13 Stories about Ayanawritten and illustrated by Amy SchwartzAyana and her family, along with her friend, Harris, have many event-filled days. Bright, colorful gouache and pen-and-ink illustrations.Under FiveView book detailsBank Street Best Children's Books of the Year 2023
A large annual list organized by age group and subject.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2023 edition]See the original list
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Published byBank Street College of Education
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Under Five
140 selections
13 Stories about Ayanawritten and illustrated by Amy SchwartzAyana and her family, along with her friend, Harris, have many event-filled days. Bright, colorful gouache and pen-and-ink illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Abuelita and MeLeonarda CarranzaIndoors, a girl treasures quality time with her abuelita. But outdoors, Abuelita sometimes faces unkindness and racism. Together, the two find strength in each other. Vibrant, animated illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Baby’s Here!Jessica YoungThis interactive and playful rhyming celebration of the arrival of a new sibling is told from the perspective of diverse toddlers. Soft pastel illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Ballet Kidswritten and illustrated by Holly SterlingIn Mr. Elliot’s dance class, Thomas and his friends move freely and are encouraged to experience the magic from within. Bright illustrations evoke pure joy.Under FiveView book details
Bathe the CatAlice B. McGintyGrandma's coming over soon, so it’s time to clean up the house. But why does that keep getting harder and harder? Humorous, detailed illustrations provide a clue.Under FiveView book details
Bearplane!Deborah UnderwoodA cub taking a first plane ride learns what to expect on the journey. Rhyming text and playful illustrations will provide excellent preparation for the youngest travelers.Under FiveLexile AD460LATOS 3.1View book details
Berry SongMichaela GoadeA Tlingit girl enjoys foraging with her grandmother and passes on the tradition to her younger sister. Lyrical language with a cycling refrain. Lush watercolor and mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveLexile 740LATOS 2.9View book details
Beyond the Burrowwritten and illustrated by Jessica MeserveA home-loving bunny braves the world, finding that taking a chance can lead to wonderful adventures and new friendships. Soothing digital art.Under FiveView book details
Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Take an Evening Strollwritten and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup, translated from the German by Nicola StuartEager to return home, Big Hedgehog prods Little Hedgehog, who repeatedly stops to savor the sights, smells, and sounds of their world. Textured color pages capture setting and mood.Under FiveView book details
The Big ScreamKirsti CallLittle ones learn how to manage a tantrum. Sweet, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Bright Brown Baby: A TreasuryAndrea Davis PinkneyFive poems celebrate the joys of brown babies and their families. Rhythmic text with whirling watercolor and ink illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Bright Winter NightAlli BrydonOn a winter’s night, a group of animals work together to build a sled so they can see the northern lights. Mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD680LATOS 4.4View book details
Brown Sugar BabyKevin LewisThe sweetness of babies is celebrated through rhyming text. Warm, vibrant illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Bumblebee Grumblebeewritten and illustrated by David ElliotAnimals are shown with alter egos, transformed by lighthearted wordplay. Sweet, beautifully detailed pastel illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Button BookSally NichollsAnimals find surprises when they press variously colored buttons. Childlike black-and-white illustrations with color accents.Under FiveLexile AD440LATOS 3View book details
The Catalogue of HugsJoshua David Stein, Augustus Heeren SteinEngaging water color illustrations humorously and lovingly capture the many ways a hug can offer inclusion and affection.Under FiveView book details
Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to RhymeAvery MonsenWill Chester be able to recover his special talent? Can his classmates help? Humorous text blends with animated gouache colored-pencil illustrations and rhyme-filled endpapers.Under FiveWord count 306View book details
Dog Says, Cat SaysMarilyn SingerIn rhyming couplets, two house pets alternate narrating a day with their humans. Delightful, animated pencil illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Don’t Worry, Murraywritten and illustrated by David Ezra SteinGentle reassurance from an omniscient narrator helps an anxious long-eared pup conquer his fears. But does it? Humorous animated mixed-media cartoonish illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Everywhere with YouCarlie SorosiakA girl bonds nightly with the next-door dog through snacks and books, stimulating both of their imaginations. Lyrical mixed-media artwork, including illustrated endpapers.Under FiveView book details
Fire Chief FranLinda AshmanVibrant acrylic illustrations and punchy rhymed text give a clear picture of the lives of firefighters. Informative “fast facts” appear at the end.Under FiveLexile AD590LATOS 3.8View book details
Firefighter Flo! (Big Jobs, Bold Women series)Andrea ZimmermanA heroic female chief and her crew of diverse characters rush to the fire scene, saving a puppy. Vibrant illustrations. Packed with action and sound words.Under FiveView book details
Frances in the CountryLiz Garton ScanlonA young Black girl experiences the pleasures of rural life while also finding vitality and family love in her own urban environment. Snappy text and playful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Giant Giantwritten and illustrated by Dylan HewittA village learns how to stop their troubles and turn outsized bullies into friends through cooperation. Muted digital drawings.Under FiveView book details
A Gift for Nanawritten and illustrated by Lane SmithIn this tenderhearted and offbeat saga, a rabbit searches for the perfect gift. Handsomely designed digital art with subtle greens punctuated with bursts of color.Under FiveLexile 550LATOS 3.6View book details
Girl DadSean WilliamsStrong, supportive dads are presented from their children’s point of view. Black fathers and daughters are featured. Pencil, gouache, and watercolor cartoon-style digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Give Me a Snickle!Alisha Sevigny“A snuggle. A tickle. ” That combination is a “snickle. ” With photos of diverse babies and loving adults and funny made-up words, this is a gem.Under FiveView book details
A Good Placewritten and illustrated by Lucy CousinsFour different insects with diverse needs look for a place where they can live happily together. Vibrant gouache illustrations enhance the storyline.Under FiveWord count 304View book details
Good-bye, Bearwritten and illustrated by Jane ChapmanFriends mourn and process the death of their good friend Bear. Colorful illustrations help share how Bear is remembered by his friends.Under FiveView book details
Grandma and MeCarole Boston WeatherfordIn the yard or the kitchen, on laps and in loving arms, brown and Black babies and toddlers spend joyful moments with their grandmothers. Simple rhyming text and gentle, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
A Grandma’s MagicCharlotte OffsayDiverse grandmothers and grandchildren engage in favorite activities, forging bonds of enduring love. Lyrical text with animated color illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Great ZapfinoMac BarnettA circus high diver who has lost his nerve finds himself forced to face his fears. Nearly wordless. Dramatic pencil illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD520LATOS 3.4View book details
Hands On!Anne WynterA baby makes the journey to taking their first steps. Sweet mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Hats Are Not for Cats!written and illustrated by Jacqueline K. RaynerAn exuberant cat, aided by a vast array of hats, tries to persuade an increasingly frustrated dog that hats can be for everyone. Rhyming text. Watercolor and charcoal illustrations.Under FiveWord count 168View book details
Here We Come!Janna MatthiesThis rollicking cumulative tale of a jolly parade is perfect for chanting along to. Pencil and ink artwork add to the fun.Under FiveView book details
Horse and Buggy on Ice (I Like to Read series)written and illustrated by Ethan LongHorse can skate, but naysaying Buggy doubts Horse can do tricks. Can he? Energetic illustrations enrich the storytelling.Under FiveView book details
I Am GoldenEva ChenA loving ode to immigrant Chinese American children celebrates the strength and power of their history, culture, and language. Colorful, expressive digital illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD650LATOS 4.2View book details
I Like This, You Like ThatLinda AshmanTwo children value their friendship even though they have little in common. A great message for our world. Gentle watercolor and crayon art.Under FiveView book details
I Want My Book BackViviane ElbeeCan Daryl ever find consolation after being devastated when he is unable to renew his favorite dinosaur book? Emotive humorous bold color illustrations.Under FiveView book details
I Won’t Give Up My Rubber Bandwritten and illustrated by Shinsuke Yoshitake translated from the Japanese by Sofiane KohenA little girl uses a rubber band imaginatively to expand her world. Pen and digital illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD470LATOS 3.2View book details
I’m a Little Pumpkin (I’m a Little series)Hannah EliotThis introduction to all varieties of pumpkins, in verse, can be sung to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot. ” Humorous mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
I’m Still Up!written and illustrated by Antoinette PortisParents are ready to say good night, but baby is not! Repeating text. Sweet mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
I’m Terrified of Bath TimeSimon RichAn anthropomorphized bathtub shares its dread of having its space violated by its recalcitrant toddler bather. Can the experience be made better for both? Cartoon-style illustrations highlight the tub’s complaints.Under FiveView book details
I’m Up!written and illustrated by Antoinette PortisEarly-riser baby wakes everybody up! Sunny, mixed- media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Joy RideSherri Duskey RinkerThis is a winning combination: a loving supportive grandfather, a unique bicycle, and a girl who figures out what is important to her. Appealing digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Kunoichi BunnySara CassidyA toddler, unbeknownst to her stroller-pushing father, uses her stuffed bunny throughout the day to prevent potential disasters. Wordless graphic format with muted palette.Under FiveView book details
Leila, the Perfect Witchwritten and illustrated by Flavia Z. DragoLeila enters the witchy cake-off to prove her worth in the Dark Arts of Patisserie. She learns winning isn’t the only way to have fun. Humor enhanced by comic illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Let’s Do Everything and Nothingwritten and illustrated by Julia KuoThis lyrical ode shows the love between a parent and child. Digital illustrations portray this bond in both imaginary and everyday moments.Under FiveLexile AD410LATOS 2.8View book details
Lily Leads the WayMargi PreusA tiny boat in the Great Lakes harbor saves the day when the tall ships come to town. Bold oil paint art. Back matter about bridges.Under FiveView book details
The Line in the Sandwritten and illustrated by Thao LamMonsters cavort together in the sand until they discover a line drawn in it, sparking a boundary war. Chaos ensues, obliterating the line. Now what? Bold geometrical illustrations. Wordless.Under FiveLexile NP0LATOS 0.1View book details
Little Bat Up All Daywritten and illustrated by Brian LiesRusty the Squirrel and Little Bat may have different sleep schedules, but they develop a way to keep their friendship going. Realistic mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Little HousesKevin HenkesA girl goes out with her grandparents to the beach to collect shells and wonders about the creatures who once lived in them. Dreamy acrylic illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Long Ride Homewritten and illustrated by Stephanie GraeginIt’s hard when a best friend moves far away. Digitally created muted color illustrations evoke nostalgia.Under FiveView book details
Love Is All Around (Brown Baby Parade series)Nikki Shannon SmithA big sister notices all the ways that love is part of her day. Mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Mama and Mommy and Me in the MiddleNina LaCourMommy leaves on a business trip. The separation is very hard, despite much love and support from all the grown ups. Vibrant, detailed mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveLexile 420LATOS 2.9View book details
Me and My MamaCarole Boston WeatherfordBlack children of various skin tones and physical appearances reflect on the love they have for their mothers. Colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Me and the Family TreeCarole Boston WeatherfordA young Black girl discovers the ways in which she is part of her family, even though she is unique. Lively, colorful illustrations accompany the lyrical rhyming text.Under FiveView book details
Millions of MaxesMeg WolitzerMax discovers he is not the one and only Max—a great name he is happy to share. Warm, engaging illustrations of the various Maxes.Under FiveLexile AD500LATOS 3.3View book details
The Most Important Thingwritten and illustrated by Antonella Abbatiello translated from the Italian by Angus Yuen-KillickAnimals all think their special characteristics are the most important, but find that such traits are absurd when superimposed on other animals. Large fold-out colored pages celebrate diversity.Under FiveView book details
The Mouse Who Carried a House on His BackJonathan StutzmanMouse takes his magical ever-expanding house to places where animals, big and small, require food and shelter, and makes them all welcome. Mixed-media illustrations with double-page spreads and center foldouts.Under FiveWord count 752View book details
Mushroom Lullabywritten and illustrated by Kenneth KraegelRhyming text and warm ink and watercolor illustrations invite readers to consider the mushroom as a cozy habitat for small creatures.Under FiveView book details
My Day in the Parkwritten and illustrated by Marta Orzel translated from the French by Johanna McCalmontReaders are invited to explore all the things that Sam discovers when taking a walk through a park. Colorful illustrations depict 14 destinations.Under FiveView book details
Nigel and the MoonAntwan EadyIt is difficult being the only Black child in class, but loving parents and an empathetic teacher help Nigel find his voice. Appealing gouache and watercolor illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD550LATOS 2.7View book details
Old FriendsMargaret AitkenMissing activities once shared with her grandmother, Marjorie creatively finds kindred spirits at a senior center. Engaging digital art.Under FiveView book details
Old Wood Boatwritten and illustrated by Nikki McClureA family lovingly restores a deserted wood boat, which leads them to adventures. Digital illustrations resemble woodcuts. Glossary of nautical terms.Under FiveLexile 420LATOS 2.9View book details
Olu and Gretawritten and illustrated by Diana EjaitaTwo cousins, one from Nigeria, the other from Italy, can meet only virtually, but have a rich, companionable friendship. Dramatic illustrations on black backgrounds.Under FiveLexile 330LATOS 2.4View book details
On a Gold-Blooming Day: Finding Fall TreasuresBuffy Silverman, photographed by Buffy Silverman, various other photographersExplore changes and treasures in nature as summer turns to fall. Full-color photographs are paired perfectly with poetry. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
On My Papa’s Shoulderswritten and illustrated by Niki DalyA boy relates the experiences he has walking to school with different members of his South African family. His favorite moments are those with his father. Joyful, brightly colored illustrations.Under FiveView book details
One Big DayAnne WynterBaby’s first birthday is celebrated in simple rhyming text with colorful and vibrant mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
One Boy WatchingGrant Snider, illustrated by Grant SniderA boy rides the bus each morning from his rural home to his urban school, cataloguing the sights along the way by number. Vibrant colored pencil and marker illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Our World Is a Family: Our Community Can Change the WorldMiry Whitehill, Jennifer JacksonA timely picture book encourages children to welcome new neighbors who are immigrants or refugees hoping for a better life. Vibrant pictures amplify the message of kindness and compassion.Under FiveView book details
A Park Connects UsSarah NelsonThe park invites people of every size, age, ethnicity, gender, and ability to share in its boundless offerings. Lyrical text and illustrations with animated bursts of color.Under FiveView book details
Pip and ZipElana K. ArnoldOn a neighborhood walk during the time of COVID, children discover abandoned eggs and find ways to care for them. Free verse. Digitally colored pencil illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Playtime for Restless RascalsNikki GrimesThe work of childhood is play; this book captures the exuberance of a young Black child with doting parents who encourage nonstop daily adventures. Vibrant, joyful illustrations.Under FiveLexile 479LATOS 3.2View book details
Popswritten and illustrated by Gavin BishopA child and a grandfather spend a quiet day together. Soft illustrations complement the spare text.Under FiveView book details
Rainy Days (Weather Days series)Deborah KerbelRhyming couplets present all the ways a preschooler can learn from and enjoy the rain. Gorgeous collage and mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Rocket Finds an Egg (Steps into Reading series)Elle StephensAfter numerous failed attempts, will Rocket the dog and his squirrel friend, Bella, ever find out to whom an egg belonged? Bright color illustrations illuminate the beginner reader text.Under FiveView book details
Rodney Was a TortoiseNan ForlerWhen her pet tortoise dies, Bernadette feels alone with her sadness until another child shares his own experience with loss. Watercolor and pencil artwork.Under FiveLexile AD560LATOS 3.7View book details
Sea (Look, Touch, Learn series) illustratedCharlotte ArcherImages of the sea are depicted in bright colors, shapes, moving parts, and tactile elements to stimulate very young babies during “tummy time. ”Under FiveView book details
See You Someday SoonPat Zietlow MillerThe distance between a grandchild and grandmother who live far apart is lessened by their shared language and playful modes of staying in touch. Engaging illustrations include die-cuts.Under FiveView book details
Sometimes, All I Need Is Mewritten and illustrated by Juliana PerdomoVivid digital folk art and simple text capture a young girl’s ways of building confidence when faced with new situations.Under FiveWord count 231View book details
Sometimes I Grumblesquinch (Big Feelings series)Rachel VailDocile Katie “grumblesquinches” her less appealing emotions deep inside until “kaplooming” in frustration. Ultimately, she learns that whatever she’s feeling, she is always lovable. Childlike colored pencil art. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
Sometimes LoveKatrina MooreThe relationship of a loving, mixed-race military family with their dog is challenged as they move from post to post. Back matter and expressive digital art.Under FiveView book details
Song in the CityDaniel BernstromA young blind Black girl experiences the city through sound and shares the song with her hesitant grandmother. Digital illustrations make the sound effects jump off the pages.Under FiveView book details
Still This Love Goes OnBuffy Sainte-MarieAn illustrated song by the Cree songwriter celebrates change in seasons and the permanence of love. Pastel and pencil artwork. Sheet music included.Under FiveLexile AD370LATOS 2.6View book details
Sun Flower Lionwritten and illustrated by Kevin HenkesA little lion spends a day using his imagination. Simple, childlike illustrations in black, yellow, and grey.Under FiveView book details
Sweet, Sweet Baby!written and illustrated by Javaka SteptoeA celebration of the joy, hope, and pride that a new baby brings. Striking, bold illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Take off Your Brave: The World through the Eyes of a Preschool PoetNadimInspired by his mother, four-year-old Nadim, with a contribution from his sister and school, shares his vivid poetic musings. Punctuated with expressive mixed- media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Tale of the WhaleKaren SwannA brown-skinned girl joins a whale in a magical tour of the ocean. Sadly, they discover hazardous plastic pollution; the girl vows to tell the world about it. Lush illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Tell Me a Lion Storywritten and illustrated by Kara KramerEngaging stylized illustrations accompany this clever tale of a child anxious for a story where they (and the reader) are important contributors.Under FiveView book details
That’s My Sweater!written and illustrated by Jessika von InnerebnerHanding down her favorite sweater to her younger sibling creates rivalry and a humorous resolution. Photoshopped cartoonish illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD430LATOS 2.9View book details
That’s Not My Name!written and illustrated by Anoosha SyedA brown-skinned girl confronts her classmates who mispronounce her Arabic name, Mirha, after her mother explains its uniqueness. Animated bold color illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD530LATOS 3.5View book details
This Book Will Get You to Sleep!Jory JohnNeed to get to sleep? Try listening to roaring trucks and wailing guitars, or counting sheep being chased by dragons. Energetic art accompanies the wry humor of the participatory text.Under FiveWord count 101View book details
Together We RideValerie BollingA father helps his daughter learn to ride a bike, each step depicted in gentle mixed-media illustrations reflecting love and patience. Rhyming text.Under FiveView book details
Too EarlyNora EricsonA young child wakes long before her family is ready to get up. Then she and her father await the dawn. Rhythmic language. Luminous art.Under FiveWord count 360View book details
Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad WolfDavide CaliThis counting book riffs on the well-known fable, including humorous, child-pleasing dialogue, with opportunities to explore language and math concepts. Artwork is silly and fun.Under FiveView book details
Tortoise and Hare: A Fairy Tale to Help You Find Balance (Feel-Good Fairy Tales series)Susan VerdeTwo friends join together, finding the perfect pace to finish a race. Descriptions of three child-friendly yoga poses included. Digital art.Under FiveView book details
Tummy Time!: A High-Contrast Fold-Out Book with Mirrorwritten and illustrated by Mama Makes BooksThis board book for infants and babies supports visual stimulation, brain development, and strength building. Black, white, and red illustrations.Under FiveView book details
We Are LovePatricia HegartyAnimals and their babies celebrate their love. Rhyming text. Illustrations employing die-cuts demonstrate togetherness as the reader turns the pages.Under FiveView book details
Welcome to Your WorldSmriti Prasadam-HallsA newborn is introduced to the world through the animal kingdom. In verse. Rich, detailed illustrations.Under FiveView book details
When You Joined Our FamilyHarriet EvansSimple text and colorful illustrations portray ethnically and racially diverse families celebrating the joys of adoption.Under FiveView book details
Where Is Bina Bear?written and illustrated by Mike CuratoTiny’s search for one missing party guest keeps turning up oddly guest-shaped objects that talk. Why might Bina be hiding? Gently colorful mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveLexile AD180LATOS 0.7View book details
While You SleepJennifer MarunoAll the magical things that happen during a toddler’s slumber are presented through fanciful collage illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Will We Always Hold Hands?Christopher ChengA panda confirms that it will stand by its rat friend through many circumstances. Cartoon illustrations convey a deep friendship and reassurance that the bond will continue, even if the two ever have to be apart.Under FiveLexile AD530LATOS 3.5View book details
Windy Days (Weather Days series)Deborah KerbelThis important natural force is celebrated in rhyming couplets. Fabric collage illustrations. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
The Winter BirdKate BanksA nightingale unable to fly south for the winter survives with the help of the animals able to handle the cold. Beautiful digital illustrations.Under FiveWord count 650View book details
Year of the CatRichard HoA mission, organized by Rat, entices all the Zodiac animals to apologize to Cat for preventing her from finishing the Great Race, with surprising results. Colorful digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Yes! No!: A First Conversation about Consent (First Conversations series)Megan Madison, Jessica RalliBold, expressive illustrations and straightforward text empower young children to understand their own bodies, demand respect, and show respect to others. Additional content for adult readers.Under FiveView book details
10 Things I Love about You!Danielle McLeanIn this counting book, a child expresses her warm feelings for her mother. Rhyming text. Mixed-media illustrations with touch-and-feel textural elements.Under FiveView book details
After the Buzz Comes the Bee: Lift-the-Flap Animal SoundsRachel Isadora, Robie RoggeEach whimsical, colorful, glossy double-page spread invites children to discover an animal, under the sturdy flap, that matches that creature’s sound.Under FiveView book details
All Are NeighborsAlexandra PenfoldClear, simple text and cheerful, colorful mixed-media illustrations depict the elements that make up a community.Under FiveLexile AD300LATOS 2.3View book details
Big and Small and In-BetweenCarter HigginsAn imaginative visual exploration of size in both physical objects and emotional experiences. Expressive illustrations in deep colors and intriguing textures. Several clever paper foldouts.Under FiveLexile NP0LATOS 0.1View book details
Black: The Many Wonders of My WorldNancy Johnson JamesAn ode to the color black, both visually and abstractly, evokes a deeper appreciation for the origin and creation of all colors. Bold, striking mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Book of Opposites (Here We Are series)written and illustrated by Oliver JeffersOpposites are presented in single words alongside amusing, imaginative illustrations that capture the concepts clearly.Under FiveView book details
Foodie FacesBill Wurtzel, Claire WurtzelEmotions are explored through humorous food art. Glossary and guide to an at-home activity.Under FiveView book details
The Ghosts Went FloatingKim NormanRead or sing along to the tune of “The Ants Go Marching” as colorful, creepy creatures dance under moonlit skies with jaunty numbers.Under FiveView book details
My Feelingswritten and illustrated by Jeffrey TurnerA prickly porcupine introduces emotions such as anger, shyness, disappointment, and excitement, each in simple, relatable text with expressive, evocative, and colorful double-page spreads.Under FiveView book details
Namaste Is a GreetingSuma SubramaniamSimple lyrical text and animated, richly colored illustrations introduce the many meanings of namaste— peace, joy, and more.Under FiveView book details
One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with MeJohn Micklos Jr.Counting leaves, in ascending order in spring and descending order in fall, captures the rhythm of the seasons. Bright, eye-catching mixed-media pictures.Under FiveLexile AD370LATOS 2.6View book details
Ready or Not, Here I Come!Emilia ZebrowskaA zookeeper finds all of his animal friends during a preposition-rich game of hide-and-seek. Rhymed text. Richly colored mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Ruffles and the Teeny Tiny Kittens (Ruffles Series)written and illustrated by David MellingThe plot vehicle of a dog ultimately willing to share with kittens is used to introduce action words paired with whimsical animated illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Rumble and Roar: Sound around the WorldSue FliessFour children in different parts of the world enjoy nature’s sounds. Lush mixed-media illustrations. Back matter includes scientific information.Under FiveView book details
Sumo Colors (Little Sumo series)Sanae IshidaCheerful, vibrant illustrations depict red (aka) lanterns, yellow gingko leaves, and other elements of Japanese culture. Bilingual in Japanese and English.Under FiveView book details
Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting BookYing-Hwa HuOn a walk through Chinatown, Mia and her uncle see and count lychees, paper lanterns, and other elements of Chinese culture that will appeal to young readers. In Mandarin and English. Watercolor and pastel illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Vámonos: Mexican Folk Art Transport in English and Spanish (Mexican Folk Art in English and Spanish series)Cynthia Weill, wooden sculptures by Martín Melchor, Agustín Tinoco Cruz, Avelino Pérez, Maximino SantiagoExplore the many modes of transportation that can take animals and their friends to a special location. Colorful, hand-crafted sculptures illustrate the journey.Under FiveView book details
What’s Your Name?written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeny MurguiaThrough catchy rhymes with colorful animated illustrations of diverse children proclaiming their names in speech bubbles, the many functions of names are explored, such as identifiers and salutations.Under FiveView book details
In Our Teeny Tiny Matzah HouseBill Wurtzel, Claire WurtzelTold by Kitzel the cat, this rollicking holiday tale is reminiscent of the Yiddish folktale “It Could Be Worse. ” Food art collage illustrations enliven the story.Under FiveView book details
Little Santa’s Workshopwritten and illustrated by Lala WatkinsLittle Santa’s getting ready for Christmas. He and his elves are building toys, checking lists, and making treats for his visit on Christmas Eve. Inviting graphics.Under FiveView book details
One Sun and Countless Stars: A Muslim Book of NumbersHena KhanShare a child’s day observing Muslim customs, each paired with a number. Vibrant illustrations bring us into his world. Glossary and back matter.Under FiveLexile AD510LATOS 3.4View book details
The Twelve Cats of ChristmasFeather FloresIn a new take on the traditional carol, twelve cute and mischievous cats make Christmas more festive with their usual antics! Humorous, detailed mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveWord count 421View book details
Armadillo AnticsBill Martin Jr., Michael SampsonRhyming couplets introduce this nocturnal mammal as it runs, digs, eats, and eventually returns to its burrow at sunrise. Visually arresting mixed-media art. Armadillo facts.Under FiveView book details
Mother Goose Goes to IndiaKabir Sehgal, Surishtha SehgalFifteen classic European rhymes are reimagined with Hindi words, such as London Bridge becoming Tunga Bridge. Vibrant artwork captures the sights and sounds of modern India.Under FiveView book details
One SkyAaron BeckerGraceful verse follows the day from dawn to dark. Abstract art with stained-glass-like cutouts allows the light to shine through.Under FiveView book details
Do Baby Elephants Suck Their Trunks?: Amazing Ways Animals Are Just Like UsBen LerwillYoung children are invited to explore both the uniqueness and similarities between themselves and animals, such as thumb sucking and losing teeth. Colorful collage and digital illustrations on double-page spreads.Under FiveView book details
Hello, Puddle!Anita SanchezLush color scenic illustrations reveal the many uses of puddles for wildlife as bathing and drinking sites, oases, breeding grounds, and more. Extensive back matter.Under FiveWord count 295View book details
How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outsidewritten and illustrated by Kari PercivalA how-to guide for the youngest gardeners that introduces some creatures they’ll encounter and demonstrates that patience leads to rewards. Gleeful illustrations appeal to all the senses.Under FiveView book details
Look and Listen: Who’s in the Garden, Meadow, Brook?Dianne WhiteThe beauty of the natural world is conveyed through rhyming text and striking collage artwork, using a simple question and answer format. Back matter extends the information.Under FiveView book details
Odd Birds: Meet Nature’s Weirdest FlockLaura GehlDramatic, strikingly bright pictures and simple text present eight very strange birds. Detailed back matter explains the reasons for their odd features.Under FiveView book details
A Seed GrowsAntoinette PortisFollow a sunflower’s life cycle as it grows from a seed until it reseeds. Artwork uses varied printing techniques (including potato stamping and printing with a celery stalk). Back matter.Under FiveLexile 401LATOS 2.8View book details
Solitary Animals: Introverts of the WildJoshua David SteinObserve a parade of elephants and other animals who live together, as well as animals who live alone, like the solitary eagle. Striking digital illustrations. Back matter.Under FiveView book detailsFive to Nine
180 selections
Beatrice Bly’s Rules for Spies: Mystery Goo (Beatrice Bly’s Rules for Spies series)Sue Fliess, illustrated by Beth MillsWhen Beatrice, using her detective skills with her sidekick, Nora, discovers the source of a sticky substance on her table, could it become their winning school project? Animated illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Climb On!Baptiste PaulA dad asks, “Are we there yet?” as his energetic daughter leads the way on a tropical forest hike. Includes Creole terms. Vibrant illustrations lend authenticity to the Caribbean setting.Five to NineView book details
Finding FireLogan S. KlineA young boy in prehistoric times sets out in search of fire. Mixed-media illustrations beautifully tell a wordless story full of challenges and friendship.Five to NineView book details
A Kitten in Gooseberry Park (Gooseberry Park series)Cynthia RylantGood friends Labrador Kona, hermit crab Gwendolyn, and bat Murray help a bobcat kitten find his family after rain sweeps him down the mountain. Cartoony black- and-white spot illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Monsters in the BrinyLynn BeckerSing along to the tune of the sea shanty “Drunken Sailor” as young adventurers strive to survive encounters with various marine creatures. Watercolor illustrations. Sheet music included.Five to NineLexile NP0LATOS 0.1View book details
Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home (Our Friend Hedgehog series)written and illustrated by Lauren CastilloWhen Hedgehog meets creatures just like herself, she learns that she’s meant to hibernate. But will she choose to leave old friends behind? Colorful illustrations of the natural world.Five to NineView book details
Hot DogDoug SalatiA little dachshund with a big personality ventures out for a refreshing day at the beach. Expressive illustrations appear in panels and full-page spreads.Five to NineLexile NPView book details
Beginning Reader Am I a Frog? (I Like to Read series)written and illustrated by Lizzy RockwellA simple, clear introduction to the way a tadpole turns into a frog. Calming blue and green watercolor and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Billy & Rose: Forever Friends (Billy & Rose series)by Amy Hest, illustrated by Kady MacDonald DentonBilly, an industrious sheep, and Rose, a playful pig, are best buddies who both challenge and inspire each other but always end up compromising. Lively, humorous illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Cornbread & Poppy (Cornbread and Poppy series)written and illustrated by Matthew CordellTwo very different endearing friends have an adventure as winter approaches. Pen and ink and watercolor illustrations add detail to the story.Five to NineView book details
Gigi and Ojiji (I Can Read! series)Melissa IwaiA biracial girl, eagerly awaiting her Japanese grandfather’s arrival, is initially nonplussed by cultural differences and a language barrier. How will they connect? Bright, cheery illustrations.Five to NineLexile 500LATOS 3.3View book details
Maddie and Mabel (Maddie and Mabel series)Kari AllenTwo sisters navigate their relationship and learn the power of imagination, play, and forgiveness. Digital art.Five to NineView book details
Make Way for Fenway! series • Fenway and the Bone Thieves • Fenway and the Frisbee TrickVictoria J. CoeFenway, a loveable dog with a playful, yet persistent personality, has many adventures. Accessible text with heart and humor. Black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Monsters in a Mess (Red Truck Monsters series)Candice RansomA messy family cleans up to make room for a pet goldfish. Will their tidy ways continue? Rhyming text. Playful illustrations.Five to NineView book details
A Is for Bee: An Alphabet Book in Translationwritten and illustrated by Ellen HeckWell-known animals portrayed in bold stylized digital illustrations are identified in different languages. Web- based pronunciation guide.Five to NineView book details
Brown Is BeautifulSupriya KelkarA celebration of the color brown in its many shades, as it appears in nature and people. Warm illustrations show a range of skin tones.Five to NineView book details
Home Is Where the Birds SingCynthia RylantExpressive, brightly colored illustrations and simple text explore the experiences and love that make a place a home.Five to NineLexile AD360LATOS 2.6View book details
Meanwhile Back on Earth…: Finding Our Place through Time and Spacewritten and illustrated by Oliver JeffersSnapshot-like views from the cosmos of earthly conflicts of the past are presented in reverse chronological order. Jewel-like illustrations. Solar system map. Time line.Five to NineView book details
My Self, Your Selfwritten and illustrated by Esmé ShapiroA woodland creature shares the many qualities that make us unique, while appreciating similarities and differences. Question and answer format. Pen, watercolor, and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Not So SmallPat Zietlow MillerA powerful message about each person’s role in improving the world, both individually and with others. Joyful illustrations depict a diverse community.Five to NineView book details
The Pathwritten and illustrated by Bob StaakeDramatic landscapes depicted in a variety of intense and soft colors reflect the twists and turns that everyone will face on the journey of life. Figurative language.Five to NineLexile AD710LATOS 4.5View book details
Abdul’s StoryJamilah Thompkins-BigelowAbdul, a dark-skinned boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing, is assured by an author visiting the school that it is OK to make mistakes. Colorful digital illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD540LATOS 2.9View book details
Bear in the FamilyEric WaltersAfter a wildfire, a multiracial family finds an orphaned bear cub and cares for it until it can be placed in a wildlife sanctuary. Black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Beauty WokeNoNieqa RamosWhen Puerto Rican Beauty experiences racism and loses her sense of self-worth, her family steps in to empower her. Told in a mix of Spanish and English. Bold illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The CoatSéverine VidalElise can’t wait to get a coveted hand-me-down red coat. Then she sees a mother and child who have no coats. What to do? Stylized watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Coquíes Still SingKarina Nicole GonzálezWhen Category 4 Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the community rebuilt neighborhoods and restored habitats. Vibrant, mixed-media illustrations. Extensive back matter. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile AD600LATOS 2.9View book details
A History of MeAdrea TheodoreThe only brown girl in her class, demeaned by her peers because of her race, gains perspective and pride from her mother’s stories about their female ancestors. Animated color illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Loujain Dreams of SunflowersLina Al-Hathloul, Uma Mishra-NewberyWith her parents’ support, determined Loujain overcomes her society’s limitations and learns to fly as boys do. Immersive gouache illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile 610LATOS 4View book details
Miss Rita, Mystery ReaderSam Donovan, Kristen WixtedTori, a nonbinary young child, is excited but feels uncertain while helping their dad, a drag queen, prepare costumes and makeup to be the class mystery reader. Colorful digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
On This AirplaneLourdes HeuerA family emigrates by plane, along with many others who travel for different purposes. Gouache, cut paper, and digital illustrations deepen the text.Five to NineLexile AD510LATOS 3.4View book details
The TalkAlicia D. WilliamsJay, excited about growing older, has the difficult conversation with his family about growing up Black in a racist society. Digital illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD540LATOS 2.8View book detailsThis Will PassJ. DonniniA great-uncle helps tame his timid great-nephew’s anxiety about storms by explaining that they are temporary. Full-page watercolor and gouache illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Tree of Hope: The Miraculous Rescue of Puerto Rico’s Beloved BanyanAnna Orenstein-CardonaA beloved, ancient tree is brought back to life by the people of San Juan after Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in 2017. Realistic illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Family/School/Community Abuelita and I Make Flanwritten and illustrated by Adriana Hernández BergstromWhile preparing flan for Abuelito’s birthday, Anita accidently breaks her grandmother’s special plate. How will she tell Abuelita? Includes Spanish words and phrases. Bright, playful illustrations. Back matter includes a recipe.Five to NineView book details
All from a WalnutAmmi-Joan PaquetteEmilia’s immigrant grandfather guides her in carrying on their Italian family’s tradition of growing a walnut tree from a single walnut. Comforting green, ochre, and brown illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Alone Like Mewritten and illustrated by Rebecca EvansLiling, taunted and lonely when her parents move from a rural area to an urban environment in China, finds solace through an unexpected friendship. Muted watercolor illustrations. Author’s note.Five to NineView book details
Amah FarawayMargaret Chiu GreaniasIt’s time to visit Amah in Taipei, but Kylie has doubts; everything there is so different. Colorful mixed-media illustrations. Information on Taipei sights and foods.Five to NineView book details
Anna HibiscusAtinukeLively pencil drawings burgeon with the exuberant spirit of Anna’s childhood in a busy Nigerian city.Five to NineLexile 670LATOS 4.1View book details
The Baker by the SeaPaula WhiteA boy dreams of becoming a brave fisherman, but comes to value his father’s job as a baker in their seaside English village. Evocative pencil and ink illustrations. Author’s note.Five to NineView book details
The Best Kind of MooncakePearl AuYeung, illustrated by Pearl AuYeungIn Hong Kong, a starving stranger staggers into a family’s market stall, and the young girl there gives him her prized mooncake. Will this act of kindness be rewarded? Digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Bird FeederAndrew LarsenA girl places her bird feeder on a tree outside her ailing grandmother’s hospice window so they can continue to bird-watch together. Digital illustrations with a calming palette.Five to NineView book details
Black GoldLaura ObuobiLyrical text and rich atmospheric collage illustrations celebrate the Universe’s love for Black children.Five to NineView book details
Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese: A Story of Food, Family, and FreedomGlenda ArmandA Black girl, visiting her Louisiana grandmother, helps prepare a traditional New Year’s feast, learning how each dish connects to African American history. Color illustrations. Sources. Praline recipe included.Five to NineView book details
The Boy Who Loved MapsKari AllenWhen a girl requests a map of “the perfect place” from a young mapmaker, he discovers another way to look at the world. Gouache and pencil illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile AD590LATOS 3.8View book details
The CometJoe Todd-Stanton, illustrated by Joe Todd-StantonNyla mourns her old home when she and her dad move to the city. One night, a comet inspires her to find connections to both places. Richly hued illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Dadaji’s PaintbrushRashmi SirdeshpandeWhen his artist grandfather dies, a boy stops painting until a little girl persuades him to use his skills again. Soft mixed-media illustrations evoke a Goan village.Five to NineView book details
Dance the Hora, IsadoraGloria KosterHer ballet classmates have all shared their favorite dances, but Isadora doesn’t have one. Will she discover it at her cousin’s wedding? Animated bold color illustrations capture the traditional Jewish circle dance.Five to NineView book details
A Day for SandcastlesJonArno LawsonAt the beach, three siblings decide to build and then rebuild their sandcastle each time a wave comes in to wash it away. Ink and watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Eyes That Speak to the StarsJoanna HoWhen a Chinese American boy is hurt by a classmate’s stereotypical drawing of his eyes, his father helps him see all the ways their eyes are wonderful. Joyful illustrations.Five to NineWord count 538View book details
FarmhouseSophie BlackallLyrical verse introduces a farmhouse where a loving family’s 12 children grew up. Multilayered illustrations embedded with artifacts from the house that Blackall now owns.Five to NineLexile 870LATOS 5.6View book details
The FlamingoGuojingA young girl visiting her Chinese grandmother is mesmerized by a pink feather and the tales her Lao Lao tells, inspiring her to create her own stories. Photoshop, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD430LATOS 2.9View book details
Friends Are Friends, ForeverDane LiuWhen her family moves from China to America, Dandan must leave her very best friend. Will she find a new one? Mixed-media collage illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD580LATOS 3.8View book details
GibberishYoung VoAn all-new country, school, and language baffle Dat until a friendly classmate teaches him a few words. Flat black-and-white illustrations burst into color as Dat’s comprehension expands.Five to NineWord count 231View book details
Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black ChildrenJamilah Thompkins-BigelowVerse, photographs, collage, and gold-leaf illustrations celebrate Blackness, inspiring pride and joy.Five to NineView book details
I Don’t CareJulie FoglianoRhyming text and limited-palette illustrations portray a developing friendship between two children who “don’t care” about their differences and embrace their similarities.Five to NineLexile 401LATOS 2.8View book details
I’ll Go and Come BackRajani LaRoccaOn a trip to India, Jyoti finds it difficult to communicate with her grandmother until they begin to play, read, and cook together. Warmly patterned digital art.Five to NineView book details
It’s So DifficultRaúl Nieto Guridi, illustrated by Raúl Nieto GuridiCounting and calculating soothe a nonverbal child whose daily routine feels noisy and chaotic. White text on black backgrounds and scratchy drawings evoke the child’s emotions.Five to NineView book details
John’s TurnMac BarnettIt’s John’s turn to present at Friday assembly, and he’s nervous. Will the other students like his ballet recital or make fun of him? Ink and paint illustrations.Five to NineWord count 324View book details
The Katha ChestRadhiah ChowdhuryWhen Asiya visits her grandmother, she loves exploring all the quilts that depict their family stories. Bold textured illustrations bring the tales alive. Author’s note.Five to NineLexile AD1080LATOS 7.5View book details
The Little House of HopeTerry Catasús JenningsBorn in Cuba, Esperanza (Hope in Spanish) helps her family embrace the relatives and friends who share their small U.S. house. Soft colored pencil and watercolor illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD760LATOS 4.9View book details
Madani’s Best GameFran PintaderaMadani, the best player on the soccer team though he plays barefoot, has a plan to get new cleats. Illustrations portray athletic bodies in motion.Five to NineView book details
Making HappySheetal ShethLeila’s family and schoolmates find a way to lift her spirits when her mother gets sick. Expressive, intricately patterned illustrations intensify a range of emotions. Author’s and illustrator’s notes.Five to NineView book details
Me and the Boss: A Story about Mending and LoveMichelle EdwardsLee, a younger brother with a bossy older sister, uses his hard-learned sewing skills to fix her stuffed bear and win her love. Mixed-media illustrations. Project instructions.Five to NineView book details
Mommy’s HometownHope LimThe urbanized Korea that a child encounters on his first visit there doesn’t match the nostalgic stories his mother has told him. But some things remain the same. Evocative illustrations.Five to NineView book details
My Beautiful VoiceJoseph CoelhoA young child, shy, fearful, and silent, finds her poetic voice with the support of her very special teacher. Energetic, vibrant illustrations.Five to NineView book details
My Brother Is AwaySara GreenwoodA six-year-old girl recounts her anger and confusion over her brother’s imprisonment as well as her joy at their reunion. Based on the author’s childhood experiences. Genteel Photoshop-rendered graphics.Five to NineLexile AD510LATOS 3.4View book details
My Hands Tell a StoryKelly Starling LyonsA little Black girl listens to the stories her grandmother’s hands tell as she and her grandmother bake cinnamon bread together. Oil paint illustrations.Five to NineView book details
My Paati’s SarisJyoti Rajan GopalA young South Asian Indian child helps their beloved paati (grandmother) prepare for and celebrate a day at the market. Vibrant illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Nana, Nenek & NinaLiza FerneyhoughNina loves to visit her grandmothers in England and in Malaysia and to experience the differences and similarities between the two places. Warm mixed- media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Nervous NigelBethany Christou, illustrated by Bethany ChristouCan crocodile Nigel follow his own path without disappointing his family of swimming champions who have entered him in a contest? Colorful mixed-media illustrations humorously encapsulate dialogues.Five to NineView book details
The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the BorderStephen BriseñoA refugee writes down the names of families seeking asylum at the U.S./Mexico border, and a little girl learns kindness can exist anywhere. Mixed-media illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile AD490LATOS 2.2View book details
Rosa’s SongHelena Ku RheePlayful watercolor illustrations capture the mixed sadness and joy of a boy who is new to a country and highlight the power of friendship.Five to NineLexile AD530LATOS 3.5View book details
Rosie and the Pre-loved Dresswritten and illustrated by Leanne HatchFinding a beautiful yellow dress at the thrift shop, Rosie imagines what the girl who once owned it did while she was wearing it. Digital illustrations with hand-painted textures.Five to NineView book details
The Secret of the Jade Bangle (Nguyen Kids series)Linda TrinhGrandma Nô. i left gifts for each of her grandchildren. Anne discovers her gift just might help her make a place for herself in a community that is not always welcoming. Digital black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls (Too Small Tola series)Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye IwuTola is a great help to her family in Lagos, Nigeria, because although she’s small, her wits and determination aren’t. Detailed black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineLexile 610LATOS 3.5View book details
The Treasure BoxDave KeaneColorful, realistic illustrations—scanned handmade textures digitally collaged—and simple text depict the special bond between a young girl and her grandparents.Five to NineLexile AD550LATOS 3.6View book details
The TunnelSarah HowdenA young boy’s sorrow is rendered in mostly greyscale illustrations and poignantly simple text, showing how healing is incremental and different for everyone.Five to NineLexile AD460LATOS 3.1View book details
Uncle John’s City GardenBernette G. FordHaving permission to garden a city lot, Uncle John’s two nieces and nephew help him there, from plowing and planting to harvesting and eating. Oil and spray-painted illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Walter Had a Best FriendDeborah UnderwoodWalter and Xavier are best friends, until one day Xavier finds a new pal. Will Walter find a new best friend, too? Subtle pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD460LATOS 1.8View book details
When the Wind CameJan AndrewsAfter a destructive tornado, a family heals together through the power of love. Pencil and paint art supports the emotion of the story.Five to NineView book details
With Lots of LoveJenny Torres SanchezWhen Rocio moves to the United States, she misses her grandmother, but is thrilled by a wonderful birthday present from Abuela: a star piñata. Vibrant digital illustrations. Also available in Spanish.Five to NineLexile AD610LATOS 3.4View book details
The World Belonged to UsJacqueline WoodsonJoyful illustrations capture the energy of 1970s Brooklyn, where children on summer vacation create a model diverse community. Based on the author’s reminiscences. Nostalgic and inspirational.Five to NineLexile 970LATOS 6.4View book details
The Year We Learned to FlyJacqueline WoodsonAn African American grandmother advises her grandchildren to learn from their ancestors and use their imaginations to cope with challenges. Colorful mixed-media illustrations. Author’s note.Five to NineLexile AD1010LATOS 6.8View book details
How to Eat a Bookwritten and illustrated by Mrs. & Mr. MacLeodZany illustrations complement the hilarious and only slightly scary story of the three Grunion children who are literally consumed by their books. Offbeat fun!Five to NineLexile AD530LATOS 3.5View book details
Impossible MoonBreanna J. McDanielAfrican American Mable wants to help her Grana get better, visiting constellations with African backstories and trying to touch the moon. Swirling acrylic and oil paintings. Explanatory back matter.Five to NineView book details
Lizzy and the CloudTerry Fan, Eric FanA young girl diligently cares for her pet cloud. When it grows too big, she knows she must let it go. But can she say goodbye? Digital illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD620LATOS 3.8View book details
Marco Polo: Brave Explorer (Book Buddies series)Cynthia LordFirst sleepover jitters are overcome by interracial friendship and tiny talking toys. Expressive black-and- white digital artwork adds to the fun.Five to NineView book details
Monsters in the FogAli Bahrampour, illustrated by Ali BahrampourThings aren’t always what they seem! Donkey Hakim perseveres in his journey to visit his friend despite warnings of monsters along the way. Charming pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Maybe: A Mindfulness Taleadapted from a traditional folktale, illustrated by various artistsWhen a farmer’s friends have different reactions to his various fortunes or misfortunes, he wisely withholds judgement. Vintage artwork including Japanese woodblock prints.Five to NineView book details
The Song of the NightingaleTanya LandmanRich, lyrical prose and lively mixed-media illustrations bring to life a fable of how the animals got their colors and the nightingale got its song.Five to NineView book details
The Three Billy Goats GruffMac BarnettTwo goats cross a hungry troll’s bridge without being eaten by tricking him into believing that the next goat will be even larger and tastier. Muted, dramatic mixed- media art.Five to NineView book details
Told and Retold: Around the World with Aesop’s FablesRetold: Around the World with Aesop’s Fables retold and illustrated by Holly BerryCollaged linoleum block prints on colored paper support and extend “The Ants and the Grasshopper, ” “The Lion and the Mouse, ” and other tales collected from many regions.Five to NineView book details
The Chocolate KingMichael LeventhalIn 1630 Benjamin’s Jewish family escapes to France from Spain with only their hot chocolate recipe and some chocolate beans. Detailed color illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Me and Muhammad AliJabari AsimAli’s eloquent language and goodness of heart combine with athletic grace and skill to inspire a young boy and his community. Acrylic and colored pencil illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Yossel’s JourneyKathryn LaskyWhen his family, fleeing from anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia, settles near a Navajo reservation in the American Southwest, Yossel finds a friend and shares cultural differences. Evocative painterly illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Zhang Heng and the Incredible Earthquake Detectorwritten and illustrated by Randel McGeeIn 132 CE, a Chinese scientist invents a device that shows the direction from which an earthquake originated. Vivid illustrations evoke traditional Chinese puppet theater.Five to NineView book details
Mr. Mintz’s BlintzesLeslie KimmelmanWhen beloved Mr. Mintz is injured and can’t make his famous blintzes for Shavuot, his neighbors show their gratitude and love for him. Colorful, whimsical illustrations. Recipe included.Five to NineView book details
Raquela’s SederJoel Edward SteinA Passover seder celebrated during the Inquisition gives special meaning to freedom, hope, and possibility. Historical back matter. Warm, sensitive illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Snow Horses: A First Night StoryPatricia MacLachlanIn a snow-covered countryside, a horse-drawn sleigh picks up young and old for a joyous community New Year’s Eve celebration. Collage and ink capture sparkling wintry landscapes.Five to NineView book details
A Sweet New Year for RenMichelle SterlingRen is finally old enough to participate in making her favorite Lunar New Year dessert, the pineapple cake. Vivid illustrations bring a New Year feast alive. Recipe included.Five to NineLexile AD700LATOS 3.3View book details
Creepy Crayon!Aaron ReynoldsBecause Jasper Rabbit would rather play than do his schoolwork, he’s failing. Then a magic crayon helps him get all the right answers. Sinister greyscale and purple illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD500LATOS 3.3View book details
Every Dog in the NeighborhoodPhilip C. SteadLouis wants a dog, but his grandmother claims there are already enough dogs in the neighborhood. His survey leads to many surprises. Humorous animated illustrations.Five to NineLexile AD510LATOS 3.4View book details
I DID See a Mammoth!written and illustrated by Alex WillmoreColorful, cartoon-like illustrations depict a youngster convinced he’s seen a mammoth while exploring the Antarctic. Will the grown-ups believe him?Five to NineView book details
I Want to Be a VaseJulio TorresA toilet plunger becomes his true self, encouraging other home furnishings to do the same. Vibrant digital art adds to the outrageous fun.Five to NineLexile AD520LATOS 3.4View book details
Kat HatsDaniel PinkwaterCats that keep people’s (and witches’) heads warm? Zany antics, a white dad, a brown mom and children, and many felines fill the vivid over-the-top gouache paintings.Five to NineView book details
People Are Wildwritten and illustrated by Margaux MeganckAnimal children query their parents about the diverse humans they see and are warned not to get too close to the people! Color pencil and watercolor illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineLexile AD960LATOS 6.3View book details
Too Pig to Fail (A Batpig Book series)Rob HarrellWith his sidekicks and quick wits, Batpig faces new villains. Colorful cartoon illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Witch Hazelwritten and illustrated by Molly IdleWith a magical whisk of her broom, elderly Hazel shares years of happy memories with young Hilda. Effervescent fine-line white-on-beige illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball TaleCharly PalmerThis tall tale of a neighborhood basketball team’s amazing season celebrates teamwork, unsung heroes, and the joy of nicknames. Dreamlike acrylic art.Five to NineLexile AD800LATOS 5.1View book details
We Play Soccer/Jugamos al fútbol (My Friend/Mi Amigo series)René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Nomar PerezEnglish-speaking Joe and Spanish-speaking José converse with one another as they enjoy their soccer game. The bilingual text supports learning words in each language. Bold, colorful illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Poo-Dunit?: A Forest Floor MysteryKatelyn AronsonWho deposited the smelly droppings outside a mouse’s burrow? Rhyming text exposes several possible suspects. Humorous animation-style illustrations. Back matter includes a mystery to solve.Five to NineView book details
Away with Words!: Wise and Witty Poems for Language LoversMary Ann HobermanClever rhymes deliver surprisingly sophisticated grammar and punctuation rules with panache, heart, and humor. Playful pencil and pen drawings.Five to NineView book details
Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math PoemsBetsy FrancoIn poetic form, concepts of geometry, arithmetic, and puzzles are playfully woven into the stanzas. Colorful, imaginative gouache illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Free at Last: A Juneteenth PoemSojourner Kincaid RolleA celebration of Juneteenth, the 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas, of emancipation from slavery, is depicted through a free verse poem and poignant oil illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Out of this World: Star-Studded HaikuSally M. WalkerExplore the universe one haiku at a time and discover stars, moons, eclipses, asteroids, and more, as you’ve never seen them before. Mixed-media illustrations. Extensive back matter.Five to NineView book details
StoppingWoods on a Snowy Evening by Robert FrostAtmospheric gouache and watercolor illustrations depict a brave young girl traveling through snowy woods on horseback at night, giving this classic, century-old poem a new interpretation.Five to NineView book details
You Are the LoveliestHans Hagen, Monique HagenDetailed mixed-media illustrations accompany rhyming and free verse poems written to express the words and thoughts of a little girl experiencing her world.Five to NineView book details
Zoobilations!: Animal Poems and Paintingswritten and illustrated by Douglas FlorianWhimsical pun-filled rhymed poems with childlike watercolor illustrations describe a collection of animals.Five to NineView book details
My Big Book of Outdoorswritten and illustrated by Tim HopgoodEnjoy four seasons of information, poetry, activities, and recipes. Colorful, appealing mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Eighteen Vats of WaterJi-Li JiangRenowned fourth-century Chinese calligrapher Xian followed his father’s style and work ethic from age six, but he also developed his own artistic style. Evocative ink and digital illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Marcel’s Masterpiece: How a Toilet Shaped the History of Artwritten and illustrated by Jeff MackPlayful illustrations and humorous puns work hand in hand to explain the Dada art movement in an accessible way.Five to NineView book details
All You NeedHoward SchwartzA girl from China grows into an accomplished artist mindful of the small but important things in life. Soft watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Night before the Nutcracker (American Ballet Theatre Presents series)John Robert AllmanExcitement builds as a diverse cast of child and adult dancers prepare for opening night of a classic holiday ballet. Dreamlike color illustrations. Rhymed text.Five to NineView book details
Annette Feels Free: The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life MermaidKatie Mazeika, illustrated by Katie MazeikaColorful digital illustrations capture the life of a forward-thinking feminist swimmer who achieved fame after overcoming a childhood disability. Back matter and resources.Five to NineView book details
Bobby: A Story of Robert F. KennedyDeborah WilesThe family “runt” as a youth, Kennedy evolved into an inspirational political figure of the late 1960s. Soft evocative drawings.Five to NineView book details
Celia Planted a Garden: The Story of Celia Thaxter and Her Island GardenPhyllis Root, Gary D. SchmidtColorful illustrations gloriously evoke the seacoast setting of the garden created by the 19th-century New England painter and poet. Time line and extensive sourcing.Five to NineView book details
Courage Like Kate: The True Story of a Girl Lighthouse KeeperAnna Crowley ReddingFrom age 12, Kate assumed her aging father’s treacherous job, operating the lighthouse and rescuing shipwrecked sailors. Vivid impressionistic mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Covered in Color: Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Fabrics of FreedomElisa BoxerChristo’s childhood under communism influenced his creation of distinctive freestyle art. Colorful illustrations and photos. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Curve & Flow: The Elegant Vision of L. A. Architect Paul R. WilliamsAndrea J. LoneyThe first certified Black architect west of the Mississippi persisted in his work, with talent and vision, despite racist laws and other setbacks. Digital illustrations highlight Williams’s life. Back matter includes photos.Five to NineView book details
The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal JusticeCarole Boston WeatherfordDespite facing many childhood obstacles, Cummings joined the civil rights movement as a teen, went to law school, and became a congressman. Bold digital realistic illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True StoryEmma Bland Smith, illustrated by Jenn ElyWhen Elliott Michener, convicted counterfeiter, was assigned to work as a prison gardener, he discovered his passion and found redemption. Gouache and digital illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
I Am Ruby Bridges: How One Six-Year Old Girl’s March to School Changed the WorldRuby BridgesWith school segregation banned, Ruby, escorted by federal marshals in 1960, was the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school. Painted scenes capture watershed moments. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Just Like Jesse OwensAmbassador Andrew Young as told to Paula Young SheltonWhen neighbors shouted “Heil Hitler!” Young’s father countered the hate by taking him to a film about the 1936 Olympic champion. Owens has inspired Young ever since. Dramatic pastel illustrations.Five to NineLexile 650LATOS 4.2View book details
A Life of Service: The Story of Senator Tammy DuckworthChristina SoontornvatCherishing American ideals, Duckworth prevailed over poverty, the rigors of the military, and the challenge of life as a double amputee. Pencil and digital collage illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Like a Diamond in the Sky: Jane Taylor’s Beloved Poem of Wonder and the StarsElizabeth BrownStruggling in the shadow of male writers, Taylor persevered, becoming one of England’s most famous children’s poets. Realistic artwork captures the Romantic era setting. Rich back matter.Five to NineView book details
Lion Lights: My Invention That Made Peace with LionsRichard Turere, with Shelly PollockA young Maasai herder/warrior who likes to experiment recalls solving the challenge of saving both his family’s cattle and the lions threatening them. Luminous illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed PercussionShannon StockerYoung Evelyn played clarinet and piano with great skill, but she was losing her hearing. Could she have a career in music? Back matter. Mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Marvelous Mabel: Figure Skating SuperstarCrystal HubbardOrphaned at eight in 1923, Mabel Fairbanks taught herself to skate and became America’s first Black figure skating star. Colorful evocative illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Mature contentMichael Rosen’s Sticky McStickstick: The Friend Who Helped Me Walk AgainMichael RosenWith the support of medical staff and his reliable walking stick, Rosen transitioned from sickness to recovery during the COVID pandemic. Ink and watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Mister Rogers’ Gift of MusicDonna CangelosiThe joyful legacy of Fred Rogers’ music is brought to life with gentle text and dreamlike mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest UniversityM. O. YukselIn 859 CE, an Islamic woman in ancient Morocco created the world’s oldest continually functioning university. Watercolor and gouache artwork. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Poem Forest: Poet W. S. Merwin and the Palm Tree Forest He Grew from ScratchCarrie Fountain, illustrated by Chris TurnhamThe former poet laureate, who loved wild thoughts and things, planted thousands of palm trees from around the world in Hawaii. Poetic narration and lush art.Five to NineView book details
Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Homewritten and illustrated by Zahra MarwanWhen her family must leave Kuwait after her father is declared stateless, a young girl wonders if she will ever find home again. Stylized illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Wonderful Hair: The Beauty of Annie MaloneEve Nadel CatarevasAnnie Malone became the first self-made African American female millionaire by developing and distributing a line of hair and cosmetic products for Black women. Richly detailed illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This CountryKelly YangThe accomplishments and contributions of Kamala Harris, Yo-Yo Ma, I. M. Pei, and 15 other Asian Americans from the fields of science, the arts, history, and politics are celebrated. Vibrant colorful illustrations. Extensive back matter.Five to NineView book details
Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard DramaLoree Griffin BurnsWhy do bees swarm? How do they build their hives? Find out when Mr. Connery calls a bee rescuer to remove and relocate a colony from his barn. Clear photographs follow the process. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Late, Great Endlings: Stories of the Last SurvivorsDeborah KerbelThe last known survivors of several species are honored. Includes actions children can take to help combat mass extinction. Large watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Only OneDeborah HopkinsonThis clear, succinct narrative introduces the vocabulary of the Earth, the skies, and each person’s place in the universe. Ink and acrylic paint illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Serengeti: Plains of GrassLeslie BulionThe survival of plant and animal life in delicate balance are described in poetic form taken from Swahili utendi verse. Immersive gouache and pastel artwork. Glossary. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Tide Pool WaitsCandace FlemingMyriad inhabitants of a coastal tide pool adapt to the twice-daily dry periods, awaiting the rush of ocean water at high tide. Vibrant illustrations. Comprehensive back matter.Five to NineWord count 402View book details
The Wolves of Yellowstone: A Rewilding StoryCatherine BarrWhen wolves were brought back to Yellowstone Park after an absence of 69 years, the whole balance of nature in the park changed—for the better. Detailed watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Because of You, John Lewis: The True Story of a Remarkable FriendshipAndrea Davis PinkneyAfter ten-year-old Tybre Faw’s dream of meeting Congressman John Lewis came true, a friendship grew between the young activist and the civil rights leader. Watercolor illustrations accompany the poetic text. Thorough back matter includes photographs.Five to NineLexile 720LATOS 3.9View book details
How Science Saved the Eiffel TowerEmma Bland SmithGustave Eiffel saved the tower he’d created for the 1889 World’s Fair from being dismantled by demonstrating its value for many scientific and technological advances. Digital art. Sources, back matter.Five to NineView book detailsJack Knight’s Brave Flight: How One Gutsy Pilot Saved The U.S. Air Mail ServiceJill EsbaumIn 1921, during a blizzard, one courageous pilot took charge for much of the nighttime coast-to-coast route. Text and illustrations in a somber palette capture the drama and danger. Archival photos. Time line.Five to NineView book details
Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving StoryDanielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis BuntenA Wampanoag grandmother relates how her people and guardian spirits made survival possible for the English Pilgrims in Massachusetts 400 years ago. Imaginative illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Nellie vs. Elizabeth: Two Daredevil Journalists’ Breakneck Race around the WorldKate HanniganTwo late 19th-century female reporters sped around the globe, each determined to complete the journey first. Acrylic ink and colored pencil illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of The Grandmother of JuneteenthAlice Faye DuncanThe history of the end of American slavery is told in the voice of Opal Lee, the grandmother of our newest national holiday, Juneteenth. Digital artwork. Back matter, sourcing.Five to NineView book details
Revolutionary Prudence Wright: Leading the Minute Women in the Fight for IndependenceBeth AndersonFreedom from British rule wasn’t achieved only by men, as shown in this tribute to a courageous female warrior from Pepperell, Massachusetts. Traditional watercolor and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus BoycottMara RockliffAn early civil rights hero’s legendary cooking sustained both the celebrated and the unsung champions of the 1956 Montgomery bus boycott. Painterly artwork.Five to NineLexile AD840LATOS 4.6View book details
The Christmas Book FloodEmily KilgoreThe Icelandic tradition of sharing books with loved ones on Christmas Eve is depicted with fanciful illustrations that lend a touch of magic. Diverse representation. Author’s note.Five to NineLexile AD630LATOS 4.1View book details
The Little Book of JoyHis Holiness the Dali Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams, Rachel NeumannThe two Nobel Peace Prize winners celebrate the power of shared joy. Dense vibrant acrylic art. Back matter about the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop.Five to NineLexile AD500LATOS 3.3View book details
Law and Justice If You’re a Kid Like Gavin: The True Story of a Young Trans ActivistGavin Grimm, Kyle LukoffBecause he was a trans boy barred from using the boys’ bathroom, Gavin Grimm chose to become an activist for trans rights. Colorful, cartoony digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Alaska Is for the Birds!: Fourteen Favorite Feathered FriendsSusan EwingThe tufted puffin, willow ptarmigan, and 12 other birds found in the 49th state are described in rhyming verse. Vibrant linocut illustrations. Back matter includes glossary and additional information.Five to NineView book details
Amazing Plants of the World (World of Amazement series)SekaninováDr. Carnations’s botanical garden showcases smelly, carnivorous fungi and plants that look like people, animals, and objects. Humorous text accompanies each whimsical colorful illustration.Five to NineView book details
Anglerfish: The Seadevil of the DeepElaine M. AlexanderBorn on the ocean surface, anglerfish then live most of their lives in the deepest ocean. Strange and unique characteristics and adaptations allow them to survive. Digital art. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Bird BookSteve Jenkins, Robin PageTorn and cut color paper collages across double-page spreads display the avian species’ evolution and their anatomical and behavioral similarities and differences, as well as their endangerment status. Extensive back matter.Five to NineView book details
Bok’s Giant Leap: One Moon Rock’s Journey through Time and SpaceNeil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong considers the history of Earth and the moon from the point of view of the rock he collected during a lunar mission. Vivid illustrations. Back matter includes archival photos.Five to NineView book details
CavesNell Cross BeckermanExplore the Lascaux Cave, the Glowworm Grotto, and other underground chambers and discover the mysteries inside them. Two-page cinematic illustrations depict subterranean vistas.Five to NineView book details
Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the OceanMichelle CusolitoHumanity’s curiosity about the ocean deep is celebrated with descriptions of ways to reach various depths and the technologies used for exploration. Digital illustrations help reveal the ocean’s secrets.Five to NineView book details
Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in WinterJessica KulekjianDifferent species have ingenious strategies to cope with the winter cold. Detailed illustrations in a muted palette. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
How to Bake a UniverseAlec CarvlinWhimsical storytelling and bold illustrations, grounded in science, make this a great introduction to the Big Bang theory and astrophysics. Thorough back matter. Visually stunning time line.Five to NineView book details
The Lodge That Beaver BuiltRandi SonenshineSpend several seasons with a beaver family as they dam a stream, create a pond, chisel through trees, build a lodge, and give birth to kits. Glowing illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern’s Migrationwritten and illustrated by Amy HevronNautical charts and maps with naturalistic artwork vivify the perilous 60,000-mile journey of a little seabird from the North Pole to the South Pole. Additional facts, bibliography.Five to NineView book details
Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the NightJulia Kuo, illustrated by Julia KuoSimple eloquent text introduces information about bioluminescence on land and sea. Evocative illustrations provide perfect enhancement.Five to NineView book details
The Mystery of the Monarchs: How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch MigrationBarb RosenstockScientists led a team, including children and other citizen scientists, to trace the migration patterns of monarchs. Mixed-media illustrations by a Mexican artist. Extensive back matter.Five to NineLexile AD760LATOS 4.9View book details
Polar BearCandace FlemingAs global warming imperils their survival, a mother and her cubs roam, search for food, and fend off predators. Striking, realistic, oil paint illustrations.Five to NineWord count 1580View book details
What a Shell Can TellHelen ScalesObserving the color, texture, and shape of sea and land shells reveals a wealth of information about them and the creatures that live inside them. Detailed illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
What’s That Smell? (Super Gross series)Ximena HastingsDr. Ick and his dog, Sam, explore many repulsive odors from nature and our bodies. Activity provided. Cartoon-style illustrations. Photographs.Five to NineView book details
Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle’s Incredible Journey HomeLindsay MooreUsing a tracking tag, scientists follow the journey of Yoshi, a loggerhead turtle, from a South African aquarium to her home in Australia. Detailed back matter. Watercolor illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Wheels!: All about TransportMoira ButterfieldCars, tractors, and myriad other vehicles serve a multitude of purposes. Colorful realistic illustrations.Five to NineView book detailsNine to Twelve
120 selections
The Clackity (Blight Harbor series)Lora SenfWhen her aunt disappears, Evie knows she has to go after her. When the dreadful creature Clackity offers her a “fair deal, ” Evie can’t refuse it. Ghostly black-and- white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 750LATOS 4.8View book detailsLeon the Extraordinary (Leon series)Jamar NicholasPen and ink comic drawings with bright vibrant color depict Leon’s heroic journey to self-acceptance as he figures out the right reason for helping others.Nine to TwelveView book details
Team Chu and the Battle of the Blackwood Arena (Team Chu series)Julie C. DaoVietnamese American siblings Sadie and Clip are fiercely competitive in laser tag. When a virtual-reality- enhanced game becomes dangerous, can they bury their rivalry to escape? Animated black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Violet & Jobie in the WildLynne Rae PerkinsHouse mice get trapped and released to a wild they’ve never experienced. Can they learn to survive without humans, upon whom they’ve come to rely? Detailed black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 650LATOS 4.2View book details
Wreck at Ada’s Reef (The Swallowtail Legacy series)Michael D. BeilHired for the summer by her mother’s best friend, 12-year-old Lark works on solving the mystery of a 75-year-old boating accident. Black-and-white illustrations. Maps.Nine to TwelveView book details
OdderKatherine ApplegateA rescued otter pup encounters both joy and peril when reintroduced to the wild. Based on actual Monterey Bay Aquarium cases. Free verse. Soft black-and-white illustrations. Glossary, bibliography, resources.Nine to TwelveLexile NP0LATOS 0.1View book details
BeraniMichelle KadarusmanPrivileged Canadian Indonesian Malia and Indonesian Ari, a boy struggling to get an education, work together to save endangered orangutans. Alternating viewpoints with interludes by Berani, an orangutan. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Mature contentIn the Key of UsMariama J. LockingtonSent to a predominately white summer music camp, 13-year-old Andi, Black, struggles in her relationship with her family and friends, while grieving the loss of her mother.Nine to TwelveView book details
ThirstVarsha BajajWhile studying for final exams, Minni, 12, discovers a theft ring depriving her poor Mumbai neighborhood of needed water. Despite growing family responsibilities, she combats the injustice.Nine to TwelveLexile 700LATOS 4.4View book details
Weird Rules to FollowKim SpencerA close friendship evolves between middle schoolers Mia, Native Indian, and comparatively privileged Mexican Hungarian Canadian Lara, who live in a fishing community in Prince Rupert, British Columbia.Nine to TwelveView book details
Family/School/Community All Four Quarters of the MoonShirley MarrWhen Ba Ba’s job requires a move from Singapore to Australia, Peijing, 11, helps her mother, grandmother, and irrepressible little sister navigate their new world.Nine to TwelveView book details
Aviva vs. the DybbukMari LoweAviva’s dybbuk always gets her in trouble in her Orthodox Jewish community. Is the mischievous spirit a friend or an enemy? Hebrew and Yiddish glossary.Nine to TwelveView book details
Bhai for NowMaleeha SiddiquiAshar and Shaheer, Pakistani American twins separated in infancy, meet in eighth grade and decide to switch places to try to uncover their family secrets.Nine to TwelveLexile 720LATOS 4.7View book details
Detour AheadPamela Ehrenberg, Tracy LópezA friendship helps 12-year-old, neurodiverse Gilah prepare for her bat mitzvah and 13-year-old Salvadoran American Guillermo enter a poetry contest to win money to fix his broken bicycle. Alternating prose and free verse. Detailed black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Falling ShortErnesto CisnerosTwo dissimilar but dear friends, Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman, help each other to become the middle grade students they want to be.Nine to TwelveLexile 701LATOS 4.5View book details
FreestyleGale GalliganCory’s parents hire nerdy Sunna to tutor him when his geometry grades fall. Soon he discovers she can do cool, very complicated yo-yo tricks. Colorful detailed illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile GN320LATOS 2.7View book details
FrizzyClaribel A. OrtegaMarlene faces colorism and racism in her Dominican American community because of the texture of her hair, until her aunt teaches her how to care for and love it. Digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 440LATOS 3View book details
Honey and MeMeira DrazinMilla and her best friend, Honey, from Modern Orthodox Jewish families, encounter challenges to their friendship amid growing independence as they enter sixth grade. Hebrew and Yiddish glossary. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 829LATOS 5.3View book details
The Hope of ElephantsAmanda Rawson HillCass, 12, whose life now centers on her father’s medical care, struggles to maintain family traditions while facing the possibility of having inherited his rare disorder. Free verse.Nine to TwelveView book details
Jennifer Chan Is Not AloneTae KellerDid new seventh grader Jennifer Chan run away because of aliens or because of “the Incident” with her so-called friends?Nine to TwelveLexile 640LATOS 4.1View book details
Just Right JillianNicole D. CollierFifth grader Jillian must overcome her shyness and lack of confidence to show her true self and honor the memory of her grandmother.Nine to TwelveWord count 42258View book details
Maizy Chen’s Last ChanceLisa YeeWith her grandfather’s health failing, Maizy, 11, spends the summer in Minnesota helping out at the family’s Chinese restaurant and learning about her heritage. Warm, moving, and multilayered. Greyscale spot art.Nine to TwelveLexile 670LATOS 4.3View book details
A Million ViewsAaron StarmerSixth grader Brewster makes videos by himself, but when classmates challenge him to make a movie trailer, he makes new friends and realizes all families are unique.Nine to TwelveView book details
Miss QuincesKat Fajardo, illustrated by Kat FajardoSue has big plans for the summer, but her family has made other arrangements. A dramatic turn of events changes everything. Whimsical graphic art.Nine to TwelveLexile GN370LATOS 3View book details
Our Own Little ParadiseMarianne KaurinIn Norway, on the last day of school, an impoverished and humiliated sixth grader blurts falsely that she’ll vacation in “the tropics. ” A new classmate discovers her lie.Nine to TwelveView book details
Shine On, Luz Véliz!Rebecca BalcárcelAfter an injury on the soccer field, sixth grader Luz feels lost until she discovers a knack for coding. And then a new Guatemalan half sister arrives! Author’s note.Nine to TwelveView book details
TumbleCelia C. PérezAdela, 12, has never met her biological father. After learning he is a member of a professional wrestling family, she finds a way to meet him, and new relationships evolve.Nine to TwelveLexile 660LATOS 4.5View book details
Twin CitiesJose PimientaTwin Mexican 12-year-olds going to middle school on opposite sides of the Mexican-U.S. border grow apart. Can they find one another again? Colorful graphics of Mexicali and Calexico. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
When the World Turned Upside DownK. IburaFour friends, living in the same apartment building during the COVID pandemic, discover that taking action assisting neighbors and participating in social justice protests helps them to endure turbulent times.Nine to TwelveWord count 49517View book details
WildoakC. C. HarringtonTo combat Maggie’s stuttering, her parents send her to her grandfather’s in the country. There, her mission to save a wounded snow leopard liberates her own voice. Black-and-white spot illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveWord count 55658View book detailsThe Aquanautwritten and illustrated by Dan Santat, color by Mike BoldtAfter the research vessel Miette sinks in a storm, a crew of courageous marine animals walk out of the ocean at San Diego. Expressive, action-packed art.Nine to TwelveView book details
Cress WatercressGregory MaguireAfter mother bunny moves Cress and baby Kip to the basement of the Broken Arms, Cress experiences danger, adventure, and a colorful group of residents. Richly luminous digital art.Nine to TwelveLexile 669LATOS 4.3View book details
DuetElise BroachA musically gifted goldfinch befriends a boy practicing to play in a Chopin competition. An engaging mystery, with bird and music facts. Black-and-white spot art.Nine to TwelveLexile 701LATOS 4.5View book details
Freddie vs. the Family CurseTracy BaduaFreddie Ruiz, 12, has 13 days to break the curse of the amulet in which his ancestor is trapped—or Freddie will die! Based on a Filipino legend.Nine to TwelveLexile 829LATOS 5.3View book details
GhostcloudMichael MannLuke Smith-Sharma is enslaved with other children in a dystopian London. When he rescues a girl who turns out to be a ghost, escape and friendship suddenly become possibilities.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Haunting (Secret of Glendunny series)Kathryn LaskyAfter an earthquake disrupts life in Glendunny, a deep forest in Scotland, the beavers help ghost siblings find their way, while tackling discrimination in the community.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Last MapmakerChristina SoontornvatIn an imagined old Siam, the daughter of a con man apprentices herself to an elderly mapmaker, leading to the ocean adventure of a lifetime.Nine to TwelveView book details
Leave It to Plum!Matt PhelanPeppy peacock Plum loves that peacocks run free at the zoo as ambassadors. But jealous Itch, a ningbing, causes havoc. Humorous greyscale drawings.Nine to TwelveWord count 7110View book details
Lily and the Night CreaturesNick LakeDoppelgängers of her parents have invaded Lily’s home. Even though she’s battling an illness, it’s up to her to save her family. Mysterious black-and-white spot illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
The MarvellersDhonielle ClaytonWhen Conjuror Ella Durand, 11, enters the Arcanum Training Institute, not everyone welcomes her. When her mentor disappears and a Marvellian escapes prison, fingers point at Ella. Black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 670LATOS 4.3View book details
The Problem with Prophecies (Celia Cleary series)Scott ReintgenOn her 4,444th day, Celia’s magic starts up. She learns to manage the complications of seventh grade and her increased engagement with mortality that comes with her gift.Nine to TwelveView book details
Solimar: The Sword of the MonarchsPam Muñoz RyanWith the help of a magical rebozo, a young royal protects her kingdom and its natural resources from invading forces.Nine to TwelveView book details
StormNicola SkinnerFrankie’s ghost is angrily stuck in her family’s home, now a tourist attraction. Her newfound ability to hurl objects attracts attention from a nefarious source.Nine to TwelveView book details
Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster HunterZoraida CórdovaEven though an Orü puma killed their father, three siblings rescue an Orü egg that is in danger of being destroyed by monster hunters.Nine to TwelveWord count 72253View book details
The Witch, the Sword, and the Cursed KnightsAlexandria RogersA misunderstood, underappreciated witch and a boy from Wisconsin, mourning his friend’s death, are recruited to break the curse that felled the legendary kingdom of Camelot.Nine to TwelveLexile 781LATOS 5View book details
Witchlings (Witchlings series)Claribel A. OrtegaCan three 12-year-old Spare Witchlings, unlikely companions, avoid being turned into toads forever by working together to defeat the dreaded Nightbeast and completing the impossible task? Black-and-white spot illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
KapaemahuHinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe WilsonThe buried sacred stones of the mahu—dual female/ male spirit individuals who brought healing to Hawaii— have been recovered, but the erasure of their history continues. Somber, striking illustrations. Bilingual in Olelo Niihau and English.Nine to TwelveLexile AD730LATOS 4.7View book details
One & EverythingSam Winston, illustrated by Sam WinstonOne story claims to be the only story after absorbing all others, until they demand to be heard too. Watercolor and typographic illustrations. Map. Back matter includes descriptions of the language systems used.Nine to TwelveView book details
WindsweptMargi PreusDespite her parents’ objections, Tag is determined to find her sisters, who have been swept away in a storm. A modern tale based on ancient Norwegian folklore. Finely detailed black-and-white spot illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Wolf SuitSid SharpLooking for a way to move freely in the forest, a sheep crafts and dons a wolf costume. Colorful, emotive illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 580LATOS 3.8View book details
Yellow Dog BluesAlice Faye DuncanA Black boy searches for the classic blues song. Joyful language. Illustrations created with fabric paint and embroidery on canvas. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil WarMónica MontañésTwo siblings experience difficulties when their father must flee because of his political beliefs. Expressive charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil illustrations. Comprehensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Dog StarMegan ShepherdLaika, a stray dog in the Soviet Union, is sent into outer space. Ethical and political considerations are explored within the context of a girl’s friendship with the heroic dog. Archival photos. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 730LATOS 4.7View book details
FreewaterAmina Luqman-DawsonAfter escaping the Southerland plantation, Homer and Ada join Freewater, a swampland community of formerly enslaved people. But can they ever return and free their mother? Brief historical note.Nine to TwelveLexile 690LATOS 4.59View book details
Isla to IslandAlexis CastellanosAfter escaping Cuba in 1961, Marisol, 11, struggles to adapt to her foster family and life in Brooklyn. Spanish dialogue. Vibrant Cuban pictures and wordless monotone panels. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Lucky OnesLinda Williams JacksonEllis Earl lives in poverty, but his teacher gives him hope for the future, inviting him to church programs and even to a meeting with Senator Robert Kennedy.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of PartitionShirin ShamsiIn 1947 during the Partition of India, a family hurriedly flees their home in fear. Back matter includes maps. Digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
My Own LightningLauren WolkIn 1944, after Annabelle is struck by lightning and acquires the ability to understand animal emotions, she meets Nora, who secretly nurtures injured and maltreated animals. Sequel to Wolf Hollow.Nine to TwelveLexile HL710LATOS 4.5View book details
The Puffin KeeperMichael MorpurgoA lifelong friendship starts when a boy, who will grow up to found Penguin Books, is rescued from a shipwreck by a lighthouse keeper on Puffin Island. Painterly illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 830LATOS 4.8View book details
Red ScareLiam Francis WalshIn 1953, when townsfolk see communists everywhere, Peggy, who has polio, fights villains and her own emotional shortcomings. Comic noir drawings.Nine to TwelveView book details
SashikoBarbara CilettiSumptuous watercolors accompany a fictionalized account of the origins of a type of Edo-period Japanese embroidery, originally used for repair, now an art form.Nine to TwelveView book details
Mature contentSinging with ElephantsMargarita EngleIn 1947 Cuban immigrant Oriol learns to write poetry from Gabriela Mistral, famous poet and diplomat, who assists her campaign to reunite an elephant with its family. In verse. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 989LATOS 6.6View book details
The Tattooed TorahMarvell GinsburgA small, beloved, sacred Jewish scroll that survives the Holocaust makes a perilous journey. Vividly realized with dramatic illustrations. Updated for a new generation. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Three Strike SummerSkyler SchremppIn 1936 Gloria’s family abandons their failed Oklahoma farm to work in California. Gloria is determined to play baseball at the migrant workers’ camp, despite the “no girls” code. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 770LATOS 4.9View book details
We Were the Fire: Birmingham 1963Sheila P. MosesAlthough only 11, Rufus is determined to participate in the demonstrations being held in his city during the spring of 1963. Author’s note.Nine to TwelveView book details
YonderAli StandishIn 1943, after his abused friend Jack disappears, Danny Timmons, 13, tries to figure out where he went, using the only clue he has—a place called Yonder.Nine to TwelveView book details
Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series)Chris GrabensteinTwo older teens try to prevent Luigi L. Lemoncello, 13, from creating games and solving treasure hunts with his friends. Black-and-white illustrations involving rebuses.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat KidMatt WallaceHow does Max Tercero, a heavy sixth grader, cope with humiliation and bullying? He gets advice from an incarcerated supervillain—and enters a baking contest!Nine to TwelveView book details
Children of the QuicksandsEfua TraoréWhen city-bred Simi, 13, stays with her grandmother in a Nigerian village, she discovers Yoruba traditional beliefs and heroically tries to rescue children caught in a magical place. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Impossible Destiny of Cutie GrackleShawn K. StoutRavens present an impoverished lonely 10-year-old a series of objects imbedded with memories of her cursed family’s past. Can the birds help her break the curse? Spot illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza (Omega Morales series)Laekan Zea KempFrom a magical family of empaths, Mexican American Omega, 12, her cousin Carlitos, and a ghost solve the mystery of a giant owl wreaking havoc in their Texas town. Occasional greyscale illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar InvasionK. Tempest BradfordRuby, 11, is a gifted Black student who loves bugs. Her curiosity unleashes a chain reaction, filled with G-men, aliens, brave friends, supportive parents, and her own courage.Nine to TwelveLexile 710LATOS 4.8View book details
The Unforgettable Logan Foster (Unforgettable Logan Foster series)Shawn PetersAfter six failed foster placements, amazingly intelligent neurodivergent Logan, 12, may finally be adopted by a new set of prospective parents, Gil and Margie—but evil awaits. Dramatic black-and-white art.Nine to TwelveView book details
Swim TeamJohnnie ChristmasBree, a whiz at math, but afraid of swimming, joins the team and learns why Black people were discouraged from swimming and competing. Warm graphic art.Nine to TwelveView book details
Behold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh from a School GardenAllan WolfThe many wonders of a garden, flora and fauna, are depicted in playful varied verse forms and whimsical colorful illustrations. Back matter activity for each poem.Nine to TwelveView book details
Inheritance: A Visual PoemElizabeth AcevedoAn Afro-Dominican protagonist refuses to straighten her hair, lighten her skin, or otherwise internalize others’ standards of physical beauty. Free verse. Richly hued hand-drawn and digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play among Figures of SpeechTed Kooser, Connie WanekThirty free verse poems about fire, water, air, and earth play imaginatively with words, imagery, similes, and metaphors. Paint and digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
StepDeborah EllisTen stories feature young people in many different settings, from refugee detention centers to comfortable middle class homes, who need to make personal choices.Nine to TwelveView book details
Action!: How Movies Beganwritten and illustrated by Meghan McCarthyA comprehensive introduction to the evolution of movie-making and its creators. Lively black-and-white and acrylic cartoon images. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Snailwritten and illustrated by Emily HughesThere was no place on Earth that famed Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi felt accepted, except in his own creation, made in the shape of a snail. Subdued illustrations. Author’s note. Bibliography.Nine to TwelveView book details
Arthur Who Wrote SherlockLinda BaileyWhen Arthur Conan Doyle, doctor, adventurer, and humanitarian, created his legendary detective character in 1887, it changed the course of his life. Evocative watercolor and pencil illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Blips on a Screen: How Ralph Baer Invented TV Video Gaming and Launched a Worldwide ObsessionKate HanniganBored watching TV , a Jewish refugee attempted to make the experience more interesting, using skills he had acquired as a radio operator in the U.S. Army during World War II. Colorful, cheerful illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson, Patriot SoldierBeth AndersonA brave young woman disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Photoshopped period-style pencil drawings. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Flying Man: Otto Lilienthal, the World’s First PilotMike DownsAfter years of experimenting, in 1891 Lilienthal took his first airborne ride in a glider he had constructed. Back matter describes his trial-and-error path to flight. Mixed-media color illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Gaudí: Architect of ImaginationSusan B. KatzThe many life challenges faced by the Catalan artist resulted in a fascination “with the crooked line. ” Most of the buildings he designed in Barcelona reflect that entrancement. Colorful acrylic illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and his Glorious BookTonya BoldenBecause traveling around America was dangerous for Black people in the 1930s, Green, a Black postman, created a book with information about places that welcomed people of color. Richly detailed illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Hilde on the Record: Memoir of a Kid Crime ReporterHilde LysiakThe author recounts the triumphs and struggles that stemmed from breaking a news story of a local murder when she was nine. Family photos.Nine to TwelveView book details
Hope Is an Arrow: The Story of Lebanese American Poet Kahlil GibranCory McCarthyAs a child, Gibran found solace in art and poetry, helping him meld his Lebanese and new American identities together. Glorious collage and acrylic illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Maya’s SongRenée WatsonThis free-verse tribute to Maya Angelou, Black writer and activist, conveys her courage following the painful childhood experience that silenced her voice for five years. Glorious watercolor and collage illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for ChangeTameka Fryer BrownChisholm, a teacher from Brooklyn, became the first Black women in Congress and ran for president in 1972. Free verse. Evocative digital collage illustrations. Time line, bibliography.Nine to TwelveView book details
Once I Was YouMaria HinojosaBorn in Mexico City and raised in Chicago, Hinojosa chronicles her journey from being an immigrant with big dreams to becoming an award-winning journalist. Also available in Spanish. Young reader’s edition.Nine to TwelveView book details
Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann LoweKate Messner, Margaret E. PowellGorgeous, collage-like illustrations amplify this story of the brilliant Black clothing designer who succeeded despite personal hardship and racial discrimination. Archival photos. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale MovieFiona RobinsonReiniger’s innovative techniques made her a pioneering animator. Dramatically illustrated with silhouettes, cut paper designs, and silent movie intertitles, reminiscent of her films. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Parks for the People: How Frederick Law Olmsted Designed AmericaElizabeth PartridgeA 19th-century visionary thinker led the creation of beautiful public spaces throughout the United States. Detailed, realistic watercolor and gouache illustrations. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile AD920LATOS 5.7View book details
Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild (Food Heroes series)Jacqueline Briggs Martin, June Jo LeeA lover of fermented foods travels from New York to Tennessee to open a school for like-minded cooks. Humorous, detailed mixed-media illustrations. Recipe.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and PhotographsChana StiefelA Holocaust survivor collected thousands of photographs of the Jews of Eishyshok who perished during World War II and of their descendants to create a permanent exhibit at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Evocative watercolor illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 750LATOS 4.8View book details
Troublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things DoneSarah AlbeeJoan of Arc, Khutulun, and 19 other women from different countries, eras, and races who wore men’s clothing, defying laws and customs, are depicted through informal text and full-page cartoonish portraits. Archival photographs. Extensive sources.Nine to TwelveView book details
Unlawful Orders: A Portrait of Dr. James B. Williams, Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon, and ActivistBarbara BinnsRefusing to accept the Air Force’s segregation policy, Williams participated in the Freeman Field mutiny and later became a leading civil rights activist. Archival photos and images. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Antarctica: The Melting ContinentKaren Romano Young, illustrated by Angela HsiehA thorough overview emphasizing the impact of global warming on the world’s “coldest and driest place. ” Clear illustrations with many sidebars. Glossary, bibliography, and index.Nine to TwelveView book details
A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River RebornPatricia NewmanA Washington state river, central to the life of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, is restored after being dramatically altered by damming over 100 years ago. Bold, colorful illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescuewritten and illustrated by William GrillAn Asian elephant, his keeper Po Toke, and “Elephant Bill” Williams brought elephants and refugees to safety during World War II. Detailed colored pencil illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the SkyNana Ekua Brew-HammondExplore the significance of the color blue, from its uses in ancient times to recent advances in dye making. Lush acrylic wash illustrations. Free verse with word play. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile AD1060LATOS 7.3View book details
H Is for HarlemDinah JohnsonCelebrate Harlem and its dramatic role in African American history in this inspiring, alphabetical text. Lush mixed-media illustrations show deep knowledge of times, places, and people.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word PaintersDuncan TonatiuhA young girl tells her brother how their Aztec parents create books unique to Mexihcah word painters and explains their history. Pre-Colombian-style illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Winner of the 2023 Flora Stieglitz Straus AwardChoosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights MovementAngela JoyThe resourcefulness and steel of a mother seeking justice for her son’s heinous murder is dramatized in free verse. Stained-glass-like cut paper illustrations. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 680LATOS 4.4View book details
A Song for the Cosmos: Blind Willie Johnson and Voyager’s Golden RecordJan LowerGraphic art in a dark somber palette complements the text to tell the story of Blind Willie Johnson and the Golden Record sent on NASA’s 1977 Voyager spacecrafts. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man behind the 1963 March on WashingtonCarole Boston Weatherford, Rob SandersDespite marginalization as a gay man, Rustin organized and motivated the nonviolent protest movement, mentoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Extensive back matter. Mixed-media illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book detailsWe the People! (Big Ideas that Changed the World series)Don BrownIdeas from ancient times through the present and from nations and cultures throughout the world have contributed to the development of democracy in the United States, through steps and missteps. Engaging cartoon illustrations. Notes.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from UgandaShoshana NambiIn the village near Mbale where the Abayudaya community has practiced Judaism for generations, Shoshi’s family and neighbors celebrate Sukkot, building the holiday’s traditional outdoor structure. Colorful stylized illustrations. Glossary, back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Language The Hanmoji Handbook: Your Guide to the Chinese Language through EmojiJason Li, An Xiao Mina, Jennifer 8. LeeInteresting parallels between emojis and Chinese characters, or hanzi, both of which use images to convey meaning, are illuminated. Playful illustrations. Bibliography, index.Nine to TwelveView book details
Law and Justice Evicted!: The Struggle for the Right to VoteAlice Faye DuncanAn important event in Civil Rights history, the 1950s Fayette County Tent City movement in Tennessee, comes alive. Vivid, impressionistic acrylic paintings. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Killer Underwear Invasion!: How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy TheoriesElise GravelCartoon-like illustrations introduce and explore the concepts and etiology of various methods of sowing doubt about the truth of news reports. A very appealing and kid-friendly approach to media literacy.Nine to TwelveView book details
Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design around the WorldChristy HaleSpace-saving cars, robotic arms, and apartments that stack like honeycombs are just a few inventions inspired by nature. Digital art paired with photos. Extensive back matter and source notes.Nine to TwelveView book details
Infinity: Figuring Out ForeverSarah C. Campbell, photographed by Sarah C. Campbell, Richard P. CampbellThe mathematical concept of something that is endless is presented simply and accessibly, illuminated with clear color photographs. Back matter includes glossary and information about different infinite sets.Nine to TwelveView book details
Mammoth Math: Everything You Need to Know about Numberswritten and illustrated by David MacaulayHundreds of math concepts, from number systems to shapes to probability, are presented with colorful diagrams and cartoon mammoths. Includes glossary, index, multiplication and squares grids, units of measurement, and more.Nine to TwelveView book details
Operation Pangolin: Saving the World’s Only Scaled Mammalwritten and photographed by Suzi EszterhasIn Vietnam, Thai Nguyen is among the rescuers and researchers working to save a rare, endangered creature. Maps, diagrams, and photographs.Nine to TwelveView book details
Secrets of the Lost City: A Scientific Adventure in the Honduran Rain ForestSandra MarkleTravel deep into the Honduran rain forest with scientists as they uncover an ancient civilization while experiencing the unique challenges of this virgin space. Photographs. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Swoop and Soar: How Science Rescued Two Osprey Orphans and Found Them a New Family in the WildDeborah Lee Rose, Jane VeltkampA raptor biologist rescues and cares for two young osprey chicks until they can be adopted by adult birds. Beautiful color photographs.Nine to TwelveView book details
A Kunwinjku Counting BookGabriel Maralngurra, Felicity WrightSophisticated illustrations inspired by ancient west Australian rock art enhance information about native animals and Aboriginal culture. Back matter includes a pronunciation guide.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Waiting Place: When Home Is Lost and a New One Not Yet FoundDina Nayeri, photographed by Anna Bosch MiralpeixTen refugees from Afghanistan and Iran, ages 5-13, wait at a Greek refugee camp to be granted asylum. Engrossing full-color photos. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book detailsTwelve to Fourteen
111 selections
Consider the OctopusNora Raleigh Baskin, Gae PolisnerA stowaway on a research vessel and the son of a scientist team up to publicize efforts to clean up a floating island of garbage in the Pacific Ocean.Twelve to FourteenView book details
GhostlightKenneth OppelThree friends join forces with a ghost to save the world from “the wakeful and wicked dead” in this suspenseful tale incorporating Canadian history.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Patron Thief of BreadLindsay EagarIn medieval France, abandoned children pick pockets to survive. The youngest becomes a baker’s apprentice to steal bread for her gang and finds herself torn between her two lives.Twelve to FourteenView book details
TwelfthJanet KeyMaren uses her quick wits to solve the Twelfth Night- linked clues that will save a theater camp. Characters include LGBTQIA+ youths and adults. Back matter on gender identity.Twelve to FourteenLexile 888LATOS 5.7View book details
Undercover LatinaAya de LeónLight-skinned Andréa, 14, and her Latinx family spy for a secret organization protecting people of color. Her first assignment: befriend a white supremacist’s son.Twelve to FourteenLexile HL630LATOS 4.5View book details
The Best Liars in RiverviewLin ThompsonAubrey and Joel, seventh graders, enjoy the freedom of a nearby Kentucky nature preserve. Societal expectations concerning sexual and gender identity weigh heavily on them and lead to the possibility of escape.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Different Kinds of FruitKyle LukoffRising seventh grader Annabelle deals with gender and sexual identities in her family and community— including learning that her much-loved father is trans.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Green Eyes and HamMary PenneyHomeschooled until eighth grade, Ham, adopted son of a minister, contends with a difficult, confusing social life in public school as he questions his sexual identity.Twelve to FourteenView book details
HazardFrances O’Roark DowellAfter Hazard acts violently during a football game, a writing assignment required by his psychologist reveals that Hazard’s father lost a leg in Afghanistan.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Manatee SummerEvan GriffithPeter’s best friend is moving, and his grandfather with memory loss now requires care. An injured local manatee becomes a cathartic rescue project for them, their neighbors, and friends.Twelve to FourteenWord count 55362View book details
The Second Chance of Benjamin WaterfallsJames BirdCaught for shoplifting again, Benny is sent to live with his estranged father on a Minnesota Ojibwe reservation where the tribal leader’s daughter is offering second chances.Twelve to FourteenLexile 619LATOS 4View book details
Sir Fig Newton and the Science of PersistenceSonja ThomasBiracial Mira attempts to problem-solve with a creative, money-raising venture as she struggles with the serious illness of her beloved cat, family stress, and her best friend moving far away.Twelve to FourteenView book details
They Call Her Fregona: A Border Kid’s PoemsDavid BowlesGüero, a Mexican American boy, falls in love with “tough girl” Joanna (Fregona) and tries to help save her dad from deportation. Free verse. Glossary. Also available in SpanishTwelve to FourteenView book details
Ain’t Burned All the BrightJason ReynoldsA powerful look at the life of a Black family during what appears to be the COVID pandemic. Striking, impassioned mixed-media illustrations in Moleskine notebooks.Twelve to FourteenATOS 5.2AR interest UGView book details
Attack of the Black RectanglesAmy Sarig KingMac’s sixth-grade class, assigned an award-winning novel about the Holocaust, finds that words in the book are crossed out. Can he challenge the censorship while dealing with his dad’s growing mental health issues?Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Civil War of Amos AbernathyMichael LealiAmos, 13, a US Civil War reenactor, researches queer history and discovers gay and transgender figures. His friendship with Ben, from a conservative religious home, is threatened. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This OneMaggie HorneHazel, 12, discovers that popular Tyler is sexually harassing many of their classmates, but the principal doesn’t believe her. Can Hazel find another way to expose Tyler?Twelve to FourteenView book details
She Holds Up the StarsSandra LarondeTwelve-year-old Misko, on the rez for vacation with her grandmother, protects a neighbor’s abused horse and discovers connections to the land and her Ojibway roots. Glossary.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Where the Sky LivesMargaret DillowayCan 12-year-old amateur astronomer Tuesday Beals save the skies over Utah’s Zion National Park from developers’ light pollution? A discarded, old-fashioned camera may help.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Answers in the PagesDavid LevithanWhite and Latinx kids, first loves, and homophobia are woven into a story about how fifth graders react to the attempt to ban an adventure novel featuring gay characters.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Be Real, Macy WeaverLakita WilsoLonely Black sixth grader Macy copes with an unexpected change of hometown and school. Then her secret interest in fashion design leads to collaboration with a new friend. Spot black-and-white art.Twelve to FourteenLexile 800LATOS 5.1View book details
Booked (The Crossover series)Kwame AlexanderDynamic, full-page illustrations showcase the inner turmoil of 12-year-old Nick, a middle school student who prefers soccer to scholarship, is bullied, and is too shy to approach his crush.Twelve to FourteenView book details
BrightBrigit YoungFeeling inadequate compared to her high-achieving older sister, Marianne zones out in school. But then she is compelled to join the Quiz Quest team. Can she compete?Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentCapriceCoe BoothAfter spending the summer at a girls’ leadership program, 12-year-old African American Caprice is forced to confront an overwhelming secret from her past.Twelve to FourteenLexile 590LATOS 4View book details
Chester Keene Cracks the CodeKekla MagoonBiracial Chester’s defensive rigidity is challenged by a riddle his distant father has posed. A girl offers to help. A light-hearted adventure with a serious undercurrent.Twelve to FourteenLexile 540LATOS 3.6View book details
Dream, Annie, DreamWaka T. BrownKansas-born Annie loves basketball and theater; her loving Japanese parents, more aware of anti-Asian microaggressions, worry about her future and career. How will she negotiate middle school?Twelve to FourteenView book details
FlyAlison HughesInspired by Don Quixote’s chivalrous ideals, 14-year- old Fly, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, exposes a school villain and protects an unwitting girl, gaining respect and self-discovery. Powerful free verse.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The FortGordon KormanFive boys discover a hidden fallout shelter. At first it’s just the best clubhouse ever, but soon it’s really needed as a refuge.Twelve to FourteenLexile 781LATOS 5View book details
Golden GirlReem FaruqiPakistani American Aafiyah’s compulsion to steal is exacerbated when her father’s detention and grandfather’s illness strains their family finances. How can trust be regained? Free verse. Black-and-white spot illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
In Honor of Broken ThingsPaul AcamporaThree eighth-grade classmates deal with divorce, a sibling’s death, and the transition from homeschooling. Working with clay in art class becomes a creative challenge, and their friendship grows.Twelve to FourteenLexile 660LATOS 4.3View book details
InvisibleChristina Diaz GonzalezFive Spanish-speaking students are called to their middle school principal’s office to explain why their community service led them to break the rules. In Spanish and English. Bright, colorful illustrations.Twelve to FourteenLexile GN260LATOS 2.6View book details
J. R. Silver Writes Her WorldMelissa DassoriWhile navigating thorny middle grade friendships, a sheltered sixth grader discovers that her response to the creative writing assignment given by her mysterious new teacher has come true. Black-and- white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Karthik DeliversSheela ChariMaking deliveries for his family’s struggling grocery store unexpectedly leads South Asian American Karthik to act in a play about Leonard Bernstein.Twelve to FourteenLexile 600LATOS 3.9View book details
Lolo’s LightLiz Garton ScanlonThe tragic sudden death of a neighbor’s infant for whom she had been the babysitter leaves Millie, 12, dealing with feelings of grief, loss, and guilt.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Lotus Bloom and the Afro RevolutionSherri WinstonBlack 12-year-old Lotus Bloom, gifted violinist and normally a peace-loving free spirit, must summon the courage to fight against a racist dress code.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Merci Suárez Plays It CoolMeg MedinaA Cuban American eighth grader takes a few more steps toward adulthood, enduring changing friendships, unwanted responsibilities, and heart-breaking loss. Last volume of the trilogy.Twelve to FourteenLexile 750LATOS 4.8View book details
MoonwalkingZetta Elliott, Lyn Miller-LachmannJJ, grandson of Polish immigrants, and Pierre, mixed- race straight-A student and secret graffiti artist, warily start a tentative friendship. Told in two voices. Various verse forms. Spot illustrations. Author’s note and sources.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-MeiChristina MatulaMoving from Canada to Hong Kong with her biracial, bicultural family challenges 12-year-old Holly. Balancing new friendships with her own goals is an adventure and growth opportunity. Black-and-white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenWord count 49940View book details
Nowhere Better Than HereSarah GuilloryForced to leave their tiny, flood-devasted town in Louisiana, Jillian, 13, and her friends are determined to preserve its history and the memories of their Cajun community, leading them to environmental activism.Twelve to FourteenLexile 680LATOS 4.5View book details
Rain RisingCourtne ComrieBlack 13-year-old Rain struggles with low self-esteem, but when her beloved brother is beaten in a racial assault, she discovers her own worth. Free verse.Twelve to FourteenLexile 549LATOS 3.6View book details
Repairing the WorldLinda EpsteinAfter her best friend dies, Daisy feels only grief. But the first year of middle school brings a range of new emotions, new people, and a sense of wonder.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Road to AfterRebekah LowellForced to flee their abusive home, two young sisters and their mother learn to live without fear, make friends, and find solace in art and nature. Gentle black- and-white illustrations. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
SardinesSashi KaufmanLucas, 11, and four diverse classmates in an after- school program bond through a game that inspires them to solve one another’s problems.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Smaller SisterMaggie Edkins WillisLucy copes with the challenges of a new school and critical classmates as well as her older sister’s growing, serious eating disorder. Colorful illustrations.Twelve to FourteenLexile GN440LATOS 3View book details
A Song Called HomeSara ZarrWhen a guitar arrives on her 11th birthday, Lou, thinking it’s from her alcoholic father, is determined to learn to play it. Authentic and compassionate.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Sweet and SourDebbi Michiko FlorenceJapanese Americans Mai, 12, and Zach, 13, were lifelong best friends until, two years ago, he humiliated her. Now he’s back from Tokyo, and Mai is bent on revenge. Black-and-white spot art.Twelve to FourteenWord count 53697View book details
Those Kids from Fawn CreekErin Entrada KellyMysterious, seemingly worldly Orchid arrives at a rural middle school, impacting the lives of all 13 of her fellow seventh graders. Greyscale illustrations.Twelve to FourteenWord count 52931View book details
UnfadeableMaurice BroaddusHomeless, street-smart, biracial Bella, 13, is determined to get funding for an art project for her neglected neighborhood. With a mysterious mentor’s help, she battles powerful entrenched interests.Twelve to FourteenLexile 720LATOS 4.6View book details
Wishing upon the Same StarsJacquetta Nammar FeldmanWill it be possible for seventh graders Yasmeen, Palestinian American, and Ayelet, a Jewish Israeli American, to overcome parental prejudices and classroom bullying to form a friendship?Twelve to FourteenView book details
WorserJennifer ZieglerIntroverted Worser, 12, has always lost himself in words. After his mother has a stroke that leaves her nonverbal, he must learn new ways to navigate his world.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Healer & WitchNancy WerlinIn 1551 Sylvie, 15, a healer, makes a tragic mistake and then leaves her small French town, seeking to learn how to use her special powers less destructively.Twelve to FourteenView book details
LifelingKirsty ApplebaumAs a lifeling, 12-year-old Lonny can revive dying animals and humans, but at an irreparable cost to himself. How long can this remain a secret?Twelve to FourteenView book details
MedusaJessie Burton, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech GillPerseus—son of Zeus—must seek and behead beautiful Medusa, whose flowing hair was transformed into serpents by enraged Athena. Lush full-color illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Ogress and the OrphansKelly BarnhillIn a once-lovely town, a houseful of orphans teams up with a misunderstood ogress to reveal the mayor’s perfidy and restore goodwill among the townspeople.Twelve to FourteenWord count 99555View book details
Shuna’s Journeywritten and illustrated by Hayao Miyazaki, translated from the Japanese by Alex Dudok de WitWhen Prince Shuna leaves his devastated village in search of golden grain to feed his people, he meets two kind sisters in the brutal society he encounters. Soft pastel illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Sparrows in the WindGail Carson LevineAfter Apollo curses Cassandra, no one believes her visions, but she never stops trying to avert the tragic future she sees for her beloved Troy.Twelve to FourteenView book details
SquireSara Alfageeh, Nadia ShammasIn the Middle East, Aiza joins the conquerors’ army for a higher position in society and learns pride, loyalty, and fighting skills. Dramatic, deeply colored panels. Excellent back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentA Thousand Steps into NightTraci CheeMiuko, an innkeeper’s daughter in a Japanese-inspired fantasy world, is cursed by a demon. She befriends tricksters, shape shifters, and magical creatures to end the curse.Twelve to FourteenView book detailsTiger Honor (A Thousand Worlds series)Yoon Ha LeeNonbinary 13-year-old Sebin, a cadet on a Thousand Worlds spaceship, must choose between allegiance to their Juhwang Clan or dedication to the larger good. Korean folklore woven throughout.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The WellJake WyattOn an imagined Chinese archipelago, a girl with magical abilities steals three coins from a wishing well. Her punishment: fulfill the wishes. Dramatic Chinese motif illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Alte Zachen/Old ThingsZiggy HanaorShopping in New York with Bubbe Rosa for Shabbat dinner, Benji, 11, learns about his grandmother’s past in Nazi Germany, lost love, and immigration. Soft, stylized watercolor illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
A Blanket of Butterflies (The Spirit of Denendeh series)Richard Van CampShinobu traces his grandfather’s samurai sword and armor to remote Fort Smith of the Dene Nation in Canada. Dynamic full-color illustrations. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Bluest SkyChristina Diaz GonzalezIn 1980 Héctor, 11, must leave Cuba for political reasons, though he longs to compete in the International Math Olympiad for his country. Spanish- English glossary.Twelve to FourteenLexile 650LATOS 4.2View book details
Cinder & GlassMelissa de la CruzCendrillon, ingenue of the court of France, struggles with her father’s death and the loss of stature and freedom under her stepmother’s treacherous guardianship.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Door of No ReturnKwame AlexanderEleven-year-old West Africa Asante Kingdom villager Kofi fights for his survival when he is betrayed by a neighboring village. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenLexile NP0LATOS 5.9View book details
Mature contentLouisa June and the Nazis in the WavesL. M. ElliottWhen a German submarine kills her older brother, Louisa June is determined to do what she can, from her Virginia home, to battle the Nazis.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mordechai Anielewicz: No to Despair (They Said No series)Rachel HausfaterIn 1943, against all odds, Mordechai Anielewicz led a revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto from which the Nazis deported most of the nearly 400,000 Jews living there to concentration camps. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentThe Star That Always StaysAnna Rose JohnsonAfter her mother’s remarriage in 1914, Norvia and her siblings move to a Michigan city where divorce and her Ojibwe heritage set her apart. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentTroublemakerJohn Cho, with Sara SukTwelve-year-old Korean American Jordan is caught up in struggling between friends and family honor during the 1992 LA riots following the Rodney King verdict.Twelve to FourteenLexile 669LATOS 4.3View book details
We Are WolvesKatrina NannestadDuring World War II, when the Russian Army invades East Prussia, three siblings, separated from their mother, live in the woods to survive. Somber black-and- white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
When Winter Robeson CameBrenda WoodsOn the cusp of the Watts race riots of 1965, a Black family hosts a young out-of-town cousin seeking his father, who disappeared ten years earlier. Free verse.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Wind Rises (Alma Series)Timothée de FombelleThe lives of a young African girl and a young European stowaway on board a slave ship in 1786 intertwine. Meticulously written. Finely detailed black-and-white illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Year the Maps ChangedDanielle BinksIn 1999, 11-year-old Winifred, aka Fred, sees her nuclear family expand as Australia starts to receive Albanian refugees from Yugoslavia.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Code Name: SerendipityAmber SmithMisunderstood by her brother and two moms, Sadie meets a stray dog with whom she can communicate telepathically. But adopting him becomes a problem.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Etta InvincibleReese EschmannWhen Etta’s superhero alter-ego battles the fear of a disability diagnosis while on a magical train journey, her friend Eleazar’s puppy helps her find hope. Dramatic black-and-white panel illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Every Bird a PrinceJenn ReeseRecruited by birds to protect animals and humans against creatures who weaponize doubt, seventh grader Eren Evers must find her inner truths in order to succeed.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Hither and Nigh (Hither and Nigh series)Ellen PotterSeventh grader Nell’s brother disappeared three years ago, and only she still believes he’ll be found. Finding herself in a dangerous parallel New York, she searches for him.Twelve to FourteenView book details
MoonflowerKacen CallenderStruggling with depression, Black, nonbinary Moon finds themself having to learn love and hope to protect the spirit world.Twelve to FourteenLexile 769LATOS 4.9View book details
Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab NationSylvia LiuHana can’t wait to be meshed to the multiweb at Start-Up. Slowly she begins to notice that friends are becoming sick and that the technology is problematic.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Operation Do-OverGordon KormanBest friends Mason and Ty are estranged when they both crush on Ava. Then 17-year-old Mason wakes up as his 12-year-old self and changes history.Twelve to FourteenLexile 811LATOS 5.2View book details
Book of Questions/Libro de las preguntasPablo NerudaProfound thought-provoking musings by the Chilean Nobel Laureate poet. Dreamlike, folkloric illustrations. Bilingual in Spanish and English.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Ode to a NobodyCaroline Brooks DuBoisEighth grade underachiever Quinn suddenly finds her life completely leveled by a tornado. Will she use this trauma to build a different life? Free verse.Twelve to FourteenView book details
On the Move: Home Is Where You Find ItMichael RosenThe Polish-Jewish poet explores his childhood in postwar London, his family’s experiences of World War II, the fate of missing relatives, and migration today. Free verse. Blue-wash watercolor illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Rima’s Rebellion: Courage in a Time of TyrannyMargarita EngleIn 1920s Cuba, multiracial Rima, illegitimate and shunned, fights to pass laws to protect and empower women. Free verse. Historical back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book detailsWaveDiana FaridIn 1980s Southern California, surfing with Phoenix is the only time Ava, a Persian American teen, feels she belongs. Then . . . Free verse and concrete poetry. Black-and-white spot illustrations.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs: 70+ Teen-Tested and Teen-Approved Recipes to Cook, Eat, and ShareAmerica’s Test Kitchen Kids, photographed by Kevin White, Joe Keller, Steve KliseA mouth-watering collection, for both novices and experienced cooks, of recipes for main meals and snacks. Global cuisines and vegetarian dishes featured. Includes cooking and safety tips. Color photos.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Crafting Change: Handmade Activism, Past and PresentJessica VitkusFull-color photographs accompany a history of craftivists, artistic social justice advocates who create empowering, inspiring, and sometimes iconic objects through mediums such as embroidery, architecture, sculpting, and knitting.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King DayKathlyn J. KirkwoodIn free verse, Kirkwood relates her lifelong involvement with the civil rights movement and the establishment of the national holiday honoring Dr. King. Greyscale drawings. Archival photographs and documents.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the NazisSusan Hood, with Greg DawsonTwo Ukrainian Jewish sisters, both piano prodigies, used their wits and the help of heroic strangers to hide in plain sight in Nazi-occupied Europe. Greyscale illustrations. Maps, photos, letters, sources.Twelve to FourteenLexile 910LATOS 5.9View book details
Islands Apart: Becoming Dominican AmericanJasminne MendezA young girl in a Dominican American family living on various U.S. army bases narrates her conflicting feelings about growing up in two cultures.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Lady and the Octopus: How Jeanne Villepreux-Power Invented Aquariums and Revolutionized Marine Biologywritten and illustrated by Danna StaafIn 19th-century France, when women weren’t accepted as scientists, Villepreux-Power studied live marine creatures by building an aquarium. Archival illustrations and photographs. Extensive sourcing.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Maybe an Artist: A Graphic Memoirwritten and illustrated by Liz MontagueFor a Black girl, growing up in predominantly white suburbs can be complicated. Could Montague be an athlete and an artist? Expressive illustrations with soft color palette.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Speak UP , Speak OUT!: The Extraordinary Life of “Fighting Shirley Chisholm”Tonya Bolden, foreword by Stacey AbramsA fiery Black activist from Brooklyn entered politics, achieved many “firsts” in her elected positions, and became a role model for those who followed. Archival photographs. Sources.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle ButlerIbi ZoboiDirect quotes, background and historical information, archival photographs, prose passages, and poetry create a vivid portrait of this Black author who was influential in shaping the science fiction genre. Well documented. Personal notes.Twelve to FourteenLexile 1029LATOS 7View book details
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist For JusticeTommie Smith, Derrick BarnesA track-and-field champion’s raised fist on the medal podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico became an iconic image of the struggle against racial injustice. Stirring black-and-white panels.Twelve to FourteenView book details
We’re in This TogetherLinda SarsourA Palestinian Muslim American grew up as a child of immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, and became an activist and organizer. Informational sidebars, glossary, endnotes. Young readers edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise MeitnerMarissa Moss, illustrated by Marissa MossIn 1938, despite misogyny and antisemitism, Lise Meitner discovered how to split uranium and revolutionized nuclear science. Pen and ink graphic inserts, archival photographs. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Where Have All the Birds Gone?: Nature in CrisisRebecca E. HirschTall glass buildings, plastic trash, and widespread planting of nonnative plant species that don’t support insects that native birds feed on are among the many threats to birds’ survival. Maps, photos, and archival images. Sources, glossary, suggested reading.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Duet: Our Journey in Song with the Northern MockingbirdPhillip HooseThe centuries-long connection between these brilliant mimics, known as “kings of song, ” and humans is explored. Photos and archival images. Bibliography, source notes, index.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Peace Is a Chain Reaction: How World War II Japanese Balloon Bombs Brought People of Two Nations TogetherTanya Lee StoneThrough “truth and transparency, ” Yuzuru John Takeshita was instrumental in healing two communities touched by war. Black-and-white illustrations. Archival images and photos. Abundant back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal about the Japanese American IncarcerationElizabeth PartridgeThe divergent backgrounds and motivations of these photographers produced widely varied portraits of the mass internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Vivid ink, pencil, and digital illustrations and archival photos. Discussion of historic and legal background. Biographies, footnotes.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Trapped in Terror Bay: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Franklin ExpeditionSigmund BrouwerTen detailed episodes analyze what happened to Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 exploration of the Arctic’s Northwest Passage. Maps, photos, and archival images. Copious back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret CodeRebecca E. F. BaroneBefore and during World War II, the heroic efforts of many Poles, French men and women, and Britishers accomplished the impossible: cracking the complex encoded messages sent among the Nazi military. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Underground Fire: Hope, Sacrifice, and Courage in the Cherry Mine DisasterSally M. Walker, maps, diagrams by Rita CsizmadiaA harrowing minute-by-minute account of a 1909 coal mine disaster in Illinois and the attempt to rescue the miners. Greyscale maps and diagrams. Archival photos and images.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Dionysos: The New God (Olympians series)George O’ConnorHestia, goddess of the hearth, tells the story of Dionysos’s trials and tribulations as a human until he ascends to Godhood. Dramatic, detailed panels. Bibliography, notes, and reading suggestions.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball AssociationFred Bowen, illustrated by James E. RansomeA lively history of how the game evolved from using peach baskets as hoops. Painterly portraits bring greats such as Bird and Chamberlain to life.Twelve to FourteenView book details
The Race of the Century: The Battle to Break the Four-Minute MileNeal BascombIn the 1950s, three men competed to achieve the impossible: run a four-minute mile. Original interviews inform the gripping narrative. Meticulous sourcing.Twelve to FourteenView book details
How to Build a Human: In Seven Evolutionary StepsPamela S. TurnerRecent scientific discoveries, combined with updated theories, shine a light on modern humans’ evolutionary journey. Dramatic illustrations by a paleoartist. Maps. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Save the People!: Halting Human ExtinctionStacy McAnultyTake a whirlwind journey through the history of planet Earth, concluding with today’s climate emergency and presenting actions to take right now. Engaging black- and-white drawings. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Mature contentSky Wolf’s Call: The Gift of Indigenous KnowledgeEldon Yellowhorn, Kathy LowingerInterconnected teachings in science, culture, history, and stewardship, along with legends and biographies of Indigenous leaders. Paintings by Indigenous artists, photographs. Back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book details
Law and Justice The Antiracist Kid: A Book about Identity, Justice, and ActivismTiffany Jewell, illustrated by Nicole MilesThis primer on equity work encourages readers to reflect on themselves, examine power and bias issues, and become change advocates. Boldly colored spot illustrations. Extensive back matter.Twelve to FourteenView book detailsFourteen and Older
117 selections
The AgathasKathleen Glasgow, Liz LawsonInspired by mystery writer Agatha Christie, two teens from opposite sides of the social divide unite to solve a classmate’s murder, uncovering uncomfortable secrets about their seaside town. Back matter.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL660LATOS 4.3View book details
Mature contentAll My RageSabaa TahirEighteen-year-old Salahudin, a Muslim living in a small California desert town, struggles to save the family motel while trying to protect his girlfriend Noor from abuse.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL590LATOS 4.2View book details
All That’s Left in the WorldErik J. BrownTwo teenage boys survive a pandemic that wipes out 99% of the world’s population. Their treacherous search for civilization brings challenging encounters with other survivors.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Each Night Was IlluminatedJodi Lynn AndersonAfter witnessing a fatal train accident, 17-year-old Cassie, a questioning Catholic, finds herself on a ghost- hunting quest with Elias, a Bangladeshi Australian visitor, and discovers something to believe in.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam SylvesterMaya MacGregorMoving into the home where a tragic death occurred 30 years ago, autistic, nonbinary Sam tries to free themself from a painful past while finding a path forward.Fourteen and OlderView book details
My Imaginary MaryCynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi MeadowsAda Lovelace, mathematical genius, and Mary Shelley, esteemed writer, attempt to create a living creature as they face perils and dodge villains.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Queen of the TilesHanna AlkafThough grieving the death—and possibly the murder— of her best friend, Trina, during last year’s Malaysian Scrabble tournament, Najwa determines to play again and win. Challenging Scrabble vocabulary.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentMan Made MonstersAndrea L. RogersA series of short stories follows an extended Cherokee family over generations (from 1839 to 2039) as they encounter vampires, zombies, and other monsters. White-on-black line art.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The 9:09 ProjectMark H. ParsonsJamison, 17, commemorates his mother by taking pictures of strangers at 9:09, the time she died. His skill at photography thrusts him into new situations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Anne of GreenvilleMariko TamakiIn this Anne of Green Gables remake, a vivacious adopted multiracial lesbian high schooler and her two moms are confronted by hate in a new community.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentBeating Heart BabyLio MinAfter a chance encounter, multiracial bisexual Santi and Japanese Korean American transgender Suwa orbit around each other until a cryptic past connection resurfaces. Music, anime, and chosen family rally behind them.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Boys of the BeastMonica ZepedaThree Latino cousins, strangers at first, take a trip together from Portland, Oregon, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Adventures abound as they discover truths about themselves and each other.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentBreathe and Count Back from TenNatalia SylvesterAfter multiple surgeries due to hip dysplasia, Verónica, 17, struggles with overprotective Peruvian immigrant parents. Will a romance and the chance to swim in a mermaid-themed show allow her to gain control?Fourteen and OlderLexile 829LATOS 5.3View book details
Mature contentThe Days of Bluegrass LoveEdward van de VendelA Dutch teen, spending his gap year as a counselor at an international youth camp, experiences the astonishment of first love with his Norwegian roommate. Sexual scenes.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Destination UnknownBill KonigsbergIn 1987 two teen boys in New York City fall in love and help each other navigate life in the shadow of the deadly AIDS pandemic.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Every Variable of UsCharles A. BushBlack high schooler Alexis’s dreams of a basketball college scholarship vanish when she’s injured in a gang shooting. Pushed to participate in the “science team, ” she discovers other ways for success.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Family of LiarsE. LockhartCarrie, 17, confronts the ghost of her sister while recounting a horrific incident. Spare lyrical prose explores complex themes: guilt, blame, love, truth. A stand-alone prequel to We Were Liars.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL640LATOS 4.3View book details
Mature contentFinding JupiterKelis RoweA summer romance between two Black Memphis teens reveals long-held family secrets that can tear them apart. Poetry and prose. Elegant greyscale illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe First Thing about YouChaz HaydenAfter his family moves to New Jersey, Harris, 15, decides to reinvent himself and not just be known as the kid in the wheelchair.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentFour for the RoadK. J. ReillyAsher vows to avenge his mother’s death at the hands of a drunk driver, but his journey takes a different turn when his grief group metamorphoses into a circle of friends.Fourteen and OlderLexile 1030LATOS 7View book details
The Greatest ThingSarah Winifred SearleBlue-tinted illustrations depict Winifred’s struggles with mental health and identity. Artistic expression and friendship help her find her voice. Semi- autobiographical.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Kaya GirlMamle WoloIn contemporary Accra, Ghana, two girls from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds form an unlikely but deep friendship.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Kings of B’moreR. Eric ThomasTwo queer Black best friends, Harrison and Linus, have one last, transformative day of adventures together before Linus must move away.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentLovelessAlice OsemanGeorgia can’t understand why she has never had any romantic feelings for anyone. In her first year at university, she struggles to figure out her aromantic- asexual identity. Resources.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentMan o’ WarCory McCarthyA multiracial competitive swimmer in a small Ohio town known for its dilapidated marine life theme park discovers their gender identity during high school and as they begin college.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentMy Good Manwritten and illustrated by Eric GansworthAfter being viciously assaulted on the Tuscarora reservation, Brian, now a local journalist, reflects on his family and cultural relationships and uncovers the truth of what really happened. Elaborate greyscale illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Name She Gave MeBetty CulleyIn rural Maine, 16-year-old Rynn, unloved by the woman who adopted her as a baby, searches for her biological family and discovers her true identity. Free verse.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Practice GirlEstelle LaureJo, who misses and idealizes her dad, realizes that she has sold herself short in her search for love and acceptance on the wrestling team.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Private LabelKelly YangTwo Chinese American teens in California, one from a traditional background, the other assimilated to the point of cultural erasure, navigate complex relationships with their parents and peers.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentRequired Reading for the Disenfranchised FreshmanKristen R. LeeAttending a prestigious, predominantly white college, Black scholarship student Savannah faces microaggressions, racism, and white privilege while living her mother’s dream of a better life for her.Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Scatter of LightMalinda LoA graduation party goes wrong, exiling Aria, 17, to her grandmother’s home in California. There she meets Steph, a gender-nonconforming singer/songwriter, and begins questioning her own identity.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Amazonawritten and illustrated by Canizales, translated from the Spanish by Sofía Huitrón MartínezPowerful red and black graphics depict an Indigenous Colombian woman’s journey home to the rainforest to bury her daughter and gather information on the land’s illegal exploitation.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the HeartChesilGinny, a Korean born in Japan, is sent to school in the United States after a breakdown and must decide how to forge ahead in the face of injustice and prejudice.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Epic Story of Every Living ThingDeb CalettiWhen Harper, 17, travels to Hawaii with her half- siblings to meet their sperm donor father, she begins to discover who she really is.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The GapsLeanne HallBiracial (Chinese Singaporean and white Australian) scholarship student Chloe and white queen bee Natalia forge a friendship that enables each to process complicated feelings after a classmate at their Melbourne school is kidnapped.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Girl in the CastleJames Patterson, Emily RaymondA psychiatric patient believing she lives in the 14th century finally confronts the source of her delusions.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentHollow FiresSamira AhmedA missing Iraqi American student is found dead, convincing Safiya to investigate racism and Islamophobia at her Chicago prep school. Told in alternating voices by Safiya and the victim.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentHome Field AdvantageDahlia AdlerEveryone is in an uproar when Jaclyn, a female quarterback, arrives at Atherton High School to take the field with a male team that already resents her. When she and a cheerleader fall in love, things get even more complicated.Fourteen and OlderView book details
How We RicochetFaith GardnerBetty, her mother, and her sister survive a mall shooting. Each handles her reactions to the trauma in different ways, and there’s a love story too.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentI Miss You, I Hate ThisSara SaediA pandemic strikes, mainly killing young people. Trying to survive, two best friends, one Iranian American and one Mexican American, experience life through their screens.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Secrets We KeepCassie GustafsonWhen her best friend Hannah accuses Emma’s dad of unspeakable acts, Emma must decide where her loyalties lie.Fourteen and OlderView book details
This Golden StateMarit WeisenbergPoppy’s family has been on the run her whole life. A move to California exposes a crack in her parents’ persistent, desperate attempts to remain undercover.Fourteen and OlderView book details
We Are All We HaveMarina BudhosAfter her mother is detained by ICE, undocumented Pakistani high school senior Rania flees with her younger brother. With another teen from a shelter, they seek a safe haven.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Wolves Are WaitingNatasha FriendAfter Nora, 15, is drugged and assaulted, she wants to just forget it happened—until she learns that her father, the local college’s beloved athletic director, is indirectly complicit.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Words We KeepErin StewartAfter her sister’s suicide attempt, Lily, 16, starts spiraling downward. An English/art project partners her with Micah, a fellow depression sufferer. Includes mental health resources.Fourteen and OlderLexile HL680LATOS 4.6View book details
Family/School/Community Goth Girl, Queen of the UniverseLindsay S. ZrullIn foster care since age seven, Jess, 17, joins Oscar’s cosplay team, hoping a distant costume competition will enable her to reunite with her mentally ill biological mother.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Heartbreak SymphonyLaekan Zea KempAarón and Mia, two musically gifted teens, struggle with unresolved personal and family issues and with increasing attacks on their Latinx community.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentHow to Live without YouSarah EverettBlack 17-year-old Emmy grapples with her sister’s sudden disappearance while assessing her own maturing identity. Mental health challenges and barriers to treatment depicted with candor and empathy.Fourteen and OlderView book details
I RiseMarie ArnoldRaised to be the next leader of her mother’s Harlem civil rights organization, Ayo would rather be an ordinary teen. When tragedy strikes, will she step into the leadership role?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Life and Crimes of Hoodie RosenIsaac BlumFifteen-year-old Hoodie, an Orthodox Jew, falls hard for Anna Marie, the Christian daughter of the mayor who wants to get rid of the Orthodox families living in their town.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Nothing Burns as Bright as YouAshley WoodfolkThe tumultuous friendship of two Black teen girls evolves into a fiery first love. Nonlinear story arc in passionate free verse.Fourteen and OlderView book details
On the Subject of Unmentionable ThingsJulia WaltonPhoebe Townsend, 16, is a rule follower; however, her alter ego, Pom, writes about sex education on an anonymous blog until it goes viral.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Peach RebellionWendelin Van DraanenThree teenaged girls from different socioeconomic backgrounds in post-World War II California unite over a unique and heartbreaking mission. A testament to friendship, feminism, and challenging the status quo.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Silence That Binds UsJoanna HoReeling from her beloved brother’s suicide, Chinese American May, with her Haitian American best friend’s help, fights back against racism after May’s family is publicly maligned.Fourteen and OlderView book details
This Place Is Still BeautifulXiXi TianA racial slur painted on their home forces mixed-race Chinese American sisters to confront the hate crime. How will it impact their conflict-filled relationships with their mother and each other?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Vinyl MoonMahogany L. BrowneAfter escaping an abusive romantic relationship in California, Black 11th grader Angel gets a fresh start in Brooklyn, living with her uncle and attending high school.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Weight of BloodTiffany D. JacksonIn small-town Georgia, Maddy Washington has always been an outcast, but the bullying gets relentless when classmates find out she is Black. A Carrie retelling.Fourteen and OlderView book details
A Year to the DayRobin BenwayLeo was a passenger in the car when her sister, Nina, was killed by a drunk driver. Can she heal despite having no memory of the accident?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Beasts of RuinAyana Gray, maps by Virginia AllynKoffi was raised without knowledge of her magical daraja heritage; Ekon escaped a heinous military order. Each, struggling with insecurities, nonetheless battles the god of death. Finely detailed maps.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Dream RunnersShveta ThakrarTanvi, 17, is a harvester of humans’ dreams for immortal nagas, who cannot dream. When Tanvi’s memories of her former life resurface, she turns to Venkat, the dreamsmith, for help.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Forging Silver into StarsBrigid KemmererIn a kingdom where magic has been banished, Callyn, a baker, and Jax, a blacksmith, learn that their new king has magical powers and become entangled in a conspiracy to overthrow the royal family.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Girl Who Fell beneath the SeaAxie OhIn this reimagined Korean folktale, Mina, 16, sacrifices herself to the Sea God in place of her brother’s beloved, hoping to save her homeland.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Only a MonsterVanessa LenMalaysian British Joan learns she is a half-monster who can time travel by stealing time from humans. Unfortunately, her crush is the legendary hero whose mission is to kill monsters.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentRust in the RootJustina IrelandLaura, a Black queer mage in 1937 NYC, earns her magic license and joins an official agency with whom she battles racism and dark forces. Archival black-and- white photos.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Together We BurnIsabel IbañezFighting dragons in an arena has been the heritage ruling 18-year-old Zarela’s life. Disaster strikes during one celebratory show, and everything changes instantly.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Violet Made of ThornsGina ChenViolet once used her power as a seer to save Prince Cyrus’s life. Can her visions continue to protect him and their kingdom? Or will mutual attraction doom them both?Fourteen and OlderView book details
The WitcheryS. IsabelleSix teens from Mesmortes Coven Academy and Hammersmitt School for Exceptional Young Men unravel a centuries-long hex and save the town of Haelsford from ensorcelled wolves.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Zatanna: The Jewel of GravesendAlys ArdenIn contemporary Coney Island, Zatanna, a famous illusionist’s daughter, suddenly understands mirror script, an inherited trait, leading her to question her parents’ identities. Lush, colorful graphics.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Berlinerswritten and illustrated by Vesper StamperIn the 1960s during the Cold War, 15-year-old twins wind up unhappily living in opposite sectors of divided Berlin. Black-and-white illustrations. Glossary, resources.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentDaughters of a Dead EmpireCarolyn Tara O’NeilIn 1918, during the Russian Revolution, Anna, the tsar’s daughter, escapes the Bolsheviks. She encounters Evgenia, a peasant girl who must collaborate with her in the desperate battle to survive. Historical notes, back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Great or NothingJoy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, Jessica SpotswoodIn a reimagined Little Women set in 1942, Jo works in an aircraft factory, Amy joins the Red Cross, and the Marches struggle with their grief over Beth’s death. Black-and-white spot art.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Winner of the 2023 Josette Frank AwardI Must Betray YouRuta SepetysIn 1989 the extreme deprivations of Romania’s authoritarian Ceaus, escu regime drive Cristian, 17, to spy on an American diplomat to secure medicine for his grandfather. Archival photos. Historical notes, lengthy bibliography.Fourteen and OlderLexile 550LATOS 4.3View book details
Ironhead, or, Once a Young LadyJean-Claude van RijckeghemIn 1800s Belgium, Stance, disguised as a man, flees a loveless arranged marriage. Her brother pursues the runaway, and both end up embroiled in the war between Austria and France.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Nothing Sung and Nothing SpokenNita TyndallCharlie’s queer relationship and fear of its consequences during the Nazi regime tests her willingness to risk resistance and being part of the underground Swing culture.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby RemixAnna-Marie McLemoreLatinx, poor, and transgender youth battle for self- identity during the glittering, decadent 1920s, facing pervasive classism, racism, and sexism and finding happiness by being true to themselves.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Silent Stars Goby Sally NichollsDuring World War I, just as Margot, 16, discovered she was pregnant, her fiancé, Harry Singer, was reported missing in action. Now Harry has returned. Should she tell him about the baby her parents adopted?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Silent UnseenAmanda McCrinaIn 1944, Maria, a Polish escapee from the Nazis, saves Kostya from the Soviet police. Then she learns he is a Ukrainian resistance fighter, and thus, the enemy.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The StorytellerKathryn WilliamsJess, 17, finds a trunkful of diaries kept by her Russian émigré great-great-aunt, opening the possibility of a family connection to the murdered last Russian tsar.Fourteen and OlderView book details
This Rebel HeartKatherine LockeCsilla and her aunt, Holocaust survivors in 1956 Budapest, Hungary, must battle for freedom or flee. Csilla fights alongside a student revolutionary and the Angel of Death. Elements of Jewish folklore.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Travelers along the Way: A Robin Hood RemixAminah Mae SafiIn 1192 the Third Crusade rages on. A motley group of fellow travelers led by two Muslim sisters join the fight to protect Jerusalem.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentValiant LadiesMelissa GreyBy day Kiki and Ana, who struggle with their love for one another, are proper 17th-century ladies. At night they take up weapons to fight and gamble. It all becomes sinister when Kiki’s brother is murdered.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Live, Laugh, KidnapGabby NooneGullible Marla gives her daughter Zoe’s college fund to a corrupt megachurch. Zoe then bonds with two other teens and Dustin, the pastor’s disgruntled son, to kidnap Dustin for ransom.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Funeral GirlEmma K. OhlandAsexual Georgia lives with her family in a funeral home. After her grandmother’s death, she learns she can awaken the dead, which becomes problematic when a classmate dies.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Ghosts of Rose HillR. M. RomeroExiled to Prague for the summer by her Cuban mother and Czech father, Ilana, 16, restores an old Jewish cemetery, falls in love with a ghost, and battles a monster. Free verse.Fourteen and OlderView book details
I Am the Ghost in Your HouseMar Romasco-MoorePie and her mother, who are invisible, live a secretive, nomadic life. When her mom disappears, Pie reveals her existence to others, with life-changing results.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Wild Is the WitchRachel GriffinIris is tried as a witch, shunned, and forced to leave her home; her anxiety controls every thought, leading to an error in judgement that threatens lives.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Galaxy: The Prettiest StarJadzia AxelrodSent to Earth after her planet is attacked, an extraterrestrial princess transforms into a boy but finds it difficult to hide and lie. Bright candy-colored graphics.Fourteen and OlderView book details
How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying)Cristina FernandezDouble majoring as a premed student is demanding enough, but dating nerdy Max, who turns out to be a superhero, upends Astrid’s rigid life plan.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The KindredAlechia DowThe Kindred Program was devised to pair upper- and lower-class citizens at birth telepathically so that class would not inhibit voice. What could go wrong?Fourteen and OlderView book details
Tasting Light: Ten Science Fiction Stories to Rewire Your PerceptionsA. R. Capetta, Wade RoushTen writers create amazing explorations of the diverse possibilities of evolution in social systems and in human, interspecies, and spatial relationships when supported, controlled, and extended by future technology. Includes a graphic format story; crisp black-and-white artwork.Fourteen and OlderView book details
African TownIrene Latham, Charles Waters, introduction by Jocelyn M. DavisThe story of the last illegal slave ship, Clotilda, is told in 14 distinct voices. Variously styled free verse. Map and spot black-and-white illustrations. Ample back matter.Fourteen and OlderLexile 790LATOS 5View book details
Winner of the 2023 Claudia Lewis AwardAugusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s LifeMarilyn Nelson, afterword by Tammi LawsonSavage, a gifted Black sculptor and teacher, flourished during the 1930s Harlem Renaissance. Free verse and concrete poems. Photographs of Savage’s sculptures. Back matter, biography.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Most Dazzling Girl in BerlinKip WilsonIn 1932 homeless, penniless, and orphaned, Hilde, 18, finds a friend and a home working at the Café Lila, a gay bar in Berlin. Free verse. Back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Respect the Mic: Celebrating 20 Years of Poetry from a Chicagoland High SchoolHanif Abdurraqib, Franny Choi, Peter Kahn, Dan “Sully” Sullivan, foreword by Tyehimba JessCulled from a decades-long high school writing and poetry slam project, these powerful varied verses are deeply personal, urgent, and affecting. An inspiring model for replication in other educational settings. Black-and-white spot illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Voices of the PeopleJoseph BruchacIn free verse, the author celebrates the lives, accomplishments, and legacies of 34 Indigenous Americans. Visually arresting mixed-media illustrations enrich each profile.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the WorldFrederick Joseph, Porsche JosephThe authors’ lived experiences and interviews with 25 experts clarify the intersectionality of social justice issues for anyone interested in doing more than performative social media activism.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Agent Most Wanted: The Never-Before-Told Story of the Most Dangerous Spy of World War IISonia PurnellDespite her prosthetic lower leg, Virginia Hall joined Britain’s Special Operations Executive, gathering intelligence about the Nazis and working with the French Resistance. Copious archival photographs. Back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Button Pusherwritten and illustrated by Tyler PageA poignant account of the author’s youthful struggles as he tries to make sense of his impulsive behavior and his parents’ tumultuous relationship. Colorful graphics. Includes information on ADHD.Fourteen and OlderWord count 17382View book details
Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom FighterYohuru Williams, Michael G. LongFamous for breaking the color barrier, great baseball player Jackie Robinson was also a passionate, steadfast civil rights activist. Archival images and photographs. Meticulously sourced.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Don’t Look Back: A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to AmericaAchut Deng, Keely HuttonAchut Deng, one of the few Sudanese girls included in the migration of the Lost Boys, recounts her path to American citizenship. A story of love, sacrifice, and family devotion.Fourteen and OlderView book details
I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards WalkerSara LattaAbolitionist, suffragist, spy for the Union, and advocate for unisex clothing for women, Walker was the sole female recipient of the Medal of Honor. Archival images and photos. Meticulously sourced.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Kurt Vonnegut: The Making of a WriterDan WakefieldThis vivid picture of a lauded and complicated author includes his letters and his ink sketches as well as archival photos.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Solito: A MemoirJavier ZamoraWhen he was nine, Zamora made a heart-wrenching 3,000-mile journey from his home in El Salvador to join his parents and sibling in the United States.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War IIAdam MakosThe paths of an American gunner, his German counterpart, and an innocent civilian collide violently in 1944 Cologne. Extensive back matter and original sources add veracity. Young readers edition.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentThe Sun Does ShineAnthony Ray Hinton, with Lara Love Hardin, Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichAnthony Ray Hinton, a Black Alabamian accused of murder, spent almost 30 years on death row. Faith, family, and friends sustained him as he struggled for exoneration. Young readers edition.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of PlantsRobin Wall KimmererA botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation exhorts us to save our endangered planet, offering guidance on proven sustainable practices. Limited-palette illustrations. Bibliography, notes, index.Fourteen and OlderView book details
When the World Runs Dry: Earth’s Water in CrisisNancy F. CastaldoWhen you turn your tap on, does clean water come out? In many communities throughout the world, it doesn’t. Black-and-white photos. Back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Mature contentRising Trouble Maker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for TeensLuvvie Ajayi JonesAlthough there are countless things to be afraid of, asking for what you need is the antidote to that fear.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Days of Infamy: How a Century of Bigotry Led to Japanese American InternmentLawrence GoldstoneAn accessible history of decades of anti-Asian American legislation and policies, leading to the incarceration in the United States of over 110,000 people of Japanese descent during World War II. Sources, notes, archival photographs, maps.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in AmericaCandacy TaylorDetailed research informs this history of an early 20th-century guide for safe travel for Black Americans. Archival photographs and images. Maps, end notes, bibliography. Young readers edition.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Unequal: A Story of AmericaMichael Eric Dyson, Marc FavreauTwenty African Americans, including Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nikole Hannah-Jones, are profiled in this history of racial inequality in the United States. Archival photographs. Bibliography, source notes, index.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Law and Justice Hanged!: Mary Surratt & the Plot to Assassinate Abraham LincolnSarah MillerMary Surratt was convicted by a military tribunal, and by public opinion, of conspiracy to kill Abraham Lincoln. Was she innocent? Archival photos. Back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Here and Queer: A Queer Girl’s Guide to LifeRowan EllisAn inclusive guide with practical advice about exploring identity, navigating labels, and handling social situations. Vibrant cartoon-style illustrations. Bibliography, glossary, and extensive back matter.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Media and Me: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young PeopleProject Censored, the Media Revolution CollectiveThis comprehensive handbook prepares young readers for understanding today’s media landscape and using media responsibly. Extensive back matter includes a glossary, source notes, and further reading. Black-and- white spot illustrations.Fourteen and OlderView book details
What the Fact?Seema YasminAn accessible presentation of skills for differentiating fact from fiction and ways to counteract the abundance of untruths on social media platforms. Photographs and archival images. Sources, index.Fourteen and OlderView book details
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna and the Race to Understand Our Genetic CodeWalter Isaacson, Sarah DurandDoudna and other prominent scientists developed a gene-editing tool that is now being used to prevent and cure human diseases, including the Coronavirus. Well documented. Glossary, photographs. Young readers edition of The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.Fourteen and OlderView book details
Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal SexualityEliot SchreferSchrefer takes us on a humorous tour of sexual diversity in animal life. Comic-like illustrations. Meticulously sourced. Glossary, bibliography, notes.Fourteen and OlderView book details