Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a HorseMarcy CampbellWhen her classmate Adrian speaks of his horse, Chloe does not believe him—until she takes a walk by his house. Colored pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveView book detailsBank Street Best Children's Books of the Year 2019
A large annual list organized by age group and subject.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2019 edition]See the original list
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Published byBank Street College of Education
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Under Five
125 selections
Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a HorseMarcy CampbellWhen her classmate Adrian speaks of his horse, Chloe does not believe him—until she takes a walk by his house. Colored pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveView book details
All Are WelcomeAlexandra PenfoldA group of children experience a typical day at a school where diversity is celebrated. Simple mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD370LATOS 2.6View book details
Alma and How She Got Her NameJuana Martinez-NealA little girl’s father explains why she has so many names. Engaging acrylic, graphite, and colored pencil illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Under FiveLexile AD490LView book details
Am I Yours?written and illustrated by Alex LatimerAfter an egg has been blown from its nest, a group of friendly dinosaurs help it find its way home. Bold digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Baby’s FirstsNancy Raines DayJoyful rhymes highlight the developmental milestones of a diverse group of babies. Lively pencil and digital color illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Bagel KingAndrew LarsenGrandfather has fallen! Now who will deliver freshly baked bagels to neighbors and family eagerly awaiting their Sunday treat? Gentle illustrations in a soft color palette. Yiddish glossary.Under FiveLexile AD510LATOS 2.6View book details
Bear and Wolfwritten and illustrated by Daniel SalmieriBear and Wolf take a winter walk together. They observe their world, then separate when the season changes. Subtle, quiet scratchboard illustrations.Under FiveLexile 550LATOS 3.6View book details
Bear’s Scarewritten and illustrated by Jacob GrantBear and his stuffed friend Ursa enjoy a neat house. They get upset when an intruding spider messes it up. Charcoal and crayon, digitally colored.Under FiveView book details
Ben and the Scaredy-DogSarah EllisBen is scared of his neighbor’s big dog, but the dog is scared, too. Can they both overcome their fears? Amusing illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Big Bunnywritten and illustrated by Rowboat WatkinsDad is telling a bedtime story, but it isn’t scary enough, so his youngster takes over the tale. Silliness abounds, with colorful, exaggerated illustrations enhancing the humor.Under FiveLexile AD380LATOS 2.7View book details
Big Kid Bedwritten and illustrated by Leslie PatricelliIt’s time for bed, but not in the baby crib! Humorous, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Big Umbrellawritten and illustrated by Amy June Bates, cowritten with Juniper BatesA smiling, red umbrella grows bigger as it welcomes everyone seeking shelter and companionship. Watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD370LATOS 1.4View book details
Bigger! Bigger!written and illustrated by Leslie PatricelliA box of blocks leads a small girl to build imaginatively, until a baby interferes. Bold outlined, brightly colored, acrylic illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Black Bird, Yellow SunSteve LightAccompany a black bird on its journey through the day, and enjoy the vibrant colors of all it encounters. Bold illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Boy and the Blue MoonSara O’LearyAs a boy and his cat set out to reach the blue moon, the night turns magical. Was it real or a dream? Blue ink applied to mixed media.Under FiveView book details
The Boy Who Went to Marswritten and illustrated by Simon JamesStanley goes to Mars in his space mobile and returns to Earth as a Martian! Pen and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveLexile 500LATOS 2.7View book details
Building BooksMegan Wagner LloydKatie loves to build things. Owen loves to read. Can the two siblings embrace each other’s interest? Animated illustrations highlight gender-stereotype role reversal.Under FiveView book details
Bus! Stop!written and illustrated by James YangA young rider’s misfortune turns out to be an imaginative and delightful experience. Fanciful digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details
A Busy Creature’s Day EatingMo WillemsA purple creature stuffs itself with an alphabetical array of unconventional items until his upset stomach requires a father’s attention. Humorous, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
DadMy Side written andA child recounts her special relationship with her father, deriving strength from his love and support. Gentle, whimsical watercolors.Under FiveView book details
Dance, Dance, Dance! (Horse & Buggy series)written and illustrated by Ethan LongHorse and Buggy are good friends, only Horse loves to dance and Buggy does not—until he hears the music. Humorous digital cartoon illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Daniela the PirateSusanna IsernCan a girl be a pirate if she can prove how brave, strong, and quick she is? Daniela thinks so. Cheerful, humorous illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Under FiveLexile AD690LATOS 4.4View book details
The Digger and the FlowerJoseph Kuefler, illustrated by Joseph KueflerThis simple yet evocative tale celebrates friendship and devotion. Vibrant watercolors on canvas.Under FiveLexile 261LATOS 2.1View book details
Dog on a Diggerwritten and illustrated by Kate PrendergastIn this wordless book, a dog on a construction site rescues a puppy. Cross-hatched gray pencil and yellow- accented illustrations with superb renderings of heavy machinery.Under FiveView book details
Doorwritten and illustrated by JiHyeon LeeColorful, detailed illustrations accompany a wordless adventure to the other side of the door in one boy’s imagination.Under FiveView book details
Errol’s Gardenwritten and illustrated by Gillian HibbsErrol loves to grow things, but he has no garden in his city apartment. Then he discovers the roof of his building. Illustrations portray a diverse neighborhood.Under FiveView book details
Every Color Soupwritten and illustrated by Jorey HurleyLearn colors by identifying the ingredients for a wonderful vegetable soup. Large, clear photoshopped illustrations. Recipe included.Under FiveView book details
The Extraordinary Gardenerwritten and illustrated by Sam BoughtonIn a gray world, Joe, with a seed and his imagination, grows a garden for everyone to enjoy. Colorful chalk illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Farmer Falgu Goes to the Kumbh MelaChitra SoundarA farmer in India ventures to a large festival where he never seems to get what he wants. Deeply colored digital illustrations. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
Farmer Falgu Goes to the MarketChitra SoundarFalgu attempts to reach the market with his produce and eggs intact, but the trip goes terribly wrong. He salvages the day with a brilliant solution. Vibrant, simple illustrations.Under FiveView book details
First Star: A Bear and Mole Storywritten and illustrated by Will HillenbrandBear helps Mole get over his fear of the dark by telling a story about how Bears created the North Star. Simple language and luminous drawings.Under FiveView book details
FloKyo MaclearA member of an overprogrammed panda family spends her days enjoying life. Later, she rescues everyone from disaster. Charming pastel-toned illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Floatywritten and illustrated by John HimmelmanA grumpy old man receives a mysterious basket at his door. It changes his life for the better. Colorful digital illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD540LATOS 2.6View book details
Forest BabyLaurie ElmquistA mother describes everything she and her baby see as they take a walk through the woods. Gentle mixed- media illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD410LATOS 2.8View book details
Found.Jeff NewmanIn this nearly wordless story, a lonely child rescues a dog in a downpour. When he sees a lost dog poster, he reluctantly returns the dog. Expressive illustrations with minimal color palette.Under FiveView book details
Gator, Gator, Gator!Daniel BernstromJoin a young girl on a rhyming, rhythmic romp through the bayou as she searches for an alligator. Mixed-media photoshopped illustrations.Under FiveWord count 513View book details
Goat’s CoatTom PercivalAfter Alfonzo gives away his special coat, thread by thread, to needy friends, how will he keep from freezing? Rhymed text and expressive, bright illustrations.Under FiveWord count 579View book details
Goodnight Sandmanwritten and illustrated by Daniela DrescherJacob the Sandman and Milo the mouse sprinkle magic dreams—and then they meet the scary Night Monster! Dreamy illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Grains of SandSibylle DelacroixAfter a seaside vacation, two siblings wonder what will grow from the grains of sand they planted. Evocative pen and pencil illustrations with bursts of color.Under FiveLexile AD540LATOS 3.6View book details
Grandma’s Pursewritten and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-NewtonGrandma Mimi’s visits are always special, filled with treasures and stories that connect her and her granddaughter. Energetic mixed-media illustrations and a surprise ending.Under FiveLexile AD610LATOS 2.8View book details
Grow Up, David!written and illustrated by David ShannonDavid and his older brother fight about everything, until the older boy allows David to try football. Exuberant, childlike mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD140LATOS 1.4View book details
Grumpy MonkeySuzanne LangAfter monkey’s friends try many ways to cheer him up, he learns it’s okay to feel grumpy sometimes. Humorous, expressive color illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Hazel and Twig: The Birthday Fortunewritten and illustrated by Brenna Burns YuOlder sister Hazel is looking forward to younger sister Twig’s first birthday and the Korean customs their family celebrates. Full-page ink and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD560LATOS 3.2View book details
Hello Birds, What Do You Say?written and illustrated by Loes BotmanExquisitely colored detailed renderings of twelve different birds are accompanied by text that tells which sound each bird makes.Under FiveView book details
Hey, Hey, Hay!: A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make ThemChristy MihalyA young child and her family make hay on their farm. Lively oil-over-acrylic illustrations and clever rhyming verse. Punch recipe. Glossary.Under FiveView book details
Hip-Hop LollipopSusan McElroy MontanariA girl makes her way to bed while dancing to a hip-hop beat. Swirling watercolor and India ink illustrations.Under FiveView book details
A Hippy-Hoppy ToadPeggy ArcherLively, rhythmic verses describe a teeny tiny toad’s amusing adventures. Energetic, colorful watercolors.Under FiveLexile AD470LATOS 2.8View book details
HookedTommy GreenwaldA touching story of how a young boy who loves fishing “hooks” his father into joining him. Gentle watercolor illustrations.Under FiveView book details
How to Knit a Monsterwritten and illustrated by Annemarie van HaeringenVivid watercolor and colored pencil illustrations capture Greta’s monstrous dilemma and clever solutions as she knits and knits.Under FiveLexile AD500LATOS 2.7View book details
Hungry Bunnywritten and illustrated by Claudia RuedaCan you help a bunny who has trouble reaching apples from a tree and transporting them home for his mother’s apple pie? Expressive charcoal and digital illustrations.Under FiveLexile 390LATOS 1.4View book details
I Am EnoughGrace ByersUsing metaphors from nature, this eloquent book expresses the beauty of loving who you are. Bright watercolor illustrations showing a diverse population highlight an inspiring message.Under FiveWord count 242View book details
I Hate My Cats (A Love Story)Davide CaliSimple text accompanies whimsical illustrations to depict everyday life with enigmatic feline companions. Detailed, humorous illustrations.Under FiveView book details
I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of KindnessKerascoëtIn this wordless story, gentle ink and watercolor illustrations show a young girl becoming an ally when a new classmate is bullied. Back matter for children and adults about bullying.Under FiveView book details
If I Had a Horsewritten and illustrated by Gianna MarinoA girl imagines all the things that might be possible if only she had a horse. Spare text with gouache illustrations in silhouette.Under FiveLexile AD360LATOS 1.4View book details
If You Had a JetpackLisl H. DetlefsenTo cure their boredom, two determined creatures invent a unique form of transportation, inspiring a trip around the world and into space. Lively digital images.Under FiveLexile AD650LATOS 3.5View book details
In the RainElizabeth SpurrA young girl and her dog enjoy a rainy day outside their home. Realistic watercolors.Under FiveLexile 210LATOS 1.8View book details
Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime!Lisa MantchevSuperhero siblings use their imaginations to play and create mysteries they can solve to keep the city safe. Hand-drawn, digitally colored papercut illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD480LATOS 3.2View book details
Julián Is a MermaidJessica LoveJulián is intrigued with mermaids and dresses up as one, much to the initial chagrin of his abuela. Dreamy illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and ink.Under FiveLexile 190LATOS 0.8View book details
King Ben and Sir Rhinowritten and illustrated by Eric Sailer“King” Ben rules his parents, his home, and his toys, but he needs to learn how to share. Playful ink and watercolor drawings.Under FiveView book details
Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous: A First-Day-of-School DilemmaKeith CalabreseLena’s all ready for her first day of kindergarten, but her shoes have other ideas. Lively digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Little Brothers & Little Sisterswritten and illustrated by Monica ArnaldoOlder siblings can be challenging at times. They can also be wonderful. Expressive color illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Little Robot AlonePatricia MacLachlan, Emily MacLachlan CharestFeeling lonely, Little Robot uses his ingenuity and perseverance to improve things. Soft watercolor and pencil illustrations and repetitive rhyme create a cheery mood.Under FiveLexile AD560LATOS 2.6View book details
Little Truckwritten and illustrated by Taro GomiLittle Truck is on his way—exploring, going fast, and climbing hills. Luckily, when he gets tired, a big truck is right behind him to help out. Simple, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear ClothingJudi BarrettRealistic cross-hatched pen-and-ink drawn animals boldly positioned on white background model their human attire. Explanations for their misfits in large black text.Under FiveView book details
A Lullaby of Summer ThingsNatalie ZiarnikLyrical rhymed couplets celebrate the activities of a day at the beach and a night at home. Lively full-page illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD390LATOS 2.7View book details
Mermaid SchoolJoanne Stewart WetzelMolly’s first day of school promises to be exciting, especially since it is Mermaid School! The day is described in rhyme. Whimsical watercolors.Under FiveLexile AD500LATOS 3.3View book details
New Baby series Look at Me!/¡Mírame! (978-1-78628-152-4) My New Baby/Mi nuevo bebé (978-1-78628-151-7) Waiting for Baby/Esperando al bebé (978-1-78628-150-0) You and Me/Tú y yo (978-1-78628-153-1)written and illustrated by Rachel Fuller, Spanish translation by Teresa MlawerNew babies and their siblings develop a relationship as they live and play together. Illustrations enhance the activities portrayed.Under FiveView book details
New Shoeswritten and illustrated by Chris RaschkaVibrant, loose-lined watercolors show a preschooler walking to a shoe store, choosing new sneakers, and sharing the excitement with a friend.Under FiveView book details
Night Outwritten and illustrated by Daniel MiyaresA lonely boy goes on a magical late-night journey with a tortoise and returns with a story to tell. Gouache and colored-pencil illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Nimoshom and His BusPenny M. ThomasNimoshom (Cree for “my grandfather”) is a school-bus driver who tells stories to his young riders and teaches them words in Cree. Mixed-media illustrations. Glossary.Under FiveLexile 500LATOS 3.3View book details
Nipper and the Lunchboxwritten and illustrated by Lucy DillamoreA canine realizes that his human has left his meal behind and sets out to find him. Engaging childlike mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Now That I’m Herewritten and illustrated by Aaron MeshonA bicultural child recounts the many delightful ways life changed for his parents after he was born. Playful, colorful, humorous illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD400LATOS 2.8View book details
Oliver ElephantLou PeacockNoah brings Oliver, his toy elephant, Christmas shopping. Just before going home, Noah realizes that Oliver is lost. Can he be found? Jolly mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Other DucksEllen YeomansEven though This Duck and That Duck are best friends, they sometimes yearn for the companionship of Other Ducks. Amusing illustrations add to the merriment.Under FiveLexile AD560LATOS 2.9View book details
Pip & Pupwritten and illustrated by Eugene YelchinExpressive pastel color and graphite illustrations with unusual perspectives tell the story of a budding friendship between unlikely species.Under FiveView book details
Poe Won’t GoKelly DiPucchioAn elephant parks himself in the middle of a road and won’t move, until a young girl asks him why. Acrylic and pencil illustrations.Under FiveLexile 348LATOS 2.5View book details
Quiet WyattTammi SauerQuiet Wyatt learns, with the help of noisy Noreen, that there are times when it is necessary to be loud. Very funny watercolor and pencil illustrations.Under FiveLexile 470LATOS 1.7View book details
The Rabbit ListenedCori DoerrfeldWhen Taylor’s block structure collapses, all he needs is a good listener. Vibrant digital art captures varieties of emotions, including empathy.Under FiveLexile AD450LATOS 1.7View book details
Run Wildwritten and illustrated by David CovellSimple rhyming text with action-packed watercolors celebrates the joys of exploring nature and the freedom of children.Under FiveLexile AD240LATOS 2View book details
The Snowy Napwritten and illustrated by Jan BrettA hedgehog hears about how wonderful winter is from the farm animals and decides to stay awake and experience it for himself. Luxuriant watercolors and gouache illustrations.Under FiveLexile 660LATOS 4.3View book details
So Far Upwritten and illustrated by Susanne Strasser, translated from the German by Elisabeth LaufferBear is hungry and wants a piece of the cake he sees in a window. How will he reach it? Softly colored illustrations outlined in black.Under FiveLexile AD620LATOS 4View book detailsStepStep written andWho walks in the mud or stands up soon after birth? A patterned question format offers an interactive learning opportunity. Digital drawings in soft brown colors. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
Storm (Seasons with Granddad series)written and illustrated by Sam UsherGrandfather and grandson reflect on past adventures as they look for their kite. Then they set out on a new adventure. Whimsical ink and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Sun (Seasons with Granddad series)written and illustrated by Sam UsherA small boy and his granddad look for the perfect picnic spot. They use their imagination to find it. Ink and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Teddy’s Favorite ToyChristian TrimmerTeddy loves Bren-Da, a doll with endless outfits and accessories. When she disappears, he worries that he’ll never get her back. Expressive gouache and pencil illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Thank You, Omu!Oge MoraOmu makes a “scrumptious” stew that everyone in the neighborhood wants to taste. After sharing, will Omu have anything left to eat? Warm collage illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD630LATOS 3.2View book details
There’s a Tiger in the Gardenwritten and illustrated by Lizzy StewartAt Grandma’s, Nora is a bit bored until she allows herself to follow her imagination into the garden. Bright, colorful illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD530LATOS 3.5View book details
Two Problems for SophiaJim AverbeckSophia’s pet giraffe is in danger of exile because of a sloppy tongue and loud snoring. Is there a solution? Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD620LATOS 3.8View book details
The Ugly FiveJulia DonaldsonWhat you’re like on the outside is only part of the story. A warthog and other creatures of the African savannah revel in their ugliness, but their babies see them very differently. Warm, colorful illustrations.Under FiveLexile 561LATOS 3.7View book details
Under the Same Skywritten and illustrated by Britta TeckentrupExpressive text and illustrations incorporate page cutouts to show that we all live under one sky.Under FiveLexile 290LATOS 2.2View book details
Up the Mountain Pathwritten and illustrated by Marianne DubucEvocative gentle illustrations follow an aging badger on her weekly mountain climb, sharing the wonders of nature and friendship with a cat who follows in her footsteps.Under FiveLexile 361LATOS 2.6View book details
Vernon Is on His Way: Small Storieswritten and illustrated by Philip C. SteadThree friends—Vernon, Porcupine, and Skunk— negotiate their daily adventures. Color pencil drawings.Under FiveView book details
Vincent Comes Homewritten and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley and Aaron BagleyWhen a freighter cat overhears the crew talk eagerly about home, he follows one sailor ashore and discovers what “home” really means. Pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveLexile 540LATOS 3View book details
The Visitorwritten and illustrated by Antje Damm, translated from the German by Sally-Ann SpencerCan a fearful reclusive old lady find friendship when a paper airplane flies through her window? Photographs of diorama scenes use light and color to dramatic effect to showcase moods.Under FiveView book details
The Wall in the Middle of the BookJon AgeeA knight is certain that a wall protects him from dangers awaiting him on the other side. Does it? Simple, expressive watercolors illustrations.Under FiveLexile 390LATOS 1.7View book details
Want to Play Trucks?Ann StottAlex likes dolls, but Jack likes trucks. How will they play together? Engaging colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
We Don’t Eat Our Classmateswritten and illustrated by Ryan T. HigginsHow can Penelope make friends at school if she keeps eating them? Can a goldfish help? Humorous illustrations help convey Penelope’s transformation.Under FiveLexile AD500LATOS 2.3View book details
What If...Samantha BergerA child bursting with creative energy will not be stopped even when her traditional art tools disappear. Poetic style and lively illustrations.Under FiveLexile 348LATOS 2.5View book details
What the Ladybug Heard NextJulia DonaldsonAfter overhearing two robbers plot a nefarious heist, a ladybug enlists the farm animals to thwart the pair. Colorful, zany collages illustrate the rhyming text.Under FiveView book details
When Your Llama Needs a HaircutSusanna Leonard HillIt’s picture day, and a young boy realizes he needs to give his pet llama a haircut—but he has to catch his not- very-cooperative pet first. Spare humorous illustrations.Under FiveView book details
While You Are Sleepingwritten and illustrated by Mariana Ruiz JohnsonIn this wordless book, brilliantly hued collage images, realistic and fantastic, appear outside a boy’s window and in his dreams.Under FiveView book details
Wide-Awake BearPat Zietlow MillerWhen a bear cub wakes up too soon from his winter nap, he can’t get back to sleep. Luckily his mom is there to help. Digitally colored graphic illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Winter Is HereKevin HenkesFrom sledding in the park to romping in the snow, children, adults, and animals enjoy wintertime. Playful, boldly outlined acrylic illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD510LATOS 3.4View book details
With Your Paw in Minewritten and illustrated by Jane ChapmanTwo baby otters, Miki and Amak, are protected by their mothers. But when the mothers are hunting for food, the pups have to brave a storm by themselves. Appealing illustrations reinforce the importance of friendship.Under FiveView book details
Woodrow at Seawritten and illustrated by Wallace EdwardsIn this wordless book, a young elephant develops a friendship with a rescued mouse as they weather a storm, encounter sea creatures, sing together, and return home. Animated watercolor and ink illustrations.Under FiveView book details
You’re Safe with MeChitra SoundarMama Elephant uses hugs and words to reassure the forest animals that in spite of the wind, thunder, and rain, they will be safe while they sleep. Elaborate, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
1 Grumpy Bruce: A Counting Book (Mother Bruce series)written and illustrated by Ryan T. HigginsWill any of the frolicking animals bring Bruce the bear out of his grump? Colorful mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Big Box Little BoxCaryl HartA curious cat explores boxes of different shapes, colors, and sizes, and finally finds a mouse. Pencil, ink, and collage illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Big Bugwritten and illustrated by Henry ColeColorful illustrations show what “big” and “little” mean.Under FiveView book details
Big Little/Grande pequeño (978-0-7636-9966-6) Quiet Loud/Silencioso ruidoso (978-0-7636-9976-5)written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli, Spanish translation by Georgina LázaroVibrant, colorful, and humorous creatures illustrate opposites in these bilingual board books.Under FiveView book details
Ducks Away!Mem FoxIn this intergenerational counting book, the surprise ending shows how grown-ups can learn from their progeny. Bright minimalist illustrations enhance the story.Under FiveLexile 241LATOS 2View book details
Hello Hellowritten and illustrated by Brendan WenzelAnimals ranging from house cats to bare-necked umbrella birds greet each other. Bold, dynamic mixed- media illustrations balance verisimilitude and caricature. Back matter includes information on endangered species.Under FiveView book details
I See, I Touch...written and illustrated by Giuliano FerriThis appetizing introduction to the five senses is enhanced by colorful cutouts.Under FiveView book details
Night Train, Night TrainRobert BurleighA rhymed text describes a boy and his bear’s overnight ride on a steam train. Atmospheric black-and-white graphite illustrations with touches of color.Under FiveLexile AD270LATOS 2.1View book details
A Parade of ElephantsKevin Henkes266827-1 Five elephants march up, down, over, under, in, and out, until they trumpet, scattering stars across the sky, and go to sleep. Gentle gouache and line illustrations.Under FiveLexile 47LATOS 0.9View book details
Walk Your DogElizabeth Stevens OmlorWhat happens when a spunky little girl walks with a stubborn dog? Humorous watercolor and colored pencil illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Festival of ColorsKabir Sehgal, Surishtha SehgalChintoo and Mintoo prepare for the Indian festival of Holi, a celebration of color and community. Vibrant illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD250LATOS 1.9View book details
Mrs. Claus Takes the ReinsSue FliessWhen Santa gets sick on Christmas Eve, he’s about to cancel his yearly trip. Then Mrs. Claus volunteers to go in his place. Jolly digital illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD620LATOS 2.9View book details
Ramadan (Celebrate the World series)Hannah EliotLearn how and why Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Colorful, whimsical illustrations.Under FiveView book details
This Is Christmaswritten and illustrated by Tom BoothA little chipmunk asks his mom a series of questions about Christmas while they walk through the forest. Cartoonlike digital illustrations.Under FiveLexile 530LATOS 2.6View book details
Thread of LoveKabir Sehgal, Surishtha SehgalSimple repetitive text describes the Indian holiday of Raksha Bandhan, during which sisters make rakhi (bracelets) for their brothers. Bright, engaging digital illustrations. Back matter.Under FiveLexile AD510LATOS 3.4View book details
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Birds from Head to TailStacey RoderickIn guessing-game format, eight birds, each with a special feature, are introduced. Colorful digitally enhanced illustrations.Under FiveView book detailsHe’s Your Daddy: Ducklings, Joeys, Kits, and MoreCharline ProfiriFrom joeys and fawns to kangaroos and stags, delightful rhymes introduce the different names for young animals and their fathers. Large mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
Rainforestwritten and illustrated by Julia GrovesDramatic prints, collage illustrations, and brief text descriptions of rain forest animals capture the essential qualities of each creature. Scientific back matter.Under FiveView book details
Roar: A Dinosaur Tourwritten and illustrated by Michael PaulSimple text compares and contrasts the characteristics of 15 dinosaurs. Beautifully colored digital illustrations. Pronunciation chart.Under FiveLexile AD390LATOS 2.7View book detailsFive to Nine
159 selections
Gordon: Bark to the Future (P.U.R.S.T. series)written d illustrated by Ashley SpiresAliens have invaded. Gordon’s partner has been captured. Will Gordon’s time machine work so he can save the day? Deadpan narration is displayed across small panels in muted tones.Five to NineView book details
Henry and the Yetiwritten and illustrated by Russell AytoIf you believe in yourself and your goals, you might just find a yeti . . . but who will believe you? Amusing, mixed-media line drawings.Five to NineLexile 348LATOS 2.5View book details
A House That Once WasJulie FoglianoTwo children explore a long-deserted house, dreamily wondering who might have lived in it. Lyrical text and colorful illustrations in digitized ink, oils, and collage.Five to NineLexile AD500LATOS 3.3View book details
Sea Creatures from the Skywritten and illustrated by Ricardo CortésA shark cannot convince its friends that it really had been abducted by aliens. Told in verse. Vivid, mixed- media illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD480LATOS 3.2View book details
Hawk RisingMaria GianferrariAs a human mother and daughter watch, a father hawk successfully hunts for food for his chicks. Expressive, detailed illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 480LATOS 2.4View book details
Inky the OctopusErin GuendelsbergerFollow a resourceful octopus as he escapes from his aquarium. A fictional retelling of a true story. Humorous rhyming text and detailed color illustrations. Fascinating octopus facts and a bibliography.Five to NineLexile 950LATOS 2.6View book details
Little Fox in the SnowJonathan LondonRecounted in elegant, poetic prose, a young fox’s daily adventures from morning to night are animated by stunning dramatic paintings.Five to NineLexile 301LATOS 2.3View book details
Baby Monkey, Private EyeBrian Selznick, David SerlinEven though he struggles to put his pants on, Baby Monkey succeeds as a private investigator. Elaborate pencil drawings and humorous explanations, including an index and bibliography.Five to NineView book details
Rocket the Brave!written and illustrated by Tad HillsChasing a butterfly into the scary forest, Rocket the dog makes a new friend and learns that he too can be brave. Engaging colored pencil and acrylic paint illustrations.Five to NineView book details
BlueLaura Vaccaro SeegerIn an emotional story of love, death, and new life, shades of blue portray a life-long friendship between a boy and his dog. Expressive illustrations.Five to NineWord count 38View book details
Carmela Full of WishesMatt de la PeñaOn her birthday, Carmela accompanies her brother on errands and makes a wish. Her wish comes true, but not in the way she was expecting. Evocative mixed-media illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile 630LATOS 4View book details
Fiona’s Little Accidentwritten and illustrated by Rosemary WellsFiona, excited to present her volcano with Felix at show and tell in school, doesn’t have time to go to the bathroom. Oops! Bright watercolor illustrations.Five to NineLexile 459LATOS 3.1View book details
The Little Pig, the Bicycle, and the MoonPierrette DubéAn array of animals offer ideas about how to help Little Pig learn to ride a bike. Humorous, gentle illustrations.Five to NineView book details
When Sophie Thinks She Can’t . . .Molly Bang, illustrated by Molly BangConvinced that she is not smart, Sophie, helped by her inventive, energetic teacher, learns how persistence and a positive mind-set lead to math problem-solving. Bold color gouache illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Wolfywritten and illustrated by Grégoire Solotareff, translated from the French by Daniel HahnA young rabbit and a young wolf defy stereotypes and befriend each other. Doubt, fear, and mistrust creep in, and then loneliness leads to reconciliation. Colorful, expressive illustrations outlined in black.Five to NineView book details
Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of ShapesHena KhanThe shapes and traditions of Islam are presented in multiple settings. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Let’s Go ABC!: Things That Go, from A to ZRhonda Gowler GreeneRhyming text and bright photoshopped art are used to reinforce alphabet skills, with 26 unusual modes of transportation.Five to NineView book details
P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book EverRaj Halder, Chris CarpenterThis witty and unique alphabet book points out the many absurdities of the English language. Large, colorful pictures and a pronunciation glossary.Five to NineView book details
This Is the Nest That Robin Builtwritten and illustrated by Denise FlemingSquirrel, dog, horse, pig, and other friends help Robin in this descriptive cumulative tale filled with colorfully detailed print and collage illustrations.Five to NineLexile 700LATOS 4.5View book details
BoyPhil CummingsBoy can’t hear or speak, but he brings peace to his village when he solves the conflict between a dragon and the king and his knights. Humorous digital paintings.Five to NineView book details
Ocean Meets SkyTerry FanFinn builds a boat to honor his late grandfather and goes on an imaginative journey seeking the magical place where ocean meets sky. Dreamlike graphite and digitally colored illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Stone BirdJenny McCartneyEliza is saddened when her special stones disappear, but on her birthday she awakens to an amazing surprise. Playfully detailed, full-color watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Stumpkinwritten and illustrated by Lucy Ruth CumminsA stumpless pumpkin goes unpurchased when carving time comes, until someone gives him the perfect home. Gouache, pencil, ink, and brush markers in illustrations build suspense with clever use of page turns.Five to NineLexile 500LATOS 2.2View book details
You’re Snug with MeChitra SoundarA mother polar bear spends the arctic winter telling her curious cubs about the wondrous world outside. Elaborate ink and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Chinese Emperor’s New ClothesYing Chang CompestineThis retelling of a classic fairy tale is inspired by the ban on Western literature during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Traditional representations in watercolors, pen, and ink. Back story.Five to NineView book details
Dragon DancerJoyce ChngAt the Lunar New Year, Yao and the dragon Shen Long chase away bad luck and welcome in good luck. Flowing, boldly colored illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Enchanted Nightingale: The Classic Grimm’s Tale of Jorinda and Joringelretold and illustrated by Bernadette WattsA magical flower enables Joringel to rescue his beloved from a witch’s spell. Colorful, mystical illustrations.Five to NineView book details
In a Small KingdomTomie dePaolaCan the kingdom’s townsfolk sew a magic robe from pieces shredded by the king’s evil brother and restore its power? Mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineLexile 710LATOS 4.3View book detailsMinegoo Mniku: The Mi’kmaq Creation Story of Prince Edward Island/Epekewitkewey A’tukwaqnretold and illustrated by Sandra L. Dodge, translated from the Mi’kmaq by Georgina FrancisThe Mi’kmaq creation story and the founding of Prince Edward Island are told in bilingual stories with realistic watercolors. Decorative borders are Mi’kmaq quilt patterns.Five to NineView book details
Prince & KnightDaniel HaackWhen a dragon attacks the kingdom, a knight arrives to save the day. Could he rescue the prince’s heart as well? Digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Queen Panda Can’t SleepSusanna IsernFrom across the kingdom, loyal subjects try to help the queen sleep. When a contagious yawn causes everyone else to doze off, the queen is left to do all the work herself. Colorful, full-page folk art.Five to NineView book details
Siuluk: The Last TuniqNadia SammurtokThe last remaining member of a Canadian “giant” tribe, a shy loner must prove his legendary strength to neighboring skeptics. Illustrations in haunting amber palettes.Five to NineView book details
The Turtle ShipHelena Ku RheeSun-sin and his pet turtle, Gobugi, win a contest to design a battleship for the king. Exquisitely detailed collages. Historical roots of the story are presented in an afterword.Five to NineLexile AD700LATOS 4.1View book details
Blacksmith’s SongElizabeth Van SteenwykA nine-year-old boy learns the blacksmith’s tradition of pounding out rhythms to guide those escaping on the Underground Railroad. Realistic oil paintings.Five to NineView book details
Let the Children MarchMonica Clark-RobinsonIn 1963 Jim Crow laws deprived African Americans of their rights. Even though protesting was perilous, children volunteered to march. Painterly illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 650LATOS 3.8View book details
Ruby in the Ruinswritten and illustrated by Shirley HughesLondon, 1945: Ruby’s father is home from the war, a changed and distant man. Ruby spends her days clambering on post-Blitz rubble, until one day she falls. Warm ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
All-of-a-Kind Family HanukkahEmily JenkinsGertie, the youngest of five sisters, wants passionately to help prepare for Hanukkah. Her father rewards her with the most important task—lighting the candles with him. Colorful digital illustrations. Back story. Glossary.Five to NineLexile AD520LATOS 2.8View book details
Every Month Is a New Year: Celebrations Around the WorldMarilyn SingerPoems tell the stories of different “new years” from a variety of countries. Glorious collages. Abundant background information including pronunciation guide, a map, and source notes.Five to NineView book details
I Got the Christmas SpiritConnie Schofield-MorrisonA girl and her mother head to the city to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday and spread the Christmas spirit. Bold, colorful, frosty illustrations.Five to NineWord count 146View book details
Can I Be Your Dog?written and illustrated by Troy CummingsAmusing illustrations and letters tell the story of a lonely dog who writes to the people on Butternut Street, looking for a home.Five to NineLexile 530LATOS 2.3View book details
Fergus and Zeke at the Science FairKate MessnerTwo classroom pet mice don’t want to just be a science fair experiment—they want to create one of their own. Cartoon-style digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Giraffe ProblemsJory JohnEdward the giraffe doesn’t like his too-long, bendy neck. Cyrus the turtle doesn’t like his too-short neck. Soon, a friendship ensues. Amusing textured illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD530LATOS 2.4View book details
Good Rosie!Kate DiCamilloWhen her owner takes Rosie—a shy, lonely terrier—to a dog park, Rosie meets two unlikely friends. Line and watercolor comic book panel illustrations.Five to NineLexile 490LATOS 1.9View book details
I Need All of ItPetra PostertEach of Jim’s precious treasures conjures up a creative, imaginary story, and Dad should never throw any of them away! Cartoonlike digital artwork.Five to NineView book details
If the S in Moose Comes LoosePeter HermannFast-paced rhymes depict the hilarious attempt by Cow to put Moose back together. Inventive, humorous watercolor and pen and ink illustrations.Five to NineLexile 281LATOS 2.2View book details
Nick the Sidekickwritten and illustrated by Dave WhamondBeing a sidekick to Super Fantastic Guy is not what Nick hoped it would be. When evil threatens, can he prove himself and save the day? Pen, ink, and digital watercolors.Five to NineLexile 420LATOS 2.9View book details
The Other DogMadeleine L’EngleA dog complains about the presence of the newborn puppy in his home. Expressive, humorous illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD700LATOS 4View book details
The Prince and the PeeGreg GormleyHow can the prince fight a dragon if he has to go? Engaging colorful watercolors depict the dilemma.Five to NineView book details
The Princess and the Pit StopTom AnglebergerWill a service break keep the princess from overtaking familiar fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters in this racetrack adventure? Vivid cartoon illustrations accompany the zany text.Five to NineLexile 401LATOS 2.8View book details
Snail MailSamantha BergerTexting and email are speedy, but when a message needs to be really special, there’s nothing like a handwritten letter. Follow the dauntless snails who deliver it. Whimsical illustrations.Five to NineLexile 669LATOS 4.3View book details
Stop That Yawn!Caron LevisHilarious illustrations rendered in digitally colored India ink accompany this fantastic tall tale of young Gabby’s efforts to stay awake all night.Five to NineLexile 570LATOS 2.6View book details
LANGUAGE A Day with YayahNicola I. CampbellThis introduction to edible plants of British Columbia and to the Nlaka’pamux language is framed by the story of a Yayah (grandmother) teaching her family. Vibrant, dynamic illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Great Dictionary CaperJudy SierraDiscover what happens when words escape from the dictionary and unite in new formations. Humorous examples of onomatopoeia, palindromes, and more. Digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Ayobami and the Names of the AnimalsPilar López ÁvilaThe path to school is dangerous, but a little girl cleverly convinces the jungle animals to let her pass. Bright, colorful illustrations with many textures. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile AD550LATOS 3.6View book details
The Cherry Pie PrincessVivian FrenchWith some help from a tall jester and a dwarf, Princess Peony sets out to “widen her world” and save her brother, the prince. Black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineLexile 620LATOS 4.5View book details
Thank You, CrowMichael MinkovitzSebastian helps a crow in distress and the crow repays him with gifts that appear to be random . . . but are they? Delightfully simple illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Time for Bed, MiyukiRoxane Marie GalliezMiyuki gives her patient grandfather numerous reasons for not going to bed. Lyrical prose. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations incorporate Japanese textile patterns.Five to NineView book details
TrevorJim AverbeckTrevor befriends someone very different from himself and learns the value of companionship, including the pain of loss. An unusual, beautiful tale. Emotive illustrations.Five to NineLexile 550LATOS 2.9View book details
The Day Dad Joined My Soccer TeamMaureen FergusA dad, misunderstanding a coach’s request, runs on to the field to play! His son must teach him sportsmanlike behavior. Bright cartoonlike illustrations.Five to NineWord count 935View book details
The FieldBaptiste PaulShouting joyfully in Creole and English, children enjoy a spirited game of soccer, quitting only when it gets too dark out to play. Exuberant paintings.Five to NineView book details
I Got It!written and illustrated by David WiesnerMany scenarios occur to a young outfielder as he waits for the few seconds it takes for a fly ball to come down. Acrylic, gouache, and watercolor illustrations. Almost wordless.Five to NineView book details
TODAY All the Animals Where I LivePhilip C. SteadA city boy moves to the country and describes his new surroundings, including the landscape and animals, through the changing seasons. Soft mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineLexile 600LATOS 3.9View book details
Angel in Beijingwritten and illustrated by Belle YangAfter viewing Beijing’s sights, a girl finds that her lost cat is now staying with a lonely old woman. Gouache paintings.Five to NineView book details
Benji, the Bad Day, and MeSally J. PlaWhen life gives you lemons, wrap up in a blanket with your brother. Compassion can sometimes brighten your day. Digitally enhanced acrylic and colored pencil illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD500LATOS 2.6View book details
Beyond the Fencewritten and illustrated by Maria GulemetovaPiggy and Thomas always play whatever Thomas wants, but then one day Piggy meets Wild Pig. Richly colored, simple line illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Breaking Newswritten and illustrated by Sarah Lynne ReulCharcoal illustrations capture a family’s sadness when distressing news reaches them via the TV. The young narrator tries to ameliorate things and finds a way.Five to NineLexile 470LATOS 2.1View book details
The DamDavid AlmondA young girl plays an homage on her fiddle to a village about to be flooded because of the new dam. Moody, haunting illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Day You BeginJacqueline WoodsonThis lyrical celebration of diversity offers children, however different they may feel from their classmates, the promise of friendship and discovery. Colorful mixed- media illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile AD980LATOS 4View book details
Dear SubstituteLiz Garton Scanlon, Audrey VernickIn a series of letters, a young girl laments the substitute teacher’s different way of doing things. Childlike watercolor and gouache illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD530LATOS 2.9View book details
Drawn TogetherMinh LêAn American boy and his Thai grandfather bond when they discover that they both love drawing. Expressive mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD310LATOS 2.1View book details
First Laugh: Welcome, Baby!Rose Ann Tahe, Nancy Bo FloodA Navajo family welcomes a new baby and holds a First Laugh Ceremony when Grandfather finally gets Baby to laugh. Pencil, acrylic, and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Florettewritten and illustrated by Anna WalkerMissing the garden she left behind when her family moved to the city, Florette finds a way to create a new one. Playful watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Freddie Mole, Lion TamerAlexander McCall SmithYoung Freddie finds a circus job to help his family and substitutes when needed until he lands in the perfect position. Ink sketches.Five to NineView book details
Grace for Guswritten and illustrated by Harry BlissA girl finds creative ways to raise money for a class pet in this almost wordless book. Detailed rich, humorous illustrations in graphic format.Five to NineView book details
Holes in the Skywritten and illustrated by Patricia PolaccoAfter her grandmother dies, a grief-stricken young girl moves to Oakland, where a dynamic and caring community helps her heal. Pencil and marker illustrations.Five to NineLexile 730LATOS 4.2View book details
How to Be a Lionwritten and illustrated by Ed VereBy standing up to his fierce fellow lions, Leonard shows them that lions can be sensitive too. Simple, expressive illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD500LATOS 2.5View book detailsImagineRaúl ColónPoignant, evocative illustrations in pen and foam monoprint accompany an eloquent poem by the former US Poet Laureate, calling upon children to dream as they search for their personal journey in life.Five to NineView book details
IslandbornJunot DíazLola must draw a picture of her home country for school. Her whole community helps her conjure up images of the island she left as a baby. Dreamlike digital illustrations. Available in Spanish as Lola.Five to NineLexile AD600LATOS 3.4View book details
Jack (Not Jackie)Erica SilvermanAlthough her little sister Jackie would rather be Jack, Susan realizes her sibling is still the same person on the inside. Mixed-media illustrations. Bibliography.Five to NineWord count 669View book details
The Little Red FortBrenda MaierIn a retelling of The Little Red Hen, set in a contemporary Latinx family, a feisty little girl takes the lead in building a play fort. Active full-page painted illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD470LATOS 1.9View book details
Marwan’s JourneyPatricia de AriasWhen war comes to his homeland, young Marwan is forced to flee his country alone, while wishing his deceased mother were with him. Stylized ink and color- wash illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Meet YasminSaadia FaruqiIn four short stories, Pakistani American Yasmin, an energetic second grader, finds a solution to the problems she faces. Whimsical, colorful illustrations. Back matter, including a recipe and a craft.Five to NineWord count 2146View book details
Mommy’s KhimarJamilah Thompkins-BigelowA young Muslim girl wears her mother’s headscarf to feel closer to her while imagining herself a queen, a superhero, and more. Simple, colorful digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
A Moon for Moe and MoJane Breskin ZalbenTwo boys in Brooklyn, one Jewish and the other Muslim, forge a friendship. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineLexile 600LATOS 3.2View book details
Mustafawritten and illustrated by Marie-Louise GayAn immigrant boy struggling to acclimate meets a girl and her cat in a nearby park who help him in that process. Simple mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Night BoxLouise GreigAs Day winds down, young Max opens a box from which Night pours, bringing forth stars, the moon, and nocturnal animals. Painterly illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD490LATOS 3.3View book details
Night JobKaren HesseA young boy accompanies his father, by motorcycle, to his job as a night janitor. A loving father-son portrait. Muted mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD920LATOS 3.4View book details
Power Forward (Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream series)Hena KhanAfter Zayd skips orchestra rehearsal to practice basketball, his parents forbid him to play ball for weeks. Black and-white spot illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Rough PatchBrian LiesCan inconsolable Evan recover from the loss of his dog after destroying their garden and isolating himself? Evocative, expressive illustrations in varied palettes.Five to NineLexile AD580LATOS 2.8View book details
Saffron Ice CreamRashin Kheiriyeh, illustrated by Rashin KheiriyehAs her family sets out on their first trip to Coney Island, young Rashin remembers a similar outing to the beach in Iran. Vibrant, joyful two-page spreads of oil and acrylic artwork.Five to NineLexile AD580LATOS 3.8View book details
Saturday Is Swimming DayHyewon YumA young girl is scared of taking swimming lessons but overcomes her fears with the help of an understanding instructor. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations.Five to NineLexile 420LATOS 2.9View book details
Someone NewAnne Sibley O’Brien, illustrated by Anne Sibley O’BrienThis companion to I’m New Here tells the story of the arrival of immigrant children from the American kids’ points of view. Sensitive digital watercolorl illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Take Your Octopus to School DayAudrey VernickWhen Sam takes Thurgood, his eight-tentacled best friend, to show and tell, something surprising happens. Humorous mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Ten Cents a PoundNhung N. Tran-DaviesA Vietnamese mother’s desire for her daughter to get an education and be free is countered by the daughter’s concern for her mother. Simple, moving illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Tomorrowwritten and illustrated by Nadine Kaadan, translated from the Arabic by Nadine KaadanYazan used to play outside, but now there’s war in Syria and he must stay home. Maybe he can sneak out to see his friends. Watercolor and pencil illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Truly Brave PrincessesDolores BrownThis eclectic collection of diverse women and girls celebrates the many different princesses in everyday modern life. Whimsical illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Un-Friendship Bracelet (Craftily Ever After series)Martha MakerA group of children combine their talents and learn about friendship in the process. Instructions for making a friendship bracelet included. Black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineView book details
We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Handsadapted and illustrated by Rafael LópezWith a colorful ball of yarn, a happy and diverse collection of children celebrate an old hymn. Words and music included. Joyous mixed-media illustrations. Also available in SpanishFive to NineLexile AD420LATOS 2.9View book details
Wordy BirdyTammi SauerWhen her friends rescue her after she ignores their warnings of danger, a loquacious bird who never listens has hopefully learned her lesson. Evocative, busy color illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD480LATOS 2.2View book details
Zola’s ElephantRandall de SèveZola’s new neighbor is afraid Zola will be too busy with her pet elephant to want a human best friend. Colorful, playful illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Hidden City: Poems of Urban WildlifeSarah Grace TuttleShort poems show how plants and animals thrive in the city. Collage illustrations help readers appreciate urban ecology.Five to NineView book details
In the Past: From Trilobites to Dinosaurs to Mammoths in More Than 500 Million YearsDavid ElliottEnlightening and humorous poems about prehistoric creatures from the Dunkleosteus to the wooly mammoth are accompanied by rich watercolor illustrations. Time line, notes.Five to NineView book details
A Place to Start a Family: Poems about Creatures That BuildDavid L. HarrisonIngenious animal architects are depicted on water, on land, in the air, and underground. Cut-paper illustrations on hand-painted papers.Five to NineView book details
Rooster SummerRobert HeidbrederSiblings, spending the summer playing on their grandparents’ farm, experience barnyard adventures and deepening relationships. Mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Yearselected by Fiona Waters, illustrated by Frann Preston- GannonHundreds of sparkling poems echo and display the natural world as seen and heard by many poets, some famous, some less familiar. Two-page spread mixed- media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Stuff of StarsMarion Dane BauerSwirling images of marbled paper collage and lyrical text evoke the Big Bang, linking every living being to the creation of the universe.Five to NineWord count 411View book details
We Are Grateful/OtsaliheligaTraci SorellPoetic words of thanks for life cycle events, daily occurrences, and native history and culture include Cherokee language. Cheerful gouache illustrations.Five to NineLexile NC970LATOS 3View book details
With My Hands: Poems about Making ThingsAmy Ludwig VanDerwaterRhyming poems and bright, mixed-media artwork feature diverse kids discovering the rewards of creating things, from paintings to cookies to cardboard forts.Five to NineView book details
INFORMATION BOOKS The 5 O’Clock BandTroy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, with Bill TaylorA walk through his New Orleans neighborhood gives a young boy a strong feeling for his traditions and musical heritage. Colorful collage illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Blue Riderwritten and illustrated by Geraldo ValérioArt helps a little girl escape from her humdrum urban life. Fantastic colorful collages explode on the pages of this wordless book.Five to NineView book details
The Word Collectorwritten and illustrated by Peter H. ReynoldsJerome uses words he hears, sees, and reads to make poems and songs. He shares his collection and others are invited to reach for their own words. Expressive, colorful drawings.Five to NineView book details
Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art GallerySandra Neil WallaceGrowing up in the segregated South, Ernie Barnes played football to support his career as an artist, then combined both talents. Evocative watercolor and collage illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Born to Swing: Lil Hardin Armstrong’s Life in JazzMara RockliffAs a jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer, “Hot Miss Lil” was a trailblazing black woman at the start of the Jazz Age. Bold acrylic illustrations. Detailed back matter.Five to NineView book details
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow PhumirukBorn in 1918, Katherine, meeting the challenges of segregation and job discrimination, landed at the heart of America’s space program (NASA) and became a star! Digital scans of watercolors and textures. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
DreamersYuyi MoralesA celebrated Mexican author and illustrator remembers how the public library helped her make a new home in America. Vibrant collages. Back matter. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile AD480LATOS 2.2View book details
The Flying Girl: How Aida de Acosta Learned to SoarMargarita EngleThe dreams and courage of the first female solo pilot changed history. Mixed-media illustrations and narrative back matter.Five to NineView book details
Galápagos Girl/GalapagueñaMarsha Diane ArnoldWhen she learns it is under threat, Valentina vows to protect the wildlife she loves. Bold, colorful illustrations. Bilingual text. Extensive back matter on Galápagos wildlife.Five to NineView book details
Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston MarathonAnnette Bay PimentelA determined young woman, disguised, successfully competes in the 1966 male-only Boston Marathon, breaking down barriers. Animated mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile AD580LATOS 3.7View book details
God Bless America: The Story of an Immigrant Named Irving BerlinAdah NuchiFleeing religious persecution, “Izzy” becomes one of America’s greatest songwriters, composing inspiring musical tributes to his new country. Rhythmic text. Cartoonlike illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
How to Build a Hug: Temple Grandin and Her Amazing Squeeze MachineAmy Guglielmo, Jacqueline TourvilleAutism made Temple hypersensitive and unable to give or receive the hugs that others enjoyed, so she invented a clever machine. Watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved ReptilesPatricia ValdezIn 1913, 16-year-old Joan brought her pet crocodile to school. Ten years later, she became the London Zoo’s curator of reptiles, caring for huge Komodo dragons and other creatures. Realistic earth-toned illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Lights! Camera! Alice!: The Thrilling True Adventures of the First Woman FilmmakerMara RockliffIn the late 19th century, innovative Alice Guy-Blaché became the first director of both a sound movie and a narrative fiction film. Colorful dry-media illustrations evoke the silent film format. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Mae among the StarsRoda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia BurringtonMae Jemison’s childhood dreams and her mother’s encouragement helped her become the first African American woman astronaut, despite setbacks and naysayers. Evocative digital illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD580LATOS 3View book details
Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie GermainCheryl Bardoe, illustrated by Barbara McClintockForbidden to attend college in Paris at the turn of the 18th century, a young woman studied independently and developed a mathematical formula to predict patterns of vibration. Colorful period illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 1030LATOS 5.3View book details
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the WorldSusan HoodIn poetic prose, stories of well-known and lesser-known women who, through persistence and courage, impacted the world, are paired with artists’ vibrant representations. Time line. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil DeGrasse TysonKathleen Krull, Paul Brewer, illustrated by Frank MorrisonA visit to the planetarium at age nine left Neil DeGrasse Tyson completely star struck. He grew up to study the mysteries of the universe. Brightly colored illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life and ArtBarb RosenstockLearn about the childhood and wartime experiences that shaped the great Russian painter’s life and art. Bold mixed-media illustrations evoke Chagall’s work. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Turning Pages: My Life StorySonia SotomayorThe Supreme Court Justice weaves her life story as she recounts the influences of books that inspired her courage, learning, and compassion. Realistic bold color illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineView book details
The United States v. Jackie RobinsonSudipta Bardhan-QuallenAfter the army was desegregated, Jackie Robinson faced a court martial for refusing to move to the back of a military bus during World War II. Acrylic gouache illustrations.Five to NineView book details
HEALTH See How We Move!: A First Book of Health and Well-Beingwritten and illustrated by Scot RitchieThis explanation of how the mind and body work together includes advice on safe exercising, coping with anxiety, and eating healthy foods. Colorful digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Hello LighthouseSophie BlackallThe life of a lighthouse keeper is captured in lyrical text and vivid watercolors. Extensive back matter.Five to NineLexile AD510LView book details
Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left BehindCynthia GradyDuring World War II, a white librarian corresponds with Japanese American children in internment camps, becoming their staunch advocate. Extensive back matter. Archival photographs and colored pencil illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Anybody’s Game: Kathryn Johnston, the First Girl to Play Little League BaseballHeather LangIn 1950, Little League baseball was only for boys—until talented 13-year-old Kit Kat, with the support of her family, fulfilled her dream of joining a team. Colorful, expressive illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena WilliamsLesa Cline-RansomeThrough hard work, overcoming physical and social obstacles, two world-champion African American sisters elevate the game of women’s tennis. Energetic mixed- media illustrations. Extensive back matter.Five to NineLexile 1030LATOS 6View book details
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Be a City Nature Detective: Solving the Mysteries of How Plants and Animals Survive in the Urban Jungle (Wilderness Detective series)written and illustrated by Peggy KochanoffClever questions and answers explain how some plants and animals—including bed bugs, rats, and dandelions—survive and thrive in urban areas. Colorful, realistic illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration FoundationKate Messner, illustrated by Matthew ForsytheWhen he noticed that the coral reefs he loved were beginning to die, Ken Nedimyer developed a method for restoring them. Colorful batik-style illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 830LATOS 4.6View book details
Extreme Animals Series *Speediest!: 19 Very Fast Animals (978-1-328-84196-4) *Stinkiest!: 20 Smelly Animals (978-1-328-84197-1)written and illustrated by Steve JenkinsThe speediest and stinkiest animals are presented as they seek to hunt prey and escape being prey. Striking torn- and cut-paper illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Flying Deep: Climb inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVINMichelle Cusolito, illustrated by Nicole WongFollow the descent of a deep-sea submersible to the ocean floor. Detailed, realistic illustrations. Back matter, index, and further reading.Five to NineLexile 610LATOS 3.9View book details
FossilFossil: Comparing Dinosaur Bones by Sara LevineHumans and dinosaurs share many skeletal features, but the dinosaur’s bones made them unique. Acrylic and computer artwork. Well sourced.Five to NineView book details
Fur, Feather, Fin: All of Us Are KinDiane Lang, illustrated by Stephanie LaberisArresting and detailed color illustrations enliven this rhyming explanation of the common bonds that link all animals. Helpful back matter, including suggestions for further study.Five to NineView book details
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space RaceMargot Lee Shetterly, with Winifred ConklingDespite prejudice against African Americans and women, four mathematicians contributed mightily to America’s flights into space. Colorfully illustrated. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 980LATOS 5.8View book details
If Polar Bears Disappearedwritten and illustrated by Lily WilliamsWhat happens as the ice melts in the Arctic? Explore the changing ecosystem and the impact of global warming on animals, plants, and their environment. Colorful, informative illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way HomeSy MontgomeryIn 2016 a clever octopus escaped from the New Zealand National Aquarium. Vibrant collages.Five to NineView book details
The Lizard LadyJennifer Keats Curtis, Dr. Nicole F. AngeliCan a scientist discover whether St. Croix lizards have survived the transition from Green Cay to Buck Island? Helpful illustrations and back matter. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineView book details
Look at Me!: How to Attract Attention in the Animal WorldSteve Jenkins, Robin PageColorful torn- and cut-paper collages illustrate how animals change themselves to attract mates or warn off enemies. Back matter includes a glossary of animals presented.Five to NineView book details
Maggie: Alaska’s Last ElephantJennifer Keats Curtis, illustrated by Phyllis SaroffZoo keepers find a lonely elephant a home in a sanctuary in California. Watercolor illustrations. Back matter explains the intense social nature of elephants. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineView book details
Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the BathysphereBarb Rosenstock, illustrated by Katherine RoyOtis Barton, engineer, and Will Beebe, explorer, dive into the ocean in a small, spherical diving tank, breaking records along the way. Lively gouache and ink illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 620LATOS 3.6View book details
Prickly Hedgehogs!written and illustrated by Jane McGuinnessA hedgehog and her little hoglets enter the world, hunt food, and store up fat for their winter hibernation. Appealing mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 650LATOS 4View book details
Rodent Rascalswritten and illustrated by Roxie MunroDetails about 21 rodents, from the familiar to the unusual, are shown in actual size. Ink and acrylic illustrations. Well sourced.Five to NineView book details
Salamander SkyKaty FarberApril waits with her scientist mother for the night when they will help save salamanders by carrying them across a road. Ink, crayon, pencil, and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book detailsThe Seal Garden (My Great Bear Rainforest series)Nicholas Read, photographed by Ian McAllisterIn British Columbia’s Great Bear Sea, marine animals take refuge from pounding storms and prowling orcas. Informative text and beautiful photographs illustrate life in the seal gardens.Five to NineView book details
The Secret Life of the Little Brown BatLaurence PringleThis account of the life cycle of a common species of North American bats includes information about their food and their hunting and flying habits. Accurate pastel and aqua crayon illustrations.Five to NineLexile 630LATOS 4.1View book details
Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental MovementStephanie Roth SissonCarson, a talented scientist and writer, proved that pesticides poisoned birds and other animals. Her work led to some of the earliest environmental laws. Gentle illustrations. Well sourced.Five to NineLexile AD790LATOS 4.3View book details
Sun!: One in a BillionStacy McAnultyThe highly confident Sun narrates this scientific exploration of a star that’s “one in a billion.” Humorous illustrations mix fact with whimsy.Five to NineLexile 520LATOS 2.8View book details
Terrific TonguesMaria GianferrariThe various shapes of tongues of a multitude of creatures enable the animals to perform many tasks. Informative, colorful, digital illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Truth about Hippos (Seriously Funny Facts about Your Favorite Animals series)written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton IIIImpress your friends and teacher with fascinating and fun facts about hippos. Appealing, digitally colored pen and ink cartoonlike illustrations. Bibliography.Five to NineView book details
Water Land: Land and Water Forms around the WorldChristy HaleDie-cut forms, printed textures, and digital layering bring geographic terms such as bay, cape, gulf, and peninsula to life. Glossary, map.Five to NineView book details
When Sparks Fly: The True Story of Robert Goddard, the Father of US RocketryKristen Fulton, illustrated by Diego FunckStatic electricity sparked young Robert Goddard’s imagination, inspiring him to persevere in building the first rocket. Engaging illustrations and back matter frame this true story.Five to NineLexile 690LATOS 3.9View book details
Where in the Wildwritten and illustrated by Jonny LambertLarge, colorful collage-like illustrations with clever cutouts depict a myriad of wild animals in their endangered environments.Five to NineView book detailsNine to Twelve
148 selections
The Bookshop GirlSylvia BishopAfter coping with a struggling small town bookstore, Property and her family win the greatest bookstore in England. But there’s a catch! Black-and-white digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Elephant ThiefJane KerrIn Victorian Edinburgh, Danny, orphan pickpocket, changes his life when he agrees to a dangerous task- walking an elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester in one week.Nine to TwelveView book details
Knights vs. DinosaursMatt PhelanMerlin sends the Knights of the Round Table on a new quest to find and slay the storied Terrible Lizards. Varied black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 610LATOS 4.4View book details
The Mortification of Fovea MunsonMary Winn HeiderInstead of going to summer camp, Fovea becomes the new receptionist at her parents’ cadaver lab, where not everything is lifeless. Quirky black-and-white cartoon illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Orphaned (Ape Quartet series)Eliot SchreferIn the Paleolithic era, Snub, a young female gorilla, encounters humans for the first time. Her thoughts and feelings are told in blank verse.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Parker InheritanceVarian JohnsonCandice finds an old letter in her dead grandmother’s attic, leading her and her neighbor to unravel a 60-year- old mystery that reveals the town’s shameful, racist past.Nine to TwelveLexile 610LATOS 4.2View book details
Running on the Roof of the WorldJess ButterworthFleeing religious persecution in Tibet, Tash escapes over the Himalayan Mountains to seek help from the Dalai Lama in India. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book detailsThe Titanic (Survival Tails series)Katrina CharmanWith the help of friends, four-legged Mutt sneaks on board the Titanic to reunite with his beloved owner, Alice. Occasional full-page black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Tom’s Midnight Garden: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of the Philippa Pearce ClassicPhilippa PearceWhen his brother becomes gravely ill, Tom goes to live with his aunt and uncle whose house has a mysterious time-traveling clock. Detailed illustrations with muted color palette.Nine to TwelveView book details
Saving WinslowSharon CreechDespite dire predictions, Louie and Nora nurture Winslow, a newborn mini-donkey. As Winslow matures, neighbors complain, and his future must be determined. Simple line drawings.Nine to TwelveLexile 690LATOS 4.4View book details
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver ScreenCandace FlemingIn the 1920s, a German shepherd becomes a star of the silent screen. Based on a true story. Black-and-white oil paintings. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
All the Things That Could Go WrongStewart FosterAlex, who suffers from severe OCD, and Dan, who has bullied him, join forces to build a raft, with surprising results for both of them.Nine to TwelveView book details
Ana Maria Reyes Does Not Live in a CastleHilda Eunice BurgosLiving in NYC, Dominican American Ana Maria tries to win a scholarship to a prestigious private school, even though family circumstances present her with big challenges.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Benefits of Being an OctopusAnn BradenWhen a teacher invites her to join the debate club, seventh grader Zoey begins to see many things differently. Can she convince her mother to leave her abusive boyfriend?Nine to TwelveLexile 769LATOS 4.9View book details
CopyboyVince VawterTo keep his promise to spread his former neighbor’s ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi, Victor goes on an adventurous journey.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Dollar KidsJennifer Richard JacobsonLowen’s family buys a house for a dollar in a small town seeking new families to fill their school and their sports teams. Occasional comic strip illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Ebb & FlowHeather SmithAfter a wrenching year, Jett, almost 12, is sent to the coast to spend the summer with Grandma Jo. A compassionate tale of betrayal and forgiveness. Told in free verse.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Girl with More Than One HeartLaura Geringer BassWhen Briana’s father suddenly dies, her family seems to fall apart. A brother with autism and a depressed mother are a heavy burden for a grieving, gifted young teen. Occasional black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 549LATOS 3.6View book details
Harbor MeJacqueline WoodsonSix students in a fifth/six grade special needs class, assigned to a room where they can talk without adult supervision, bond as they discuss issues of immigration, racial discrimination, and economic disparities.Nine to TwelveLexile 630LATOS 4.1View book details
The Heart and Mind of Frances PauleyApril StevensWhen Frances, a solitary, gifted student and nature lover, loses her best friend, the school bus driver, she slowly begins to reach out to classmates and her sister.Nine to TwelveView book details
I’m OKPatti KimWhen his father dies unexpectedly, Ok, the child of Korean immigrants, tries to make money, and in the process finds friendship and his own identity.Nine to TwelveLexile 670LATOS 4.3View book details
Just Like JackieLindsey StoddardRobinson can do just about anything, including care for her Alzheimer’s-afflicted grandfather. But she struggles to emulate her namesake, Jackie Robinson, and control her temper.Nine to TwelveLexile 900LATOS 5.09View book details
Louisiana’s Way HomeKate DiCamilloAfter her Granny abandons her in Georgia, Louisiana Elefante, 12, begins to believe her life is just a series of good-byes. Can she change her destiny?Nine to TwelveView book details
Merci Suárez Changes GearsMeg MedinaA plucky sixth grader navigates changes at school and at home as her warm, close-knit Latinx family faces the painful reality that her beloved grandfather has Alzheimer’s.Nine to TwelveLexile 700LView book details
The Miscalculations of Lightning GirlStacy McAnultyCan home-schooled 12-year-old Lucy—a math genius with strange behavioral rituals—adapt to regular school? Supportive family, new friends, a math teacher, and an orphan dog all help.Nine to TwelveView book details
Running on EmptyS. E. DurrantGrandad used to take care of AJ’s developmentally disabled parents, but he’s gone, and the bills are overdue. AJ desperately wants to help, but he’s only eleven.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Season of Styx MaloneKekla MagoonStyx appears in the woods near Caleb and B.G.’s house one summer, tempting them to test their overprotective father’s rules and steering them toward risky behavior.Nine to TwelveLexile 510LATOS 3.4View book details
Stanley Will Probably Be FineSally J. PlaChallenged by his sensory processing disorder, middle schooler Stanley uses his love of comics to battle environmental stress. Friends and school staff provide vital support. Intermittent black-and-white cartoons.Nine to TwelveLexile 600LATOS 4.2View book details
The Truth as ToldLeslie ConnorDyslexia is one of the challenges for Mason as he faces not only bullies, but also the unjust suspicion of the police that he caused a friend’s death.Nine to TwelveLexile 310LATOS 2.3View book details
You Go FirstErin Entrada KellySeparated by 1,000 miles but connected by their online Scrabble game, gifted outsiders Charlotte and Ben help each other through difficulties at home and at school.Nine to TwelveView book details
Begone the Raggedy Witches (The Wild Magic Trilogy, Book One)Celine KiernanWhen witches carry off her father, Mup discovers that she comes from a magical family. Can she help rescue him from her tyrannical grandmother, the queen of the Glittering Land?Nine to TwelveView book details
BobWendy Mass, Rebecca SteadFive years ago, Livy promised Bob, a greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, that she would help take him home. Will she keep her promise? Luminous illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 590LATOS 3.9View book details
The Cardboard KingdomChad SellA diverse cast of characters, including knights, rogues, robots, and monsters, share summer adventures in a very creative neighborhood. Bold, colorful artwork.Nine to TwelveLexile GN150LATOS 2.4View book details
Charlie Hernández & the League of ShadowsRyan CalejoCharlie and Violet battle frightening monsters and evil spirits as they try to find Charlie’s vanished parents.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Creature of the Pines (Unicorn Rescue Society series)Adam GidwitzStudents Elliot and Uchenna take a field trip with an eccentric professor and end up in a secret society. Mixed-media illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Endling: The LastKatherine ApplegateWhen Byx’s pack is killed, she fears she is last of the doglike dairnes and joins with unlikely creatures in a quest to discover if others of her kind have survived. Expressive black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
GrantedJohn David AndersonFledgling wish-granting fairy Ophelia has a finite amount of magic available. How can she figure out which wishes should be granted in this complicated world?Nine to TwelveLexile 800LATOS 5.1View book details
The House with Chicken LegsSophie AndersonLonging for friends, Marinka chafes against her destiny of becoming a Yaga and a Guardian of the Gate to the world of the dead.Nine to TwelveView book details
InklingKenneth OppelAn inkspot comes alive and enables Ethan to draw with confidence, restores his father’s artistic abilities, and enriches the life of his developmentally disabled sister. Expressive grey-scale illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 650LATOS 4.2View book details
The Language of SpellsGarret WeyrAre dragons disappearing—or are they just invisible to other people? Eleven-year-old Maggie can see one, named Grisha, and the two of them set out to find the others. Folkloric black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 900LATOS 6View book details
The LiftersDave EggersIn an allegory about courage and hope, a 12-year-old boy’s hometown is menaced by violent sinkholes. A bossy classmate might be involved. Arresting black-and- white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 720LATOS 4.6View book details
NightbooksJ. A. WhiteLured into a witch’s enchanted apartment, Alex and fellow prisoner Yasmin plot their escape.Nine to TwelveLexile 660LATOS 4.8View book details
The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series)Sayantani DasGuptaThe morning of Kiranmala’s birthday starts normally, until a demon bursts through the door and steals her Bangladeshi parents from their New Jersey home. Intermittent black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
WinterhouseBen GutersonWhen orphan Elizabeth is sent alone to a luxurious hotel at Christmastime, little does she suspect that Winterhouse offers life-changing adventures and magic. Black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Grain of Ricewritten and illustrated by Helena Clare Pittman, afterword by Daniel RockmoreA very smart but poor man tries to win the hand of a princess by using his math skills. An engaging tale set in China. Pencil drawings. Extensive afterword explains the math in the story. Delicately shadowed black-and-white drawings.Nine to TwelveLexile 780LATOS 4.9View book details
Betty Before XIlyasah Shabazz, with Renée WatsonBetty Sanders, who will one day marry Malcolm X, enjoys her friends, her adoptive family, and community volunteering in 1940s Detroit, but increasingly notices the blight of racial prejudice. Author’s note, time line.Nine to TwelveLexile 810LATOS 4.9View book details
The Book of BoyCatherine Gilbert MurdockIn 14th-century France, a plucky and physically disfigured boy narrates his action-packed journey with the villainous pilgrim he serves. Spot black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 600LView book details
The Eleventh Hourwritten and illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn, translated from the French by Anne Louise MahoneyTwo unlikely friends join the Canadian Army together when World War I begins, with tragic consequences. Ink and watercolor illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile AD1070LATOS 5.4View book details
Front DeskKelly YangWhen the motel they manage outside Disney World is suddenly up for sale, Chinese immigrants Mia, 10, and her parents lead a campaign to buy it. Will they succeed in time?Nine to TwelveLexile 640LATOS 4.5View book details
GrenadeAlan Gratz, map by Jim McMahonHideki, 13, an Okinawan student, and Ray, a young American Marine, meet on the battlefield during the Battle of Okinawa, with grave consequences for both.Nine to TwelveLexile 760LATOS 5.2View book details
Hunger: A Tale of CourageDonna Jo Napoli, map by Ryan ThompsonIn 1846 Ireland, Lorraine’s family, like many others, leases farmland from English landowners. Then a blight wipes out the potato crop on which their lives depend. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Journey of the Pale BearSusan FletcherIn 1752, runaway Arthur, 12, winds up looking after a polar bear en route from Norway to the King of England. Will either ever be free?Nine to TwelveView book details
Lifeboat 12Susan HoodA 13-year-old has harrowing adventures as he tries to escape the Nazis in a life boat. Based on a true story. Told in free verse.Nine to TwelveLexile 610LATOS 4View book details
MadeHand: A Crafts Sampler by Carole Lexa SchaeferTold through narrative, poetry, memoir, and journal entries, this tribute to handmade objects brings American history alive. Gouache illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968Alice Faye DuncanThe story of the Memphis sanitation strike during the struggle for civil rights in 1968 is told from a child’s perspective. Striking illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Orphan Band of SpringdaleAnne NesbetIn 1941, 11-year-old Gusta Neubronner’s spirit is tested when her parents send her from New York to her grandmother’s boarding house in Maine.Nine to TwelveView book details
Playing Atari with Saddam HusseinJennifer Roy, with Ali FadhilWhen the Gulf War between Iraq and the U.S. begins in 1991, Ali, 11, and his Christian Kurdish family struggle to survive the nightly bombings in Basra.Nine to TwelveLexile 560LATOS 3.9View book details
The Rhino in Right FieldStacy DekeyserLaugh out loud as 12-year-old Nick tries to play baseball, satisfy his hard-working Greek immigrant father, and avoid Tank the rhino. Set in Wisconsin in 1948.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Sound of FreedomKathy KacerIn 1936, as life in Poland becomes difficult for Jews, Anna hopes her father, a celebrated clarinetist, will be accepted into a newly formed orchestra in Palestine.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Stitch in TimeDaphne KalmarWhen her beloved pops dies, Donut’s aunt comes to take her from her familiar rural Vermont home to live in Boston. What can 11-year-old Donut do but run away?Nine to TwelveView book details
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her MonsterJonathan AuxierIn Victorian England, 11-year-old Nan is indentured to a cruel master as a chimney sweep, a brutally dangerous job, until the day a strange creature rescues her. Sooty black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Voices from the Underground RailroadKay WintersTwo young runaway slaves embark on a harrowing journey, seeking freedom. Told in free verse. Poignant, evocative mixed-media illustrations. References, notes, and map end papers.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Wind Called My NameMary Louise SanchezDuring the Depression, Margarita Sandoval’s family leaves New Mexico for Wyoming, where her father has taken work with the railroad.Nine to TwelveView book details
Zora & Me: The Cursed GroundT. R. SimonWhen Zora and her friend Carrie see their neighbor’s prize horse running away, they become involved in a mystery dating back to 1855, during the era of slavery in the U.S.Nine to TwelveView book details
Dragons in a BagZetta ElliottMa isn’t who Jaxon thought she was. She’s a witch who must get some beasts out of Brooklyn and back to where they belong. Occasional black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 740LATOS 4.7View book details
Following BaxterBarbara KerleyJordie and her younger brother, TJ, help their new neighbor and his dog with a risky science experiment that moves objects through space. Black-and-white flip book illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Spirit of Cattail CountyVictoria PiontekBereaved by her mother’s recent death, 12-year-old Sparrow has one friend, a ghostly boy. What is his secret? The answer may allow Sparrow to keep her home.Nine to TwelveLexile 770LATOS 5.2View book details
The Third MushroomJennifer L. HolmWhen seventh grader Ellie’s scientist grandfather returns for a long visit, he teaches her that there is much to learn from failed experiments. Decorative black-and-white elements.Nine to TwelveView book details
Masterpiece Robot and the Ferocious Valerie Knick-KnackFrank TraVividly colored present-day scenes contrast with sci-fi adventures depicted in a muted palette as Laura and her young siblings become superheroes battling against their older sister, an evil, powerful robot.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Wild Robot Escapeswritten and illustrated by Peter BrownA robot, originally built for servitude, has spent years in the wild. Now refurbished and sold to a farm, she longs to return to her island home. Charcoal illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 720LATOS 5.1View book details
CheckedCynthia KadohataLike his father, 11-year-old half-Japanese Conor lives for hockey. Their dog’s cancer and the cost of elite sports force Conor to make difficult choices, but nothing dampens his passion. Chapter-head black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 760LATOS 4.9View book details
Lu (Track series)by Jason ReynoldsAs the Defenders prepare for the track championship, Lu must overcome his fear of jumping hurdles, even as he discovers the truth about his father.Nine to TwelveView book details
Lucky Enough (Fred Bowen Sports Story series)Fred BowenThirteen-year-old Trey made the baseball travel team and had a good start. Was it due to his lucky piece of sea glass?Nine to TwelveView book details
My Life as a DiamondJenny ManzerAfter moving from Canada to Washington state, Caz Cadman joins the local baseball team where he thrives, until a rival threatens to reveal Caz’s identity before he’s ready.Nine to TwelveView book details
TakedownLaura ShovanFighting stereotypes and prejudices, a girl and boy become unlikely friends as they compete at wrestling. Together they find self-confidence and their moral compasses.Nine to TwelveView book details
TODAY 24 Hours in NowhereDusti BowlingAfter Rossi gives bully Bo her bike to rescue Gus, Gus agrees to bring Bo gold from a lethal collapsing mine to get the bike back.Nine to TwelveView book details
Amal UnboundAisha SaeedAmal’s dreams of becoming a teacher appear to be shattered when she insults Jawad Khan and becomes an indentured servant to his powerful family.Nine to TwelveView book details
Captain Superlative!J. S. PullerJaney is comfortable moving under the radar and avoiding confrontation, until a disguised classmate, Captain Superlative, swoops down the hall and changes her life.Nine to TwelveLexile 600LATOS 4.4View book details
Class ActionSteven B. FrankWith the help of his neighbor, sister, and friends, Sam, 11, sues the school board for robbing him of his childhood because teachers assign too much homework. Ultimately, the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case. Glossary of legal terms.Nine to TwelveLexile 720LATOS 4.6View book details
The CrossroadsAlexandra DiazJaime is sent, along with his cousin Ángela, from Guatemala to live with Jaime’s older brother, Tomás, in the United States. He learns English, and a great deal more. Also available in Spanish.Nine to TwelveView book details
Mature contentThe Day War CameNicola DaviesForced to leave her familiar world, a refugee girl tells about her arduous journey. Starkly realistic narrative heightened by colorful childlike illustrations that render the pain of war.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Doughnut FixJessie JanowitzTris, 11, and his family move from New York City to a one-horse town. Can good doughnuts help? Recipes and business plan.Nine to TwelveLexile HL710LATOS 4.4View book details
Hazelnut DaysEmmanuel BourdierA young boy experiences many emotions, from love to anger, every Saturday when he and his mother visit his incarcerated father. Charcoal illustrations on beige paper.Nine to TwelveView book details
The House That Lou BuiltMae RespicioLou, a bicultural fatherless Californian, must deal with the challenges of a prospective move away from a large, loving Filipino family and a house she is secretly building in the woods.Nine to TwelveView book details
Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea: How a Science Project Helps One Family and the Planet (CitizenKid series)Elizabeth SunebyIn Bangladesh, Iqbal creates a solar cooker both to help his mother and to win the science fair. Color pencil and digital illustrations. Note, project instructions, and glossary.Nine to TwelveView book details
Kasey & IvyAlison HughesBecause of a rare bone disease infection, Kasey, 12, spends a month in the geriatric ward of a local hospital, where she makes some unusual friendships.Nine to TwelveView book details
Krista Kim-BapAngela AhnKrista, the only Canadian Korean girl in her class, and Jason are best friends. But when the popular girl in school invites Krista to her party, the friendship begins to erode.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Long Line of CakesDeborah WilesMoving yet again, 11-year-old Emma resolves not to make friends when her family arrives in Halleluia, Mississippi. But Ruby Lavender changes Emma’s mind.Nine to TwelveView book details
My Father’s WordsPatricia MacLachlanA terrible accident changes the lives of Fiona and Finn. Volunteering at a dog shelter helps them recover and find reasons to live.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Patchwork BikeMaxine Beneba ClarkeAcrylic paint and cardboard illustrations combine with lively text to describe rural desert life and the joy that comes from creating something out of nothing.Nine to TwelveLexile 420LATOS 2.9View book details
The Sky at Our FeetNadia HashimiWhen immigration authorities arrest his Afghan mother, Jason escapes to New York City in search of a family friend. Max, a new and unexpected ally, helps him.Nine to TwelveLexile HL710LATOS 4.5View book details
The Unforgettable Guinevere St. ClairAmy MakechnieSpunky, imaginative Gwyn and her sister, Bitty, find friends and adventure when the family moves back to their Iowa hometown, hoping to trigger a recovery for their brain-injured mother.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden GardenKarina Yan GlaserThe Vanderbeeker siblings decide to create a garden next door. Unfortunately, a real estate developer has his sights set on the same lot.Nine to TwelveLexile 820LATOS 5.2View book details
You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!Alex GinoJilly and Derek start out chatting online about their favorite fantasy series, but move on to discuss deafness, racism, and other real-world issues.Nine to TwelveView book details
I Am LovedNikki GiovanniJoyous poems, some with African American themes, are illustrated with vibrant watercolor and tempera art.Nine to TwelveView book details
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black BoyTony MedinaTanka poems celebrate the ups and downs of black boyhood. Illustrators include Floyd Cooper, Javaka Steptoe, and Ekua Holmes.Nine to TwelveView book details
INFORMATION BOOKS Carlos Santana: Sound of the Heart, Song of the WorldGary GolioText and vibrant, dynamic, Mexican-inflected mixed- media illustrations focus on the childhood of the innovative rock-fusion musician.Nine to TwelveView book details
How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing GraceCarole Boston WeatherfordJohn Newton, a slave trader who became an English minister and an abolitionist, wrote a stirring and still inspiring hymn. Illustrated with bold oil paintings. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda and His MuseAlexandria GiardinoPablo Neruda’s spirits, uplifted by the optimism of a friend while visiting her garden, are imagined as the inspiration for his poem. Evocative, bold, colorful illustrations. Endnotes.Nine to TwelveView book details
Picturing America: Thomas Cole and the Birth of American ArtHudson Talbott, illustrated by Hudson TalbottA British boy who emigrated to America captures the beauty of the Hudson River landscape in his paintings. Watercolor, pencil, and ink illustrations evoke the power of his canvases.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of ArtBarb RosenstockFollowing the historic 1947 partition of India, Nek Chand recreates his childhood village using recycled materials for the now famous Rock Garden of Chandigarh. Evocative watercolor and gouache illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Steel Drums (MadeHand series) by Patricia LakinLearn about the history of the steel drum, including Ellie Mannette’s essential contribution, and follow as an instrument is created, step by step. Photographs, diagrams, and back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Vivid: Poems & Notes about Colorwritten and illustrated by Julie PaschkisThe arts and science of colors are celebrated with clever verse, whimsical gouache illustrations, and a multitude of fascinating facts and wordplay.Nine to TwelveView book details
Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to VoteKirsten GillibrandCelebrating the 19th Amendment, Gillibrand tells about the strong women in her family and links the story to ten suffragists. Exciting, colorful gouache illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, RebelLisa PliscouPersistence and curiosity marked the early years of the 18th-century author’s life in a poor but stimulating and supportive family. Ink, gouache, and acrylic illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler HamiltonMargaret McNamaraIn imagined letters revealing her varied strengths, a wife emerges from the shadow of her famous husband, Alexander Hamilton. Early American folk art-style mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Hammering for FreedomRita Lorraine HubbardThough born into slavery, William Lewis possessed skill as a blacksmith that enabled him to buy his freedom and his family’s. Expressive, color illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the WorldKatherine HalliganMeet Indira Gandhi, Billie Holiday, Elizabeth Blackwell, and 47 other women who have made an important mark on the world. Gouache and colored pencil illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Howard and the Mummy: Howard Carter and the Search for King Tut’s TombTracey FernBrilliant, mixed-media illustrations illuminate the true adventure of an archaeologist’s lifelong search for an Egyptian king’s tomb. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book detailsLa Frontera: El viaje con papá/My Journey with PapaDeborah Mills, Alfredo AlvaAlfredo Alva tells his powerful story of coming from a small Mexican town to the U.S. several decades ago as an undocumented immigrant. Graphite, acrylic, and digital illustrations. Bilingual.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women’s RightsKate HanniganTeacher, lawyer, and candidate in the 1880s presidential campaigns, this courageous, determined suffragist devoted her life to demanding equality for women. Quotes are integrated in folk art-style illustrations. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can YouMarley Dias, with Siobhan McGowan, introduction by Ava DuVernayTeen Marley Dias, founder of #1000blackgirlbooks, shares advice on activism based on her experiences. Photographs throughout. Includes a list of 1,000 books with black girls as protagonists.Nine to TwelveView book details
No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in KansasTonya BoldenGroves, formerly enslaved, worked hard to buy his own potato farm, eventually becoming one of the richest men in Kansas. Painterly illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
No Truth without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader GinsburgKathleen KrullThe second woman on the US Supreme Court faced discrimination because of her gender throughout her education and working life. Her fight for equality changed the way the law dealt with women’s rights. Dramatic, digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow FlagRob SandersVibrant illustrations and engaging text bring this LGBTQ activist to life. Time line, photos, and additional back matter expand on Milk’s life and impact.Nine to TwelveView book details
Rosa’s Animals: The Story of Rosa Bonheur and Her Painting MenagerieMaryann MacdonaldMeet the 19th-century artist who achieved great success with her realistic paintings of animals. Illustrated with full-page reproductions of Bonheur’s work and archival photographs and drawings. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New YorkAmy Hill HearthThe far-reaching effects of a black woman whose court case desegregated cable cars in New York in 1855 are supported by extensive historical and biographical documentation. Archival photographs and drawings. Rich back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Thomas Paine and the Dangerous WordSarah Jane MarshThis well-researched and documented biography recounts the life and work of the man whose Common Sense issued a wake-up call that rallied the American people to declare independence. Lively, colorful illustrations. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 840LATOS 5.4View book details
The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett JustMélina MangalAn impoverished childhood in the segregated South did not deter the gifted African American scientist from attending Dartmouth College and succeeding in a career as a groundbreaking biologist. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara JordanChris BartonJordan’s bold voice took her to places few African American women had been in the 1960s, and finally to the US Congress, where her oratory and integrity shone. Simple language and mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Who Says Women Can’t Be Computer Programmers?: The Story of Ada LovelaceTanya Lee StoneThe daughter of the famous poet Lord Byron grew to be a brilliant mathematician whose work became recognized as the debut of computer programming. Lively gouache and India ink illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Camp Panda: Helping Cubs Return to the WildCatherine ThimmeshChina struggles against the near extinction of the panda, its national symbol, using innovative efforts to reintroduce them into the wild. Photographs, maps, and extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Monarchs Are Missing: A Butterfly MysteryRebecca E. HirschScientists are working to discover why monarch butterfly populations are decreasing. Back matter includes advice on participating in that effort as a citizen scientist and on planting butterfly gardens. Vivid photographs.Nine to TwelveView book details
HEALTH Eat This!: How Fast-Food Marketing Gets You to Buy Junk (and How to Fight Back)Andrea CurtisAdvertising tricks and techniques are revealed, empowering kids to make healthy food and drink choices. Colorful drawings, photos, sidebars, and suggested activities included.Nine to TwelveView book details
Itch!: Everything You Didn’t Want to Know about What Makes You ScratchAnita SanchezLearn about insects and plants that make human animals and birds uncomfortable—and what can be done to combat the pests. Humorous illustrations. Glossary, notes, and bibliography.Nine to TwelveView book details
Enough!: 20 Protesters Who Changed AmericaEmily EastonInspired by the tragic Parkland shooting, this book profiles 20 people who used peaceful protest and actions to effect change. Colorful digital art. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Eye That Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President LincolnMarissa MossA Scottish immigrant who became a detective foiled a plot to assassinate President-elect Lincoln. Digitized scratchboard illustrations add to the minute-by-minute drama. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are RealMarc Tyler NoblemanIn 1917, two girls and a camera duped a great many people, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Archival photographs and watercolor and mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
In Harm’s Way: JFK, World War II, and the Heroic Rescue of PT 109Iain MartinVivid quotes and archival photographs recall John F. Kennedy’s PT 109 experiences in World War II. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly was InventedTanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Steven SalernoThe remarkable history of this popular board game is vividly narrated and illustrated with retro-style, mixed- media artwork. Back matter features Monopoly math problems.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Sinking of the Vasa: A Shipwreck of Titanic ProportionsRussell FreedmanCommissioned by the Swedish king in 1628 to be the greatest sailing warship ever, the Vasa sank immediately after its launching. Colorful digital illustrations and back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Thirty Minutes over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot’s World War II StoryMarc Tyler NoblemanIn 1942 a Japanese pilot dropped bombs on Oregon, although they didn’t do much damage. Twenty years later, his story became a tale of redemption. Bright watercolor illustrations. Bibliography.Nine to TwelveView book details
LAW AND JUSTICE We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our VoicesWade Hudson, Cheryl Willis Hudson, foreword by Ashley BryanIn prose, poetry, letters, and songs, people of color offer inspiration and advice. Varied color illustrations and photographs. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the WorldCaroline PaulThis engaging and informative guide tells kids how to become effective social activists. Back-and-white spot illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
RELIGION *Hermes: Tales of the Trickster (Olympians series)written and illustrated by George O’ConnorMeet the Greek god of shepherds, thieves, fables, and much more, who, as a mischievous newborn, cunningly stole Apollo’s sacred herd. Dramatic graphic panels and extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Countdown: 2979 Days to the MoonSuzanne SladePresident Kennedy’s dream of space travel became a reality when the United States landed a man on the moon. Told in blank verse. Photographs and mixed- media illustrations. Bibliography and citations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Cute as an Axolotl: Discovering the World’s Most Adorable Animals (The World of Weird Animals series)Jess KeatingSeventeen very appealing critters show that cuteness in any species is more than skin deep. Brilliant photographs and graphics.Nine to TwelveView book details
Eavesdropping on Elephants: How Listening Helps ConservationPatricia NewmanCornell University’s Elephant Listening Project works in the central African rain forest to save endangered African forest elephants and all forest life. Photographs, maps, sources.Nine to TwelveView book details
Eye Spy: Wild Ways Animals See the Worldwritten and illustrated by Guillaume Duprat, translated from the French and edited by Patrick SkipworthLift the flaps to discover how animals as different as cats, owls, and chameleons see the same scene. Colorful, detailed paintings.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Hyena Scientist (Scientists in the Field series)Sy MontgomeryA zoologist and her team revisit hyenas in a field site in Kenya, observing their unique dominant female society. Extensive photographs.Nine to TwelveLexile 1000LATOS 6.8View book details
One Iguana, Two Iguanas: A Story of Accident, Natural Selection, and Evolution (How Nature Works series)Sneed B. CollardIn the isolated Galápagos Islands, two related species of iguanas provide an example of the evolutionary process. Photographs.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Orca Scientists (Scientists in the Field series)Kim Perez Valice, photographed by Andy Comins, the Center for Whale ResearchWith meticulous observation, scientists monitor the daily life and strong family ties of killer whales in Pacific Northwest waters. Color photographs and digital illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Snowy Owl Invasion!: Tracking an Unusual Migration (Sandra Markle’s Science Discoveries series)Sandra MarkleAn unusual migration of snowy owls in 2013–2014 provided researchers with an unprecedented opportunity to study them. Amazing photographs. Notes, glossary, and sources.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Sockeye Mother (Mothers of Xsan series)by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett David Huson), illustrated by Natasha DonovanFollow the life cycle of the sockeye salmon, which the Gitxsan people of northwestern British Columbia depend on. Detailed, full-page illustrations using imagery from Pacific Northwestern cultures.Nine to TwelveLexile 1140LATOS 8.2View book details
Summer Science (Acadia Files series)Katie CoppensCurious Acadia uses the scientific method to find out why her hair is curly, where sand comes from, and more. Entertaining, informative illustrations. Includes experiments. Website resources.Nine to TwelveView book details
To Pluto & Beyond: The Amazing Voyage of New HorizonsElaine ScottIn 2006, NASA launched a New Horizons spacecraft to explore Pluto and it surroundings. Includes images being sent now from the spacecraft. Amazing photographs, bibliography.Nine to TwelveView book details
Trees: Kings of the Forest (Science Comics series)written and illustrated by Andy HirschFollow an acorn and learn about trees and their role in our planet’s ecosystem. Colorful digital panels. Back matter includes glossary, bibliography, and leaf diagrams, encouraging tree identification.Nine to TwelveView book details
Your Amazing Skin from Outside In (Your Amazing Body Books series)Joanne Settel, PhDThrough informative rhymed text and fact-filled prose, readers learn about all kinds of skin and its care. Humorous digital illustrations. Glossary.Nine to TwelveView book detailsTwelve to Fourteen
122 selections
DryNeal Shusterman, Jarrod ShustermanWhen California’s water supply is severely curtailed, a group of teens try desperately to survive as dire thirst slowly drives citizens to lawlessness.Twelve to FourteenLexile 790LATOS 5.5View book details
SquirmCarl HiaasenA search for his dad sends Billy on a wild adventure to save endangered species and to discover the real meaning of family and love.Twelve to FourteenLexile 740LATOS 4.7View book details
Trapped! (Framed! series)James PontiTwelve-year-old undercover spies Florian and Margaret love their friendly FBI contact. Is he being framed for stealing books from the Library of Congress?Twelve to FourteenView book details
Zap!Martha FreemanA blackout in a diverse New Jersey community sparks annoyance, first, and then conspiracy theories. Luis marshals the aid of two friends to investigate the mystery.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Be PreparedVera BrosgolStruggling to fit in with American kids, immigrant Vera tries Russian sleepaway camp. Can she survive the stinky latrines, forced marching, and mean girls? Clean- lined panel artwork.Twelve to FourteenLexile GN360LATOS 2.6View book details
Between the LinesNikki GrimesIn this companion to 2003’s Bronx Masquerade, realistic, sensitively drawn characters grow to meet life’s challenges as they examine inner fears, pain, and loneliness via their poetry.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Confusion Is Nothing NewPaul AcamporaWhen 14-year-old Ellie is told of the death of the musician mother she has never met, she determines to get to know her.Twelve to FourteenView book details
CourageBarbara BinnsT’Shawn has discovered diving, but lessons are expensive, and his widowed mother struggles to afford them. Then his brother, whose gang activity landed him in jail, gets paroled.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentEverlasting NoraMarie Miranda CruzHomeless, brave, resourceful Nora and her troubled mother struggle to survive in a Filipino shantytown while Nora dreams of returning to school and having a safe family life.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Five Feet ApartRachael Lippincott, with Mikki Daughtry, Tobias IaconisTeenagers with cystic fibrosis meet in a hospital. Romance seems possible, but their conditions forbid their being any closer to each other than five feet.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the WorldAshley Herring BlakeWhen a tornado destroys Ivy’s home, her sketchbook goes missing. Then, pages from it, showing her holding hands with another girl, start showing up in her locker.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Jigsaw JungleKristin LevineWhen Claudia’s father vanishes, a jigsaw puzzle piece starts her searching for his hidden time capsule that might solve the mystery of his disappearance.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Length of a StringElissa Brent WeissmanWhat is identity? What is family? Twelve-year-old Imani’s great grandmother’s diary helps her define her place as an African American adoptee in a Jewish family.Twelve to FourteenLexile 730LATOS 5View book details
Letting Go of GravityMeg LederParker’s hard work has landed her an acceptance at Harvard and a coveted internship, but her twin brother now has leukemia. How will they navigate their new realities?Twelve to FourteenView book details
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak SpanishPablo CartayaMarcus hasn’t returned to Puerto Rico since he was two; after he is suspended for fighting in school, his mother takes him back to visit and rediscover his roots.Twelve to FourteenView book details
North to BenjaminAlan CumynTraumatized by a sudden move to Alaska with an unstable parent, Edgar identifies so powerfully with an aged dog in his care that his speech descends to barking.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Not-So-Boring Letters of Private NobodyMatthew LandisSeventh grader Oliver, Civil War enthusiast, is crushed when he is assigned an unknown soldier to study and a failing project partner to do it with—but he ends up learning much more than he expected.Twelve to FourteenView book details
A Possibility of WhalesKaren RiversMotherless Nat, 12, and her famous actor father move every year to avoid paparazzi. Will transgender Harry fill the hole in her lonely heart?Twelve to FourteenView book detailsPrideIbi ZoboiThis Pride and Prejudice update follows Zuri and her loving Afro-Latinx family, who live in Brooklyn, as Darcy moves into the increasingly gentrified neighborhood.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Rebound (The Crossover series)Kwame AlexanderIn this prequel to The Crossover, Chuck Bell tailspins after his father’s premature death. A summer trip to his grandparents’ introduces him to both tough love and basketball. Occasional black-and-white graphic illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Skating over Thin IceJean MillsGenny, high school senior, is a piano prodigy, but is also sensitive to stimuli and socially anxious. An improbable friendship with a suspended hockey player might just help both students.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Someone Else’s ShoesEllen WittlingerIzzy is contending with her parents’ divorce and her dad’s new family when a mourning uncle and cousin end up moving in. A fresh emergency has lessons for all.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The State of GraceRachael LucasBritish teenager Grace tries to learn how to socialize and to enjoy having a boyfriend as she also deals with being on the autism spectrum.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Stay SweetSiobhan VivianThe owner of the ice cream shop where Amelia works summers dies. Amelia’s struggle to honor the owner’s vision is interwoven with the woman’s diary entries about the shop’s early days.Twelve to FourteenView book details
TightTorrey MaldonadoBryan’s formerly incarcerated dad wants him to be tough. His mom wants him to aim higher. A new friend seems like a good influence, but is he really?Twelve to FourteenLexile 600LATOS 3.9View book details
Tiny InfinitiesJ. H. DiehlThirteen-year-old Alice moves into the backyard tent to protest her parents’ separation. This summer will teach her much about both possibility and responsibility.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Worth a Thousand WordsBrigit Young2920-9 Painful injuries following a car accident limit Tillie’s mobility. She takes up photography, discovering a talent for finding lost objects. Then her classmate asks her to find his missing dad.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava series)Roshani ChokshiIn this modern remix of the Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata, seventh grader Aru inadvertently triggers a potential apocalypse, pitting her and a new “soul sister” against evil, supernatural powers.Twelve to FourteenLexile 630LATOS 4.1View book details
The Assassination of Brangwain SpurgeM.T. Anderson, Eugene YelchinDetailed black-and-white sketches alternate with witty text to tell of a lowly elf historian/spy and his unwitting goblin counterpart, who is tasked with hosting him.Twelve to FourteenLexile 760LATOS 5.3View book details
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air series)Holly BlackTen years after she was brought to Faerie against her will, Jude, a mortal, wields power and intrigue in the High Court. Black-and-white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenLexile HL760LATOS 5.3View book details
Fake BloodWhitney GardnerSixth-grader AJ, in attempt to impress his crush, does a too-convincing impression of a vampire and is mistaken for a real one. Bright, clean-lined digital graphic images.Twelve to FourteenLexile GN150LATOS 2.5View book details
Ghost BoysJewell Parker RhodesSupported by other spirits of black victims of police violence, Jerome returns to help family, friends, and the accused officer’s daughter process his untimely death and demand justice.Twelve to FourteenLexile HL360LATOS 3View book details
The House in Poplar WoodK. E. OrmsbeeThe Vickery brothers grow up on opposite sides of their house, one with their mother and one with their father, as part of an agreement made between Death and Memory. Black-and-white chapter head decorations.Twelve to FourteenLexile 710LATOS 5View book details
On a Sunbeamwritten and illustrated by Tillie WaldenMia finds family in the crew of a spaceship that travels across realms restoring buildings, but she can’t forget her first love, Grace. Expressive artwork in a variety of color palettes.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Bridge: How the Roeblings Connected Brooklyn to New YorkPeter J. TomasiAfter the death of his distant father, Washington Roebling and his wife Emily take on the monumental task of constructing the Brooklyn Bridge. Vibrant, emotive graphic illustrations. References.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Button War: A Tale of the Great WarAviWhen the Russian and German armies invade Poland during World War I, preteen boys start their own contest, with tragic results.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Escape from AleppoN. H. SenzaiFor five days in 2013, Nadia travels through the streets of war-torn Aleppo and the Syrian countryside beyond, trying to reach her family in Turkey.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Everything Else in the UniverseTracy HolczerWhen Lucy’s dad, an Army doctor in the Vietnam War, returns as an amputee, she confronts her altered family life and her views of the war.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Hamilton and Peggy!: A Revolutionary FriendshipL. M. ElliottAs the younger sister of the woman who married Alexander Hamilton, Peggy Schuyler witnessed much of the American Revolution, including battles, spies, and meetings with Iroquois Indians. Afterword, bibliography, and sources.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Iron RiverDaniel AcostaIn a multicultural barrio in 1950s L. A., Manuel and his friends find trouble when they discover a corpse and encounter a corrupt police officer.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Island at the End of EverythingKiran Millwood HargraveIn the early 20th century, in an attempt to combat leprosy (Hansen’s disease), the Philippine government separated the healthy from the ill. When uninfected 12- year-old Amihan is sent to a distant orphanage, her world falls apart. Black-and-white spot illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisperwritten and illustrated by Manuela Santoni, translated from the Italian by Matteo BenassiBold black-and-white graphics depict how Austen gave up her first love, but not her love of writing. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Jazz Owls: A Novel of the Zoot Suit RiotsMargarita EngleIn 1943, sailors stationed in Los Angeles attacked local Mexican American dancers in what was later known as the Zoot Suit Riots. Free verse by multiple narrators. Swirling, animated, black-and-white illustrations introduce sections. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Journey of Little CharlieChristopher Paul CurtisA cruel plantation overseer forces Charlie, 12, the son of sharecroppers, to search for fugitive enslaved African Americans to pay off his family’s debt.Twelve to FourteenLexile 960LATOS 5.8View book details
Like VanessaTami CharlesIn 1983 Vanessa’s middle school sponsors a beauty/talent pageant. A supportive teacher encourages her to participate and helps her overcome the challenges of a difficult home situation and her own insecurities. Occasional black-and-white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentLittle Man, Little Man: A Story of ChildhoodJames BaldwinJoin TJ, 4, and his friends WT, 7, and Blinky, 8, as they wander around their 1970s Harlem street one summer afternoon. Colorful illustrations throughout. Originally published in 1976.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Lord of the MountainRonald KiddIn 1927, a troubled southern family struggles to cope with loss and regional hard times. Music is forbidden, but 13-year-old Nate loves it and strikes out on his own.Twelve to FourteenLexile 610LATOS 4.1View book details
Love to EveryoneHilary McKayClarry, smart and independent, makes her way in the world as she matures in a motherless household during the difficult days of World War I. Published in Great Britain as The Skylark’s War.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargowritten and illustrated by Tom Feelings, introduction by Kadir Nelson and Kamili Feelings; historical note by Dr. Sylviane A. DioufFeelings’s 20-year-old wordless masterpiece, depicting in black-and-white drawings the horrors of the slave trade, has been updated and given context with new introductions. Originally published in 1995.Twelve to FourteenView book details
My Name Is VictoriaLucy WorsleyMiss V. Conroy, young companion to Princess Victoria, begins to suspect that the strict rules imposed to protect her are really meant to keep her isolated.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Night DiaryVeera HiranandaniIn diary entries, Nisha records the violence in newly partitioned India that forces her and her mixed-faith family to flee their home.Twelve to FourteenLexile 700LATOS 4.5View book details
A Sky Full of StarsLinda Williams JacksonIn this sequel to Midnight without a Moon, Emmett Till’s murderers have been acquitted. In Stillwater, Mississippi, Rose, 13, starts to forge her path against pervasive racism.Twelve to FourteenLexile 781LATOS 5View book details
Swallow’s DanceWendy OrrA Bronze Age volcano eruption upends life on an Aegean island. Leira’s family’s wealth has been swept away, and her injured mother’s care is in her hands.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Two RoadsJoseph BruchacHalf-white, half-Creek Cal, 12, gets a change in perspective when his freewheeling WWI veteran father enrolls him in an Indian boarding school.Twelve to FourteenLexile 740LATOS 4.9View book details
Bone’s Gift (Ghosts of Ordinary Objects series)Angie SmibertAt the start of World War II, an Appalachian girl, Laurel (a.k.a. Bone), 12, can touch an object and intuit its past. Gift, curse, or both?Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Memory of Forgotten ThingsKat ZhangDoes Sophia, 12, have memories of alternate realities because she was born during a partial solar eclipse? Can these parallel universes actually exist?Twelve to FourteenView book details
TODAY The Ambrose DeceptionEmily EctonThree apparently unremarkable students are chosen to compete for a mysterious scholarship that sends them searching Chicago for clues for the $10,000 prize. Spot black-and-white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
BlendedSharon M. DraperWith divorced, antagonistic parents, musically gifted Isabella is increasingly aware of her biracial identity and just how complicated that can get.Twelve to FourteenLexile 610LATOS 4View book details
The Eleventh TradeAlyssa HollingsworthSami and his grandfather, after escaping war-torn Afghanistan, make money busking in Boston. The theft of their precious musical instrument sends Sami on a desperate search for it.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Everything I Know about YouBarbara DeeAssigned to room with an archenemy on the class trip to Washington, DC, Tally discovers Ava’s disturbing secret. Should she tell? Back matter with resources about eating disorders.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The ForestRiccardo BozziA forest journey, depicted in dazzling paintings, die cuts, and embossed images, is presented as a metaphor for the life cycle.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Hearts UnbrokenCynthia Leitich SmithLocal prejudice against Muscogees causes problems when Louise’s brother is cast as the Tin Man in the school production of The Wizard of Oz.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Here to StaySara FarizanA basketball game makes Persian Jordanian Bijan a hero, until a photoshopped picture shows him as a terrorist. Bijan narrates with humor and heart.Twelve to FourteenView book details
How We RollNatasha FriendIn her new hometown in Massachusetts, Quinn is popular but guards her secrets. A friendship with Nick, a double amputee, tests their ability to trust and support each other.Twelve to FourteenView book details
IllegalEoin Colfer, Andrew DonkinSparse words and powerful, richly detailed graphics depict a 12-year-old’s perilous journey from Ghana to Italy in this story of family love and migration. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenLexile GN490LATOS 2.5View book details
Just under the CloudsMelissa SarnoIn Brooklyn, 12-year-old Cora helps her mom hold their homeless family together after the death of her father.Twelve to FourteenLexile 710LATOS 4.3View book details
KnockoutK.A. HoltIn this sequel to House Arrest, seventh grader Levi is free of illness and wants to box. His mother and brother fear the consequences. Free verse and concrete poetry.Twelve to FourteenLexile HL610LATOS 3.7View book details
The Looking GlassJanet McNallyWhen a clue to her older sister’s disappearance arrives in the form of a volume of fairy tales, Sylvie decides to try to find her.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Love Like SkyLeslie C. YoungbloodGeorgie and her little sister, Peaches, are not particularly welcome in their new stepsister’s life. An illness in the family challenges all to decide what’s importantTwelve to FourteenView book details
MascotAntony JohnA car accident has left former Little League catcher Noah, 12, fatherless and wheelchair bound. Can his friends break through his wall of bitterness and loss?Twelve to FourteenLexile 630LATOS 4.1View book details
My Year in the MiddleLila Quintero WeaverLu Olivera, an immigrant sixth grader at a newly integrated school in Alabama, observes the racial divide as she seeks to find a place in her world.Twelve to FourteenView book details
No Fixed AddressSusin NielsenFelix struggles to hide his family’s increasingly desperate situation from social services when his mom loses yet another job and they start living in a van.Twelve to FourteenLexile 620LATOS 4.3View book details
Nowhere BoyKatherine MarshAfter escaping war-torn Syria, Ahmed, 14, is alone and homeless in Brussels, until homesick American Max, 13, discovers Ahmed hiding in his basement and becomes his ally.Twelve to FourteenLexile 810LATOS 5.4View book details
That’s Not What HappenedKody KeplingerTo counter myths created after a shooting at a local high school has left nine dead, Leanne collects the real stories from the six teenage survivors.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Twelve Steps to NormalFarrah Penn, foreword by James PattersonWhen her father finishes rehab, Kira returns home to Texas, hoping to pick up her life as it was. However, relationships have shifted in eight months.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Where the Watermelons GrowCindy BaldwinHer mother’s recurring schizophrenic breakdowns force 12-year-old Della to cope with family responsibilities well beyond her years. A supportive, loving rural community helps her, but there are no easy solutions.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Wild BluesBeth KephartLizzie’s summer in the Adirondacks with her TV-star uncle and her best friend Matias, a Salvadoran artist with proportionate dwarfism, turns dire when two convicts escape a local prison. Soft watercolor illustrations represent Matias’s paintings.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Without RefugeJane MitchellIn the midst of the continued bombing of his Kurdish Syrian town, 13-year-old Ghalib and his family make a terrifying journey out of his civil war-torn country.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Sea PrayerKhaled HosseiniOn the eve of a perilous escape from Syria via boat, a father writes a letter to his son, recalling a happy childhood and praying for safe passage. Evocative watercolors.Twelve to FourteenView book details
They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s PoemsDavid BowlesMexican American seventh grader Güero grounds himself in family traditions, supportive friends, teachers, and his budding love of poetry. Glossary of Spanish terms.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Voices in the AirNaomi Shihab NyeNinety-five original poems pay tribute to an eclectic collection of people who have influenced, moved, and even provoked us, from Langston Hughes to Bruce Springsteen. Spot illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
INFORMATION BOOKS Abraham Lincoln (The Making of America series)Teri KanefieldThis nuanced biography examines the strengths and limitations of the Civil War president and the tumultuous time in which he served. Archival photos, engravings, and extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Becoming Madeleine: A Biography of the Author of A Wrinkle in TimeHer Granddaughters by Charlotte Jones Voiklis, Léna RoyWith copious original letters, photographs, and journals, L’Engle’s granddaughters show her journey from creative but awkward child to prolific author. Photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Beloved World of Sonia SotomayorSonia SotomayorIn this adaptation of My Beloved World, the future Supreme Court Justice confronts poverty, illness, and a language barrier with pluck and grit. Photographs. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Dolores Huerta Stands Strong: The Woman Who Demanded JusticeMarlene Targ BrillThe daughter of an immigrant farmer, Huerta devoted herself to community service and political activism and became the second Mexican American woman to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Eleanor Roosevelt: Fighter for JusticeIlene CooperWhen Eleanor Roosevelt became the First Lady, she grew acutely aware of racial injustice and rose to champion civil rights, sometimes at her own peril. Photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Endurance: My Year in Space and How I Got ThereScott Kelly, with Margaret Lazarus DeanKelly describes his journey from an indifferent student to an astronaut who spent a whole year on the International Space Station. Color and black-and-white photographs. Back matter. Young readers edition.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Monumental American ManTonya BoldenVivid narration, archival photos, and prints document the political and private life of this complex legendary escaped slave, abolitionist, author, and orator. Detailed back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill HitlerJohn Hendrix, illustrated by John HendrixPastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a member of the German Resistance, struggles with his faith as the plot to kill Hitler becomes a reality. Back matter. Dramatic graphic illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed ScienceJoyce SidmanThe fascinating life and accomplishments of this pioneering 17th-century German naturalist, entomologist, and artist are explored through photos, maps, and archival reproductions of her drawings. (11-14 House of Dreams: The Life of L. M. Montgomery by Liz Rosenberg, illustrated by Julie Morstad (Candlewick Press, $17.99) 978-0-7636-6057-4 This biography of the famed author of Anne of Green Gables brings to life coming-of-age in the early 20th century on Prince Edward Island and beyond. Black-and- white chapter head illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen AnimalsSy MontgomeryThese autobiographical essays chronicle what the author learned from the most important pets and research subjects in her life. Mixed-media illustrations and black-and-white family photos. Further readings.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Martin Rising: Requiem for a KingAndrea Davis PinkneyLyrical poetry vividly chronicles personal and public moments from Dr. King’s birth through the last few days of his life during the tumultuous events of 1968. Lush pastel mixed-media illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mary Shelley: The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein’s CreatorCatherine ReefLearn about the strange, tragic life of the versatile 19th- century writer whose many works include a tale that has intrigued for two hundred years. Archival photos, back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
My Family DividedDiane Guerrero with Erica MorozA US-born teenager is left behind when her parents are deported. Taken in by family friends, she launches a career as an actress and advocates for other immigrants. List of resources.Twelve to FourteenLexile 730LATOS 5.4View book details
Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket ScientistSylvia AcevedoBrownie membership puts Sylvia on a path that transcends the gender expectations of her Latinx community. She becomes a rocket scientist and CEO of the Girl Scouts. Also available in Spanish.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Proud: Living My American DreamIbtihaj MuhammadThe author recounts her journey to compete on the US Olympic Fencing Team as a Muslim American woman wearing a hijab. Photographs. Back matter. Young readers edition.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought for Her American DreamJulissa ArceBrought to the U.S. as an 11-year-old, Dreamer Julissa surmounts a financially insecure childhood to exceed academically, aid her family, and gain her citizenship. Photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
HEALTH Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual MovementNadya OkamotoNadya, a sophomore at Harvard, wants to take menstruation into the open while advocating for universal menstrual health. Black-and-white illustrations. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
1968: Today’s Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and ChangeMarc Aronson, Susan Campbell BartolettiIn this anthology, authors evoke the spirit of 1968, an especially intense year in a turbulent, youth-driven decade. Map, photos, and illustrations. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
All about Anne: Anne Frank’s Life Story, with Answers to Frequently Asked QuestionsMenno Metselaar, Piet van LeddenDetailed drawings and many photographs provide a comprehensive exploration of Anne’s life in Amsterdam before World War II and later hiding in the Secret Annex, as well as her death in Bergen-Belsen. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Blacklisted!: Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First AmendmentLarry Dane BrimnerIn 1947 the US House Un-American Activities Committee accused 19 people in the film industry of disloyalty to the nation. They fought back. Archival photos, back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Boots on the Ground: America’s War in VietnamElizabeth PartridgeThis dramatic account of the Vietnam War incorporates oral histories of veterans and explores the backdrop of the political considerations that determined leaders’ decisions. Archival photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Buried Lives: The Enslaved People of George Washington’s Mount VernonCarla Killough McClaffertyThe author chronicles in detail the daily lives of six men and women owned by Washington or his wife and imagines the enslaved people’s thoughts. Archival material, photographs, and back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Crash: The Great Depression and the Fall and Rise of AmericaMarc FavreauNotable events, prominent leaders, and ordinary citizens are spotlighted in this look at the most severe depression of the 20th century. Archival photographs, primary source material, and extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
D-Day: The World War II Invasion That ChangedDeborah HopkinsonMen and women, white and black, remember their harrowing experiences on June 6, 1944. Archival photographs, maps, and back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWIIP. O’Connell PearsonDespite facing strong prejudice and personal danger, women flew test planes and ferried aircraft across the United States in support of the war effort. Photographs. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the 20th CenturyNeal BascombTwenty-nine British prisoners of war risked their lives tunneling underground to escape a German World War I prisoner-of-war camp. Archival photographs and diagrams. Back matterTwelve to FourteenView book details
More Deadly Than War: The Hidden History of the Spanish Flu and the First World WarKenneth C. DavisFirst-hand accounts show how the flu spread between 1918 and 1920, killing as many as 100 million people. Archival photos, time line, sources, and back matter on current efforts to fight epidemics.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to VoteSusan Zimet, Todd Hasak-LowyLearn about the hardships faced by the brave, determined women who led the long struggle for women’s suffrage. Illustrated with portraits, period cartoons, and other images. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of AmericaGail JarrowIn 1938 panic ensued when some listeners thought that a radio play was an actual news report and that Martians had invaded New Jersey. Archival photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Voices from the Second World War: Stories of War as Told to Children of TodayCandlewick PressFirst-hand accounts and photographs portray World War II, including stories by Holocaust and Hiroshima survivors. Glossary.Twelve to FourteenView book details
LAW AND JUSTICE *Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for JusticeBryan StevensonStevenson’s experiences fighting for death row inmates, both horrifying and inspirational, expose systemic racism and abuse of power in the American justice system. Young readers edition.Twelve to FourteenView book details
RELIGION Meet Me at the Well: The Girls and Women of the BibleJane Yolen, Barbara Diamond GoldinOld Testament heroines are revisited in this modern retelling, including commentary, the subjects’ voices as imagined by the authors, and original poems. Gouache illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting (Orca Origins series)Ausma Zehanat KhanThe historical context and diverse styles of celebration of the Islamic faith throughout the world are presented with enlightening color photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) *Apollo 8: The Mission That Changed EverythingMartin W. SandlerIn 1968 the United States succeeded in sending the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Archival photographs, bibliography, citations.Twelve to FourteenLexile 1200LATOS 8.2View book details
Belle’s Journey: An Osprey Takes FlightRob Bierregaard, illustrated by Kate GarchinskyScientists and children track a female osprey’s migration from Massachusetts to South America and back. Dramatic watercolor pencil, ink, and aqua crayon illustrations. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenLexile 930LATOS 6.1View book details
Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an InventorTemple Grandin, with Betsy LernerThe personal stories behind design projects are presented along with a history of patents and diverse inventors. Detailed illustrations and photographs.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Champion: The Comeback Tale of the American Chestnut TreeSally M. WalkerScientists devised ingenious efforts to end the killing blight and restore an important animal habitat that was once ubiquitous in North America. Photographs, source notes, primary sources.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of SpeciesAdapted by Rebecca StefoffDarwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection profoundly changed our understanding of how all species come into being. Includes contemporary information and insights, clear graphics, and period engravings and photographs. Back matter. Young readers edition.Twelve to FourteenView book details
How We Got to Now: Six Innovations that Made the Modern WorldSteven JohnsonAdvances in the technology of glass, sound, light, temperature control, sanitation, and timekeeping tell a story of change in European and North American life. Archival photographs and prints. Young readers edition.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Outrageous Animal Adaptations: From Big-Eared Bats to Frill-Necked LizardsMichael J. RosenLearn how a wide variety of creatures evolved and adapted to ensure their survival. Color photographs, sources, and back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Trash Revolution: Breaking the Waste CycleErica FyvieDiagrams and charts clearly illuminate the waste cycle with fun facts, future goals, and advice on ways to reduce or avoid waste. A well-sourced glossary. Digitally colored pen and ink illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book detailsFourteen and Older
130 selections
The Agony HouseCherie PriestWhen her family is repairing a dilapidated house, Denise finds an unfinished 1950s comic book with faint blue panels that foreshadows unusual and threatening events. Illustrated with pages from the comic book.Fourteen and OlderLexile 781LATOS 5View book details
The CheerleadersKara ThomasFive cheerleaders, including Monica’s beloved older sister, died five years ago. Now Monica and a new friend uncover the painful truth about what really happened.Fourteen and OlderView book details
I Am Still AliveKate Alice MarshallDisabled after a car accident that killed her mother, Jess moves to her father’s isolated home in Canada where she fights again to survive.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL690LATOS 4.6View book details
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and PiracyMackenzi Lee, map by David CurtisFelicity yearns to be a surgeon, an almost impossible dream for a woman in 18th-century England. Chasing her goal embroils her in life-threatening international adventures.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Notes from My CaptivityKathy ParksSkeptical Adrienne, 17, accompanies her anthropologist stepfather to Siberia in search of the mythical family of hermits he is convinced exists. Things go wrong, very wrong.Fourteen and OlderView book details
S.T.A.G.S.M. A. BennettA scholarship student is surprised to be invited to a weekend with the class leaders. Slowly she learns of the evil behind the invitation.Fourteen and OlderView book details
This Story Is a LieTom PollockWhen his scientist mother is viciously attacked and his twin sister goes missing, Pete, 17, a math genius with severe anxiety, hunts for the truth.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Fresh Ink: An AnthologyLamar GilesYA authors celebrate teens as they struggle with their identities and express their humanity. Genres include short stories, one-act plays, and graphic format.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of InspirationRose BrockTwenty-three YA authors share candid, encouraging stories, drawn from their lives, about the diverse experiences that have helped them find hope.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentOur Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real about Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in AmericaAmy ReedEssays written by 21 female young adult authors discuss various issues, including feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, Islamophobia, immigration, and religion. Resource list for activism.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Tales from the Inner Citywritten and illustrated by Shaun TanAnimal silhouettes and vibrant multipage illustrations accompany each short story or poem that highlights unique relationships between humans and real and imaginary creatures. Informative introduction.Fourteen and OlderView book details
All Out of PrettyIngrid PalmerWhen 15-year-old Andrea’s grandmother dies, her drug- addicted mother resurfaces, forcing Andrea to live with a drug dealer, with dire consequences.Fourteen and OlderView book details
American PandaGloria Chao9910-1 A freshman at MIT, Mei, 17, tries to meet her traditional Taiwanese parents’ expectations, but their dreams for her are not what she wants—or needs.Fourteen and OlderView book details
American Road TripPatrick Flores-ScottTeodoro’s summer plans before senior year are disrupted when his brother returns from Iraq with PTSD and the family must deal with new realities.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Come NovemberKatrin van DamRooney’s mother is a member of a cult whose members are preparing to leave the earth together. Rooney is left to deal with all the practical details of life.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Darius the Great Is Not OkayAdib KhorramDarius suffers from clinical depression. When he travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, he meets Sohrab, another teen, who changes Darius’s whole perception of himself.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL710LATOS 4.7View book details
DrivingStarlight by Anat DeracineIn Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 16-year-old Leena contends with censorship, religious police, arranged marriage, and other restrictions while seeking an education and independence.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentEasy PreyCatherine LoThree high school seniors, exploring social media issues in a law class, obtain inappropriate pictures of their teacher, which are distributed across social media. Why?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Final DraftRiley RedgateLaila loves writing science fiction, until her teacher and biggest supporter is replaced by a prize-winning author who pushes her to question all her choices.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentFire Songadapted by Adam Garnet Jones from his filmShane, 17, a Canadian Cree, confronts his sister’s suicide, his sexual orientation, and a life removed from the reservation.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The History of Jane DoeMichael BelangerToggling between the present and the past, the narrator mixes humor and tragedy with his passion for quirky historical facts and his first true love.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentHome after Darkwritten and illustrated by David SmallAbandoned first by his mother and then by his father, Russell survives a lonely adolescence with the help of a loving Chinese immigrant couple who take him in. Expressive pen and ink sketches.Fourteen and OlderView book details
I, ClaudiaMary McCoyClaudia, a history buff who stutters and walks with a limp, is unexpectedly elected to student government at her elite L.A. high school. Will power corrupt her?Fourteen and OlderView book details
If OnlyJennifer GilmoreBridget, pregnant at 16, gives her baby to a lesbian couple for adoption. Seventeen years later, her daughter, Ivy, searches for her birth mother.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentIn Search of UsAva Dellaira17-year-old biracial Angie is determined to uncover the secret of her parentage. Parallel stories of mother and daughter as teens reveal much about identity and family.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Just Wreck It AllN. GriffinBefore the accident involving her best friend, Bett was fearless. Now she punishes herself to allay her guilt.Fourteen and OlderView book details
LegacyJessica BlankTrying to fill the black hole of grief and guilt after her brother’s tragic death, Alison joins a radical environmental group and finds courage and hope.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Love & LuckJenna Evans WelchInstead of going to Italy with hopes of mending her shattered relationship with her brother, Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of Ireland.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentNice Try, Jane SinnerLianne OelkeExpelled from high school, a troubled, surly 17-year-old, determined to reinvent herself and reject her parents’ faith-born help, joins a community college student-run reality show.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentOdd One OutNic StoneThough she identifies as a lesbian, teenage Jupiter comes to realize she is in love with her best friend since childhood, a boy.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Picture Us in the LightKelly Loy GilbertAs he prepares to leave for art school on a scholarship, Danny, an artistically gifted Asian American high school senior, struggles to understand the secrets that are tearing his family apart.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Price of DutyTodd StrasserWounded in combat, Jake comes home a hero, but facing the horror of war is destroying him. Will he report back or go AWOL?Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Quiet Kind of ThunderSara BarnardWith a history of selective mutism, Steffi uses signing as a way of communicating. In high school, she is partnered with a deaf boy, and her life improves.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentSpeak: The Graphic NovelLaurie Halse AndersonAnderson’s novel about a girl’s silence after rape is retold. Grey-toned charcoal and pencil art depict Melinda’s humor and the humiliation she feels until she finds her voice.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Stars at Oktober BendGlenda MillardAssaulted at 12, brain-damaged Alice, 15, posts poems to share words she can’t speak. Manny, once a child soldier in Sierra Leone, reads them.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Summer of Broken ThingsMargaret Peterson HaddixA summer in Spain with her father sounds unappealing to Avery, 14, but like an amazing opportunity to her 16- year-old family friend, Kayla. A secret link between their families changes everything.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL710LATOS 4.9View book details
SwingKwame Alexander, with Mary Rand HessNoah, 17, wants to take his relationship with Samantha to the next level. Best friend Walt thinks they should stick with baseball. Then tragedy strikes.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL610LATOS 4.09View book details
Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites ItKerry WinfreyA high school junior is waiting to have surgery to cure her underbite, which she believes is extremely disfiguring. While she waits, life becomes unexpectedly confirming.Fourteen and OlderView book details
TroublemakersCatherine BarterWhen 15-year-old Alena, raised by her brother and his partner, makes a serious mistake while researching her mother’s life, there are unexpected ramifications.Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Very Large Expanse of SeaTahereh MafiShirin, 16, has often experienced prejudice after 9/11 because she wears a hijab. Her growing friendship with a star basketball player leads to unforeseen consequences.Fourteen and OlderLexile 781LATOS 5View book details
What If It’s UsBecky Albertalli, Adam SilveraTwo teenage boys, one from Alabama and one a New Yorker, meet accidentally and struggle with issues of romance and friendship.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Words We Don’t SayK. J. ReillyJoel, a teen volunteering in a soup kitchen, meets a homeless veteran with PTSD and is forced to confront his own issues.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Adventure Zone: Here There Be GerblinsClint McEloy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroyIn this graphic format adaptation of the Dungeons and Dragons podcast series, an elf, a dwarf, and a human set off on a hilarious adventure. Action-packed, humorous illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The BellesDhonielle ClaytonIn Orléans, where beauty comes at a high price, Camellia, a Belle, finds herself caught in a political plot that could unravel her entire world.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha series)Tomi AdeyemiBorn a maji, Zélie thought King Saran had destroyed magic years ago. Now, with help from the king’s daughter, Zélie might be able to bring magic back to Orïsha.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL670LATOS 4.8View book details
Mature contentThe Dark Descent of Elizabeth FrankensteinKiersten WhiteIn an engrossing and gruesome retelling of Frankenstein, Elizabeth, a ward of the Frankenstein family, becomes Victor’s bride, escapes, and saves herself and those she loves.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Devils unto DustEmma BerquistIn 1870s Texas, Willie searches for her father to settle his debt, but must evade “the Shakes,” humans who are no longer living, but not quite dead.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Half-WitchJohn SchoffstallIn an alternate Holy Roman Empire, devout Lizbet’s beloved but reckless father is imprisoned. The only one who can help her free him is a witch.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Hazel WoodMelissa AlbertAlice realizes her mother’s disappearance is connected to her reclusive grandmother’s supernatural and haunting fairy tales, which have come to life. Simple but poignant spot black-and-white illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
InkmistressAudrey CoulthurstDemigod Asra possesses powers as a healer; writing with her blood can change the future. Betrayed into unleashing a dragon, Asra must now save her kingdom.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Isle of Blood and StoneMakiia Lucier, map by Leo HartasAfter a curious map appears, Lord Elias uncovers the 18- year-old mystery behind the disappearance of his father and the kingdom’s young princes. Black-and-white map.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Light between WorldsLaura E. WeymouthIn 1940s London, three siblings escape the horrors of war when they enter an enchanted land that haunts them even after they return.Fourteen and OlderView book details
MirageSomaiya DaudAmani, 18, is kidnapped by the princess of the evil Vathek Empire so she can serve as a body double. Despite all odds, Amani plots revenge.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL780LATOS 5.7View book details
MunmunJesse AndrewsIn an America where money determines your size, the rich can literally crush the poor.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Out of the BlueSophie CameronWinged humanoid Beings fall from the sky to their deaths; media frenzies and cults erupt. Jaya, whose life is already complicated, discovers a fallen Being alive.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Wren HuntMary WatsonA bitter internal rivalry between Druid factions places Wren squarely, uncomfortably, and dangerously in the middle. A modern Irish love story with deeply ancient roots.Fourteen and OlderView book details
All the Stars DeniedGuadalupe García McCallIn the mass deportation of Mexican Americans from Texas during the Great Depression, 15-year-old Estrella and her family struggle to survive and return home.Fourteen and OlderView book details
An Assassin’s Guide to Love & TreasonVirginia BoeckerIn 1601, Katherine joins a Catholic group plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth. Toby, the queen’s spy, sets a trap for the would-be assassins, using Shakespeare’s new play as bait.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Big WaterAndrea CurtisChristina, 17, thought she could run away from her twin brother’s death, but must face the possibility of her own on a Great Lakes steamship.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentBlood Water PaintJoy McCulloughIn 17th-century Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi, a gifted artist, struggles against a male-dominated society for recognition and justice after she is sexually assaulted.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Dream CountryShannon GibneyThrough five generations across two continents, descendants of the transatlantic African slave trade endure incredible hardships and abuses with resilience and determination. Back matter.Fourteen and OlderLexile 900LATOS 5.8View book details
Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell AllM. T. Anderson, Jennifer Donnelly, Candace Fleming, Stephanie Hemphill , Deborah Hopkinson, Linda Sue Park, Lisa Ann SandellSix wives, six stories, plus Henry VIII’s version of events cast a fresh look at the tragedy of a king’s quest for male heirs. Includes time line.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mapping the BonesJane YolenTwins Chaim and Gittel (an intensely reimagined Hansel and Gretel), separated from their parents, flee through the forest in 1940s Poland to evade Nazi soldiers and end up in a concentration camp. Includes graphic, profoundly disturbing violence and sadism.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Prince and the DressmakerJen WangPrince Sebastian’s passion is moonlighting in the most fashionable outfits as Lady Crystallia. Can he keep this secret? Digitally colored pencil and ink illustrations.Fourteen and OlderLexile GN360LATOS 2.6View book details
ResistanceJennifer A. NielsenThe story of Jewish resistance during World Wat II, particularly in the Warsaw ghetto, is told through the experiences of a teenager working with the rebellion and its leaders.Fourteen and OlderLexile 820LATOS 5.8View book details
We Are All That’s LeftCarrie ArcosWith her mother in a coma after an explosion at a farmer’s market, Zara seeks to uncover her tragic past. Chapters alternate between modern Rhode Island and 1990s Bosnia.Fourteen and OlderView book details
What the Night Singswritten and illustrated by Vesper StamperIn a displaced persons camp after her liberation from Auschwitz, Gerta, 16, faces an uncertain future, bereft of her singing voice and struggling with her Jewish identity. Copious powerful ink wash illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Apocalypse of Elena MendozaShaun David HutchinsonElena can heal people of their ailments, but some completely disappear after each miracle. Is it really the end of the world?Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Astonishing Color of AfterEmily X. R. PanAfter Leigh’s mother commits suicide, she returns as a ghostly red bird and leads Leigh to Taiwan to uncover family secrets. Back matter on depression.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Book of PearlTimothée de FombelleBanished from his fairy-tale kingdom, a prince finds himself in France in 1936. There, he assumes the name Joshua Pearl, and tries to find his way home.Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Conspiracy of StarsOlivia A. ColeOctavia lives under a dome, in a world created by planetary explorers. Can they live peacefully with the indigenous people of the planet?Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Deepest RootsMiranda AsebedoAll girls born in Cottonwood Hollow have special abilities, but it’s not until danger strikes that Rome, Lux, and Mercy realize that these are a blessing, not a curse.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Neverworld WakeMarisha PesslFive best friends are trapped between life and death, doomed to relive the same day repeatedly until they unanimously decide which one of them will live.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Tangled PlanetKate BlairA group of humans in the far distant future try to leave the space ship that has been their home for hundreds of years and settle a planet.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe series)by Neal ShustermanMedical science has nearly conquered death. To prevent overpopulation, people are chosen to be “gleaned” by specially trained “scythes,” some of whom are secretly committing genocide.Fourteen and OlderLexile 870LATOS 6.7View book details
HooperGeoff HerbachBrought to America after a nightmarish existence in Poland, Adam looks to basketball for a better life. Should he sacrifice his future to fight an injustice to a teammate?Fourteen and OlderView book details
TODAY 500 Words or LessJuleah del RosarioNic becomes a social outcast after cheating on her boyfriend. She writes a college admissions essay for a friend and learns what really matters in life. Told in free verse.Fourteen and OlderView book details
After the Shot DropsRandy RibayIn alternating chapters, Nasir and Bunny, friends since childhood, tell how basketball brought them together and how it is tearing them apart now that Bunny has transferred to prep school.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL730LATOS 4.6View book details
All We Can Do Is WaitRichard LawsonA group of teenagers meet in the waiting room of a hospital, expecting news of the survivors of a horrendous bridge collapse.Fourteen and OlderView book details
And She WasJessica VerdiAn aspiring tennis player, struggling without her mother’s help, discovers that her mother is really her father. As she tracks down her biological family, she discovers that love is gender blind.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Anger Is a GiftMark OshiroYears after police killed his father, Moss continues to struggle with severe anxiety. Now poor conditions and a hostile environment at school are pushing him to his breaking point.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL710LATOS 5View book details
Mature contentBuried beneath the Baobab TreeAdaobi Tricia Nwaubani, afterword by Viviana MazzaWhen Boko Haram attacks her Nigerian village, an unnamed narrator is kidnapped with the other girls and women, forced to convert to Islam, and to marry. Powerful afterword.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentDeogratias: A Tale of RwandaJ. P. StassenDeogratias, a teenager in 1994, cannot live with his role in the genocidal events of the Rwandan horror. The powerful graphic panels move back and forth in time. Revised edition.Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Girl Like ThatTanaz BhathenaLonely Indian orphan Zarin rebels against her abusive aunt, school bullies, and oppressive Saudi Arabian culture. Can kind Porus’s love set her soul free?Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Heart in a Body in the WorldDeb CalettiAnnabelle, 17, embarks on a cross-country run from Seattle to Washington, DC, in an attempt to outrun the pain from a terrible tragedy.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentHeretics AnonymousKatie HenryAn atheist, Michael is resistant to attending a Catholic high school. Meeting classmates who share his discomfort with the status quo helps. So does falling in love.Fourteen and OlderView book details
If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to SayLeila SalesWhen an offensive remark posted on social media by Winter, 17, goes viral, her world collapses. Is redemption possible?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentLearning to BreatheJanice Lynn MatherAt a yoga retreat in the Bahamas near the home where she lives with relatives, Indy, 16, finds peace and refuge from the cousin who has raped and impregnated her.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Little Do We KnowTamara Ireland StoneLife-long best friends Hannah and Emory haven’t spoken in months. Then Hannah finds Emory’s boyfriend near death, leading all three teens to question long-held beliefs.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Love, Hate & Other FiltersSamira AhmedMaya, a Muslim teenager, risks her family’s disapproval over her attraction to a non-Muslim boy. The family is targeted after what appears to be a Muslim terrorist act.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentMariam Sharma Hits the RoadSheba KarimThree Muslim teenagers take a road trip to New Orleans. Along the way, conflicts with their religious parents are revealed.Fourteen and OlderView book details
MoonriseSarah CrossanJoe, 17, flies down to Texas to help his brother, convicted of murder and on death row. Engaging free verse creates a stage for intense questions.Fourteen and OlderLexile 669LATOS 4.3View book details
Mature contentSadieCourtney SummersSadie searches for her younger sister’s killer, and West, a journalist, produces a suspenseful podcast months later that follows Sadie’s trail after she vanishes. Told in alternating chapters.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Someone I Used to KnowPatty BlountAs a freshman, Ashley was raped by her brother’s teammate. This compelling account shows how she works through her pain and panic.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentStarry Eyeswritten and illustrated by Jenn BennettZorie and Lennon, estranged best friends, are stranded together in the wilderness during a group camping trip. Can they mend their broken relationship? Black-and- white illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Together at MidnightJennifer CastleWhen a woman fleeing an abusive boyfriend is run over, guilt-ridden bystanders Kendall and Max accept a dare to commit seven random acts of kindness within the next four days.Fourteen and OlderView book details
TraditionBrendan KielyJules and Jamie support each other through self- reflection and advocacy at a prestigious boarding school where the hidden curriculum encourages a rape culture and toxic masculinity.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Way You Make Me FeelMaurene Goo16-year-old Korean Brazilian American Clara is forced to spend the summer working on her father’s food truck with Rose, whom she hates. Can sharing responsibility turn these enemies into friends?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentWe Kiss Them with RainFuthi NtshingilaA young South African girl grows up under the clouds of poverty, AIDS, death, and rape.Fourteen and OlderView book details
We’ll Fly AwayBryan BlissLuke and Toby try to sustain each other through pain and loss during the years, but then . . . A complicated grim picture of the lives of two friends.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentWhat I Leave BehindAlison McGheeSensitive, gentle, 16-year-old Will walks the L.A. streets trying to outpace his grief over his father’s suicide and despair over his friend’s gang rape. Illustrated with soft grey Chinese calligraphy.Fourteen and OlderView book details
When My Heart Joins the ThousandA. J. SteigerTwo adolescent orphans, struggling to survive in the face of incredibly difficult family circumstances, reach out to one another. A very tender love story.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Wild Blue WonderCarlie SorosiakOne tragic summer has turned 17-year-old Quinn’s world upside down. As she struggles with feelings of grief, guilt, and loss, a new boy appears in town.Fourteen and OlderView book details
WinterfolkJanel KolbyFifteen-year-old Rain, living in a homeless compound with her alcoholic father, must confront the real world when her tent city is threatened with destruction.Fourteen and OlderView book details
ZenobiaMorten DürrWith spare drawings and few words, this deeply moving book powerfully conveys the horrors of war for children in Syria or any conflict-torn country.Fourteen and OlderView book details
For Every OneJason ReynoldsIn a letter written to anyone who has a dream, and based on his own experience, Reynolds offers reassurance and encouragement that following your dream is of paramount importance.Fourteen and OlderView book details
JabberwalkingJuan Felipe HerreraInspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic nonsense poem, “Jabberwocky,” this former US Poet Laureate encourages performance poetry in the moment, while on the move. Biographical vignettes. Black line illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentMary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary ShelleyLita JudgeResilience, tragedy, passion, and genius characterize the story of Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein. Black- and-white watercolor illustrations and free verse mesmerize the reader.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Poet XElizabeth AcevedoXiomara, a teenage poet, must write and must share her poetry. Her determination and the help of those who love her let her shine.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL800LATOS 5.2View book details
INFORMATION BOOKS Photographic: The Life of Graciela IturbideIsabel QuinteroA poet narrator and a graphic artist craft a biography of a Mexicana photography icon whose eye captures powerful black-and-white images of cultures and places.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Americanized: Rebel without a Green CardSara SaediSara Saedi recounts her teenage angst and fears growing up as an undocumented Iranian immigrant in suburban California. Written with humor, historical references, and original diary entries. Photographs.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All AgesMelissa de la CruzThirty-eight amazing women share their inspiring stories of overcoming gender- and race-biased obstacles to their many varied goals. Photographs of each author.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the HolocaustPlanaria Price, with Helen Reichmann WestThis autobiography is the compelling story of survival of a young woman who was able to hide from the Nazis during World War II. Archival photographs.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movementthe founders of March for Our LivesStudents who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School share how they turned grief into the March for Our Lives movement. Includes “10 Commonsense Reforms,” photographs.Fourteen and OlderView book detailsHey, KiddoJarrett J. KrosoczkaJarrett grows up with his single, heroin-addicted mother, moves in with his grandparents, and finds his voice through art. Digitally finished pencil and ink soft- edged panels with muted orange watercolor.Fourteen and OlderLexile GN510LATOS 3.5View book details
Mature contentI Have the Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and HopeChessy Prout, with Jenn AbelsonAlthough the author endured trauma from a sexual assault, she has become an advocate for other survivors. Readers learn that support from family, therapists, friends, and others overcomes obstacles.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, AdventurerSarah B. Pomeroy, Jeyaraney KathirithambyArtist and scientist Maria Sibylla Merian, born in 1647, began, as a young girl, investigating, observing, and drawing insects throughout their life cycles. Illustrated with Merian’s artwork. Glossary and bibliography.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and CourageIn This Together Media, foreword by Amy KlobucharPersonal, expressive essays and one gray-scale comic strip recount stories of how the contributors navigated challenging situations because of their marginalized identities. Biographies and discussion questions included.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition: An Up and Out Collectionwritten and illustrated by Julia KayeJulia shares a very personal and honest account of the struggles and emotional pain she experienced while transitioning from male to female. Black-and-white comic strips.Fourteen and OlderView book details
HEALTH (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental HealthKelly JensenContributors recognized for their public accomplishments divulge their varied experiences with neurodivergence, mental illness, and their paths to wellness and acceptance. Includes resources and biographies.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Period: Twelve Voices Tell the Bloody TruthKate FarrellA dozen contributors share a range of personal experiences regarding menstruation, offering ways to destigmatize a natural function that has become a human rights issue. Resources in back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentUnpunished Murder: Massacre at Colfax and the Quest for JusticeLawrence GoldstoneDuring Reconstruction, a white militia terrorizes an established African American community in a Central Louisiana town without being brought to justice. Archival photos. Extensive back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian RefugeesDon BrownFollow the events that sparked the Arab Spring, the war in Syria, and the decision by many Syrians to flee their country. Digitally colored pen and ink illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918Albert MarrinThis unsparing account the World War I-era pandemic includes information on the science, history, and geopolitical context of the event. Black-and-white photographs, maps, and charts.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentVotes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the BallotWinifred ConklingThe road to women’s suffrage in the U.S., beginning in 1848, was long and bumpy, ultimately leading to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920. Archival photographs. Back notes.Fourteen and OlderView book details
We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial DivideCarol Anderson, with Tonya Bolden, foreword by Nic StoneThis detailed history of the systemic oppression and disenfranchisement of African Americans by white Americans is an adaptation for young adults of White Rage. Discussion questions and further reading.Fourteen and OlderView book details
LAW & JUSTICE Economic Inequality: The American Dream under SiegeCoral Celeste FrazerThe hows, whys, and wheres of fiscal unfairness in the United States are carefully described. Photographs, notes and bibliography.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Attucks!: Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team That Awakened a CityPhillip HooseThe record-shattering all-black Attucks High School varsity basketball team triumphed over lack of resources and pervasive racism to propel Indianapolis’s integration in the 1950s.Fourteen and OlderView book details
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Vaccination Investigation: The History and Science of VaccinesTara HaelleWhy are immunizations so important? Learn about their history and development, including claims about safety and effectiveness. Extensive back matter and archival photos.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Fakers: An Insider’s Guide to Cons, Hoaxes, and ScamsH. P. WoodThis account of scams, from the ancient Greeks’ Trojan horse to the hustles of Internet con artists, includes tips on how to keep from falling prey to swindlers. Humorous illustrations, photographs, and paintings. Includes sources.Fourteen and OlderView book details