For Our Youngest Friends
George and Lenny are Always Together by John Agee (picture book fiction)
Best friends, a rabbit and a bear, find out what it is like to be apart from each other.
This picture book is recommended for kids aged 4 and up and for people interested in a funny friendship story. Recommended by Mary.
Lap Cat by Joren Cull (picture book fiction)
Lap Cat is on an adventurous quest to find the perfect lap – but doesn’t realize the trail of destruction they are leaving behind until it’s too late. Will they be able to repair the damage they’ve done – or find a lap after all?
Recommended for anyone with a sense of humor, adventure, or affection for cat snuggles. Recommended by Emily.
Gray Squirrel Loses It! by Cassandra Federman (picture book fiction)
Gray (short for Grayson) Squirrel is ready to give you a tour of the forest, but he has lost his nut! Determined to find it, he searches through a bunch of funny scenarios!
Perfect for pre-K and kindergartners who like funny stories about animals.Recommended by Melissa.
Everyday Bean by Stephanie Graegin (picture book fiction)
A collection of short, sweet, funny stories featuring Bean, a very tiny hedgehog, and her grandma.
This book is great for families who are looking for cozy bedtime stories. Recommended by Leah.
Sammy Feels Shy by Tom Percival (picture book fiction)
Sammy loves having fun but has a hard time talking to people – one day it gets too hard and scary that Sammy turns pink all over and wants to hide. In order to help him, his dad takes him to a fun fair where Sammy learns that he doesn’t have to hide and taking smaller steps can help him tackle his fears.
This book would be good for shy kids who are having a hard time trying to socialize. Recommended by Denise.
Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend by Bob Shea (picture book fiction)
Two turtles, one masquerading as a bear and the other a self-proclaimed bear expert, become friends after a day of bear-adjacent activities.
Perfect for fans of Mo Willems, Jan Thomas, Jory John, and Adam Rubin. It makes for a good read-aloud for kindergarten and up, either one-on-one at home, or in a larger group like a classroom mystery reader. Recommended by Staci.
The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy by Donna Barba Higuera (early fiction)
The ancient duty of monsters called cucuys is to scare misbehaving kids, but when a young cucuy is assigned to his first child, he struggles to frighten the preoccupied child. Can the young cucuy prove himself to be a fierce boogeyman?
This story would be great for readers who are looking for slight spookiness, a laugh, learning about making connections, and finding one’s identity. Recommended by Reilly.
The Kids in Mrs. Z.’s Class: Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage by Kekla Magoon (early fiction)
Ayana, who prefers to blend into the background at school, has to figure out what her special skill is so she can perform in her school talent show. But it’s hard to concentrate on figuring out her talent when her dad starts volunteering to help with the show and keeps taking the spotlight. Can Ayana figure out her own way to shine?
This would be great for a 3rd grader who enjoys school stories about different people. Recommended by Maddie.
Elena Camps by Juana Medina (early fiction)
Determined elephant Elena struggles to set up her camping tent. Medina’s signature art, the short text, playful onomatopoeia, and humor in this engaging story will show emerging readers the values of perseverance and emotional regulations. (School Library Journal, December 2025).
Recommended for 5-7 year-olds who are looking for a funny story that also gently showcases big emotions and provides calming techniques. Recommended by Catherine.
Earl & Worm by Greg Pizzoli (early fiction)
Three books published in 2025, each with three stories in one book. An unlikely pair who becomes the best of friends!
A great book series for pre-K to 2nd grade. A step up from the Elephant and Piggie series, but still with the charm of funny friendship stories similar to See the Dog and Fox and Rabbit. Recommended by Alyssa.
Elementary School Picks
The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge (fiction)
The dangerous forest threatens Feather’s small community everyday – when a stranger steals her community’s precious spyglass, she’s forced into the forest where danger and shocking turns await.
A great pick for kids in grades 4-6 who are reluctant readers and might find text accompanied by illustrations engaging. For fans of the author’s previous title, Island of Whispers. Recommended by Reilly.
On the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh and other various authors (fiction)
A collection of twelve stories about the residents of the Entrada apartment building and how their lives are linked as multigenerational immigrant families.
A great book for kids in grades 3-5 who like a collection of short stories and enjoy relatable, realistic fiction. Recommended by Catherine.
Cassini’s Mission: a Spacecraft, a Tiny Moon, and the Search for Life Beyond Earth by Katie Venit (nonfiction)
The Cassini Mission was a spacecraft that was sent to explore Saturn and its moons. Beautiful illustrations and cool facts about their discoveries.
A great pick for 3rd graders who are interested in space exploration! Recommended by Melissa.
Middle Grade Spotlight
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (graphic nonfiction)
Coming of age memoir told in the form of a graphic novel, of 12 year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author’s father) and his life during the Cuban Revolution and his family’s harrowing escape to America.
Recommended for readers who enjoy WWII stories, but would like a change of pace. Recommended by Alyssa.
The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf and illustrated by José Pimienta (graphic nonfiction)
The strange, true tale of a Louisiana lake that vanished – taking with it every fish below and every boat and barge above – told in a gripping and accessible graphic format.
Perfect for fans of survival stories, nature, and graphic novels. Grades 4-8. Recommended by Maddie.
An Immense World: How Animals Sense Earth’s Amazing Secrets by Ed Yong (nonfiction)
Whether or not you know a lot about animals, this book is a fascinating way to learn more about how various animals experience the world through their senses – and how their experience compares to our own.
This book would be a great read for upper elementary and middle school readers who are curious about nature and animals, or want to explore learning about them from a different angle. Recommended by Emily
Teen Reads
The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson (fiction)
Jordyn is on her way to college; excited for a fresh start, but things go from amazing to terrible after her roommate’s brother decides to visit and overstays his welcome.
This is a great read for older high school teens who are looking for a suspenseful mystery. Recommended by Denise.
Still looking for a good book?
We’ve got many resources on our website for you! Take a look at our Kids’ Booklists or our T(w)een Booklists to narrow down by genre or format – or fill out a Book Match with information about what you’re looking for in your next book. We’ll make a custom book list just for you! Feel free to stop by and chat with our staff – we love to hear about books you’re loving!
