Ari Stocrate
[isbn]
How insane is it that the world's woes have driven me to seek shelter in a graphic novel about a stretchy dragon who lives in a swamp with a witch, hordes enchanted pacifiers and iPod nanos, and loves canned legumes? This was not on my 2023 bingo card. Anyway, her name is Bean. She is me and I am her.
Recommended by Stacy W.
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Bill Watterson and John Kascht
[isbn]
The Mysteries is an unsettling and eerily familiar fable about a world that loses direction. The images are gorgeous, wonderfully evocative, and just a little disturbing. This is a book to reread many times and to put its message into your own frame of reference and keep it close to your heart.
Recommended by Marianne T
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ND Stevenson, Nate Stevenson, Noelle Stevenson
[isbn]
I will read anything by ND Stevenson. This book gives you the warm fuzzies and restores your faith that your queer love is out there. A must read.
Recommended by madmythandy
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Corook and Olivia Barton
[isbn]
I personally must have listened to this song at least a million times when it came out, and every time, it still managed to make me tear up while dancing with glee. It taught me about appreciating my body, loving my friends, and most importantly, loving myself. While this book may be geared for children, I think that it's the perfect gift for anyone who needs a little encouragement to be who they are.
Recommended by Katherine M.
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Kate Ristau
[isbn]
Kate Ristau’s new Mythwakers series sets out to teach kids all about mythology but in a new and super fun way: through the point of view of its characters. First up is Asterion, the famous minotaur. Asterion is goofy, kind of cheeky, and full of fascinating facts about his mythological life and the true history of Ancient Greece. With Ristau’s light, breezy style and loads of hilarious jokes and asides, Mythwakers: The Minotaur is a... (read more)
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Maggie Tokuda Hall and Yas Imamura
[isbn]
With beautiful watercolor illustrations, Maggie Tokuda-Hall tells the story of her grandparents meeting and falling in love in the library at Minidoka, the Japanese internment camp where both George and Tama were imprisoned. She describes the constant worry and fear they felt, but also how the library and the books allowed Tama to escape, even for just a moment. This nuanced book is about injustice, perseverance, and hope.
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Heather Fawcett
[isbn]
Besides a grumpy, young professor, this book has FAIRIES and adventure, romance, mystery… and did I say FAIRIES? This is a highly entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. (And even the professor isn’t so grumpy in the end!)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Raymond Antrobus
[isbn]
This children's picture book follows Little Bear as he, with the help of his father, realizes he is having trouble hearing his teachers and friends. Little Bear goes to the audiologist and takes a few tests, then he starts hearing therapy and lip-reading classes and begins to wear hearing aids. I loved how this book describes both Little Bear's experience hearing clearly for the first time, but also how sometimes Little Bear feels tired or... (read more)
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Sophie Blackall
[isbn]
What would you do if you were a horse? The imaginative narrator of this delightful new picture book from Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall has some ideas! Classic, playful, and charming — sure to garner many a suggestion for your horse-ish to-do list at story time.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Steve McCarthy
[isbn]
Oktober Vasylenko is part of a giant family that loves to explore in the wild — but Oktober loves to read books about how scary it is Out There. When Oktober ventures out and meets the Wilderness face-to-face, the ensuing adventure proves that "scared is how you feeldo." The Wilderness is so charming and cozy and beautiful and brave, and I will be personally gifting it to all the Oktobers and Mays in my life.... (read more)
Recommended by Michelle C.
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Jason Reynolds and Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
[isbn]
There Was a Party for Langston celebrates Langston Hughes, “whose ABC’s became drums,
bumping jumping thumping / like a heart the size of the whole wide world.” This book bumps and thumps, too, using rhythmic words, expressive art, and loads of heart to pay tribute to an important man.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Ryan G Van Cleave
[isbn]
This collection has beautiful illustrations that make the book feel like a vintage handmade collage. Van Cleave also uses the righthand margin to define key words in the poems like "talisman" or "sabre" and includes discussion questions like, "At what point does the poem take a dark turn?"
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
[isbn]
Just imagine Baba Yaga as a youthful Slavic goddess, fighting for good and maybe falling in love, all during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. There's something here for anyone who enjoys history, mythology, even romance. I could not put this book down!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Kate Leth
[isbn]
Kate Leth’s delightful look at mall culture in the early 2000s has a lot to say about when to let keep your guard up, when to let it down, and the problems that come from misjudging that balance.
Recommended by Keith M.
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Amanda Gorman and Christian Robinson
[isbn]
The difficulty of making change can be overwhelming. Amanda Gorman’s beautiful poetry and Christian Robinson’s gorgeous art will inspire readers of any age who want to help make a better world.
Recommended by Keith M.
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Aaron Blabey
[isbn]
A hilarious look at the precarity of fame, this action-packed book is purr-fect for fans of cute cat videos and big explosions. Litter-ally, something for everyone!
Recommended by Keith M.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
I'm a bit obsessed with Rick Riordan. I'll try anything he writes, and his Rick Riordan Presents imprint is always quality (and a great example of true allyship), but it all started with Percy — and now he's graduating! I feel like Mushu in Mulan: "My little baby's all grown up!"
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Emily Winfield Martin
[isbn]
I am obsessed with Portland local Emily Winfield Martin's dreamy artwork, which never fails to feel like it came from from a forgotten, beloved childhood fairytale. This charming board book follows The Wonderful Things You Will Be and Wonderful Babies, highlighting wonderful wee ones in all four seasons.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Linda Medley
[isbn]
Castle Waiting is an incredible comic series. It follows a motley cast of characters who have — through one way or another — found themselves at the eponymous castle. They include a retired plague doctor, a scamp of a nun, a stoic blacksmith, the frazzled stork-headed caretaker, and a woman on the run. Their lives together and their pasts apart make up the rich story of Castle Waiting. While the setting and characters are... (read more)
Recommended by Edme G.
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Mizuki Tsujimura, Philip Gabriel
[isbn]
One of those books written with the same pastel languor of impressionist art. Somehow Tsujimura manages to reach through each page and gently take the hand of your inner child, tenderly reminding you of the person you were and what those early friendships meant. Equally melancholic and hopeful, recklessly unafraid of softness, Lonely Castle in the Mirror did a number on me.
Recommended by Stacy W.
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K. O'Neill
[isbn]
I adore this book. K O'Neill's artwork is absolutely stunning, with beautiful watercolor sunsets and vibrant desert landscapes. I love O'Neill's ability to create whimsical and cozy magical worlds that stand out from other fantasy books. This lovely and layered story also has subtle and sweet queer and disability representation that does not focus on trauma, but instead focuses on the love and care the characters have for one another. I cannot... (read more)
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Tyler Feder
[isbn]
In this graphic memoir, Feder perfectly captures the small, surreal moments involved in the death of a loved one and the sad, awkward, and messy parts of adapting to life without them. Anyone who has ever lost a parent will deeply relate and this is the perfect book to help anyone 12+ feel less isolated in their grief.
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Esme Symes Smith
[isbn]
Sir Callie is the champion that we all could use! This book is a powerful story about standing firm in what you believe in and fighting for those who can't fight for themselves.
Recommended by Jessica M.
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Zohra Nabi
[isbn]
This book is perfect if you love strong female characters and a world full of magic and mystery! I couldn't put it down, and the illustrations are beautiful!
Recommended by Jessica M.
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Joy McCullough and Devon Holzwarth
[isbn]
Illustrated with rich colors and flowing energy and filled with a diverse array of young readers, The Story of a Book is an imaginative ode to the magic of books and the uniqueness of our relationships to them.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Edith Pattou
[isbn]
A wonderful folktale retelling inspired by the oft-forgotten fairy tale, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," infused with wit, romance, and adventure!
Recommended by Grace B
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Davide Cali and Benjamin Chaud
[isbn]
This whimsical picture book offers many important lessons. Among them: 1. space is cool, 2. life keeps you busy, and 3. teachers just don’t understand.
Recommended by Keith M.
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Jon Klassen
[isbn]
A young runaway befriends (and capably protects!) a skull in this spooky-charming folklore retelling perfect for little readers who get thrills from a few bone-rattling chills. Trust picture-book master Jon Klassen to turn this set up into a perfectly weird and atmospheric tale of friendship, humor, heroism, and suspense.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Gracey Zhang
[isbn]
A cacophonous, celebratory, cat-filled concerto about finding your own musical voice and finding your audience. Beautifully illustrated and just plain fun. You’ll want to pick up a violin, a paintbrush, or maybe both.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Jaha Nailah Avery
[isbn]
This preservation of stories over 300 years in the making should be required reading, especially considering in 2023 we have conservative podcasters and talking heads stating that African American history, specifically involving slavery, is "embellished." Avery's mission to herald history as truth — bare, brutal, and beautiful as it is — sees its accomplishment met here, burning bright as the sun.
Recommended by Stacy W.
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Waka T. Brown
[isbn]
Anya's Ghost and Coraline combine to give us this perfectly told and vivid reimagining of a timeless Japanese folktale. Is there anything better than a quizzical girl getting through life with the help (or hinderance) of the paranormal? Hint: the answer is no.
Recommended by Stacy W.
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Graham Annable
[isbn]
Want to traumatize your kids the same way Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark traumatized you? Of course you do. It's only fair. This bone-chilling anthology is sure to keep your kids (and even you) up at night. I love imagining the next generation of kids reading these stories at sleepovers and seeing who chickens out first. Ghoulishly good fun!
Recommended by Stacy W.
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Terry Border
[isbn]
You’d think it would be easier for a cupcake to plan her own birthday party — but there’s a lot to think about, like how to play musical chairs without getting your frosting squished. Terry Border’s tale of one persevering pastry and her fun-loving food-friends trying their darnedest to throw a birthday bash is punny and funny, and, like a good cupcake, just the right amount of sweet.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Susi Schaefer
[isbn]
Susi Schaefer’s spritely writing and fun, cartoony artwork tells a story with loads of whimsy and a meaningful message about the gifts that come when you learn you don’t need to be the best and brightest in the bunch.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Nikki Grimes
[isbn]
Talking directly to the child in the story, as if from the voice of an attentive, loving parent, this picture book takes the reader on an adventure told in poetic language and cut-paper collagelike illustrations. A clever, effervescent bathtime/bedtime book.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith
[isbn]
Jordan Scott’s language is elegant and tender, and Sydney Smith’s artwork is luminous in this quiet and cozy tale. Another beautiful collaboration between Scott and Smith.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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E. B. Goodale
[isbn]
With simple, elegant writing and soft, lovely artwork, E. B. Goodale pens a gentle exaltation of the constancy of a parent’s love. Quiet and joyful.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Sue Lynn Tan
[isbn]
Based on Chinese mythology, the immortal world of the Celestial Kingdom is absolutely entrancing, as is Xingyin's journey from servant to celebrated archer of the royal army. It's a story about love and lies and just how far she's willing to go to free her mother from banishment.
Recommended by Carly J.
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David Benioff
[isbn]
Fans of the Last of Us series may recognize this title as a reference point left by Neil Druckmann in the second game, and it's easy to see Benihoff's influence on Druckmann's writing. City of Thieves is a bruising escapade, whipping the reader from a joke into contemplation into tragedy moment to moment. An extremely effective rumination on survival, suffering, and the absurdity of war.
Recommended by SitaraG
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Angeline Boulley
[isbn]
This is a powerful story about an eighteen-year-old biracial Native American woman who confronts deep pain and corruption in her community, navigating her own sense of self and what it means to belong to a history, a lineage, to your people, and yourself. I couldn't put it down.
Recommended by Claire A.
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Mackenzi Lee
[isbn]
I am a huge fan of Bucky Barnes, and I absolutely love that Mackenzi Lee drew from his comic origins as a teen sidekick. The book flashes back and forth between young Bucky just coming into his role as a covert operative, and his later life as the Winter Soldier. It's a nailbiter of an adventure with a side of heart... and heartbreak.
Recommended by Lesley A.
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T Kingfisher
[isbn]
Kingfisher weaves in vivid and jarring elements of horror — a pelican dentist, a cursed ventriloquist, and more — into this high-fantasy story in a way that scared but also delighted me.
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Vashti Harrison
[isbn]
At first Big is a simply and sweetly told story about a girl who thinks she doesn’t fit in — and then it gets surreal. And surprising. And magical. What a strange and beautiful way to depict how it feels to finally realize you’re perfect the way you are.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
[isbn]
I will always be delighted to return to the world of Percy Jackson, even if it means putting my best boy Nico and his best boy Will through the terrors of Tartarus. Luckily the pair are in deft hands on this adventure co-written by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro — the latter of whom brings an exciting new voice and perspective to this much-beloved series.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Charlotte Cheng, Amber Ren
[isbn]
Warm, luminous art and simple, elegant text follow GoGo’s adventure into a bustling and enchanting Taipei night market — and to a lost little girl who needs help. A joyful story of discovery, kindness, and love.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Jen Wang
[isbn]
A cute wholesome fairytale! The Prince and the Dressmaker will charm its way into your heart and restore your faith in humanity. Jen Wang created a world of wholesome growth that I wish we lived in.
Recommended by Lindsay P
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Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido
[isbn]
This follow-up to Alexander & Sweet's 2019 How to Read a Book comes just in time for National Poetry Month in April! Nikaido joins the team to help craft a beautiful, instructional poem which, combined with Sweet's joyfully vivacious illustrations and collages, is sure to inspire young readers. What poems might they create?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sandra Boynton
[isbn]
Boynton's latest picture book shares the quality that has made her past hits shine: it's just as much fun for adults as it is for kiddos. She's onto something, too — it became a lot easier to finish writing this review when I pictured an enthusiastic chicken watching me type, yelling "WOO HOO, PECK THOSE KEYS!"
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Brian Selznick
[isbn]
With nearly 300 pages of illustrations, Big Tree is an utter feast of imaginative delight for fans of Selznick’s work (raises hand) — but within that delight is also not only an epic adventure but a celebration of the importance and delicacy and resiliency of this big place we call home.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Diana Sudyka
[isbn]
Sudyka’s imaginative use of design and scope makes Little Land a great introduction to the care of the earth. Particularly clever is her use of slanting and upending the frame as the world gets out of balance — and her sly introduction of the children who can bring that balance back.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Colin Meloy
[isbn]
If The Goonies and Stranger Things had a book-baby, this would be it, with Stephen King and Neil Gaiman as godparents. But, you know, for kids.
Recommended by Izzy C
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Jennifer Saint
[isbn]
Never in life have I been so hooked by a book just by reading the first page. I dare you to read the prologue and find a way to put this book down. We all know the story of Theseus, and his defeat of the Minotaur. Now prepare to know the woman who helped him do it.
Recommended by Lindsay P
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Mira Grant
[isbn]
Move over Disney's Ariel – these are the mermaids of your nightmares.
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Zach Weinersmith and Boulet
[isbn]
A magnificent middle reader graphic novel retelling worthy of the source material. The great hall? A great treehouse. Our heroes? Kid-conquerors of suburbia. Our monster? A joyless adult. Like the old epic, I was hooked from the first poetic kenning.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Sara Pennypacker and Matthew Cordell
[isbn]
Leeva at Last is a warm-hearted, uplifting, and very funny tale of community and perseverance staring responsible Fern; anxious, hazmat-suit-wearing Osmund; a badger; and Leeva Thornblossom, the most charming, precocious do-gooder you could ask for. This book is a delight.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Carole Lindstrom, Steph Littlebird
[isbn]
With Carole Lindstrom’s simple, poetic language and Steph Littlebird’s lovely, fluid artwork, bursting with color and joy, a young girl’s musing about her hair opens up themes of family, history, strength, pride, and the celebration of Indigenous culture. A gorgeous book.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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T Kingfisher, Ursula Vernon
[isbn]
This story is the feminist fantasy quest of my dreams. Kingfisher crafts charming, relatable characters who you'll just want to keep hanging out with, and worlds you'll want to stay lost in forever. Her turns of phrase are wonderful and there's the perfect amount of cleverness and wit. She's my new fave!
Recommended by Carrie K.
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Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang
[isbn]
Time-travel stories can be very tricky to get right, but in my opinion, Paper Girls blows it out of the water. It delivers strong female characters, a rich and compelling narrative, plus stunning visuals reminiscent of 80s genre films. So good!
Bookseller Mia B.
Recommended by Mia B.
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Beth Lincoln
[isbn]
The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels is a clever whodunnit that manages to simultaneously take us on a suspenseful and charming journey and celebrate the magic of language and words. Beth Lincoln lets us into the world of Shenanigan and her exciting adventure of self-discovery. (read more)
Recommended by Tina M
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Matthew Cordell
[isbn]
On more than one occasion I have felt like a very small and timid squirrel sent on a quest through the big wide forest. I hope to always face my fears with as much tenacity (and as little soup-spilling) as little Evergreen. This is a beautiful picture book, told in brief episodic chapters, that brims with classic charm and gentle humor.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Grace Lin and Kate Messner
[isbn]
With rhythmic text and beautiful gouache art full of lush hints of magic — like the dress that changes color to mirror the different places Alice travels to in her journey through the pages of her book — Once Upon a Book is a lovely celebration of imagination and reading.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Jen Wang
[isbn]
Prince Sebastian wants to wear dresses — intricate and glamorous ones made by his royal seamstress and new best friend, Frances — but he is worried about what his father, the King, will think. The Prince and the Dressmaker is a heartwarming story about father and son relationships and the beauty of being your true self.
Recommended by Sarah B.
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Russell Hoban
[isbn]
Two clockwork toy mice, fused at the hands, set out to become "self-winding," finding cruelty and kindness in equal measure. Poignant, darkly funny, and not just for kids.
Recommended by Miranda T.
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Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Griffin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy
[isbn]
The McElroys' brilliant graphic novel adaptation of their beloved podcast (with fantastic artwork by Carey Pietsch) has finally caught up to my favorite arc, and it was well worth the wait! In the vein of Groundhog Day or Palm Springs, our heroes have found themselves caught in a time loop on their most recent (Wild West-inspired) quest, and we begin to see a number of glimpses into the larger series' plot. I laughed, I teared... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Danna Smith, Teagan White
[isbn]
Sitting quietly
Peeking at cute animals
Reading here with you
This is a cozy and cute read-aloud that introduces the power of simple verse. (read more)
Recommended by Tina M
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Tui T. Sutherland and Mike Holmes
[isbn]
I am hooked on this series, and I’m so excited to see this next chapter, now that the dragonets have to go to school together. Some of my favorite characters, now in one of my favorite settings.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
[isbn]
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge is a fantasy satire, with two unreliable narrators. It's labeled as middle grade, but it's a hilarious light novel for any reader. This book was easily my favorite book of 2018.
Recommended by Lindsay P
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Nina Maclaughlin
[isbn]
This book is written with beautiful prose, its stories giving us the other side of Ovid's Metamorphoses. It's not an "easy" read — these women are full of fury and rage and sorrow. How could they not be? Their physical transformations are the outcome of actions not their own. Wake, Siren is one of my favorite mythology retellings. I highly recommend it.
Recommended by Charlotte S.
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Kyo Maclear and Francesca Sanna
[isbn]
This book is so special, but also so fun. A perfect book to read aloud and a great way to familiarize kids with geographical landmarks ahead of school. Even I had trouble recognizing some of them!
Recommended by Stacy W.
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Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
[isbn]
It's such an important thing when a book affirms that kids are not always born into the families they deserve and not always given life experiences they can handle. Fighting Words is an incredibly compassionate and powerful story, leavened with humor and emotional warmth, of ten-year-old Della and her sixteen-year-old sister building a new life and home after trauma. I'm so glad this book is in the world.
Recommended by Claire A.
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Daniel Nayeri
[isbn]
A hilarious and heartwarming autobiographical novel about a preteen boy from Iran growing up in 1980s Oklahoma and making sense of who he is, where he's from, and who he belongs to. I love how well this book combines the universal absurdity of middle school with the specific stories of Daniel's experiences as a refugee and his family's and ancestors' history in Iran. Powerful, unique, and unputdownable!
Recommended by Claire A.
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Kao
[isbn]
A heartwarming exploration on what it's like to be a newly-out transman — with a fantasy twist!
Recommended by Haven W
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Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali and Hatem Aly
[isbn]
With simple text and friendly artwork that’s both cartoony and painterly, with messages of kindness and generosity, The Kindest Red is a book we all need right now regardless of age — one of sheer, boundless hope.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Robin Mckinley
[isbn]
O Robin Mckinley, light of my life! This book fully ruined reality for me at 15 and I've reread it obsessively in dark times ever since. If only life were as simple as stepping into your magically imbued spiritual inheritance and going head to head with a demon king...
Recommended by SitaraG
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Gary Snyder
[isbn]
Meet Gary Snyder, you maybe read about him in On the Road and Dharma Bums (Japhy Ryder). He speaks for himself here, seeing the world through the lens of his blended Buddhism. In love with nature and mesmerized by her intricacy, care, and nurturing, his poems serve to remind us of the ground.
Recommended by Dana S.
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Raymond Briggs
[isbn]
A heartbreakingly beautiful and magical story told through the wonderful illustrations of Raymond Briggs. A classic from the British Isles, highly recommend following up the book with the animated holiday film version, which features an amazing musical score.
Recommended by Jack M
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Jeff Kinney
[isbn]
I started as a bookseller 20 years ago, not long before Greg Heffley first appeared on the scene. In the time since, it would seem that neither of us has matured, but we’re both still in bookstores. I think he’s having more fun, thö .
Recommended by Keith M.
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Lane Smith
[isbn]
This whimsical adventure of Rabbit on a quest to find the perfect gift for his Nana uses lush and quirky artwork with fun typography that bounces and flies, to tell a sweet, simple story about kindness and love. Made me want to hug the whole world.
Recommended by Gigi L.
|
Aida Salazar
[isbn]
A Seed in the Sun is compelling, accessible historical fiction with characters that jump off the page. Old ways and new ways of living collide, and bravery is found! I loved that this book focused on the Delano Farm Workers strike (1965) because you can see the progression (and reasons) leading up to the famous March with Cesar Chavez. Well-researched facts and verse with varied layouts makes this story interesting, even for the most... (read more)
Recommended by Erica B.
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Randall de Sève and Carson Ellis
[isbn]
In the adorable, warm, enchantingly rhythmic This Story is Not About a Kitten, not only do kids learn about community and caring (and, yes, the kitten), they learn an important fact about stories — how they’re capable of being about so much more than you think.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
[isbn]
My all-time favorite fairy tale could be in the hands of no finer picture book duo. Barnett and Klassen know how to have the last laugh; this troll doesn’t know what’s coming to him. I would talk my way across a BILLION troll bridges to make sure you read this book.
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Lonely Planet Kids
[isbn]
Dogs! All the dogs from all the places! I’m so happy about this development!
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Jennifer Dugan and Kit Seaton
[isbn]
Esmy’s life is pretty good until her parents abruptly announce that they’re moving across the country. Now she has to adjust to a new school — oh, and there’s maybe a death witch coming for her, too. This fast-paced graphic novel delivers both angst and action.
Recommended by Keith M.
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Leigh Bardugo and Dani Pendergast
[isbn]
Fans of the Grishaverse (and its Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone) should be sure to pick up Bardugo’s first graphic novel entry to the series: Demon in the Wood, finally illuminating the backstory of the complicated, compelling villain the Darkling. Illustrated by fantastically talented newcomer Dani Pendergast, this prequel will serve as an interesting entry point for new Grishaverse readers as well.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
Mo Willem's beloved, recalcitrant, tricky Pigeon is back (for the first time since 2019's The Pigeon Has to Go to School), and he will ride the roller coaster! It's going to happen! Even if he's nervous! Wait, are you nervous? Why would you think the Pigeon is nervous? He's definitely going to ride this roller coaster...
Recommended by Madeline S.
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April Genevieve Tucholke and Khoa Le
[isbn]
What a delightful book! With poetic and charming language and lush, quirky, magical artwork that makes you love both the light and the dark, Beatrice Likes the Dark is a sweet tale that celebrates curiosity, sisterhood, and the differences between us.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Melissa De La Cruz, Primo Gallanosa
[isbn]
Dona Esmeralda is from the country of 7,000 islands and eats all the food that naughty children don't want to eat. What happens when she gets her hungry little hands on real food? This is such an adorable (and definitely less scary) take on a Filipino folktale. It made me laugh so hard and also brought back a lot of memories of my own childhood.
Recommended by Rose H.
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Natalie Lloyd
[isbn]
First personal narrative and free verse brings this book to life! You'll be cheering on Olive and her allies as she strives to make her dreams come true. Magical, a fast read, and also informative as the author draws from her own experiences with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). If you enjoyed Wonder by Patricia Palacio, try this book.
Recommended by Erica B.
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Anoosha Syed
[isbn]
What a gem! Perfect for back to school, or anytime meeting new people. That's Not My Name gives people with unique names the confidence to communicate and provides compassion and understanding for others.
Recommended by Erica B.
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Jonathan Hill
[isbn]
For anyone who hides their true and timid self, who wants to fit in, who wishes they weren't a misfit, this book is for you. Especially if you're convinced you must be an alien or a mutant or maybe a whole other species from all those happy and normal people around you, this book is for you. Or if you're just a nerd, and you like seeing the world through different lenses, this book is for you.
Recommended by Doug C.
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Shannon Stocker, Devon Holzwarth
[isbn]
Evelyn Glennie has long been a personal inspiration of mine, and now with this lavishly illustrated book, the younger generation can be introduced to the joy of a life dedicated to music.
Recommended by Fletcher O.
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Kayla Miller
[isbn]
I loved Click, so I can’t wait for another story about Olive. This time, she’s trying to do too many things at once. I feel the same way, but about trying to read too many books at the same time! Anyway, I’m starting this one right away.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Ann Weil
[isbn]
Lyrical and mysterious, one of my childhood favorites! Michele's peaceful island life is disrupted when three travelers come to Capri in search of the fabled (and potentially cursed) Blue Grotto. Humorous, warm, and thoughtful, you'll want to seek out the grotto yourself by the end of the book.
Recommended by SitaraG
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Samantha Shannon
[isbn]
In this quasi-medieval world, East and West are at odds — the East reveres their water dragons and their dragon riders, while the West hates all dragons after one of the wretched, fire-breathing ones nearly destroyed the world. There’s a large cast of endearing characters, but the hearts of the story are Ead, lady-in-waiting to the queen, and Tané, dragon-rider in training, both harboring dangerous secrets. The Priory of the Orange Tree... (read more)
Recommended by Carly J.
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Naomi Novik
[isbn]
Uprooted by Naomi Novik is one of those stories that you feel has somehow always existed. I mean that as a highest compliment. It captures the essence of a classic fairy-tale: what is really in that tower? and just how dangerous are those woods exactly? Novik has proven time and time again that she’s a fantasy collection must-have with napoleonic dragons, magic schools, fable, and more. Still, Uprooted is where... (read more)
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Neil Gaiman
[isbn]
In 1992, Neil Gaiman moved to America. In 2001, he released American Gods. In the 10th anniversary edition, he recollects “this strange huge place where [he] now found [himself] living” and the urge not just to understand it but also to describe it. Describe it he did. I hesitate to use the term “masterwork” in book reviewing but here no lesser word applies. American Gods is masterful. Gaiman’s ability as a storyteller and myth... (read more)
Recommended by Sarah R.
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Will Taylor
[isbn]
One of the most hopeful and sweet middle grade books I have ever read about gay first crushes on the cusp of adolescence.
Recommended by Erica B.
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Stephen Savage
[isbn]
With spare language and moody linocut artwork in shades of blue, Moonlight follows that light on its journey: through the forest, across the water, down the mountain, along the train tracks, finally finding a child in bed. A cozy bedtime poem full of simple, beautiful magic.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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B. B. Alston
[isbn]
Amari and the Night Brothers is one of my new favorites for young readers and I am thrilled that book two will be available soon. Alston has created a fun and fresh supernatural world populated with imaginative creatures and a great hero in Amari. In this installment, Amari is looking forward to summer camp at the Bureau where she will be a Junior Agent and learn more about her magical abilities when an unauthorized time freeze stirs up... (read more)
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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Aaron Blabey
[isbn]
If you’ve seen The Bad Guys movie, then you’ll no doubt be overjoyed to have more things to make you go Arrrgh!
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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