Here are some of our staff's favorite recent reads for kids!
This is a perfect read-aloud for the whole family. I read it with my son and we both loved it and have since given it as gifts to almost every family we know! It's a bit reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh. Each chapter is its own adventure, each character uniquely quirky. This is bound to become a classic! The sequel - Just Beyond the Very Far North - is JUST as wonderful.
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 7-12
Jack and Birdie have lost their mother and are bounced between two uncles who couldn't be more different - especially their approach to brother Birdie's preference for glitter and boas. Exquisite portrayal of family!
Recommended by Christy for kids ages 10 and up.
There is a long history of war and anger between elves and goblins, and it's up to two well-mannered scholars to figure it all out. Anderson's writing is hilarious and Yelchin's art is beautiful. This book just keeps rolling and keeps you guessing.
Recommended by Kevin for kids ages 10-13
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This is a great scream of a picture book! Any book for kids that has the line "Mommy must be stopped!" is genius story-telling in my humble opinion.
Recommended by Suzanne for kids ages 3-7
If this book does not draw you in on the gorgeous art alone, just open it and randomly read any page. Read the author's notes for bonus cry!
Recommended by Mary for kids ages 5-8
Not only are the illustrations in this book vivid - the story will also draw you in. Evelyn and Llewellyn are collectors of the right kind of "things" - including friends.
Recommended by Mary for kids ages 3 to 7
I loved this little slice-of-life taste of summer in Japan. It's a ghost story with a fantasy story within the story. A book with a ton of heart and humor and a cast of delightful characters.
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 8-12
I think Stretchy McHandsome just stole my heart and won the honor of being my favorite picture book of the year. Stretchy the butterscotch boy is one of nine cats in the McHandsome clan-- the youngest, in fact! He sets off on a vacation from his loving but crowded home, and that's only the beginning. My favorite thing of all is how the illustrations truly capture the physics-defying reality of how cats seem to occupy their bodies. He stretches, melts, curls, and makes all the shapes a cat can make. Stretchy McHandsome (and his whole family) will charm your socks off!
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 3 - 7
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Books like this one are so important when schools and society often tell kids that there is only one, standardized way to be smart. This book celebrates diverse gifts and remains funny, exuberant, and charming.
Recommended by Suzi for kids ages 3-6
Edie is a bright, creative twelve year old girl that harbors a secret question she's ready to find answers for... "Where am I from?" She knows she's Native American, but her mother was adopted by a white family-- and she's always shied away from telling Edie about their cultural heritage. When Edie discovers a memory box of photos and letters from her namesake, Edith Graham, she's determined to learn her truth. A glorious novel of emerging identity, friendships, and many kinds of family. I was glued to this book, filled with so much emotion I actually cried. Award worthy.
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
Eva is a semi-magical witch who uses creativity and imagination in tandem with what magic she does have to help the people of her town. Another great read-aloud for the family. My son and I are anxiously awaiting the sequel!
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 8-12
First kid's book by Lev Grossman, author of the Magicians trilogy. This was such a fun read aloud adventure. My six-year-old absolutely loved it and we both laughed our way through most of it. Two kids are gifted a magical train by their uncle and embark on an adventure that teaches them responsibility - both for their own choices and for the environment. It's delightful, and not a bit heavy-handed.
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 8-12
Lukoff captures grief and pre-teen growing pains in such a realistic but ultimately healing way. I needed this book as a kid, and even reading it now as an adult has moved and mended me during my time with it.
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
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On Murphy Island, everything is eccentric. But Newt Gomez just wants to be normal...shake the bad dreams that persist about the bear attack he survived, to not be the only Latinx in his town. And then there's the bear statue that might grant wishes...
A new novel by our long-time friend and Ballard author, Kim Baker!
Recommended by Christy for kids ages 9-12
Set in the South in the 1960's - this middle grade book hits all the high notes. It's educational, full of magic, and delightfully spooky. Jez is one of the best kid characters that I've encountered in a long time. This book celebrates family, empathy, and kindness.
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 8-12
Sweet Pea's parents have completed their divorce, and live on the same street. She wishes they wouldn't try to make their houses totally identical-- it doesn't change that they aren't together anymore. Dear Sweet Pea is full of wit, snark, honesty, emotion, and love. It's everything I've ever wanted of a book that handles so many hard-hitting topics happening at once, as they often do in real life; friendships coming and going, how different people can thrive in a small town, the general growing pains of being thirteen, and how sometimes the only soul you can trust is a cat named Cheese. It'd be a shame to miss out on a novel like this.
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
A middle-grade read (ages 8-12) and one that definitely does not condescend to it's readers. The writing was stunning, poetic, and a delight to read aloud to my son. It's a book that creates a whole new mythology about the creation and maintenance of the world. Full of puzzles and mystery.
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 8-12
This book is an absolute riot! Roald Dahl meets Lemony Snicket. It's a battle of wills and wits. A fantastic read-aloud for the whole family. Recommended by Becky for readers 8-12
This book cracked my heart wide open and brought the pieces together again-- just like Hazel's family, still full of love, but different than things once were. Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea is a novel that will resonate with readers of all ages with tenderness, strength, and even a little bit of mermaid magic.
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
Reenie has never met her great-aunt Bea before, but after her mom is admitted to the hospital again, she's moving in with this familial stranger. This new territory takes flight when Bea demonstrates her falconry skills, inviting Reenie into a beautiful and lofty new world. Neither of them expected to ensnare a juvenile great-horned owl, especially one in dire need of rehabilitation! Frazzled young fowl Rufus has also been separated from his mother, and feels out of place in the forest-- certainly not like the king of the night that he wants to be. Reenie and Rufus have more in common than they know, and these kindred spirits form a sweet friendship that doesn't need words... but what will happen when Rufus is ready to return to the wild? Of a Feather swept into my heart as softly and quietly as an owl's primary feathers; a feel-good contemporary novel that manages to feel magical in its warmth and bravery.
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
If you love "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" then check out this new stand-alone fantasy epic by Abi Elphinstone. This book was so much fun from start to finish. It had us on the edge of our seats.
Recommended by Becky for kids ages 8-12
A gift to read! Fun magic, queer elders, and a wonderful friendship, this graphic novel is for animal lovers, witches, and adventurous kids. Great for ages 9-13. Recommended by Iris.
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Who is that mysterious spaniel that trots down the streets every Saturday with grocery lists and book requests in his basket? When Jo tries to follow him, she's assumed to be his human, and dubs him "Pawcasso" when approached at an art class. As Pawcasso's popularity with the community grows, the harder it is for Jo to keep up with the charade that he's her dog. It's harder now with a grumpy neighbor calling animal control on Pawcasso for not wearing a leash. How can Jo keep him safe if she can't find his family? Pawcasso is sweet, silly, and all too relatable to anyone who lives with (or even just knows!) a friendly, outgoing hound.
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
A sweet, moving story about a hesitant boy and a confident girl who are brought together by some strange coincidences. With a little strangeness and magic in the mix, there's so much to love about this book!
For ages 8-12. Recommended by Becky
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This book is EVERYTHING I've ever wanted from a novel about extraterrestrials coming to earth, whether it be for kids or adults. It takes place in July of 1947, the time of the Roswell crash, through the eyes of Mylo, a preteen still coping with the loss of his older brother. The Truth About Martians makes you wonder-- why do we see the potential of ET contact as hostile? It's silly, emotional, and bittersweet. A couple of chapters were so beautiful and moving that I got teary. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Recommended by Andrew for kids ages 8 - 12
