Catherine recommends "The 13th Day of Christmas"

Holidays can be stressful and gift-giving can be fraught, even though filled with love. This is the story of a perplexed man who is the recipient of all of the gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas, from the partridges in pear trees to the twelve drummers drumming. Adam Rex wrote and illustrated this book - his illustrations perfectly show the cacophony, confusion, and also the joy that results from so many people, animals, and NOISE all showing up on one man’s doorstep. In desperation, the man goes to see his mother for advice. His journey turns into a parade, and that turns into a chance meeting that gives him an idea of how he can put all of these abundant gifts towards a good purpose. Love and humor abound in this book. It is a great new Christmas story to share; it will make you laugh when you are feeling overwhelmed.  

Recommended for children (and their families!)

Catherine recommends "The Last Resort"

 

Ever since her near-death experience during a family road trip, twelve-year old Lila can see ghosts. This is a problem because her family has just moved into the house that they inherited from her grandfather – a large house that is full of ghosts (including the ghost of Lila’s grandfather) who have unfinished business.  With the help of her little brother, Caleb, and her new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila tries to understand why the ghosts are so upset and how she can help them. This is a delightfully eerie book from the multiple award-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly. It is just spooky enough to satisfy elementary students who are beginning to have an interest in horror, but not so spooky it will keep them up at night.

In addition to being a great story, there is a bonus interactive element to the book that is sure to engage young sleuths and ghost-hunters: You can scan a QR code at the end of the book to learn more about some of the ghostly characters. You can even help them resolve their unfinished business by doing a few simple puzzles.

This book is the first in what will be a new series – each written by a different author -  so if you read it and enjoy it, you can find out more about Teddy in The Claiming by Jasmine Warga, which comes out in January 2026.

Recommended for upper elementary and middle school.

 

Catherine recommends "Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear"

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Taryn recommends "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science"

Sisters Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch don’t belong. They don’t belong in their snooty town of Antiquarium, they don’t belong with their adoptive family, and they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school. After the girls’ love of science and their unique personalities get them kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, their aunt and uncle plan to send them away for good. Then one day the Porch girls receive a mysterious invitation to a new school. At first the girls are wary of this new school where the pizza is fatal and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab, but once they realize that they will be taught by the infamous Millicent Quibb they are excited to see what adventures this new school will bring them. 

I loved this book! This book has it all; humor, adventure, oysters in a bathtub, a bus powered by gerbils. This book reads like “A Series of Unfortunate Events” for a new generation with an eccentric world that’s just bizarre enough to appeal to strange kids everywhere (and maybe a few adults). It is over the top in the best way! Also this is probably one of the most entertaining audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, and why wouldn’t it be with Kate McKinnon narrating it. I think that this is best for grades 4-6, but I could see this being a fun family read as well.

Catherine recommends "Let's Be Bees"

This is my new favorite toddler/preschool book – it is absolutely delightful! It starts, quietly and innocently enough, with a grown-up reading to a child and saying, “let’s buzz.” The two imagine themselves as bees, buzzing away. Then they imagine being birds, trees, and even a quiet snowfall…and then, there is an AVALANCHE and the excitement (ahem, noise) ratchets up. There are storm sounds, animal sounds, roaring and more roaring (so much roaring) until finally they decide to “make every sound” all at once. I can only imagine the joyous cacophony this will produce every single time it is read aloud. The book ends with the pair calmly stating, “the end” and then, with great exuberance, shouting “AGAIN!”

I don’t think I have met a young child who would not be delighted to sit with a grown-up and buzz, crash, splash, and roar through this book together. Again, and again.

Perfect for toddler and preschool.

Rion recommends "Impossible Creatures"

 

Ever wondered what it would be like if all the mythical creatures you’ve heard of were real? Impossible Creatures brings this thought experiment to life through following Christopher Forrester’s discovery that his family has a historic responsibility to tend to the entrance to the Archipelago, a set of islands between the UK and US in which magic thrives and creatures such as dragons and unicorns live as equals to humans. 

 

This is such a special, vividly imagined book, and I finished it craving more of the universe Katherine Rundell created. The characters are incredibly lovable and the relationships between them are special to behold. Rundell pulled from a variety of worldwide mythologies to create a diverse world of fantastic creatures, and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the “bestiary” at the back of the book with descriptions of the main beings the reader will come across. A fun, moving, and imaginative adventure, this book is sure to delight middle grade readers! 

 

Age: Middle grade (9+)

Catherine recommends "Clive Penguin" & "Umami"

  

These two penguins in search of adventure are sure to make you smile!

Clive Penguin is a bit grumpy. He’s always cold and he is sure there is more to life than just huddling with the other penguins on the ice, so he sets off to see what he can discover. When he finds an orange hat, he can’t believe his luck! Will he be satisfied with his life now? Read it and see!

Umami is not quite so grumpy, but still dreams of a life where there is more than cold fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She sets off to discover the wider world and delights in all the new foods she encounters – sour, bitter, salty, sweet, and even spicy. She is so excited, she decides she must share these wonderful new tastes with the penguins back home – what will they think?

If you are in the mood for charming and adventurous heroes and heroines, these are the penguins for you!

Perfect for preschool and up.

 

 

Catherine recommends "Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees"

I love a good road trip, and I love trees, so I had to read this book of poems that takes you on an imaginary road trip to see some of the coolest trees in the United States. Whether admiring the beauty of the changing leaves in my own neighborhood or staring up at the grandeur of the General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park (did you know it is as tall as 16 giraffes stacked upon each other and weighs as much as 10 blue whales?), time spent with trees is good for the soul. In this book, you can visit more than a dozen magnificent trees – most have historical or cultural significance; all of them are just plain awesome. Some highlights: the 4,600 year old Methuselah Tree in California; trees whose seeds have traveled to the moon; the Survivor Tree that stood amidst the destruction of the Oklahoma City bombing; and the bur oak that inspired the first Arbor Day. This is a lovely book to read together with kids – and then go outside to see what cool trees are in your own neighborhood.

Preschool & elementary children

Taryn recommends "Bitsy & Boozle Tell a Story!"

 

Bitsy is a narrator-in-training who is finally ready to tell her story since she has found the perfect protagonist, the grumpy wizard Boozle. Bitsy and Boozle take the adventure of a lifetime as they journey up Story Mountain exploring all the parts of story structure along the way and discovering the magic of storytelling.

Bitsy & Boozle Tell a Story is an amazing way to help children learn about all of the different components of storytelling in an unique format, a graphic novel. In this book you learn the different points-of-view a story can have with a character that tells a story in each way; first person Prima, second person Midi, and finally third person Bitsy. Although this is a graphic novel that is teaching the reader how to tell a story, the authors do an amazing job of balancing the educational material with a fun story. Bitsy and Boozle have a fun relationship with Boozle just trying to find his happy ending, but Bitsy trying to get him to play the hero of the story. I absolutely love this book and think it’s an amazing way for a caregiver or teacher to help teach children about the parts of storytelling and how they can tell a story. At the end of the book here is a glossary of the different terms used and even a glossary to help with Boozle’s way of talking. The illustrations are beautifully done and I found myself laughing out loud. I would recommend this to caregivers and teachers trying to help children learn about storytelling, but also anyone who needs a refresher on the different parts of a story.

Kara recommends "We Are Definitely Human"

This is a funny and quirky story about an alien invasion that explores being human, while showing kindness and acceptance to all.  One of my favorite parts mentions how the newcomers "play sportsball" 😉

This book is best for children ages 3-5.

Kara recommends "Pie-Rats!"

This is a fun picture book just begging to be read aloud. A crew of swashbuckling rats sail the seas looking for a different kind of treasure- dessert!  I loved the detailed illustrations too!

This book is geared towards children, but can be equally enjoyed by the grown-ups in their life.

 

 

Lisa recommends "Ahoy!"

Sophie Blackall’s newest book is a celebration of the world of make believe. While a parent is just trying to vacuum their rug, a child is emphatic that the rug is the ocean and they are captains of a ship.  Join this pair in a celebration in a celebration of imaginative play (and maybe recreate in your family room too!).

Kara recommends "Good Different"

 

This is a fantastic novel-in-verse about a seventh-grade girl, Selah, who is neurodivergent and discovers poetry as a way to find her authentic voice. Along her journey of self-discovery, she figures out what makes her different, and learns to accept and celebrate those differences. 

This book is best for readers in grades 3-7.

Catherine recommends "Escargot and the Search for Spring"

Do the grey days of winter have you feeling blah? Are you tired of cozy sweaters and bored with making snow angels? What you need is to spend some time with a charming snail who is determined to shake off his winter ennui by going outside to search for spring. Whether or not you have already met him in his earlier books (Escargot; A Book for Escargot; Love, Escargot) Escargot will charm you from the very start of this spring themed picture book. One caveat: Escargot would like you to know that despite the frequent interference of a very fluffy bunny, this is NOT a bunny book. It is a book that welcomes sunshine, bird song, and flowers in a completely charming celebration of spring. Well, maybe a new bunny friend is okay too.

Recommended for children, preschool and up.

Ann recommends " The Most Perfect Snowman" by Chris Britt

 

This picture book is an enjoyable winter story about a snowman who feels like he doesn’t quite measure up to the other snowmen because he doesn’t have a carrot for a nose, or clothes like they do. He thinks if only he had these things then he would be perfect, and he would be happy. He eventually gets everything he hoped for and finds out that it’s not always the getting, but the giving that matters.

 

Children, all ages

 

Justine recommends the Sheets Trilogy by Brenna Thummler

Brenna Thummler has made a name for herself in the graphic novel scene with her Sheets trilogy.  The books, titled Sheets, Delicates, and Lights respectively, are a middle grade coming-of-age graphic novel series.  They focus on Marjorie Glatt, a practical thirteen-year old in charge of her family's laundromat.  In the first novel, Marjorie discovers that ghosts are real, and they really use sheets as part of their form.  These ghosts, particularly a child ghost named Wendell, are attracted to the laundromat since they can get a good cleaning for affordable prices. Marjorie befriends Wendell and begins to discover more about life, death, and the particulars of ghost culture.

The other two books introduce more characters and plot lines, but a major theme throughout the series is grief.  The series as a whole does a great job tackling this tough topic from many perspectives without making it inaccessible to its targeted age group.  However, I would recommend this series to all ages. The beautiful, unique art style is worth reading them for alone.

Taryn recommends "The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels"

On the day they are born, every Swift child is named using the sacred Swift Family Dictionary, which not only gives them their name, but their definition as well. They are assumed to match their definition as they grow up. This story brings us Shenanigan (who is a risk-taker and a mischief-maker) who is getting ready for the big Swift Family Reunion. She is also planning on finding Grand-Uncle Vile’s long lost treasure. When someone shoves Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude down the stairs, Shenanigan is determined to find out who the killer is no matter where the adventure takes her.

I can’t begin to describe how much I loved this book. It’s laugh out loud funny and very clever. It was such a fun read and I actually learned some words that I had never encountered before. Someone described this book as Knives Out for kids I can’t think of a better description. This book also shows the importance of words, individuality, and defining yourself even in the face of other’s expectations. It’s full of games, wordplays, and plenty of mischief which I think both kids and adults will find entertaining. I recommend this book to upper elementary kids, a fun read aloud for those with children, and those looking for a twisty mystery. I also recommend having a dictionary handy while reading.

Taryn recommends "A is for Ambitious"

A is for Ambitious isn’t your ordinary alphabet book. The illustrations and rhyming words help to reclaim words that are oftentimes used to put down girls and women of all ages. The book starts off with a diverse group of girls playing, but in the corner of the page are speech bubbles with words that you can’t quite make out yet. As you turn the next few pages the speech bubbles start to dominate the pages while the girls begin to look sad and upset. Instead of staying upset, our unnamed cast of friends start to take these words that usually have a negative meaning for girls and women and begin to reclaim them in a positive way. The book includes words such as: “A is for ambitious! I have big ideas, hopes, and wishes.”, “W, well, that’s for wild. I am free—my imagination is unbridled.”, and “E is for emotional. My feelings are valid, my heart is full.”

I love this book for so many different reasons. I love the concept the creators went for by taking words that are often used to put down women and girls (usually starting from a young age) and using them to empower young girls. This shows young girls that these words shouldn’t feel like put downs, but should instead be taken as compliments. The illustrations that are used show the girls doing activities that highlight what the text is saying and not only is it powerful, but they are gorgeous. I think that everyone would benefit from this book because while we need to teach children that these words are empowering for girls as well as boys, but adults will benefit from the reminder. I would recommend this to those with young children, especially young girls, in their lives.  

Ann recommends "Kid Paleontologist: Explore the Remarkable Dinosaurs, Fossils Finds, and Discoveries of the Prehistoric Era"

         

If you’re a dinosaur lover, you will love this book. Young readers will enjoy the beautiful full-page color illustrations of all kinds of dinosaurs. Each illustration has a caption listing a few basic facts about the dinosaur, and a brief but informative paragraph for those wanting to know more about them.

For older dinosaur enthusiasts to enjoy, there is a colorful chart showing how dinosaurs are classified, an illustrated prehistoric timeline, and a brief section that introduces readers to what paleontology is all about. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who can’t get enough about dinosaurs.

Children, all ages

 

Catherine recommends "The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity"

If you go to the Louvre today, you would find an ever-present crowd in front of the Mona Lisa – one of the most famous paintings in the world. But at the beginning of the 20^th century, it was not particularly famous or important, and no one paid it much attention. That all changed in 1911, when someone stole the Mona Lisa. Around the world, people were suddenly fascinated by this painting and the numerous theories about who was behind the heist. This middle grade nonfiction book tells both the story of that heist, and the surprising story of how Leonardo da Vinci came to paint the Mona Lisa four hundred years earlier. At first glance, this may seem an unlikely topic for a middle grade audience, but this book has it all: it has mystery, conspiracies, so much humor, and fast pacing that will keep any reader – even adults – turning the pages. It is one of the best things I’ve read all year!

Children, ages 10 and up.