shapeshifter propels Nell into an unforgettable summer. A beast, a haunting, a fire, and a basement that should be avoided at all costs are just part of the adventures Nell didn’t ask for. This story is equal parts heart-pounding and heartwarming. Twelve-year-old Nell Stoker loves animals. She’s been working toward becoming a junior volunteer at her local animal shelter for what feels like forever. But now it’s summertime, and her parents are making her go to her Aunt Jerry’s old bed and breakfast in Deer Valley with her older sister Lulu. When Nell crosses paths with the Netherbeast (a creature that is decidedly not a cat), his hijinks leave her wondering if she’s made a new best friend or if Netherbeast will destroy the whole B&B (not even by accident). It's up to Nell to help save her aunt's B&B and solve the mystery of what might be in the basement. Between the mysteries of Rose Cottage and the creepy Netherbeast—Nell is in for an unforgettable summer adventure.

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The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)

Christina Soontornvat

From two-time Newbery honor recipient Christina Soontornvat comes a compelling new young middle grade fantasy series for readers who love stories about animals, magic, and kids like them embracing their power to change the world. Young Plum is shocked to discover that she’s been accepted to the Guardian Academy on Lotus Island, an elite school where kids learn how to transform into Guardians, magical creatures who are sworn to protect the natural world. The Guardian masters teach Plum and her friends how to communicate with animals and how to use meditation to strengthen their minds and bodies. All the kids also learn to fight, so they can protect the defenseless if needed. To her dismay, Plum struggles at school. While her classmates begin to transform into amazing creatures, Plum can’t even seem to magic up a single feather! If she can’t embrace her inner animal form soon, she’ll have to leave school ― and lose the first group of real friends she’s ever known.

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Graphic

The Bawk-ness Monster

Natalie Riess, Sara Goetter

Penny swears that when she was a little girl, a creature called the Bawk-ness Monster—half sea serpent, half chicken—saved her from drowning. Now, years later, she’s about to move away to a new city, and before she goes, she needs the help of her best friends, Luc and K, for a vitally important mission: seeing “Bessie” one more time. But in their quest to find Bessie and give Penny the send-off she deserves, the kids stumble into a whole new problem—cryptids are being kidnapped by an evil collector, and only Penny, Luc, and K can save them!

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Things in the Basement

Ben Hatke

From New York Times bestselling author Ben Hatke comes Things in the Basement, a young readers graphic novel about Milo, a young boy who discovers a portal to a secret world in his basement. It was supposed to just be a normal basement—some storage boxes, dust, you know, the usual basement stuff. But when Milo is sent by his mother to fetch a sock from the basement of the historic home they've moved into, Milo finds a door in the back that he's never seen before. Turns out that the basement of his house is enormous. In fact, there is a whole world down there. As Milo travels ever deeper into the Basement World, he meets the many Things that live in the shadows and gloom…and he learns that to face his fears he must approach even the strangest creatures with kindness.

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Meesh the Bad Demon #1

Michelle Lam

A tale of unlikely heroes and myths is made real in this debut graphic novel series about a “bad” demon trying to find her place in the underworld. But she’ll have to save it first! Meesh is a bad demon. “Bad” in that she always sees the good in those around her—which isn’t how a demon is meant to feel or act. Bullied by the other demons, twelve-year-old Meesh is more likely to be found reading magazines from Plumeria City—the fairy realm—and fangirling about the fairy princesses. But when disaster strikes and all of demon-kind is threatened, Meesh must journey to other worlds in search of help. As luck would have it, she meets a fairy princess right away. Things in the fairy realm aren't so perfect either, though. As Meesh makes surprising new friends and unites a band of outcasts, she learns there's much more to being a demon than she ever realized. And learning to love herself might just uncover the secret to saving her home.

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The Wolf Suit

Sid Sharp

“The gorgeous black and dark blue backgrounds, thick with night, make the opening of the curtain, and the sunlight that spills onto the last page, feel like another undressed window through which we can better see the self.”—The New York Times A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection "Genuinely lovely. A gorgeous palette of colors and emotions with illustrations that leap off the page."—Matthew Forsythe, creator of MINA, and Pokko and the Drum A hilarious and touching graphic novel about the pressures of conformity and conquering fear by finding community. Bellwether Riggwelter is, once again, out of blackberries. This time, rather than tiptoe through a forest full of predators, he comes up with a new plan. He will keep himself safe by blending in—he will sew a Wolf Suit! The disguise works perfectly . . . sort of. Bellwether realizes he can’t enjoy the forest in a bulky suit, and he may not be the only creature in the forest who feels that way. Perhaps not everyone is as wolfish as they appear. With humor, darkness, and insight reminiscent of Jon Klassen and Edward Gorey, Sharp turns the idiom “wolf in sheep’s clothing” on its head. The perfect contemporary folktale to press into the hands of anyone who has felt they need to pretend to be someone else.

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Non-Fiction and Biography

How the sea came to be: and all the creatures in it

Jennifer Berne

A lyrical, spectacular history of the ocean—from its dramatic evolutionary past to its marvelously biodiverse present. “For millions of years these first bits of life Became more, and then more, and then more.” Long, long ago, when the Earth was young and new, the world was a fiery place. Volcanoes exploded from deep down below, and steamy, hot clouds rose up high. Rain poured down for thousands of years, filling the world’s very first oceans. There the teeniest stirrings of life began. Earth’s creatures grew bigger and bigger, evolving into exciting forms like jellyfish, coral, and worms. Millions of years passed. Down in the depths and up on the surface, ocean life grew and spread. Now the sea teems with all kinds of animals—squid, turtles, dolphins, barracudas, even glowing fish, all living in the waters where long, long ago, life itself came to be. Spanning 4.5 billion years of evolution, this extensively researched book is an accessible introduction to geology, oceanography, and marine biology. Entrancing verse, awe-inspiring art, and fascinating back matter capture the mysterious beauty of the ocean and the incredible organisms who call it home.

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Shining a light: celebrating 40 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who changed the world

Veeda Bybee

A collective biography of 40 influential Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, from Kalpana Chawla to The Rock to Tammy Duckworth, whose historical contributions readers may not know but whose light shines on, with stunning illustrated portraits by Hugo Award nominee Victo Ngai. Meet forty people who helped change the world in countless ways in this beautifully illustrated collective biography. From scientists to sports stars, aerospace engineers to artists, every person shines in this collection. Dynamic portraits portray each person with bold colors and clever, precise details. Each biography celebrates the determination and courage of people who were on the forefront of changing society. Using their specific talents, each individual fought for the space for people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to be seen and treated with dignity and respect. Their important legacy lives on today.

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Fighting for yes!: the story of disability rights activist Judith Heumann

Maryann Cocca-Leffler

A picture book biography celebrating the life and work of disability rights activist and icon Judith Heumann, highlighting one of her landmark achievements—leading the historic 504 Sit-in in 1977 From a very young age, Judy Heumann heard the word NO. When she wanted to attend public school, the principal said, "NO." When she wanted her teaching license, the New York Board of Education said, "NO." Judy and people with disabilities everywhere were tired of hearing “NO.” In the 1970s an important disability rights law, Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, was waiting to be signed. Judy and other disability rights activists fought for “YES!” They held a sit-in until Section 504 was signed into law. Section 504 laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was established thanks in large part to the ongoing work of Judy and her community. Along with a personal reflection from Judy herself, this picture book biography captures the impact and influence of one of America’s greatest living activists.

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Courage Out Loud

Joseph Coelho

Courage Out Loud is a collection of 25 original confidence-building poems to be read out loud that will show children that their voice has power.

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The fire of stars: the life and brilliance of the woman who discovered what stars are made of

Kirsten W. Larson

A poetic picture book celebrating the life and scientific discoveries of the groundbreaking astronomer Cecilia Payne! Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn't start out as the groundbreaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl full of curiosity, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe. With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne's own curiosity and her scientific career with the process of a star's birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to an eventual, breathtaking explosion of light. WOMEN IN STEM CAN CHANGE HISTORY: With women making up less than 30 percent of the science and engineering workforce, supporting young girls who are interested in STEM fields is more important than ever! This picture book tells the story of Cecilia Payne, a trailblazing female astronomer and role model for young girls to relate to and see themselves in, from even the youngest age. LOOK TO THE STARS: Any reader or stargazer who feels dazzled by the striking night sky will be enchanted by this true story of discovery and invention, as Cecilia's contributions to science prompt us to wonder: What else is out there? BEAUTIFUL, INSPIRING GIFT: With compelling visual storytelling and an inspiring role model for aspiring astronomers, scientists, and engineers (and for young girls in particular), this stellar biography makes a great choice for any giving moment, from birthdays to celebrations to the holidays. Perfect for: Parents, teachers, and librarians looking to instill curiosity and encourage scientific exploration Lovers of astronomy, stargazing, space travel, and outer space Anyone seeking narrative nonfiction and biography books about women in STEM for the classroom or choice reading Gift-givers looking for a unique true story to delight and inspire girls and boys Fans of Hidden Figures, Rad American Women A-Z, and I Am Malala

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Butt or Face?

Kari Lavelle

"The silly, simple premise is carried out splendidly; younger readers will be entranced by fascinating photos, bright colors, and googly eyes galore, while older readers will appreciate fast-fact boxes, clear explanations, and endless animal puns."—Booklist, STARRED Review Can YOU tell a butt from a face? Discover fascinating facts about animals with this hilarious guessing game picture book! Butt or Face offers kids a delightfully cheeky challenge: examine a close-up photo of an animal, and then guess whether you're looking at the top or the…um…bottom. The answer is revealed on the next page with a compete photo of the animal! Also included are factual animal details along with how these animals use camouflage or other trickery to engage with their home. Readers will discover animals like the Cuyaba dwarf frog whose backside looks like a pair of eyes, the Mary River turtle that breathes through its butt, and many more! Butt or Face? is perfect for parents and teachers looking for: Books for kids ages 4-8 Animal fact books for kids Animal anatomy game books Interactive physiology books for kids Humorous nonfiction books for kids

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Please Don't Bite Me!: Insects that Buzz, Bite and Sting

Nazzy Pakpour

Everyone has been bitten by a mosquito, stung by a wasp or had something itchy hiding in their hair. But how much do you actually know about these annoying insects? Ever wondered how mosquitoes find you? Or how wasps can build nests up to 16 feet wide? Or how fleas can jump 150 times their own height?

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Mysterious glowing mammals: an unexpected discovery sparks a scientific investigation

Maria Parrott-Ryan

Late one night, ecologist Jonathan Martin was searching for tree frogs in his Wisconsin backyard when he made an unexpected discovery. As he shined an ultraviolet flashlight in the direction of a high-pitched chirp, Martin saw a flash of bright pink at his bird feeder. That pink glow was coming from a flying squirrel. What was going on? You’re probably familiar with some kinds of glowing animals. Fireflies light up summer nights. Bioluminescent jellyfish and other sea creatures fill our oceans. But some animals glow only under ultraviolet light. This is called biofluorescence. That flying squirrel Martin found turned out to be one of the first-ever recorded sightings of a biofluorescent mammal. Follow along with Martin and his colleagues as they delve into the mystery of the flying squirrels and discover that they aren’t the only glowing mammals out there!

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Baseball around the world: how the world plays the game

Chris Singleton, Dean Burrell

It might be America's favorite pastime, but baseball isn't just an American sport! From Cuba to Japan, Taiwan to Ireland, learn about the diverse melting pot of countries and cultures have embraced the ole ballgame.

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Soccer Queens

Charles R. Smith Jr.

The Coretta Scott King Award–winning creator of Hoop Kings celebrates the skill and talent of top female soccer professionals—and pays homage to the legendary US World Cup team of 1999. Soccer, fútbol, call it what you will—the sport commands worldwide attention, and Charles R. Smith Jr. pays tribute to the sport’s greatest US athletes in poems that hum with energy and life. Whether the subject is an escape artist like Rose Lavelle, a rocket like Megan Rapinoe, or the exploits of the legendary ’99ers, who kicked their names into history, this celebration of the finesse and ferocity of players from the Women's National Soccer League excels with dynamic rhyme and bold, graphic photo-illustration. Featuring current and past stars as well as emerging players—in cleats that “churn and burn and fly”—the twelve poems in this rapid-fire collection will inspire young poets and sports fans alike to find their game and be their best.

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Game of freedom: Mestre Bimba and the art of Capoeira

Duncan Tonatiuh

In this powerful, vibrant biography, award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh sheds light on the legacy of a legendary capoeira player, Mestre Bimba, who resisted racial oppression through art and turned a marginalized practice into a global phenomenon A meia lua whooshed in the air. The strike was evaded and followed with an aú. Two young men were playing capoeira in the middle of the roda. Bimba wanted to play, too. Although it is debated when and where capoeira—an art form that blends martial arts, dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality—originated exactly, one thing is certain: in the early 20th century, Brazil was the only country in the world where capoeira was played, and it was mainly practiced by people of African descent. In 1890, two years after Brazil officially abolished slavery, the game was outlawed. Wealthy, lighter-skinned society feared and looked down on capoeira, seeing it as a game for malandros—what people in power called the poor Black communities they disdained. But in the early 1920s in the city of Salvador, a man called Bimba would advocate for capoeira, and those who practiced it, to be treated with dignity and the respect it deserved. Duncan Tonatiuh’s lyrical prose and beloved illustration style, inspired by pre-Columbian codices, tell the story of arguably the greatest capoeirista of all time, who fought to turn a misunderstood, persecuted Afro-Brazilian activity into a celebrated art practiced by millions around the world. In 2014, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named capoeira an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a distinction awarded because of the game’s promotion of social integration and the memory it holds of the struggle against historical oppression. From an award-winning author-illustrator, Game of Freedom is a stirring celebration of solidarity and resistance through art.

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Love is loud: how Diane Nash led the Civil Rights Movement

Sandra Neil Wallace

Four starred reviews! Meet Diane Nash, a civil rights leader who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, in this “poignant and powerful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) nonfiction picture book that is “a stunning, little-known story, and a welcome volume” (School Library Journal, starred review) that “highlights major moments in Nash’s life” (The Horn Book, starred review). Diane grew up in the southside of Chicago in the 1940s. As a university student, she visited the Tennessee State Fair in 1959. Shocked to see a bathroom sign that read For Colored Women, Diane learned that segregation in the South went beyond schools—it was part of daily life. She decided to fight back, not with anger or violence, but with strong words of truth and action. Finding a group of like-minded students, including student preacher John Lewis, Diane took command of the Nashville Movement. They sat at the lunch counters where only white people were allowed and got arrested, day after day. Leading thousands of marchers to the courthouse, Diane convinced the mayor to integrate lunch counters. Then, she took on the Freedom Rides to integrate bus travel, garnering support from Martin Luther King Jr. and then the president himself—John F. Kennedy.

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Young, Gifted and Black Too

Jamia Wilson

Young, Gifted and Black Too celebrates the lives of 52 more leaders, heroes, sportspeople, and artists of color from around the world.

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Need even more books to read? Check the shelves for these series we love!

• Penny Draws by Sara Shepard (J FIC)
• Marcus Stroman by Marcus Stroman (J FIC)

Going Into 5th Grade 2024

Printable List: Going Into 5th Grade 2024.PDF

Fiction

Unfadeable

Maurice Broaddus

A Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club Pick! Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Kelly Yang, readers will love this heartfelt and genuine story about building community, finding family, and the power of Black girl magic. Bella “Unfadeable�� Fades is determined to stay out of trouble. A wiser-than-her-years graffiti artist known for tagging walls and bridges in her Indianapolis neighborhood, the Land, Bella plans to spend her summer break laying low and steering clear of anyone who might tip off to social services that she’s living on her own. But keeping a low profile is all but impossible when Bella discovers people in high places are trying to defund the Land. She has to find a way to fight back. Getting involved will mean putting herself out there—making connections with unlikely friends and attracting potential enemies. But if Bella doesn’t put her trust in her neighbors and learn how to bring her community together, her home—and her future—will never be the same.

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The Spirit Glass

Roshani Chokshi

Corazon yearns to finally start training as a babaylan (a mystical healer and spirit guide) under her powerful guardian, Aunt Tina. As soon as her magic awakens, Corazon plans to bring her parents back from the dead and no longer have to rely on a soul key to allow visits with their ghosts for a few hours every Saturday night. But when a vengeful ghost steals Corazon's precious key, the fragile balance between the human world and the spirit world is thrown out of whack. Aunt Tina reveals that if Corazon wants her magic to awaken, then she just lay the ghost to rest by fashioning a new soul key. With her rather bloodthirsty gecko companion, Saso, Corazon embarks on a quest through the spirit realms. But they must move quickly, for if the ghost gets through the spirit glass, all hope will be lost. Roshani Chokshi pays tribute to her Filipino heritage in this book that has all the magic, sparkle, and heart that made her Aru Shah series a fantasy classic.

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Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key

Tracy Occomy Crowder

It's 2008, and ten-year-old Montgomery "Monty" Carver is out to find the origin of a golden key found in his South Side Chicago community–which may or may not host the next Olympic games, or supply the next President of the United States, or…have a potential ghost hanging around.

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The International House of Dereliction

Jacqueline Davies

In this not-so-scary ghost story from Jacqueline Davies, bestselling author of the Lemonade War series, quirky, tool-wielding Alice Cannoli-Potchnik begins to repair the dilapidated mansion next door—only to discover the old house is home to ghosts, and they need mending, too! Home is where the heart is. But can a house have a heart of its own? Ten-year-old Alice is moving for the eleventh time. She’s lived in so many houses, each more broken than the last, that home to Alice is nothing more than a place you fix and then a place you leave. After all, who needs a permanent home when you’re a whiz at fixing things? But when Alice arrives at her new home, she can’t take her eyes off the house next door, the stately dark house that hulked in the dimming light. The once-grand mansion, now dilapidated and condemned, beckons Alice; it's the perfect new repair job! As Alice begins to restore the House to its former splendor, she senses strange presences. Is there a heartbeat coming from the House’s walls? Is someone looking at her? Soon she realizes she’s not alone. Three ghosts have been watching, and they need Alice’s help to solve their unfinished business. Will Alice be able to unravel the mysteries of the House and find her forever home . . . before it’s too late? An ALSC Notable Children's Book

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The Book of Stolen Dreams

David Farr

Originally published: London: Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2021.

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The Bluest Sky

Christina Diaz Gonzalez

A boy and his family must decide whether to remain in Cuba under a repressive government or risk everything for the chance of a new beginning. "Heartbreaking yet hopeful" —Alan Gratz, bestselling author of Refugee There are two versions of Héctor: the public and the private. It’s the only way to survive in communist Cuba—especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Héctor must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves. But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country—if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not. So when Héctor’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future? In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Héctor’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?

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The Widely Unknown Myth of Apple & Dorothy

Corey Ann Haydu

Critically acclaimed author Corey Ann Haydu crafts a spellbinding tale following the modern-day descendants of ancient Greek gods—and how two young girls struggling against the weight of the family history end up becoming their own epic myth with large consequences. If you could choose to be a god forever, would you do it? Every winter solstice, today’s Earthly descendants of Greek gods, nymphs, and muses must visit Mount Olympus to preserve their near-godly status. Until Dorothy’s mother refuses to go, sealing her fate and dying a human death shortly after. In retaliation, the gods release an ultimatum: return to the heavens as gods or live as humans on Earth. Everyone must now make a choice. Dorothy is already at the bottom of the godly chain as the descendant of the infamous Pandora. Without her mother, the rest of Dorothy’s world becomes quieter, stiller—and her grief threatens to consume her. Apple, on the other hand, is the beloved descendant of Zeus and Hera. She is the most popular girl in school, and knows she must maintain a perfect facade, or risk ruining the family name. The two girls couldn’t be more different, but their mothers were best friends, and now they finally grow closer, too. Yet as the solstice nears, Apple’s fear of losing Dorothy causes her to make a choice for herself and Dorothy that changes everything—and the consequences are great. Will the Apple and Dorothy be able to fix their friendship? Will they even choose the same path? Olympus or Earth?

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The Superteacher Project

Gordon Korman

From Gordon Korman, the bestselling author of Restart and The Unteachables, comes a hilarious new story about a mysterious new teacher who turns out to be an AI robot from a secret experimental program. Oliver Zahn, spitball champion and self-declared rule-wrecker of Brightling Middle School, is not a fan of his new homeroom teacher, Mr. Aidact. The guy is sort of stiff, never cracks a smile, and refers to them as “pupils.” The worst part is he catches Oliver before he can pull any of his signature pranks! It’s time for Oliver and his best friend, Nathan, to show the new teacher who’s boss. But as the weeks go by, they start to realize that Mr. Aidact is not what they expected. He has an uncanny ability to remember song lyrics or trivia. When the girls’ field hockey team needs a new coach, he suddenly turns out to be an expert. He never complains when other teachers unload work on him—even when it’s lunchroom duty and overseeing detention. Against all odds, Mr. Aidact starts to become the most popular teacher at Brightling. Still, Oliver and Nathan know that something is fishy. They’re determined to get to the bottom of the mystery: What’s the deal with Mr. Aidact?

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Gnome Is Where Your Heart Is

Casey Lyall

Lemon Peabody is certain that aliens visited Grandpa Walt thirty years ago, but she's running out of time to prove it before he forgets his best story. This humorous and tenderhearted story about family, friendship, and always believing in yourself is for fans of Greg van Eekhout, Stuart Gibbs, and Hour of the Bees. Lemon Peabody loves spending time with Grandpa Walt. Even though he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved to an assisted living facility, he’s still the same funny, loving grandpa he’s always been. One of Grandpa’s claims to fame is his story about meeting an alien years ago—and that it looked like a garden gnome. Ever since, it’s been something of a town-wide joke, and the cause of a rift between Grandpa and Lemon’s dad. Lemon is determined to find those extraterrestrial gnomes and vindicate Grandpa Walt—while Grandpa can still remember it. Late one night, after seeing the flash of a spaceship during a storm, Lemon enlists the help of two friends to find out what might have crashed in the woods. But then the aliens find her, and nothing goes the way she expected. Lemon is sure she can convince the aliens to fix Grandpa Walt’s memory and bring back the grandpa she misses so much for good. But the aliens are dealing with problems of their own. With a little creativity and compassion, maybe they can all help one another. Casey Lyall’s lively, voice-driven novel bursts with heart and humor. With family and friendship—and aliens!—at its core, Gnome Is Where Your Heart Is will captivate readers of Rebecca Stead’s and Wendy Mass’s Bob, Greg van Eekhout’s Weird Kid, and Adam Rex’s The True Meaning of Smekday.

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Salsa Magic

Letisha Marrero

Thirteen-year-old Maya Beatriz Montenegro Calderon has vivid recurring dreams where she hears the ocean calling her. Mami's side of the family is known as "Los Locos," so maybe she actually is going crazy. But no time for that; the family business is where it's at. Whenever Maya, her sister Salma, and her three cousins, Ini, Mini, and Mo, aren't at school, you can usually find three generations of Calderones at CaféTaza, serving up sandwiches de pernil, mofongo, and the best cafés con leche in all of Brooklyn. One day, an unexpected visit from the estranged Titi Yaya from Puerto Rico changes everything. Because Yaya practices santeria, Abuela tells Maya and the other Calderon children are told to stay away from her. But If la viejita is indeed estranged from the family, why does Maya feel so connected to this woman she has never met before? And who is this orisha named Yemaya? On top of figuring all this out, Maya has a budding soccer career to consider, while fending off the local bully, and dealing with nascent feelings toward her teammate. But through it all, there's that alluring connection to a forbidden ancient practice–filled with a pantheon of Yoruban gods and goddesses–that keeps tugging at her, offering her a new perspective in life, tying her past to her present and future. Which path will Maya choose to fulfill her destiny?

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Like a Charm

Elle McNicoll

After the death of her grandfather, nuerodivergent tween Ramya uncovers a world of mystery and magic—and she’s the only one who can see it! From the award-winning author of A Kind of Spark. “Ramya, you have something this city needs. And it’s something that’s going to change everything.” “Ramya, you have something this city needs. And it’s something that’s going to change everything.” Ramya Knox is used to feeling cursed. People only notice her long enough to call her a troublemaker. Except Grandpa. He sees Ramya and her neurodiversity as enchanting. But when Grandpa dies, Ramya's world loses its charm…until she discovers he left behind one big secret: that magic is real and Ramya can see it. Trolls, vampires, kelpies, and more fantastical beings hide in the shadows for Ramya to discover. But the Hidden Folk need protection from the most dangerous creatures of all: the sirens. These beautiful monsters use their voices to get wahtever they want, and lately they want power. And anyone who resists, anyone who is different, simply…disappears. It's up to Ramya to finish her grandpa's work and expose the sirens for the villains they are–before their voices frown out the human and Hidden worlds forever.

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The Mossheart's Promise

Rebecca Mix

From New York Times bestselling YA author Rebecca Mix comes the first book in a breathtaking middle grade fantasy duology about a young fairy who has always lived in her heroic grandmother’s shadow but now must step up and embark on a quest to save her mother from the ever-creeping mold overtaking their world. Perfect for readers who loved Brandon Mull's Fablehaven, The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, and Endling: The Last by Katherine Applegate. The mold takes all. Twelve-year-old fairy Canary Mossheart knows this better than most. A few years ago, the mold took her papa, and even her famous, former-chosen-one Gran never found a cure. So when Ary's beloved mama falls ill, Ary decides it’s taken enough. Armed with only a bucket and a prayer, she sneaks out to find a magical, underground lake whose healing waters are straight out of Gran’s adventures. But when Ary gets there, the lake’s bone dry, and instead of healing waters, she finds a terrifying secret: Her entire world is actually trapped inside a giant terrarium—one they were meant to leave centuries ago. Worse, Gran knew and hid the truth, dooming Ary and her generation to a dying, rotting world. Now, allied with only her doomsday-obsessed frenemy, a timid pill bug, and a particularly grumpy newt, Ary has one week to unravel the clues and find a way out of the terrarium—or they’ll be trapped for good. .

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Trex

Christyne Morrell

This middle-grade mystery follows the adventures of a boy with an experimental brain implant, and a reclusive girl training to be a spy, as they′re pitted against school bullies, their own parents, and an evil, brain-hacking corporation. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things. Trex’s experimental brain implant saved his life—but it also made his life a lot harder. Now he shocks everything he touches. When his overprotective mother finally agrees to send him to a real school for sixth grade, Trex is determined to fit in. He wasn’t counting on Mellie the Mouse. She lives in the creepiest house in Hopewell Hill, where she spends her time scowling, lurking, ignoring bullies, and training to be a spy. Mellie is convinced she saw lightning shoot from Trex’s fingertips, and she is Very Suspicious. And she should be . . . but not of Trex. Someone mysterious is lurking in the shadows . . . someone who knows a dangerous secret.

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You Are Here: Connecting Flights

Ellen Oh

A powerful and engaging exploration of contemporary Asian American identity through interwoven stories set in a teeming Chicago airport, written by award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors including Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Erin Entrada Kelly, Traci Chee, and Ellen Oh. Flying Lessons meets Black Boy Joy. “The individual narratives are consistently engaging and rewarding, and together they form a unique collection of interconnected stories about young, contemporary Asian American characters.”—Booklist, Starred Review An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers—some helpful, some hostile—as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. Twelve powerhouse Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American. Written by Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, and edited by Ellen Oh.

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Hope in the Valley

Mitali Perkins

Hope in the Valley, from National Book Award Nominee Mitali Perkins, is a middle-grade novel exploring grief, friendship, family, and growing up in a community facing a housing crisis. Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul doesn't like change. She's not ready to start middle school and leave the comforts of childhood behind. Most of all, Pandita doesn't want to feel like she's leaving her mother, who died a few years ago, behind. After a falling out with her best friend, Pandita is planning to spend most of her summer break reading and writing in her favorite secret space: the abandoned but majestic mansion across the street. But then the unthinkable happens. The town announces that the old home will be bulldozed in favor of new—maybe affordable—housing. With her family on opposing sides of the issue, Pandita must find her voice—and the strength to move on—in order to give her community hope.

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The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby

G. Z. Schmidt

The Amadeuses were always considered somewhat strange. Even before the incident. When six-year-old Beatrice Willoughby vanished at the Amadeuses’ annual All Hallows Eve party, people in the tiny mountain town of Nevermore were quick to whisper: They were always odd. Their house is full of dark magic. And when Mort Amadeus was pegged for the crime, the Amadeuses, once the center of society, retreated. They closed their doors, disappeared from life. People almost forgot. Until thirteen years later, when six envelopes land at the doorstep of six households in town: We cordially invite you to a celebration on the 31st of October this Saturday evening at the Amadeus household. So begins the mystery of who was really responsible for the missing girl thirteen years ago. Was it Duchess von Pelt, whose face no one has ever seen? Mrs. Raven, the keeper of the local inn? Wormwood, the Amadeuses’ mysterious caretaker? Dr. Foozle, the town pharmacist? Count Baines, who seems to know when unlucky things are about to happen? Judge Ophelius, who presided over Beatrice’s case originally? Mr. and Mrs. H, a couple who no one can ever quite remember? Or somehow, might precocious, eleven-year-old Dewey and his storytelling dad, Chaucer, be somehow mixed up in all this? The guests must work together to identify the guilty party among them over the course of the evening—but beware the ticking clock, because at midnight, everything is going to change! Told from different perspectives, this is a sly, darkly funny mystery. Filled with strange characters and set in a mansion deep, deep in the woods. G. Z. Schmidt has crafted an unforgettable puzzle, perfect for reading on a dark autumn night.

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The Labors of Hercules Beal

Gary D. Schmidt

From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life—and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way. Herc Beal knows who he's named after—a mythical hero—but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod—and not a single Hydra in sight. Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it alone.

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Not Quite a Ghost

Anne Ursu

From the award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy comes an unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us—and the ones we carry inside. The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn’t fit among them. For Violet Hart—whose family is about to move into the house on Katydid Street—very little felt like it fit anymore. Like their old home, suddenly too small since her mother remarried and the new baby arrived. Or Violet’s group of friends, which, since they started middle school, isn’t enough for Violet’s best friend, Paige. Everything seemed to be changing at once. But sometimes, Violet tells herself, change is okay. That is, until Violet sees her new room. The attic bedroom in their new house is shadowy, creaky, and wrapped in old yellow wallpaper covered with a faded tangle of twisting vines and sickly flowers. And then, after moving in, Violet falls ill—and does not get better. As days turn into weeks without any improvement, her family growing more confused and her friends wondering if she’s really sick at all, she finds herself spending more time alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper, the shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night. And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all.

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Graphic

Ghost Book

Remy Lai

Perfect for fans of Spirited Away, Coco, and Ghosts comes a spooky fantasy graphic novel about the friendship between a girl who can see ghosts and a boy who is stuck between the worlds of the living and the dead. An Indie Bestseller! An Amazon, School Library Journal, and Chicago Public Library best book of the year! Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die. July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren’t real. So she pretends they don’t exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it's Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He’s a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth—for William to live, July must die. Inspired by Chinese mythology, this dark yet resoundingly hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice, and the unseen world of ghosts is a dazzling heir to beloved Studio Ghibli classics. "Absolutely gorgeous and a completely unique adventure. Remy Lai is a master storyteller!" —Christina Soontornvat, two-time Newbery Honor Winner "Spooky, spellbinding and full of heart!" ―Kayla Miller, bestselling author of Click "A deliciously spooky, funny adventure." ―Jessica Townsend, bestselling author of The Nevermoor series

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Unicorn Boy

Dave Roman

Go on a magical journey with this quirky, young reader's graphic novel about a boy who sprouts a unicorn horn and uses his newfound powers to help those in need! The first few years of Brian Reyes’ life were unremarkable—nothing weird about this kid, no sir. Then, one day, a bump appeared on his head, and it grew…and grew…and grew until it was a full-blown, sparkling, SINGING unicorn horn. That’s absolutely the last thing a shy kid like Brian wants, but destiny waits for no unicorn boy. Luckily, Brian has his reassuring pal Avery to keep him grounded as weird occurrences start stacking up, like Brian’s breakfast muffin talking to him, or a bizarre black cat offering him a business card. But when shadowy creatures from another realm kidnap Avery, Brian has to embrace his fate to rescue his best friend. In the pages of Unicorn Boy, Dave Roman has created a cast of charming oddballs reckoning with normal, every day problems—like heroic destinies and the fate of all magic in the universe. Readers of Narwal and Jelly, Grumpy Unicorn, and InvestiGators will endear themselves to these lovable characters.

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Grace Needs Space!

Benjamin A. Wilgus, Rii Abrego

To the moon and back! A sci-fi middle-grade graphic novel about a young girl's long-awaited summer trip across space with one of her moms. But when her relationship with her mom goes sideways, so does her trip. Will Grace be able to save her summer vacation before it ends? Grace is SO EXCITED to fly a freighter from her home space station (and away from her BORING mother Evelyn) to a faraway moon! Plus, she’ll get some quality time with her FUN mom Kendra—something Grace definitely needs. Finally, a real adventure that Grace can get excited about while the rest of her space station friends go away for their summer vacations. But when Kendra is too focused on work, Grace’s first big trip suddenly becomes kind of lonely. Grace had so many plans for fun. But all it takes is one quick decision to explore the moon by herself before Grace’s adventure suddenly becomes not so out of this world at all. With her mom mad at her, Grace wants nothing more than to return home. Then their ship breaks down. Will Grace be able to get through to her mom and save their trip in the end?

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Non-Fiction and Biography

Are We There Yet?

Maria Birmingham

Why do some people have a bad sense of direction? How can you avoid getting lost? Why did early mapmakers put fake towns on their maps and why does every traffic controller in the world speak English? From finding food, water and shelter to traveling for commerce, trade and eventually exploring the world, humans have always had to find their way from one place to another. Are We There Yet? examines the evolution of how we navigate the world. Our earliest ancestors relied on built-in navigation systems in our brains and followed clues like star patterns and animal behavior. Then came the invention of maps, faster transportation and eventually technology, like satellites and GPS. And from the depths of the ocean to faraway planets, there's still plenty of exploring to do. Where will we go next?

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The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions

Anna Goldfield, Neon Squid

From cheese rolling races to baby crying competitions, get ready for an adventure through the most amazing contests the world has ever seen. Throughout history humans have been challenging themselves against each other. Who could be the fastest? The strongest? The cleverest? While this was going on some other people decided to create epic contests that were…well, a little bit more unusual. Welcome to The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions, introduced by podcaster and expert fact-finder Anna Goldfield! Inside this nonfiction book prepare to get your mind blown by: • The people that take ironing boards up mountains • A spectacular pumpkin rowing race • Beauty pageants…for camels! Through the stories of these awesome competitions, brought to life by illustrator Hannah Riordan, readers will learn about the societies that created them, and the amazing traditions that inspired them. Filled with fun facts, it’s a perfect book for fans of Guinness World Records!

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My Head Has a Bellyache

Chris Harris

This hilarious follow-up to the New York Times bestselling poetry book I'm Just No Good at Rhyming is full of surprising twists of wit and wordplay that will have readers rolling on the floor laughing! “Highly recommended, it gets 5 stars and 8 moons and a chef's kiss and a tip of the hat and a jump in the lake from me.”—Bob Odenkirk, award-winning actor, writer, and comedian I'm Just No Good at Rhyming is this century's most acclaimed comedic poetry collection so far, described as "a worthy heir to Silverstein, Seuss, and even Ogden Nash" (PublishersWeekly), "wildly imaginative…inspired and inspiring" (Kirkus), and as "everything a book for kids should be" (B.J. Novak). Now, Chris Harris delivers all that and more with dazzling new heights of creativity, kooky conundrums, witty wordsmithing, and of course, wacky laugh-out-loud fun! There's a whole new cast of characters to meet, from the Nail-Clipping Fairy (who delivers teeth at night), to Orloc the Destroyer (who can be defeated only by his mommy), to the Elderly Caveman (who complains about the younger generation obsessed with playing with fire). There are more mind-bending verbal and visual riddles, plus there's plenty of hilarious hijinks hiding around every corner, whether it's a buffalo that escapes one poem and roams through others or a meteor threatening to land on the book and obliterate everything. There's even a mini book-within-a-book! In between it all, cartoonist Andrea Tsurumi’s diverse range of exuberant people, creatures, and anthropomorphic objects ripple through the pages with playful energy. If your head has a bellyache as you read this book, it will only be because you're laughing WAY. TOO. HARD!

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Presidents decoded: a guide to the leaders who shaped our nation

Katie Kennedy

Ever wonder what the President does? Meet the 45* people who have held the job in this important book that showcases how they each led the country in their time—and features their own thoughts and words through their documents, letters, diaries, speeches and so much more. Some call it the most important job in the world. It's certainly the most powerful. And it's one that every citizen needs to know about because we're the ones who vote to put a president in office. Lively, informative, filled with firsts and facts, big ideas and compelling anecdotes, The Presidents Decoded, is a richly layered guide to the leaders who have shaped our nation. Featuring over 125 primary sources–including documents, speeches, letters, executive orders and diaries–each leader's time in office is broken down and explained to show the what, how and why of our leaders' thoughts, decisions and policies. Familiar documents like the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, and The Fugitive Slave Act — the part of the Compromise of 1850 that set the country on a path to Civil War — are included. But there's also George Washington’s letter to Martha as he learns that he’s been chosen to be the General of the Continental Army, a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt from a desperate family during the Great Depression, a letter from baseball legend Jackie Robinson urging John F. Kennedy to do more for civil rights, and the Executive Order limiting the hours of the federal work day, and so many more. Full-color illustrations bring each president and their time in office to life on the page in their career-defining moments as history marches forward and changes the job — and our way of life — through inventions like the camera, the telephone, the first metal detector, services like the Navy and the Red Cross, and the rise of social media platforms like Twitter. As she did in The Constitution Decoded, Katie Kennedy shines a light on American History, this time through the lens of the leaders who shaped our nation. (*Very clever of you to catch this! the number is off by 1 because Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and the 24th president!)

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This book is full of brains: all kinds of brains and how they work

Tim Kinnington, Little House of Science

Did you know that a fully grown human brain is equal to the weight of one 12-week-old kitten? Or that it can think at 41⁄2 times the speed of a cheetah? How about the fact that an octopus brain reaches to the tips of its tentacles, or that the emerald jewel wasp can use mind control over other insects? Filled with interesting facts, immersive at-home activities, and fun optical illusions, This Book Is Full of Brains will make kids fall in love with all types of brains–whether they be human, dinosaur, or robot!

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Unseen Jungle: The Microbes That Secretly Control Our World

Eleanor Spicer Rice

This lively peek into the amazing world of microbes, replete with a kid-pleasing “ick” factor, is chock-full of facts, humor, and fun illustrations. Microbes are everywhere: outside, indoors, on your body, in your body. In fact, only about half of our bodies' cells are human cells—the rest are microbes. Whether helping people digest their food or using mind-control techniques to lure mice into the path of hungry cats (no, really), microbes form an unseen jungle all around us. Through zany facts, hilarious and sometimes disgusting illustrations, and interviews with experts in their fields, aspiring young scientists (or kids who just want to be grossed out) will discover a hidden world in which your health depends on a myriad of microbes, houseflies get zombified by fungi, and termites are saving the planet one fart at a time. With such extras as sidebars, limericks, and even a lesson on how to draw E. coli, this “eww”-worthy treasure trove for kids is an engrossing romp into the microbe drama unfolding where you might least expect it.

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Kid Olympians: Summer :true tales of childhood from champions and game changers

Robin Stevenson

Triumphant, relatable, and totally true biographies tell the childhood stories of a diverse group of international athletes who have captured the world’s attention at the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, like Simone Biles, Jesse Owens, Naomi Osaka, Tatyana McFadden, and 12 other incredible olympians. Athletes throughout history have dreamed of competing in the Olympics— and some were kids themselves when those dreams and plans began! In Kid Olympians: Summer, discover the childhood stories of legends such as: Usain Bolt, who used to skip practices to go to the arcade and play video games. Serena Williams, who sometimes hit her tennis ball over the fence on purpose! Tatyana McFadden, who had to fight to be allowed on her school’s track team Featuring kid-friendly text and full-color illustrations, you’ll be inspired to dream bigger, faster, and higher than ever before! The diverse and inspiring group also includes Michael Phelps, Yusra Mardini, Dick Fosbury, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Gertrude Ederle, Nadia Comaneci, Ellie Simmonds, Tommie Smith, Wilma Rudolph, and Megan Rapinoe.

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In and Out the Window

Jane Yolen

The largest single anthology of Jane Yolen's poetry, containing more than one hundred poems for all occasions—with fun black-and-white art throughout. Our Kitchen Smells of mornings, blueberry muffins, hot chocolate, tea. It smells of bacon and of eggs. It smells of family. For the first time, legendary author Jane Yolen gathers the largest single anthology of her poetry celebrating childhood. At home or at school, playing sports or practicing music, enjoying the holidays or delighting in each season, Jane Yolen’s masterful collection shows just how lively it is to be a kid. With whimsical artwork by Cathrin Peterslund, this collection of more than one hundred poems is a classic that children are sure to return to again and again.

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• Claribel Ortega