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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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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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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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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Jenn Reese
[isbn]
Portland local Reese — a master of middle-grade literary fantasy — follows her Oregon Book award-winning A Game of Fox & Squirrels with a gorgeous middle-grade meditation on gender identity and sexuality, set against the backdrop of a quest to save the fantastical forest kingdom hidden in preteen Eren’s local woods.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Catherynne M. Valente
[isbn]
Once upon a time, a Forest
and a Valley fell in love. They brought the humans to the village and the
Quidnunx to the woods, never to meet. When his mother breaks that treaty, Osmo is
claimed by the denizens of the Eightpenny Woods for a fantastical, original
fairytale quest.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kelly Barnhill
[isbn]
Barnhill (Newbery Award-Winner for The Girl Who Drank the Moon) returns with another masterful original fairy tale for middle grade readers (and anyone else of excellent taste). Pick up this fantasy adventure about kindness, community, and what it means to be a neighbor — you won’t regret it!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
Riordan’s first standalone delves into a more modern “myth” — 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Ana Dakkar, descendant of Captain Nemo, is a freshman at the famed Harding-Pencroft Marine Academy. When tragedy strikes, she and her friends (a diverse cast that highlights Riordan’s commitment to representation in fiction, and also an orangutan chef) may be the only ones who can save the day!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kate Dicamillo, Sophie Blackall
[isbn]
Anything DiCamillo writes is gold, but her newest fantasy tale, replete with gorgeous illustrations by Sophie Blackall, has a particularly brilliant shine. From the glorious opening chapter on the delightfully vicious Answelica the goat, I was hooked. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will walk away filled with the importance of sharing stories and love.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Ben Hatke
[isbn]
It’s the intergalactic team-up you’ve been waiting for! Jack and Zita have both had their share of adventures, but it will take all of their combined experience, cleverness, and heart (not to mention their friends!) to take down the army of giants and screeds knocking at Earth’s cosmic door.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
Apollo (or Lester, as he’s known on Earth) faces his toughest challenge yet on his quest to restore his godly powers: the siege of Camp Jupiter. The evil Triumvirate is closing in, and while the key to victory may lie in a forgotten tomb, the ruler interred there may be worse than any foe Apollo has seen yet.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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J K Rowling and Jim Kay
[isbn]
Jim Kay returns at last with his fourth fully illustrated Potter venture, and his gorgeous artwork is well worth the wait! This book marks a turn in the series towards a darker world, and Kay manages to land both the excitement of the Triwizard Tournament and the terror of Voldemort’s plotting with aplomb.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Chris Colfer
[isbn]
When Brystal became a maid at her local library to get around her country’s ban on women reading, she couldn’t know she’d find a room full of banned books, or a future in their pages. Colfer’s new venture is a searing ode to the importance of knowledge, questioning, and compassion, and the power they give us to better our world.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
The award-winning duo of Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the — well, Piggie — is back! This second “Biggie” gathers five of their previous adventures into one sure-to-be-loved volume (including my favorite, the fourth-wall-breaking We Are in a Book!). As Piggie and Gerald would say: “Five is a LOT of adventures for one book! Also, how did we get in this blurb?”
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Katie O'Neill
[isbn]
Return to the world of the Eisner Award-winning The Tea Dragon Society in this standalone companion! When Rinn finds a sleeping dragon in the woods, they learn that new friends let you see your world through new eyes; and after his long enchanted slumber, Aedhan discovers that even the most winding road can lead you where you’re meant to be.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Clint McElroy and Griffin McElroy and Justin McElroy
[isbn]
The second volume of this graphic novel adaptation of the McElroys' much-beloved D&D podcast grants +2 to all stats and delivers the goods. Longtime listeners and first-time readers alike are sure to be delighted by Carey Pietsch’s joyous rendering of this classic train mystery — featuring, as all good train mysteries do, a secret moon base (with no dogs allowed), a mystical being known as Garfield the Deals Warlock, questionable physics, and... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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DK
[isbn]
This newest installment in LEGO’s excellent Build Your Own Adventure series takes young inventors to the hallowed halls of Hogwarts! The perfect gift for the kid in your life with a giant box of Legos and no idea of what to make; this book has suggestions to build their way from Privet Drive to Diagon Alley.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Terri Libenson
[isbn]
Middle school is tough enough as part of a close-knit clique. But when your best friend texts you that you’ve been voted out? That’s world-shattering. It’s the last day of seventh grade, and Jaime is alone — or is she? Maybe she has more friends than she thinks — friends who don’t need her to be anything but Jaime.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sabaa Tahir
[isbn]
First in an excellent trilogy, An Ember in the Ashes introduces an ironfisted empire on the brink of civil war. Scholar Laia didn’t plan on rebellion until her brother was charged with treason. Soldier Elias may be the Empire’s poster child, but he plans to defect. When their paths intertwine, magic ensues — and the Empire may fall.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kelly Barnhill
[isbn]
This gorgeous, masterful book reads like the best of fairy tales. Every year, the people of the Protectorate make a terrible sacrifice to keep the witch of the woods at bay — but nothing is quite as it seems, and truth buried deep will always, eventually, erupt. Can Luna piece the whole story together before it’s too late?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kate Allen
[isbn]
Lucy’s mother, a marine biologist who studied sharks, passed away suddenly when Lucy was seven. The summer she’s 12, a great white washes ashore, and her best friend Fred ignites her interest in her mother’s old research. When tragedy strikes again, that research becomes a line through her grief and back to connection with her father. Featuring beautiful line drawings of sharks throughout, this is a gorgeous debut about coping with loss:... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Nicole Panteleakos
[isbn]
It’s 1986, and Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. She loves astronomy — plus her sister Bridget promised she’d be back for the launch, no matter what. Nova is autistic and nonverbal, and navigating a new foster family and a new school alone is extra tough; no one but Bridget has ever fully understood that she’s a whole, intelligent person. As Nova counts down to the launch, we share in her excitement, her... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
Mo Willems’s hot-headed bird friend is exploring a brave new frontier: the bathtub! Squishy, waterproof, and cute, this bath book is perfect for any toddler in your life. (Especially reluctant bathers — those who know Pigeon will be unsurprised to hear that he starts out pretty reluctant himself!)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Vera Brosgol
[isbn]
Portland illustrator Vera Brosgol has been a storyboard artist with Laika, and won a Caldecott Honor for her first picture book, Leave Me Alone! Her follow-up, The Little Guys, follows a group of tiny forest dwellers who already know they can accomplish anything if they work together, but need a lesson in being kind to those around them.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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A. S. King
[isbn]
A. S. King is known for stories that defy categorization (save for categorically bowling me over with their brilliance), and Dig. is no exception. Her immersive writing meanders between a handful of teenagers and the retired couple that eventually connects them, like tangled roots climbing back to their source. (That source is a potato. It will make sense later.)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jennifer Donnelly
[isbn]
By the time Isabelle cuts off her toes to squeeze her foot into the glass slipper, she’s already spent years slicing parts of herself away to better fit in a world that insists only a certain type of girl is worthy: demure, charming, and — most importantly — pretty. To build a future past the end of the fairy tale, Isabelle must toe the line between Fate and Chance, rectifying her mistakes and reclaiming the pieces she’s left behind to become the... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jesse Wiley
[isbn]
Ford the river, or take the ferry? Finish out with trails or rapids? The Oregon Trail has been giving gamers tough choices since the 1970s, so this “choose your own trail” series is a perfect adaptation. Complete with nostalgic 8-bit artwork, The Oregon Trail: Alone in the Wild is sure to entertain parents and kids alike!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Christian Robinson
[isbn]
This sweet, playful wordless picture book is the first solo offering from Christian Robinson, illustrator of the Caldecott Honor/King Honor/Newbery Medal winner Last Stop on Market Street. A girl and her cat find a nighttime portal to another world, and an adorable adventure ensues. Perfect for the curious kiddo in your life.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Lincoln Peirce
[isbn]
When your uncle is a traveling musician, you’re expected to follow in his footsteps. But Max has no interest in singing (terrible) songs to (bored) crowds — Max wants to be a knight! An ancient prophecy and a mystic quest (all told with Lincoln Pierce’s trademark cheery humor) may lead to a chance at knighthood after all.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell
[isbn]
This incredible memoir is a masterful example of what the graphic novel format can accomplish. The emotive art and engaging storytelling work hand-in-hand to immerse the reader in Congressman John Lewis’s early life and activism, and the frame narrative of President Obama’s 2009 inauguration pulls the struggles, efforts, and hopes of the civil rights movement into the modern day. March is an essential reminder that this history is far... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Clint McElroy and Griffin McElroy and Justin McElroy
[isbn]
Dungeons and dragons and gerblins, oh my! I’m a big fan of the McElroy family’s D&D/live play podcast, and its first graphic novel adaptation is everything I hoped for and more. The McElroys' clever storytelling and Carey Pietsch’s charming illustrations give new life to this sweeping fantasy adventure without sacrificing the comedy or heart that make the podcast so wonderful. +10 to merriment, -5 to time management (listen, you’re not going to... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Drew Callander, Alana Harrison and Ryan Andrews
[isbn]
The land of Astorya is in danger, and only you can help! As a real human in a land of stories, anything you write or draw comes to life. And yes, I do mean you — you’re the main character in this unique novel/activity book, so have your pencil at the ready. Can you save Astorya?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Cole Horton, Liz Hee Heinecke
[isbn]
This fantastic project book boasts a balanced blend of scientific fact and Star Wars geekery. Activities range from easy (using the Force of static electricity to levitate tinsel) to tricky (creating a moving droid with a basic circuit). Readers will walk away more knowledgeable about how our world works — and about a galaxy far, far away.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Arree Chung
[isbn]
Reds, Yellows, and Blues each think their own color is best — so it only makes sense for them to live separately. But when a Yellow and a Blue fall in love, they create something magical: Green! A charming illustration of how, in exploring and celebrating our differences, we can make the world a kinder, more colorful place.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Matilda Woods
[isbn]
Fish fly in Allora, a town set into the hills of an Italian folktale-esque countryside. But for all its magic, Allora is still recovering from a tragic plague that struck 30 years ago. This beautiful debut about moving through loss and opening your heart would make a wonderful read-aloud bedtime story.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Marcus Sedgwick, Thomas Taylor
[isbn]
In the wake of her parents’ passing, Scarlett is determined to carry on the family monster-hunting tradition (aided by her trusty butler, Napoleon, and their one-of-a-kind roadster, Dorothy). With its coterie of delightful characters and fantastic creatures, this is a marvelous series starter!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Malinda Lo
[isbn]
This spellbinding read is perfect for fans of fractured fairy tales or Celtic mythology. A coming-of-age tale about grief and love set against the backdrop of a richly imagined fantasy world, this Cinderella retelling has chilling specters at its edges, and will keep its claws in you long after you've turned the last page.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Maggie Stiefvater
[isbn]
I don't have the words to describe this book, except to say that it feels like finally reaching home in the middle of the night after a long journey and finding that someone has left the porch light on for you. Stiefvater deftly straddles the line between magic and magical realism, populating her porch light world with a cast of unforgettable characters that you will love like family.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Garth Nix
[isbn]
Sabriel lives in Ancelstierre, where magic isn't real — or so they say. Across the Wall in the Old Kingdom, the living dead walk, and Sabriel must take up the bells of the Abhorsen, a Necromancer tasked with keeping the dead at rest. A fascinating, unforgettable blending of worlds from a master storyteller!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Philip Pullman
[isbn]
This oft-banned book is a must-read for any fan of sci-fi or fantasy. In a world where the soul takes the shape of an animal companion, or daemon, young Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pan, leave their home in Oxford to embark on a dangerous adventure to the Arctic — and beyond. This trilogy contains some of the most thoughtful, beautifully written genre fiction I've ever encountered.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Patricia C. Wrede
[isbn]
I owe Patricia C. Wrede a debt of gratitude for Cimorene, who would rather be a dragon's princess (perfecting her Latin verb conjugations and experimenting with tricky pastry recipes) than bow to society's expectations of her (e.g., keeping an empty head, getting married, and fading into obscurity). The true magic of this series is that all of its characters — regardless of gender — are encouraged to follow their hearts and lead the lives that... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jandy Nelson
[isbn]
The best contemporary YA fiction I've ever read, hands down. Twins Noah and Jude (both artists) alternate as storytellers, with a three-year gap between their narratives. Both have beautiful, clear voices, and you won't be able to rest until you see their stories through (and find out what happened in the years in between).
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Benjamin Alire Sáenz
[isbn]
I picked up this book after hearing a friend talk about how it treats its characters so gently, with such kindness. It's true. Part coming-of-age, part love story, entirely beautiful, this book deserves every accolade it's been given and more.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Libba Bray
[isbn]
This gem of a book operates on a simple concept: take Lord of the Flies, but instead of using stranded schoolboys to illuminate the animal nature of man, Bray uses a plane crash of beauty queens to illuminate the tenacity of woman. The particular young women Bray writes are what takes this satirical adventure from good to great. None of them are without fault or flaw, but by the end, you find yourself rooting for each and every one.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham
[isbn]
Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham have created a moving romantic comedy, with a wise script and exceptionally expressive art. This book is an exquisite treat from two masters of the medium.
Recommended by Keith M.
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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 , Olivia Barton, Mike Curato
[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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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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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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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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