Gus and GlorySarah GuilloryWhen 12-year-old Glory’s mom suddenly leaves, she is determined to sniff out the clues to find her. After Glory comes upon Gus, a bloodhound in need of a friend, she realizes she's been paired with the perfect partner.MIDDLEATOS 4.1AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book detailsALSC Notable Children's Books 2026
Books selected by ALSC for children from birth through age 14.
2026 Notable Children's BooksSee the original list
Selections225
Published byAssociation for Library Service to Children (ALA)
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39 of 61 selections on this pageContinued from page 2
Gus and GlorySarah GuilloryWhen 12-year-old Glory’s mom suddenly leaves, she is determined to sniff out the clues to find her. After Glory comes upon Gus, a bloodhound in need of a friend, she realizes she's been paired with the perfect partner.MIDDLEATOS 4.1AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature: A Biography in PoemsCaroline Brewer, illustrated by Caroline BrewerA chronological biography in poems, covering Harriet Tubman's exceptional life as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, Civil War spy, and abolitionist, complemented by powerful collage illustrations.MIDDLEView book details
A Hero's Guide to Summer VacationPablo CartayaCuban American middle schooler Gonzalo is mourning the loss of his father when he is forced to accompany his grandfather, the author of a bestselling fantasy series, on a cross-country road trip to promote his latest title. (Pura Belpré Author Honor Book)MIDDLELexile 781LATOS 5View book details
Hiding in Plain Sight: Kate Warne and the Race to Save Abraham LincolnBeth Anderson, illustrated by Sally Wern ComportThe exciting illustrated story of Kate Warne, the nation’s first female detective, who uncovered a plot to assassinate Lincoln and worked to safeguard the president on a cross-country railroad journey.MIDDLEView book details
The House on the Canal: The Story of the House That Hid Anne FrankThomas Harding, illustrated by Britta TeckentrupA compelling story about the house where Anne Frank hid from Nazi soldiers during WWII, beginning in the marshes of 16th century Netherlands and ending with the modern-day museum dedicated to Frank and her family.MIDDLEATOS 4.5AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
How to Draw a SecretCindy Chang, illustrated by Cindy ChangThe death of Cindy’s grandmother prompts a trip to Taiwan where family secrets are revealed in this emotional graphic novel.MIDDLELexile 459LATOS 3.1View book details
How to Talk to Your SucculentZoe Persico, illustrated by Zoe PersicoAdara learns she can talk to plants as she struggles with the death of her mother and the reclusiveness of her father.MIDDLEView book details
HurricaneJason Chin, illustrated by Jason ChinThis striking informational picture book about children preparing for a hurricane in their North Carolina community is rich with scientific detail. Readers see the hurricane from the perspective of experts tracking it and the people living in the path.MIDDLEATOS 5.8AR interest LG K-3View book details
I'm a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to CephalopodsAnne LambeletAn informative and amusing graphic novel exploration of cephalopods, their differences and similarities, and the roles they play throughout the ocean.MIDDLEATOS 3.9AR points 0.5View book details
Imogen: The Life and Work of Imogen CunninghamElizabeth Partridge, illustrated by Yuko ShimizuTold through lovingly descriptive text and distinctive illustrations, this is the story of groundbreaking early 20th-century female photographer Imogen Cunningham.MIDDLEView book details
Into the RapidsAnn BradenAddy and her mother live in a remote area and isolate themselves from the small group of nearby neighbors. A natural disaster tests Addy's skills in overcoming the wilderness and her interpersonal challenges.MIDDLEView book details
The Invisible ParadeLeigh Bardugo, illustrated by John PicacioOn Dia de Muertos, Cala, who is grieving the death of her abuelo, comes to understand that death is simply a part of life. Accompanying illustrations take readers on a journey from monochromatic sadness to vibrant, jewel-toned acceptance.(Pura Belpré Illustration Honor Book)MIDDLEATOS 3.9AR interest LG K–3View book details
Is It Real? The Loch Ness MonsterCandace FlemingWell-researched and written in an engaging conversational style, this book presents clear evidence about the Loch Ness mystery and also guides readers in how to evaluate information sources.MIDDLEATOS 6.0AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
The Island of Forgotten Gods.Victor PiñeiroIn this kid-driven page-turner full of distinctive characters, a fantasy world unfolds featuring the old gods of Puerto Rico and various Taino traditions and beliefs. (Pura Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book)MIDDLEView book details
The Last ResortErin Entrada KellyStuck at her deceased grandfather's bed and breakfast, Lila discovers that she can talk to ghosts as she works to solve the mystery surrounding his death. The story is enhanced by interactive online elements.MIDDLEATOS 4.3AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
The Library of Unruly TreasuresJeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt PhelanFollowing in the footsteps of many MacKinnon women before her, Gwen finds her purpose in the children’s room of the library named after her family, as she helps tiny creatures called Lahdukan relocate when their home is threatened.MIDDLEATOS 4.8AR interest MG 4–8View book details
A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth AsawaCaroline McAlister, illustrated by Jamie GreenA look at the unique life of artist Ruth Asawa and how her experiences as a Japanese American and her family’s imprisonment in a WWII incarceration camp inspired and informed her groundbreaking sculptural artwork.MIDDLEView book details
The Midwatch Institute for Wayward GirlsJudith Rossell, illustrated by Judith RossellOrphan Maggie arrives at the Midwatch Institute and discovers that it is really a secret training facility for young girls who thwart crimes and solve mysteries around town.MIDDLEView book details
My Presentation Today Is About the AnacondaBibi Dumon Tak, illustrated by Annemarie Van Haeringen, Nancy Forest-FlierA unique take on traditional school reports where animal classmates present about one another, offering facts and fun in a droll, quirky, conversational manner, accompanied by stylized spot illustrations.MIDDLEATOS 4.3AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
My Sister the Apple Tree: A Refugee Story of Hope and ResilienceJordan Scott, Jamal Saeed, illustrated by Zahra MarwanThroughout his harrowing escape to safety, a young Syrian refugee nurtures his “sister,” an apple tree planted on the day he was born. The book deftly illustrates the emotional toll fleeing from conflict can take on the immigrant community.MIDDLEView book details
The Nine Moons of Han Yu and LuliKarina Yan GlaserIn alternating narratives, Han Yu in 8th-century China and Luli in 20th-century New York must step up to help their families through challenges that are unique to their time and place in the world. (Newbery Honor Book)MIDDLEATOS 6.0AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
No Purchase NecessaryMaria MarianayagamAjay, son of Sri Lankan Christian immigrants, steals a candy bar trying to find his place in middle school, kicking off a series of lies that make it increasingly harder for him to tell the truth.MIDDLEATOS 4.6AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
OasisGuojingIn this dramatically illustrated dystopian graphic novel, two children salvage a robot that becomes their de facto caregiver while their mother is absent.MIDDLEATOS 2.0AR interest MG 4–8View book details
Octopus MoonBobbie PyronIn this touching novel in verse, fifth grader Pearl learns how to ride the waves of her depression with the help of her therapist and family.MIDDLELexile HL610LATOS 4.1View book details
One Day: A True Story of Survival in the HolocaustMichael Rosen, illustrated by Benjamin PhillipsThis illustrated tale of endurance and resilience chronicles a Hungarian-French Jewish father and son's bravery and determination during their imprisonment by the Nazis as they focus on surviving one day at a time.MIDDLEView book details
Pilgrim CodexVivian Mansour, illustrated by Emmanuel Valtierra, Carlos Rodríguez CortezIn this tensely evocative immigration story, a family travels from Mexico to the United States by bus, van, and on foot until finally reaching the Rio Grande. Unique illustrations reference ancient Mexican Aztec codices. (Batchelder Honor Book)MIDDLEATOS 3.7AR interest Lower Grades (LG K-3)View book details
Pocket BearKatherine ApplegatePocket leads the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where discarded toys are given an opportunity to be loved by Elizaveta and her daughter, Dasha, refugees from Ukraine.MIDDLEATOS 3.9AR interest MG 4–8View book details
Return to SenderVera Brosgol, illustrated by Vera BrosgolHeartfelt and offbeat, this adventure, grounded in grief and familial concern, deftly balances emotional depth with an over-the-top middle-grade sci-fi premise. The emotionally honest prose is supported by beautiful illustrations woven throughout the text.MIDDLEView book details
Safe HarborPadma VenkatramanThis novel in verse features new friends, Geetha and Miguel, who work together as they navigate missing an old home, mental health challenges, and climate responsibility.MIDDLEATOS 5.1AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiosity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel PrizeLori Alexander, illustrated by Rebecca SantoA charmingly illustrated chapter book biography of little-known scientist Barbara McClintock, who was ahead of her time using corn and plants to study genetics.MIDDLEATOS 6.6AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
SpeechlessAron Nels Steinke, illustrated by Aron Nels SteinkeIn this graphic novel, a girl with social anxiety falls into a period of selective mutism and learns to express herself through stop-motion animation and therapy.MIDDLEView book details
The Spider Lady: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid WWII ArmyPenny Parker Klostermann, illustrated by Anne LambeletThis nonfiction picture book explains how arachnid enthusiast and scientist Nan Songer discovered a way to harvest spider silk for use by the military as crosshairs in gunsights and bombsights during WWII.MIDDLELexile 940LView book details
The Stolen SongbirdJudith Eagle, illustrated by Jo RiouxAfter discovering a hidden painting, 12-year-old Caro enlists the help of her friends to solve the mystery of the artwork, outsmart a gang of thieves, and locate her missing mother.MIDDLEATOS 5.2AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady PiratesCassandra Federman, illustrated by Cassandra FedermanTwo bickering sisters are forced to create the “best fairy tale ever” to put their baby sister to sleep in this humorous graphic novel.MIDDLEView book details
To Walk the Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering CitiesPatricia Morris Buckley, illustrated by E.B. LewisRecounts the story of Native skywalkers, steelworkers who crafted skyscrapers across North America, sometimes at great cost. The author, a descendant of a skywalker, illuminates their courage and grace, while expressive watercolors carry readers up into the sky with the workers.MIDDLEView book details
The Undead Fox of Deadwood ForestAubrey HartmanClare, the undead fox, is tasked with ferrying souls to the afterlife and finds friendship and purpose in this eerie, moving middle-grade fantasy. (Newbery Honor Book)MIDDLEATOS 5.3AR interest MG 4–8View book details
Will's Race for HomeJewell Parker RhodesIn 1889, Will’s formerly enslaved father is frustrated by sharecropping and wants land of his own. Leaving their Texas home to join the Oklahoma Land Rush, Will and his father face a journey full of unexpected obstacles.MIDDLEView book details
The Winter of the DollhouseLaura Amy SchlitzThe lives of 11-year-old Tiph, an elderly woman named Szilvia, and Gretel the antique doll intersect when they are uniquely served by each other in alternating chapters.MIDDLEView book details
Xolo: How One Good Dog Saved HumankindDonna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz JohnsonIn this beautifully illustrated reimagining of an Aztec legend, the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl, brings back humanity from the Underworld with his dog-headed twin brother, Xolotl.MIDDLEATOS 3.9AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book detailsOLDER
21 of 32 selections on this pageContinues on page 4
All the Blues in the SkyRenée WatsonWith help from the other girls in her grief counseling group, 13-year-old Sage mourns her best friend, killed in a hit-and-run accident, in this heartbreaking work of verse and prose. (Newbery Medal Book)OLDERLexile NPATOS 5.0View book details
At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for FreedomErin Entrada KellyThe untold story of Filipino freedom fighter Joey Guerrero, who spied for the United States during World War II while living with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) and advocating for better and more humane treatment. (Sibert Honor Book)OLDERATOS 7.3AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Blood in the WaterTiffany D. JacksonThis thriller dives into an unfamiliar history of Martha's Vineyard as it weaves themes of elitism within Black communities, wrongful incarceration, and features a young Black girl preparing for a law career.OLDERATOS 4.3View book details
Candle IslandLauren WolkLucretia and her mother have come to Maine’s Candle Island to find privacy and keep a secret. As she gets to know the locals and experiences a New England summer, Lucretia learns to let her true self shine.OLDERView book details
CoachJason ReynoldsSet in the 1980s, this is the "origin story" of the Defenders track team coach. Twelve-year-old Otie is obsessed with Carl Lewis and hopes to become a world champion himself but faces gang influence in his neighborhood.OLDERATOS 4.4AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
A Dangerous Idea: The Scopes Trial, the Original Fight Over Science in SchoolsDebbie LevyThe meticulously researched story of the inception, evolution, and impact of the Scopes Trial and the larger-than-life personalities behind the prosecution and the defense.OLDERView book details
DragonbornStruan MurrayAlex has never thought she was anything but human. When her true dragon identity is revealed, she must learn the art of transforming and how to embrace both parts of herself.OLDERView book details
The Enemy’s DaughterAnne BlankmanAfter the Lusitania sinks during WWI, 12-year-old Marta must navigate mistrust in wartime England without her German identity being discovered.OLDERATOS 5.2AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex RamirezJasminne PaulinoA novel in verse featuring space-loving neurodivergent seventh-grader, Alex, who dreams of working at NASA and advocates for himself to leave his self-contained classroom to enroll in a challenging mainstream science class.OLDERATOS 5.1AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Graciela in the AbyssMeg Medina, illustrated by Anna Balbusso, Elena BalbussoA ghost girl and a mortal boy work together to fight a curse in a mysterious undersea setting. Evocative illustrations and lyrical text combine to create this Spanish-influenced fantasy.OLDERView book details
How to Say Goodbye in CubanDaniel Miyares, illustrated by Daniel MiyaresA nonfiction graphic novel depicting young Carlos's experience at the inception of the Cuban Revolution and the complexities of his family’s difficult decision to leave for the United States.OLDERLexile 370LATOS 2.9View book details
The Incredibly Human Henson BlayzeDerrick BarnesThis genre-blending sports fantasy explores race, fame, capitalism, masculinity, and faith, shifting from a small town’s obsession with a 13-year-old African American football star to magical realism after a harrowing account of police brutality is exposed.OLDERATOS 6.0AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
It’s All or Nothing, ValeAndrea Beatriz ArangoValentina was the top athlete at her fencing gym until a life-changing accident permanently damages her body. Now she must learn to accept her limitations and her new normal.OLDERView book details
The Pecan ShellerLupe Ruiz-FloresSet in 1930s Texas, Petra leaves school for work in a pecan factory to support her family after her father's death. When tragedy hits, Petra and coworkers strike for better pay and safety, risking everything for a better future. (Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award)OLDERATOS 4.5AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Please Pay AttentionJamie SumnerAfter middle schooler Bea, a wheelchair user, survives a school shooting, she must figure out how to navigate a world where she no longer feels safe. In her journey towards healing, told through poignant verse, she discovers equine therapy.OLDERView book details
The Poisoned KingKatherine Rundell, illustrated by Ashley MacKenzieIn the second volume of Impossible Creatures, Christopher and Princess Anya work to save the ancient dragons, who are dying in the Archipelago, and free Anya's father, who has been imprisoned after being accused of poisoning the king.OLDERATOS 5.0AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
RadiantVaunda Micheaux NelsonSet in 1963 Pennsylvania, this tender novel in verse centers on fifth grader Cooper Dale, the only Black student in class, who aches to shine like her mama, a house cleaner for a bully’s wealthy white family, says she can.OLDERView book details
Rebellion 1776Laurie Halse AndersonAs the American Revolution concludes, Elsbeth must deal with both the turmoil of war and the smallpox epidemic that threatens all that she holds dear.OLDERATOS 5.8AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Scarlet MorningND Stevenson, illustrated by ND StevensonThis unconventional pirate adventure is rich in imagination and lore, enhanced by playful illustrations, creative typography, and dual perspectives. The fast-paced first installment builds an immersive world and ends with a shocking cliffhanger.OLDERATOS 6.1View book details
ScattergoodH.M. BouwmanGrowing up in 1941 rural Iowa, Peggy struggles to understand her refugee neighbors from the war in Europe, her first crush, and a dying friend.OLDERView book details
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto AlvarezMaría Dolores ÁguilaFast-paced and inspired by true events, this historical novel-in-verse follows a tween’s awakening to Mexican American activism amid 1930s anti-immigrant sentiment. Introspective narration, rich backmatter, and historical relevance make it a powerful testament to communal resistance. (Pura Belpré Author Honor Book; Newbery Honor Book)OLDERLexile 800LATOS 5.1View book details