List

Our librarians have hundreds of book recommendations for your next read. Filter by category below, or view one of our Popular Book Lists.

Print This Page View CoversView List
Category
Popular Book Lists

Gilded

Marissa Meyer

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her... for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

View Details >>

You'll Be the Death of Me

Karen M. McManus

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand-new pulse-pounding thriller. It's Ferris Bueller's Day Off with murder when three old friends relive an epic ditch day, and it goes horribly--and fatally--wrong.
 

View Details >>

Stuntboy, in the Meantime

Jason Reynolds

From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel about the greatest young superhero you've never heard of, filled with illustrations by Raúl the Third!

View Details >>

Playing the Cards You're Dealt

Varian Johnson

“With a deft hand, Johnson shows us there's no such thing as "too young" when it comes to questioning big ideas like manhood, or even family.” –Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Look Both Ways and Stamped

 

 

View Details >>

Daughter of the Deep

Rick Riordan

Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, training centre for the best marine scientists and underwater explorers in the world. When Ana embarks on the sea trials that mark the end of her freshman year, her life as she knows it is blown out of the water. She and her school mates witness a terrible tragedy and discover that Harding-Pencroft and their rival school Land Institute have been engaged in a deadly rivalry going back over one hundred and fifty years. With the rivalry turned up full broil, Ana will be tested more than ever before . . .

View Details >>

Out of My Heart

Sharon M. Draper

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

 

View Details >>

The Smart Cookie

Jory John

Be a smart cookie--and don't miss the fifth picture book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Food Group series from creators Jory John and Pete Oswald!

 

 

View Details >>

It's Ok, Slow Lizard

Yeorim Yoon

In a lush, sun-dappled forest, animal friends discover the advantages of living slowly, in this soothing picture book from beloved South Korean author and illustrator Yeorim Yoon and Jian Kim.

View Details >>

This Is Our Rainbow

Gideon Kidd

The first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories by authors like Justina Ireland, Marieke Nijkamp, Alex Gino, and more!

View Details >>

I Am Courage

Susan Verde

Encourage kids to find their inner strength with this companion to the New York Times bestsellers I Am Human and I Am Love!

 

View Details >>

Amara's Farm

Janay Brown-Wood

A young girl searches for pumpkins on her farm in this joyful celebration of cool-weather fruits and vegetables, from the new Where in the Garden? series.

View Details >>

What Is Love?

Mac Barnett

A beautiful fable about the nature of love, from beloved, award-winning picture book creators Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis.

 

 

View Details >>

I'm Trying to Love Garbage

Bethany Barton

Do you ever wonder where we put all of our garbage, who gets rid of it, or how our planet isn't a big pile of mess?

I'm Trying to Love Garbage has all the answers! From scavengers to detritivore to decomposers, nature's garbage collectors are everywhere. But humans play an important role too, and our favorite narrator is back to tell us all about it.

With Bethany Barton's trademark balance of informative and hilarious, readers will finish this picture book with a better awareness of the garbage they create and where it all ends up.

View Details >>

We Light Up the Sky

Lilliam Rivera

Should you save a world that doesn't want to save you?  Award-winning author Lilliam Rivera explores the haunting story of an alien invasion from the perspective of three Latinx teens.
 

View Details >>

The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

Rachel Montez Minor

Celebrate the connections between parents, children, and the universe in this lyrical debut picture book from actress, dancer, and singer Rachel Montez Minor, with enchanting illustrations by Annie Won.
 

View Details >>

White Smoke

Tiffany D. Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

 

View Details >>

Nina

Traci Todd

This illuminating and defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the story of little Eunice who grew up to become the acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.
 

View Details >>

Lotería

Karla Arenas Valenti

In the hottest hour of the hottest day of the year, a fateful wind blows into Oaxaca City. It whistles down cobbled streets and rustles the jacaranda trees before slipping into the window of an eleven-year-old girl named Clara. Unbeknownst to her, Clara has been marked for la Lotería.
 
Life and Death deal the Lotería cards but once a year, and the stakes could not be higher. Every card reveals a new twist in Clara’s fate—a scorpion, an arrow, a blood-red rose. If Life wins, Clara will live to a ripe old age. If Death prevails, she’ll flicker out like a candle. 
 
But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her young cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, traveling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas, where every action has a price, and every choice has consequences. And though it seems her fate is sealed, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
 

View Details >>

Ground Zero

Alan Gratz

In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear -- and the stunning links between the past and present.

September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. And Brandon is in the middle of it all. Can he survive -- and escape?

September 11, 2019, Afghanistan: Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Should she help Taz -- and put herself and her family in mortal danger?

Two kids. One devastating day. Nothing will ever be the same.

View Details >>

Kaleidoscope

Brian Selznick

An astounding new feat of storytelling from Brian Selznick, the award-winning creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck.

A ship. A garden. A library. A key. In Kaleidoscope, the incomparable Brian Selznick presents the story of two people bound to each other through time and space, memory and dreams. At the center of their relationship is a mystery about the nature of grief and love which will look different to each reader. Kaleidoscope is a feat of storytelling that illuminates how even the wildest tales can help us in the hardest times.

View Details >>

Friends Forever

Shannon Hale

Following up their mega-bestselling Real Friends and Best Friends graphic memoirs, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham are back with Friends Forever, a story about learning to love yourself exactly as you are.

Shannon is in eighth grade, and life is more complicated than ever. Everything keeps changing, her classmates are starting to date each other (but nobody wants to date her!), and no matter how hard she tries, Shannon can never seem to just be happy.

As she works through her insecurities and undiagnosed depression, she worries about disappointing all the people who care about her. Is something wrong with her? Can she be the person everyone expects her to be? And who does she actually want to be?

With their signature humor, warmth, and insight, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham have crafted another incredible love letter to their younger selves and to readers everywhere, a reminder to us all that we are enough.

View Details >>

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares

Tehlor Kay Mejia

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the sequel to Tehlor Kay Mejia's critically acclaimed own-voices novel about science-obsessed Paola Santiago.

Six months after Paola Santiago confronted the legendary La Llorona, life is nothing like she'd expected it to be. She is barely speaking to her best friends, Dante and Emma, and what's worse, her mom has a totally annoying boyfriend. Even with her chupacabra puppy, Bruto, around, Pao can't escape the feeling that she's all alone in the world.

Pao has no one to tell that she's having nightmares again, this time set in a terrifying forest. Even more troubling? At their center is her estranged father, an enigma of a man she barely remembers. And when Dante's abuela falls mysteriously ill, it seems that the dad Pao never knew just might be the key to healing the eccentric old woman.

Pao's search for her father will send her far from home, where she will encounter new monsters and ghosts, a devastating betrayal, and finally, the forest of her nightmares. Will the truths her father has been hiding save the people Pao loves, or destroy them?

Once again Tehlor Kay Mejia draws on her Mexican heritage to tell a wild and wondrous story that combines creatures from folklore with modern-day challenges.

 

View Details >>

Room to Dream

Kelly Yang

New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang is back with another heartwarming and inspiring story of Mia and friends!

Mia Tang is going for her dreams!

After years of hard work, Mia Tang finally gets to go on vacation with her family -- to China! A total dream come true! Mia can't wait to see all her cousins and grandparents again, especially her cousin Shen. As she roams around Beijing, witnessing some of the big changes China's going through, Mia thinks about the changes in her own life, like...

1. Lupe's taking classes at the high school! And Mia's own plans to be a big writer are . . . stuck.

2. Something happened with Jason and Mia has no idea what to do about it.

3. New buildings are popping up all around the motel, and small businesses are disappearing.

Can the Calivista survive? Buckle up! Mia is more determined than ever to get through the turbulence, now that she finally has . . . room to dream!

View Details >>

Pax: Journey Home

Sara Pennypacker

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes the long-awaited sequel to Pax; gorgeously crafted, utterly compelling with stunning illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator Jon Klassen.

View Details >>

Weird Kid

Greg van Eekhout

From the author of Cog and Voyage of the Dogs, Weird Kid is a hilarious and heartfelt homage to everyone who feels like they don’t belong. Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Stuart Gibb.

Jake Wind is trying to stay under the radar. Whose radar? Anyone who might be too interested in the fact that he has shapeshifting abilities he can’t control. Or that his parents found him as a ball of goo when he was a baby.

Keeping his powers in check is crucial, though, if he wants to live a normal life and go to middle school instead of being homeschooled (and if he wants to avoid being kidnapped and experimented on, of course).

Things feel like they’re going his way when he survives his first day of school without transforming and makes a new friend. But when mysterious sinkholes start popping up around town—sinkholes filled with the same extraterrestrial substance as Jake—and his neighbors, classmates, and even his family start acting a little, well, weird, Jake will have to learn to use his powers in order to save his town. 

View Details >>

Starfish

Lisa Fipps

Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant debut novel-in-verse.

Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules--like "no making waves," "avoid eating in public," and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles." And she's found her safe space--her swimming pool--where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life--by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.

View Details >>

Dead Wednesday

Jerry Spinelli

Can playing dead bring you back to life? Maybe only on Dead Wednesday… On this day the worlds of a shy boy and a gone girl collide, and the connection they make will change them both forever. A brilliant new novel from the Newbery Medal winner and author of the New York Times bestseller Stargirl.
 

On Dead Wednesday, every eighth grader in Amber Springs is assigned the name and identity of a teenager who died a preventable death in the past year. The kids don black shirts and for the whole day everyone in town pretends they're invisible—as if they weren't even there. The adults think it will make them contemplate their mortality. The kids know it's a free pass to get away with anything.
 
Worm Tarnauer feels invisible every day. He's perfectly happy being the unnoticed sidekick of his friend Eddie. So he's not expecting Dead Wednesday to feel that different. But he didn't count on being assigned Becca Finch (17, car crash). And he certainly didn't count on Becca showing up to boss him around! Letting this girl into his head is about to change everything.
 
This is the story of the unexpected, heartbreaking, hilarious, truly epic day when Worm Tarnauer discovers his own life.

View Details >>

Black Boy Joy

Kwame Mbalia

Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors--including Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, and Kwame Mbalia!

Black boy joy is...

Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice--and your rhymes--during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody's watching.

And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.

Contributors include: B. B. Alston, Dean Atta, P. Djèlí Clark, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin Reynolds, DaVaun Sanders, and Julian Winters

View Details >>

Long Distance

Whitney Gardner

From the creator of Fake Blood comes another exceptionally charming middle grade graphic novel about friendships both near and far, far away.

Vega’s summer vacation is not going well.

When her parents decide it’s time to pack up and leave her hometown of Portland, Oregon, behind for boring Seattle, Washington, Vega is more than upset—she’s downright miserable. Forced to leave her one and only best friend, Halley, behind, Vega is convinced she’ll never make another friend again.

To help her settle into her new life in Seattle, her parents send Vega off to summer camp to make new friends. Except Vega is determined to get her old life back. But when her cellphone unexpectedly calls it quits and things at camp start getting stranger and stranger, Vega has no choice but to team up with her bunkmates to figure out what’s going on!

View Details >>

Patron Saints of Nothing

Randy Ribay

A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST

A powerful coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder.

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.

As gripping as it is lyrical, Patron Saints of Nothing is a page-turning portrayal of the struggle to reconcile faith, family, and immigrant identity.

"Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heartbreaking and soul-healing." --Laurie Halse Anderson, author of SHOUT

"A singular voice in the world of literature." --Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down

View Details >>

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Roseanne A. Brown

The first in a gripping fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction—from debut author Roseanne A. Brown. This New York Times bestseller is perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Renée Ahdieh, and Sabaa Tahir.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister, Nadia, as payment to enter the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a heart-pounding course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

Don't miss the second book in this epic duology, A Psalm of Storms and Silence!

View Details >>

The Proudest Blue

Ibtihaj Muhammad

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.


With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.

Paired with Hatem Aly's beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali bring readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.

View Details >>

Fry Bread

Kevin Noble Maillard

A 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner

Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.

Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.

Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.

Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.

Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.

A 2020 Charlotte Huck Recommended Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019
A Booklist 2019 Editor's Choice
A Shelf Awareness Best Children's Book of 2019
A Goodreads Choice Award 2019 Semifinalist

A National Public Radio (NPR) Best Book of 2019
A 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book
2020 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year List
One of NPR's 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers

View Details >>

Freddie Ramos Takes Off

Jacqueline Jules

One day Freddie Ramos comes home from school and finds a strange box just for him. What's inside? ZAPATO POWER-shoes that change Freddie's life by giving him super speed! But what will Freddie do with his fast new skills? Weird things are happening at the Starwood Park Apartments where he lives, and his friends at school need his help. Is Freddie Ramos ready to be a hero? In this imaginative new story by Jacqueline Jules, an ordinary boy in a city neighborhood learns how to use his new-found powers for good. Illustrations by Miguel Benitez lend just a touch of comic-book style to this chapter book adventure.

View Details >>

Sadiq and the Desert Star

Siman Nuurali

When Sadiq's father leaves on a business trip, he worries he'll miss his baba too much. But Baba has a story for Sadiq: the story of the Desert Star. Learning about Baba's passion for the stars sparks Sadiq's interest in outer space. But can Sadiq find others who are willing to help him start the space club of his dreams? 

View Details >>

Book Fiesta!

Pat Mora

This Pura Belpré Award–winning picture book is a bilingual ride through the joyous history of Children’s Day/El día de los niños.

Children’s Day/Book Day; El día de los niños/El día de los libros has been observed on April 30th for over twelve years. Founder Pat Mora’s jubilant celebration of this day features imaginative text and lively illustrations by award-winning illustrator Rafael López that will turn this bilingual fiesta into a hit for story time! Toon! Toon!

The book includes a letter from the author and suggestions for celebrating Children’s Day /El día de los niños.

View Details >>

We Are Water Protectors

Carole Lindstrom

Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal
New York Times Bestseller

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption
a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth
And poison her people’s water, one young water protector
Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.

View Details >>

My Papi Has a Motorcycle

Isabel Quintero

A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo.

When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her.

But as the sun sets purple-blue-gold behind Daisy Ramona and her papi, she knows that the love she feels will always be there.

With vivid illustrations and text bursting with heart, My Papi Has a Motorcycle is a young girl's love letter to her hardworking dad and to memories of home that we hold close in the midst of change.

View Details >>

Round Is a Tortilla

Roseanne Greenfield Thong

In this lively picture book, children discover a world of shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child's day!

View Details >>

Señorita Mariposa

Ben Gundersheimer

A captivating and child-friendly look at the extraordinary journey that monarch butterflies take each year from Canada to Mexico; with a text in both English and Spanish.

Rhyming text and lively illustrations showcase the epic trip taken by the monarch butterflies. At the end of each summer, these international travelers leave Canada to fly south to Mexico for the winter--and now readers can come along for the ride! Over mountains capped with snow, to the deserts down below.Children will be delighted to share in the fascinating journey of the monarchs and be introduced to the people and places they pass before they finally arrive in the forests that their ancestors called home.

View Details >>

Tanna's Owl

Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley

When Tanna's father brings home an abandoned owl, she is not eager to take care of the needy, ugly little bird. Tanna must wake at 4:00 a.m. to catch food for the owl. She must feed it, clean up after it, all while avoiding its sharp, chomping beak and big, stomping talons. After weeks of following her father's instructions on how to care for the owl, Tanna must leave home for school. Her owl has grown. It has lost its grey baby feathers and is beginning to sprout a beautiful adult snowy owl coat. As she says good-bye to the owl, she is relieved not to have to care for it anymore, but also a bit sad. This heartwarming story based on the author's own life experience teaches young readers the value of hard work, helping, and caring--even when the thing you are caring for does not love you back.

View Details >>

My Rainbow

DeShanna Neal

A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal.

Warm morning sunlight and love fill the Neal home. And on one quiet day, playtime leads to an important realization:Trinity wants long hair like her dolls. She needs it to express who she truly is.

So her family decides to take a trip to the beauty supply store, but none of the wigs is the perfect fit. Determined, Mom leaves with bundles of hair in hand, ready to craft a wig as colorful and vibrant as her daughter is.

With powerful text by Trinity and DeShanna Neal and radiant art by Art Twink, My Rainbow is a celebration of showing up as our full selves with the people who have seen us fully all along.

View Details >>

Swift Fox All Along

Rebecca Thomas

What does it mean to be Mi'kmaq? And if Swift Fox can't find the answer, will she ever feel like part of her family?

When Swift Fox's father picks her up to go visit her aunties, uncles, and cousins, her belly is already full of butterflies. And when he tells her that today is the day that she'll learn how to be Mi'kmaq, the butterflies grow even bigger. Though her father reassures her that Mi'kmaq is who she is from her eyes to her toes, Swift Fox doesn't understand what that means. Her family welcomes her with smiles and hugs, but when it's time to smudge and everyone else knows how, Swift Fox feels even more like she doesn't belong.

Then she meets her cousin Sully and realizes that she's not the only one who's unsure--and she may even be the one to teach him something about what being Mi'kmaq means. Based on the author's own experience, with striking illustrations by Maya McKibbin, A Long Way to a New Place is a poignant story about identity and belonging that is at once personal and universally resonant.

View Details >>

Ted Rules the World

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Ted thinks there's something fishy going on. Ever since his birthday when he got a special loyalty card at the local shop, all his great ideas are being thought of by the new Prime Minister too. Now there's laws about walking to school and everyone has Mondays off! Could the shop's market research lady have anything to do with it? And if Ted has become a Leader, shouldn't he start thinking up proper laws to save the world ...? Hilariously spot-on comedy from the award winning and bestselling Frank Cottrell Boyce, with cover artwork by award-winning Chris Riddell and internal illustrations by Cate James. High quality cream paper and a special easy to read font ensure a smooth read for all.

View Details >>

Grandpa Was an Astronaut

Jonathan Meres

Grandparents take centre stage in this charming tale as a young boy and his grandfather let their imaginations take flight for an afternoon of space exploration, with beautiful artwork from Hannah Coulson. Sherman loves the moon and he loves his grandpa even more - who has actually been to the moon! Grandpa was an astronaut and has a chunk of moon rock on his mantlepiece. Playing space games with Grandpa is one of Sherman's most favourite things ever so he's thrilled to hear that's exactly what a visit to Grandpa will involve.

View Details >>

Anna Liza and the Happy Practice

Eoin Colfer

Anna Liza likes to help cheer up her mother's psychiatric patients with her 17 top knock-knock jokes and cheerful songs, but when she meets Edward, she hits a brick wall. Edward's dad is so sad since his mum left; he says his life isn't going anywhere any more. Anna Liza has a plan to get him on the move again, if only she can manage to evade her mother's attention long enough. High quality cream paper and a special easy to read font ensure a smooth read for all.

View Details >>

Superdad's Day Off

Phil Earle

Stanley is a normal little boy, whose dad just happens to be the greatest superhero on the planet. Six days a week, Dad saves the world from disasters, aliens, and bad guys. Friday is his day off and he always spends it with Stan. But one Friday, Dad and Stan meet a series of people desperately in need of Dad's help. Soon Stan finds himself saving a lion stuck up a tree, rescuing a monster truck from a ditch and taking on shark-infested floodwaters. That's right: Stan is a chip off the old (superhero) block!

View Details >>

Sam Is Stuck

Cigdem Knebel

For Tim and his sister, Kim, a relaxing boat ride with their parents turns into a rescue mission. Sam, a talking fish, is stuck between the rocks and his best pal cannot get him out... Can Tim and Kim help Sam? Will Sam the Cod Fish ever be free?

Sam Is Stuck has 6 chapters and over 4000 words.

This book is in The Kents' Quest series.

This book is written with Dyslexie font. Century Schoolbook font version is also available.

Simple Words Books help struggling readers become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters.

The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency.

Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and Join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers.

Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

Six Days at Camp with Jack and Max

Cigdem Knebel

Jack Mills and Max Finn are excited to spend six days at camp. Except, they cannot stand each other. And this could turn out to be a disaster. When things get out of control, Jack and Max are forced to work things out on their own. Can these boys be able to overcome the past and become friends?
Six Days at Camp with Jack and Max has six chapters and just under 8500 words. Each day is a chapter and is told by first Jack's and then Max's point of view. Editing mistakes are already corrected.

Simple Words Books help struggling readers to become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early or struggling readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters.

The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency.

Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and Join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers.

Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

Six Days at Camp with Lin and Jill

Cigdem Knebel

Lin Mills and Jill Finn are excited to spend six days at camp. Except, they cannot stand each other. And this could turn out to be a disaster. When things get out of control, Jill and Lin are forced to work things out on their own. Can these girls be able to overcome the past and become friends?

Six Days at Camp with Lin and Jill has six chapters and just under 8500 words. Each day is a chapter and is told first from Lin's and then Jill's perspective.

Simple Words Books help struggling readers to become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early or struggling readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters.

The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency.

Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and Join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers.

Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

Dread Cat

Michael Rosen

"Once there was a very fierce cat. Not just fierce: totally, terrifyingly, stupendously fierce. Everyone was afraid of this cat. Her name was Dread and everyone dreaded Dread Cat. But then Dread Cat started to run out of luck catching mice. She hadn't caught any for ages. So she announced that she was giving up chasing mice and promised to never again hunt another mouse. The war was over. But was it really?" --Publisher description.

View Details >>

Who's a Big Bully Then?

Michael Morpurgo

School bully Darren Bishop is furious after he is out paced in the school race. He can't have that now, can he? So when he is challenged to a battle of courage, Darren thinks he can't lose and can't wait to show the class who's boss. But see who turns out to be the chicken...

View Details >>

We Are Not Frogs!

Michael Morpurgo

The frogs always beat the toads at long jump but the toads don't mind - anything for a quiet life. But then the children - and Mutt the dog - come in search of some good jumpers, and the toads see an opportunity to get their own back. Soon the poor frogs have been gathered up and put in an ice-cream tub, and they're hopping mad!

View Details >>

Virus

Chris Bradford

T. 1: Virus : to play is to die: Scott has escaped but the game plays on. No one believes him that Vince Power is evil. Hunted by the Analysts, Scott has to go underground where he encounters a gang of techno-hackers. Remotely hacking into the VK game, Connor must re-boot inside the virtual arena and implant a computer virus to destroy VK. But it's a wireless connection. If it breaks, he'll be trapped inside the game forever...An exciting and nerve-wracking sci-fi tale. Perfect for fans of Chris and gaming. [www.murdochbooks.com]

View Details >>

Spelling Pen - Red Obelisk

Cigdem Knebel

There is trouble again in Elf Land. King Gris has escaped with the help of an evil basilisk. If the Red Obelisk grants their one wish, the future of Elf Land may be ruined forever. Matt and Liz end up in Elf Land once again, but this time they get help from another Sun Kid.

Simple Words Books help struggling readers to become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early or struggling readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters.

Spelling Pen - Red Obelisk is the second book in the series. It has 18 chapters and over 7500+ words.

The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency.

Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and Join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers.

Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

Spelling Pen in Elf Land

Cigdem Knebel

It is Matt's tenth birthday and he gets a lousy old pen from his rich Grandma Deb. But Matt does not like to write. What was Grandma Deb thinking...The pen turns out to be magical and soon Matt will learn that he has to help an elf clan to defeat King Gris before he destroys the entire Elf Land.This version is printed with DYSLEXIE FONT. Simple Words Books help children with dyslexia to become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early or struggling readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters. Spelling Pen in Elf Land has 16 chapters and over 7000 words. The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency. Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers. Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

The Gold of Black Rock Hill

Cigdem Knebel

With a long lost map, Big Dan and his ship hands are off on their biggest quest of all: to get the gold of Black Rock Hill. But odd things are happening on the ship. And ship cat Dex spots that two bad ship hands are plotting a scam to get the gold. Can Dex and his new pal Mist stop the scam?
Simple Words Books help struggling readers to become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early or struggling readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters.
The Gold of Black Rock Hill has 16 chapters and just about 7000+ words.
The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency.
Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and Join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers.
Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

Fox Hunt

Cigdem Knebel

The Kents are on a camping trip at Camp Split Rock. They plan to spend all their time fishing, grilling and relaxing. But a friendly fox named Pip turns their plans upside down. Together they uncover the biggest pet scam ever!
Simple Words Books help struggling readers to become better readers, without tears. Our decodable books support improving their reading fluency, comprehension and confidence. In our books, we use decodable, high frequency and basic sight words that early or struggling readers can easily decode. Our short sentences and paragraphs make it easier for our readers to flow through the chapters.
Fox Hunt has 12 chapters and over 5000 words.
The entire word list and word frequency are included in the book and on our website (simplewordsbooks.com). We recommend the use of this list as a tool to determine the reading level match and pre-practice with the reader to improve fluency.
Check out Simple Words Books at simplewordsbooks.com and Join READlexia Book Club for FREE to receive FREE decodable materials and special offers.
Our promise is not to let dyslexia and other learning differences deprive kids of learning the love of reading.

View Details >>

Colour My Days

Ross Collins

Emmy and Jeff live in a black and white world. But suddenly, the week has started with a splash of yellow and each new day brings a new colour into Emmy and Jeff's lives. Join them as they explore all the colours in the rainbow! An appealing and evocative introduction to colour for young children. Part of Barrington Stoke's picture book range for all the family, with easy-read font.

View Details >>

Sophie Takes to the Sky

Katherine Woodfine

Scaredy-Cat Sophie is afraid of everything! So when a balloonist comes to the town fair, Sophie is left behind while everyone else goes to watch him fly in his marvellous balloon. She's far too frightened of the crowds, the commotion and even riding in a horse-drawn carriage. But Sophie longs to watch the hot-air balloon sail across the blue sky. If she could just be brave enough to face her fears, who knows where her journey might take her ...

View Details >>

Molly Rogers to the Rescue

Cornelia Funke

Pirate Captain Firebeard thinks that he and the ruthless crew of the Horrible Haddock rule the high seas. But the dastardly pirates have definitely met their match when they meet a small, feisty girl named Molly and her fearsome pirate mother, Barbarous Bertha! A hilarious swash-buckling tale of fearsome girls and dastardly Pirates.

View Details >>

The Great Clown Conundrum

Alexander McCall Smith

A new season is about to begin at the Shortbread family's circus! The big-top is ready and everyone is excited to get started. But as the shows begin cheif clown Mr Birdcage is in a bit of a pickle - none of his hilarious props seem to be working! When budding detectives Billy, Fern and Joe get on the case to investigate, they soon discover that the props have been tampered with! But who would want to sabotage Mr Birdcage and why?

View Details >>

Gamer

Chris Bradford

A sleek new edition of the first book in Bodyguard author Chris Bradford's action-packed dystopian trilogy.

View Details >>

Ellie and the Cat

Malorie Blackman

Ellie is the rudest, most spoilt child her grandma has ever met and it's time that she learnt a lesson! So with a little bit of magic and some help from Jolly the cat, Grandma's going to make sure that Ellie changes her ways. Can Ellie work hard to prove that she can be good? Or is she destined to spend the rest of her days trapped in the body of a mean old cat? A funny, magical tale about learning to do what's right.

View Details >>

Cyborg

Chris Bradford

Scott and his gang of techno-hackers barely escaped with their lives when they planted the virus that destroyed Virtual Kombat. Now that the game is gone, they think they're finally safe. But VK creator Vince Power's deadly scheme is far from over. Without a virtual world to host it, there's only one place for the brutal fighting and killing to go. VK will be played in the real world, and Scott's tech skills won't help him now. This is no longer just a game ...

View Details >>

The Case of the Vanishing Granny

Alexander McCall Smith

Billy, Fern and Joe Shortbread are the stars of their family circus, but they also have another talent ... they're experts at solving mysteries! When their circus moves into a new town they soon make friends with a young boy named Tom. But Tom can't enjoy the circus because his granny has disappeared and he's worried he'll never see her again. With the help of their astonishing circus skills can the Shortbread circus stars crack the clues and find Tom's granny? A brilliant McCall Smith adventure story, brimming with wit, wisdom and larger than life characters.

View Details >>

Heartstopper, Volume 1

Alice Oseman

Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance.

But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

View Details >>

The Kingdom of Back

Marie Lu

Two siblings. Two brilliant talents. But only one Mozart.

Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish--to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she'll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age--her tyrannical father has made that much clear.

And as Nannerl's hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true--but his help may cost her everything.

View Details >>

Cinderella Is Dead

Kalynn Bayron

It's 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl's display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all--and in the process, they learn that there's more to Cinderella's story than they ever knew . . .

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they've been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

View Details >>

The Gravity of Us

Phil Stamper

Cal wants to be a journalist, and he's already well underway with almost half a million followers on his FlashFame app and an upcoming internship at Buzzfeed. But his plans are derailed when his pilot father is selected for a highly-publicized NASA mission to Mars. Within days, Cal and his parents leave Brooklyn for hot and humid Houston.

With the entire nation desperate for any new information about the astronauts, Cal finds himself thrust in the middle of a media circus. Suddenly his life is more like a reality TV show, with his constantly bickering parents struggling with their roles as the "perfect American family."

And then Cal meets Leon, whose mother is another astronaut on the mission, and he finds himself falling head over heels--and fast. They become an oasis for each other amid the craziness of this whole experience. As their relationship grows, so does the frenzy surrounding the Mars mission, and when secrets are revealed about ulterior motives of the program, Cal must find a way to get to the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.

View Details >>

Tweet Cute

Emma Lord

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese — that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life — on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them?? — their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

View Details >>

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Holly Jackson

Everyone in Fairview knows the story.

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.

But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?

Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.

This is the story of an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect.

View Details >>

Elatsoe

Darcie Little Badger

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.

There are some differences. This America been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered, in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.

View Details >>

Clap When You Land

Elizabeth Acevedo

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people...

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal's office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance--and Papi's secrets--the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they've lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

View Details >>

The Sound of Stars

Alechia Dow

Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world's population.

Seventeen-year-old Janelle "Ellie" Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. Deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, humanity's emotional transgressions are now grounds for execution. All art, books and creative expression are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.

Born in a lab, M0Rr1S (Morris) was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie's illegal library, he's duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They're both breaking the rules for love of art--and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.

Ellie's--and humanity's--fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution--thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

View Details >>

The Magic Fish

Trung Le Nguyen

Tiến loves his family and his friends...but Tiến has a secret he's been keeping from them, and it might change everything. An amazing YA graphic novel that deals with the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together.

Real life isn't a fairytale.

But Tiến still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through?

Is there a way to tell them he's gay?

A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what--we can all have our own happy endings.

View Details >>

Cemetery Boys

Aiden Thomas

A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's New York Times-bestselling paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as "groundbreaking."

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

 

View Details >>

Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey

Ngozi Ukazu

Eric Bittle may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It is nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking (anything that hinders the player with possession of the puck, ranging from a stick check all the way to a physical sweep). And then, there is Jackhis very attractive but moody captain.

A collection of the first half, freshmen and sophomore year, of the megapopular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: #Hockey is the first book of a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life.

This book includes updated art and a hilarious, curated selection of Bitty's beloved tweets.

View Details >>