For Our Youngest Friends
César’s Cerulean Surprise by Jenny Lacika, illustrated by Laura Sandoval Herrera (picture book fiction)
Gabi asks César yes and no questions to find out which crayon he wants to borrow, in an exploration of logic featuring Mexican American characters and Spanish color words.
Recommended for grades K-2 looking for a book about simple math concepts using colorful crayons. Recommended by Catherine.
And They Walk On by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Rafael López (picture book fiction)
A boy says farewell to a loved one as he imagines her walking on into her next journey, specifically his grandmother and remembering activities they shared.
A good recommendation for kids ages 4-5 (and up) looking to discuss loss or remembering someone who has passed away. Recommended by Alyssa.
The Library in the Woods by Calvin A. Ramsey, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (picture book fiction)
In 1959, a nine-year-old Junior moves to Roxboro, North Carolina and faces the realities of the segregated South.
Recommended for kids in 2nd-5th grade who want to read about the history of segregation and how it impacted the main character’s access to books. Recommended by Reilly.
The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (picture book nonfiction)
Celebrates our shared ancestors’ ingenuity and achievements and imagines what these firsts would have looked and felt like, using magnificent paintings to create a tale about our shared beginnings in a way that centers Black people in humankind’s origin story.
This book is recommended for adults who are reading to children who are interested in learning about the history of humans. Recommended by Lan.
We Go Slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Aaron Becker (picture book fiction)
A child and her grandfather take a walk around their neighborhood.
Recommended for anyone looking for a rhythmic read with watercolor illustrations. Recommended by Maddie.
Zoey & Sassafrass: Monsters and Mold by Asia Citro, illustrated by Marion Lindsay (early fiction)
Zoey and her cat Sassafras, use experiments to help a monster with his look before the annual monster ball.
A great recommendation for 1st and 2nd graders who have an interest in science experiments; this book is STEM focused but creative and easy to read. Recommended by Melissa.
Dory Fantasmagory: Center of the Universe by Abby Hanlon (early fiction)
Dory is on her first soccer team with her best friends Rosaebelle and George. Dory is ready to score a billion goals but when her friends start acting differently Dory sets out to befriend her new teammates.
This book is a funny family read aloud for ages 5 and up. It’s also appropriate for 2nd graders and up who are reading independently! Recommended by Liz.
Bear & Bird: The Secret and Other Stories by Jarvis (early fiction)
A collection of four short stories about a bear and a bird who are friends.
A fun and sweet pick for emerging readers who like to read about animals and cute and funny friendship stories. Recommended by Denise.
The Dog and Pony Show: Dance Pants! by Jeff Mack (early fiction)
Dog loves to dance and wants Pony to try it too, but Pony has some trouble. It must be because Pony doesn’t have dance pants like Dog does!
A great book for 1st graders and up who enjoy funny stories. Recommended by Mary.
Kwame’s Magic Quest: Rise of the Green Flame by Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Natasha Nayo (early fiction)
Eight-year-old Kwame is excited to start Nkonyaa School where he will learn what kind of magic he can do, but to his great dismay, no one can figure out which type of magic is in his calabash until the school is confronted by the ultimate evil and Kwame’s magic is finally revealed.
A great pick for 3rd graders who are interested in reading Harry Potter but want to start a little smaller. Recommended by Staci.
Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales! Troubling Tonsils! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown (early fiction)
A cautionary tale about a young marmot whose tonsils get the better of him.
A great read for fans of Reynolds and Brown’s trio of Jasper Rabbit picture books or anyone looking for a creepy, funny chapter book. Recommended by Leah.
Mouse and Spoon: Owlets and Tarts by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Janna Mattia (early fiction)
Mom and dad owl are exhausted – their three little owlets refuse to go to sleep – will the Mouse and Spoon Bakery be able to help get them pillow tarts so everyone can sleep?
This is the first book in the Mouse and Spoon series about a bakery run by mice and is recommended for 1st and 2nd graders looking for an animal story, or a story about baking. Recommended by Lan.
Tana Cooks to Face her Fear by Stacy Wells, illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama (early fiction)
When Tana hears that there is a dog running loose in school, she freezes, because she’s terrified of dogs. Is there a way for her to cure her fear of dogs?
Recommended for anyone who likes cooking with their family, but particularly 1st and 2nd graders reading chapter books on their own! This would also be a great book for someone who is a little nervous around dogs or is afraid of something, but wants to overcome that fear. Recommended by Emily.
Elementary School Picks
The Apprenticeship of Andrew Wyeth: Painting a Family Legacy by Gene Barretta (picture book biography)
This is a picture filled story of Andrew Wyeth’s childhood in a creative family and his challenges as he mastered his style and development as a renowned artist. The book is filled with images of his artwork, information of his accomplished family, and facts about his artistic techniques.
Recommended for kids in grades 2-5 who have an interest in art and how an artist develops their unique style. Recommended by Karen.
What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing (fiction)
A decades-old family secret is buried within the sand, water, and woods…waiting for cousins Avery and Jax to find it and uncover the truth.
Recommended for readers in grades 3-6 who like mystery, realistic fiction, and family drama. The audiobook of this title has been recommended due to three different narrators that helped add depth to each character’s perspective. Recommended by Katie.
The Danger Files: Real-Life Disasters by Anna Crowley Redding (nonfiction)
Have you ever wanted to delve deeper into some of the most dramatic disasters in history? Do you want to learn about narrow escapes and read eyewitness accounts from the viewpoint of those who were lucky to survive? In Danger-Files, you’ll investigate some of the world’s biggest catastrophes while playing disaster detective. With access to case files full of critical facts and clues, get ready to determine for yourself what happened and why!
Recommended for readers in grades 3-6 who enjoy playing detective and sorting through investigations like the Titanic, Hindenburg disaster, The Great Chicago Fire, and more! Recommended by Catherine.
Middle Grade Spotlight
The Taylors by Jen Calonita (fiction)
On the first day of middle school, it’s revealed that the homeroom class has four girl students all named Taylor! There’s a couple of things they can agree on: Taylor Swift is the greatest singer-songwriter of all time…and they are definitely going to need nicknames. Soon they are all trying out for cheerleading and starting a friendship bracelet-making business. When the Eras tour comes to town, the four friends will do whatever it takes to get tickets.
Recommended for 3rd graders and up, especially those who are Taylor Swift fans. Recommended by Mary.
Unboxing Libby by Steph Cherrywell (fiction)
Max isn’t always sweet and bubbly. That wouldn’t be an issue, except she’s programmed to be those things. “Max” isn’t even her real name, she’s a Libby – one of the most popular A.I. Cademy Girl social robots, which are the top selling toy for girls ages eight through twelve. Despite her packaging and preprogramed memories, Max is feeling the opposite of having to be a perfect Libby and she wants to know why. But the questions she asks uncover bigger answers than what she could have imagined and it’s up to Max to save herself and her friends from ending up in a junkyard.
Recommended for students in grades 4-7 who are looking for something beyond The Baby Sitter’s Club and are interested in exploring science fiction. Recommended by Staci.
Hungry Bones by Louise Hung (fiction)
A middle grade novel about a Chinese-American girl Molly, who can see ghosts and moves into a house haunted by Jade, a girl who died over a century ago and is now a “hungry ghost.” The story follows Molly and Jade’s developing friendship as they work together to uncover the secrets of Jade’s past, which involves a forgotten tragedy and the history of Chinese immigrants, balancing spooky elements with humor and heart.
This book is recommended for 5th graders and up who are fans of stories with ghosts, dual perspectives, family secrets, or Chinese-American history. Recommended by Lan.
Teen Reads
Rosa By Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz (fiction)
Rosa, a white Latine, attends a posh high school in hopes of boosting her college application to pursue a career in journalism. When her two best friends, one from the barrio and the other from her school, meet and fall in love, Rosa is worried about her worlds colliding. After an unimaginable tragedy resulting in their murder, Rosa is thrown into the center of a town-wide scandal, with her true identity on display, and must figure out how to align her community while seeking justice for her friends.
Recommended for those interested in historical social justice. Even though this book is in the high school section, it would be great for upper middle school readers as well. Recommended by Emily.
One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins (fiction)
Based on the true story of Matilda Young, the youngest suffragist imprisoned for picketing the White House for women’s voting rights.
Recommended for teens looking for historical fiction or novels written in verse. Recommended by Leah.
Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley (fiction)
A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity interlaced with thriller elements.
Recommended for high school readers who are looking for a twisty thriller with a lot of intersecting plots that cover a range of topics from foster care, Native American heritage and more. Recommended by Alyssa.
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!
