Hi Kid Lit Friends!
It’s a light week for new releases, but there are some great nonfiction books I’m excited about (I really love Steve Jenkins’s books!) as well as some middle grade suspense books. As always, if I’ve had the chance to read one of these books and loved it, I marked it with a 
. Please note that all descriptions come from the publisher.
Sponsored by The Oddmire: Changeling by Nicole Melleby from Algonquin Young Readers
This is the first book in a new middle grade fantasy series from William Ritter, author of the Jackaby series. A plot to swap a human newborn for a goblin changeling goes wrong when the goblin Kull is distracted. The changeling perfectly mimicks the newborn and Kull cannot tell them apart, so he leaves both babies behind. Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing which boy is the changeling. When they turn thirteen, the brothers are called to be protectors of magic. The boys must journey into the Wild Wood and uncover who they truly are.
Dinosaurs By the Numbers by Steve Jenkins (picture book nonfiction)
Through infographics, illustrations, facts, and figures, readers will learn about the giants that roamed the earth millions of years ago, but that still captivate their imaginations: Dinosaurs. Discover some of the most fascinating aspects of dinosaurs through astonishing numbers: the varying sizes and shapes of dinosaurs, timelines of when they roamed the earth, charts comparing the fastest dinos with the speedy animals of today, maps of where these giant reptiles lived across the globe, and so much more.
Earth By the Numbers by Steve Jenkins (picture book nonfiction)
Through infographics, illustrations, facts, and figures, readers will learn about the complex and wonderful place we call home, Earth. Discover some of the most fascinating aspects of our planet through astonishing numbers: the stretch of time from Earth’s formation to the present, the misleading way the surface area of a continent can appear on a map, the angle of Earth’s axis that creates the seasons, what percentage of Earth’s land is covered in deserts or forests or cities, and so much more.
Ultrabot’s First Playdate by Josh Schneider (picture book)
Ultrabot is a big robot with a big problem. Its professor is planning a playdate with Becky Tingle, the little girl from next door. But Ultrabot has never been on a playdate, and it doesn’t know Becky. What if she’s mean? What if she breaks all of Ultrabot’s toys? What if she won’t share? Packed with loads of fun details and visual humor, this reassuring friendship story speaks to the shy giant robot in all of us.
Survivor Girl by Erin Teagan
12-year-old Ali adores her reality-show celebrity father, Survivor Guy, and hopes to follow in his footsteps. But when he invites her on location, Ali is sure she won’t survive one episode . . . until she learns the truth: The show isn’t just her dad and a camera. It’s a huge crew and set, with stunt doubles! When a wildfire strikes and Ali and two other kids miss the last rescue helicopter, suddenly, the fight for survival is real. Will she find the self-confidence she needs so they can work together and get out of the wilderness alive?
Storm Blown by Nick Courage (middle grade)
A little rain and wind don’t worry Alejo–they’re just part of life at the beach. As his padrino says, as long as there are birds in the waves, it’s safe. When people start evacuating, though, Alejo realizes things might be worse than he thought. And they are. A hurricane is headed straight for Puerto Rico. Emily’s brother, Elliot, has been really sick. He can’t go outside their New Orleans home, so Emily decides to have an adventure for him. She’s on a secret mission to the tiny island Elliot loves. She’s not expecting to meet up with an injured goose or a shy turtle. And nothing has prepared her for Megastorm Valerie. Soon Alejo and Emily will be in Valerie’s deadly path. Who will survive?
Monsters & Creatures created by Dungeons & Dragons (guidebook)
In this illustrated guide, you’re transported to the legendary and magical worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and presented with one-of-a-kind entries for some of its most sinister, foul, and memorable monsters. Featuring amazing illustrations and expert insights on some of D&D’s most dangerous monsters, the guide shines a spotlight on the beasts that scare, excite, and cause trouble for adventurers, from creatures that live underground, to those that dwell in the wilderness and boneyards or soar in the sky. In these profiles you will find information on the size of each monster, its danger level, and tips for how to survive an encounter. The perfect entry point for young fans of fantasy eager to become D&D adventurers, this book also features introductory “Encounter” stories so readers can practice the problem-solving skills they’ll need to fight these monsters when they play a D&D adventure of their own.
Warriors & Weapons created by Dungeons & Dragons (guidebook)
In this illustrated guide, you’re transported to the legendary and magical worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, where you are presented with one-of-a-kind entries for different types of warriors, as well as the weaponry these fighters need for D&D adventuring. This guide includes detailed illustrations of the weapons, armor, clothing, and other equipment that fighters use, and offers the tools young, aspiring adventurers need for learning how to build their own characters, including sample profiles, a flowchart to help you decide what type of warrior to be, and brainstorming challenges to start you thinking like an adventurer whether on your own or in the midst of an exciting quest with friends and fellow players.
I would love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.
Until next time!
Karina
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Editor’s Note: This list reflects the dearth of books by authors of color released this week.