A series that’s sold over 1 million books, now available in audio for the first time.
When 13-year-old Samantha returns home to her family′s cattle ranch in Nevada, she′s worried. She moved away two years ago to recover from a bad fall off her beloved mustang, Blackie, and she′s not sure she can get back in the saddle.
But when Sam suddenly finds the fate of a mysterious mustang resting in her hands, she has to learn to be a real cowgirl — ready or not.
Hey readers! I’m back with another week of new releases!
In this inspiring picture book from poet Cleo Wade, young readers are encouraged to follow their roads wherever they may lead, so long as they make sure to continue their journey.
In this funny picture book, a bear leaves the house after forgetting to take off his underwear. As Jeff traverses the forest, he can’t figure out why the other animals are looking at him so strangely.
In this cute picture book, a kitty is inspired to fashion a horn like unicorns do. But even though kitty feels like a unicorn, and does the same things unicorns do, her friends continue to tell her that she’s too much of a kitty to be one. Until a unicorn shows up, and kitty sees all the things they have in common.
Wonder Women of Science by Tiera Fletcher and Ginger Rue and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
This collection of brief biographies of woman scientists is compiled by an aerospace engineer and a novelist. This isn’t just biographical information, however, but this book is also full of facts about each woman’s field of study.
Book Riot is teaming up with Open Book for a chance to win a 1-year subscription to Book of the Month. Here’s a little more about Open Book: Get to know the writers of your favorite books! Open Book is a monthly newsletter that features powerful authors discussing their lives and their work. We ask authors about their writing, process, inspiration, and interests to get to know them on a more intimate level. Sign up for the Open Book newsletter to discover more.
Hi Kid Lit friends,
I write this newsletter with a heavy heart. After a year of rising anti-Asian hate, we witnessed the murder of six Asian women in Georgia on Tuesday as well as attacks on and murders of Asian elders across America. As an Asian-American woman, I am devastated by the news. This past Friday, I took over Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers’ Instagram account (my publisher) to recommend books by Asian authors and illustrators. I thought I would share these books with you, as I truly believe that one of the things we can do is read and recommend diverse stories so our new generation can be surrounded by stories of different cultures and experiences.
I love Ellen Oh and her fantasy series. Spirit Hunters is a deliciously chilling story about Harper Raine, the new seventh grader in town who must face down the dangerous ghosts haunting her younger brother.
Also check out Newbery Medal winner When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller, a gorgeous book based on Korean folklore about the perils of bargaining with tigers.
I love Grace Lin fantasy trilogy beginning with Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, the story of a young girl named Minli who sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family’s fortune.
And one of my favorite books published in 2020, A Wish In The Dark by Christina Soontornvat, is a Les Miserables-inspired fantasy set in Thailand about a boy named Pong who discovers that life outside of the prison he grew up in is no fairer than the one behind bars.
These three picture books are all about family, one of my favorite book themes.
Drawn Together by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat is a book I’ve given to so many friends. It’s a gorgeous story of a young boy and his grandfather and how they cross a cultural divide through art.
If your young readers love silly picture books, check out The Boring Book by Shinsuke Yoshitake, a book about that universal phrase: “I’m so bored!” (Another favorite of mine by Shinsuke Yoshitake is I Can Be Anything, which is hilarious!)
Hello, Universe, the Newbery Medal winning book by Erin Entrada Kelly, is a story told in four points of view on one day where their lives intersect in surprising and important ways.
Checked by Cynthia Kadohata is one of my favorite middle grade books. It’s beautiful story about a boy who loves hockey who has to put aside lessons so his dog Sinbad can have cancer treatments.
Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan, a wonderful series by Susan Tan, is great for younger middle grade readers who are looking for a spunky, hilarious heroine.
I love graphic novels, and there are so many great ones being published these days.
For upper middle grade readers, I highly recommend Gene Luen Yang’s Dragon Hoops. This biographical graphic novel is about Gene’s time as a high school teacher and his friendship with the basketball coach and the Varsity basketball team, the Dragons.
This is one of my favorite graphic novels of all time! Another favorite is Jen Wang’s Stargazing, a beautiful story of a young girl who befriends her neighbor.
And finally, my favorite cat book! The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home by Konami Konata is a wonderful series about a young cat discovering the world.
I have learned so much from reading historical fiction. Laurence Yep was one of the first Asian authors I read as a child. He is a true trailblazer! And, of course, I couldn’t just share one book by the legendary Linda Sue Park – I had to share three!
Dragonwings was inspired by the story of a Chinese immigrant who created a flying machine in 1909, and his story touches on the struggles and dreams of Chinese immigrants navigating opportunity and prejudice in San Francisco.
Linda Sue is my hero, and I just adore all of her historical fiction books. A Single Shard is about a young boy who is tasked with bringing pottery from a master artisan to the Korean royal commission.
And finally, PRAIRIE LOTUS is about a half-Asian girl growing up in America’s heartland in 1880 facing deep rooted prejudice within the community she lives in.
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When shelter cats Pasha and Poop move in with their new human family, they find themselves up against a ghostly bully. Scaredy Cat demands they follow his rules or he’ll cause all kinds of trouble-knock over lamps, spill kitty litter, and even get them shipped back to the animal shelter!
But Pasha and Poop are stubborn and rebellious. They won’t follow the Scaredy Cat’s ridiculous rules like all of the other pets on the block. Together, they set out to find the truth behind who the Scaredy Cat really is, and how they can end his mischief-making for good.
Hey there, kidlit pals! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate! And even if you don’t celebrate, then here’s something you can get excited about–kidlit book deals! Once again I have a round up of ten great reads you’ll want to snatch up, but make sure you so do ASAP, as these deals never last long!
A series that’s sold over 1 million books, now available in audio for the first time. When 13-year-old Samantha returns home to her family′s cattle ranch in Nevada, she′s worried. She moved away two years ago to recover from a bad fall off her beloved mustang, Blackie, and she′s not sure she can get back in the saddle. But when Sam suddenly finds the fate of a mysterious mustang resting in her hands, she has to learn to be a real cowgirl — ready or not.
Hey readers! I’m back with another week of new releases.
In this picture book, Fallon finally gets to carry a panye, a woven basket, on her head. With her Manman, Fallon explores their colorful, lively Haitian community.
In this narrative poetry collection, a class of students is asked to consider what they would save if their home was on fire. The poetry is inspired by sijo, a 14th-century syllabic verse form.
Originally published in Japanese, this middle grade novel is set 25 years after the bombing of Hiroshima. To honor the dead, Nozomi and her family light lanterns. As Nozomi learns more about the people lost in Hiroshima, like her aunts and her father’s first wife, she and her friends decide to share their stories through art.
In this moving story, Callie and her family move from California to the Scottish countryside when they inherit a castle. Recovering from a painful falling out with her friends back home, Callie’s able to move forward when she discovers a long-lost journal belonging to another girl, Pippa, who once lived in the castle.
In this fun fantasy novel, Kit discovers a magical library and her own magical powers. Alongside her friends, a magical librarian, and a half-dog/half-dragon creature, Kit takes on an evil developer who wants to tear down the library.
A series that’s sold over 1 million books, now available in audio for the first time. When 13-year-old Samantha returns home to her family′s cattle ranch in Nevada, she′s worried. She moved away two years ago to recover from a bad fall off her beloved mustang, Blackie, and she′s not sure she can get back in the saddle. But when Sam suddenly finds the fate of a mysterious mustang resting in her hands, she has to learn to be a real cowgirl — ready or not.
Hi Kid Lit Friends,
I’m tired of winter weather as I am sure all of you are. One of the things that keeps me going through these cold months is the thought of flowers coming up soon and beginning my garden. There are plenty of beautiful children’s books about flowers, including some that really dive deep into flower anatomy and scientific discovery. Here are some of my favorites!
This gorgeous book is filled with fascinating information along with stunning illustrations. In the opening pages, readers will learn all about botany, including how to recognize different types of flowers. Subsequent pages illustrate the various habitats that are home to flora such as pitcher plants, the giant water lily, and the weirdly wonderful corpse flower (which I saw once at the New York Botanical Garden! It was fascinating!). Readers will discover which flowers are endangered and why some blooms are fragrant or colorful, including information about carnivorous and poisonous flowers which are sure to thrill young readers!
George Washington Carver was born into slavery and later became a celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor. When he was young, he had a secret garden where he studied life cycles, examined flowers, and protected plant roots throughout the hard winters. I loved reading about this incredible person who had such passion for living things. I also adored the beautiful illustrations in this picture book biography!
This is another fantastic new book for any reader who wants to learn more about flowers and how they grow. I love Rachel Ignotofsky’s illustrations, which convey such joy and life! This is the first book in a new nonfiction picture book series, and I can’t wait to see what other topics she tackles.
I really love this picture book, about a young child leaving the city and exploring flowers with all five senses—from its color to its fragrance to the entire universe it evokes—revealing how a single flower can expand one’s perspective in incredible ways. The vibrant illustrations leap from each page and make each page flip a joy.
This beautiful pop-up book features stunning flowers that literally leap off of each page. Among the flowers, bees buzz, hummingbirds sip, and bats flit amongst the brilliant petals. Each spread is filled with unique pop-ups, revealing pull-tabs, and captivating facts. This book is a celebration of flowers as critical components of the natural world. While not technically written for children, I think readers beyond toddlers will enjoy this captivating book. I found the pop-ups quite sturdy, although it’s probably not a great book for grabby hands.
Annabelle trying out the quilt top I just finished! I think she likes it!
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Once a booming tourism destination, Southborough has lost most of its visitors ever since folks stopped believing their Sasquatch could be real. When a tech company starts buying up the town and pushing out all the people and places that make it special, a tenacious teen named Louie will do everything she can to save her town, including planning a bizarre, elaborate hoax. Full of humor, heart, and hilarious hijinks, Martian Ghost Centaur offers a touching story about protecting the things you love and following your passion.
Hey there, kidlit pals! I hope you’re enjoying more sunshine and warmer weather this March! I am excited to share a nice bunch of great kidlit deals this week, full of new and classic books! As always, if something stands out to you, snag it sooner rather than later, because these deals don’t last long!
From surviving a frigid night in northern Canada to munching on grubs in the Australian Outback, Les Stroud’s passion for the outdoors has driven him to some of the planet’s most remote and beautiful locations. In Wild Outside, he invites readers into his world of wilderness adventures with fast-paced stories, nature facts, and practical advice for spending time outside. Featuring kid-friendly activities and tips like how to safely observe wildlife, Stroud shows readers that adventure awaits everywhere—whether in a jungle or a city park. Andrew P. Barr’s dramatic illustrations amp up the excitement alongside photos of Survivorman’s adventures.
In this picture book, parents convey their neverending love for their children. Even as their relationships evolve, and the children become independent, love remains.
Kiyoshi’s Walk by Mark Karlins and illustrated by Nicole Wong
When he watches his grandpa, Eto, write a haiku, Kiyoshi asks him where poems come from. To answer his question, Kiyoshi’s grandpa takes him on a walk through the city where Eto introduces him to all the inspiration awaiting them.
In this sweet picture book about empathy and friendship, a girl and a dog meet and form an unbreakable bond that remains strong and true even as they both enjoy time away from each other and building relationships with others.
In this sweet novel-in-verse, Ellie’s been living by Fat Girl Rules ever since her white swimsuit at her fifth birthday party kicked off endless torment about her weight. Her one safe space is the pool, where she can spread out like a starfish and take up as much space as she wants, but as Ellie finds support among her family and friends, she begins to wonder if she can be a starfish outside of the pool too.
In this inspiring follow up to Amina’s Voice, Amina is enchanted after her family’s trip to Pakistan. When she gets home, Amina’s excited to share Pakistan’s beauty with her friends, but no one’s interested in anything more than the worst parts.
A lovebird who doesn’t like kisses?! Rissy’s friends and family wonder if she’s sick, confused, or rude. But kisses make Rissy uncomfortable. Can one little lovebird show everyone that there’s no one right way to show you care? Rissy No Kissies carries the message that “your body and your heart are yours, and you choose how to share.” A note at the end provides further information for kids, parents, and educators about body autonomy, consent, and different ways to show affection.
Hi, Kid Lit Friends!
I have a special treat for you today! The creators of the new picture book, Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn (on sale on March 23, 2021, Abrams), join me on the newsletter to discuss their new collaboration. Isn’t this cover the cutest? I hope you enjoy their fascinating conversation about how this book came to be!
UYEN: Did you ever have those moments of pure kismet that came in just the most unexpected of places? Shannon and I get lots of moment of inspiration when we hang out together, but none like the time we came up with this little bombshell.
SHANNON: We were on tour for BEST FRIENDS, sitting in a coffee shop working between school visits. Uyen was sketching a picture book and I was revising a novel. Uyen said, “I bet together we could come up with a really great picture book,” and I, the skeptic, said, “Easier said than done.”
UYEN: Hah! I really did think to myself, “Here’s Shannon, a world class writer, and here’s me, the creator of over 100 illustrated books. Between the two of us, we could definitely come up with something.” It felt like math, right? The numbers seem to add up. Like peanut butter and jelly.
SHANNON: We started chatting about things our kids love right now—cats and unicorns—and came up with the concept of an adorable, fluffy kitten who makes herself a unicorn horn. We both laughed, haha, that’s cute but of course we’re both too busy right now to start yet another book. So we went back to working on our separate projects.
UYEN: But I don’t think either of us could knock the idea out of our heads. So unbeknownst to Shannon, I started skteching my idea of the fluffy little kitten who wants to be a unicorn.
SHANNON: And I’m sitting across from her, supposedly working on my novel, but instead I can’t stop thinking about it, so I open a new page and write a few paragraphs about a kitty who desperately wants her friends to see her as a unicorn. A half hour later, Uyen suddenly turns her ipad to me. And she’s sketched our kitty-corn! The more adorable, sweetest little kitty-corn you can imagine. I laughed and turned my laptop around, showing her that I’d started writing the story. After that, it was just like playtime. Everything we did, we did side-by-side.
UYEN: It might be criminal to say this, but it was just so much fun. Every idea I would come up with, Shannon would come up with a zinger for it. Every time Shannon would start a sentence, it felt like I’d finish it. It was as if the idea of this little kitty existed all on its own, and we were just discovering it together at the same time.
SHANNON: Yes it was just like that! And I think it was because we know each other so well and love each other so much. We didn’t hit everything right the first time—the characters went through several versions, the text took a few dozen rewrites. But it was always playful. There was zero pressure because it was just two BFFs making something fun together with no expectations and zero commitments. I don’t think either of us were thinking about writing something for publication.
UYEN: No, we were really just sort of throwing the ball back and forth, seeing where we could go. It’s fascinating for me, too, to be able to watch such an amazing writer polish her stuff up. Everytime I would think the wording was great, Shannon would look it over, say something enigmatic like, “No, the arc isn’t right — this moment has to be FELT!” and I would watch in baffled admiration as she’d bring it back ten times better. And each time the story felt not quite right and even Shannon couldn’t work her magic, I could come in and say, “Wait! No words here!” and find a solution through the art. We just kept batting that ball back and forth.
SHANNON: And soon we had a full picture book, sketched and all the text laid out. I read it to my kids and, no kidding, they flipped out. So I started to read it to other people, because it was just so much fun. And the adults had as big of a reaction as kids did. Laughing and even tearing up. My sister said, “My face hurts from smiling so much.”
UYEN: At some point, Shannon started saying, “Let’s send this off!” I think I was more hesitant, partially because I really just loved having it exist between the two of us for a while, and also because sending it off would mean introducing it the real world and seeing if we truly had created peanut butter and jelly.
SHANNON: While I, the skeptic, had become fully converted by now just because everybody I read it to had such a HUGE reaction. I couldn’t wait to share it more! The real test was our agents, Holly and Jodi…
HOLLY M. MCGHEE(UYEN’S AGENT): When Kitty-Corn arrived in my inbox, I opened the pdf immediately, read it immediately, and told Uyen, “I LOVE IT SO MUCH” with not a drop of hesitation because it was adorably drawn and wonderfully written, but more important to me, it was about something deep and something rare: being seen on the inside.
JODI REAMER (SHANNON’S AGENT): I admit I was a bit skeptical when I opened the manuscript because writing about adorable kittens and unicorns seemed a little too on the nose for the market, but as soon as I read it I just smiled and immediately raved to Shannon that she and Uyen had nailed it! The manuscript was so magical; it had so much heart and depth and was about something much bigger than simply adorable animals.
UYEN: At the end of the day, what makes this whole story so fabulous, so amazing, is that two friends came together, and with no expectations other than their love of their craft and their desire to please the other, came up with this crazy little concoction that seems to have really caught people’s imaginations. Because the story itself is sort of the story of friendship, of identity, and understanding the value of oneself. We still argue over who’s really Kitty (I am) and who’s really Unicorn (of course it’s Shannon — i mean c’mon, she sparkles wherever she goes).
SHANNON: I am 100% certain I don’t sparkle, but I’m also 100% certain that I love this woman. It really was serendipity, everything falling together just right. How often does that happen? But I guess the moral of the story is: don’t take breaks! Keep working on tour!
Many thanks to Shannon, Uyen, Holly, and Jodi for joining me today!
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Eleven-year-old Willow doesn’t want to go to her dad’s weird old summer camp any more than she wants her family to move to the weird old town where that camp is located. But her family—and fate itself—seem to have plans of their own. Soon, Willow finds herself neck-deep in a confounding mystery involving stolen snacks, suspected vampires, and missing campers, all shrouded in the sinister fog that hides a generation of secrets at Camp…whatever it’s called.
Hey kidlit pals! It’s March again, and although it doesn’t seem possible that it’ll soon be a whole year since we started sheltering in place, I’m choosing to remain positive. The sun is shining, and we’ve got book deals to help you make it through! As always, grab these before they’re gone because they never last long!
Wishtree by the one and only Katherine Applegate is just $3.
Invulnerability is a pretty useless superpower if you’ve only got a one hundred pound frame to back it up. That’s what Quinton West’s life became when he went from small guy who got beat up to small guy who can’t get hurt after the meteor shower dubbed “The Event” gifted him the power of invulnerability but no other powers to compliment it. But there’s more to Quin than meets the eye, and Quin realizes that he can use his quirky hobby of creating Rube Goldberg-like devices to outsmart the opposition.
Hey readers! I’m back with another batch of new releases.
In this book about panic disorders, a little boy is followed around by his monster. Though the monster has always been there, he hasn’t told anyone about them or the worries that come along with their appearance even though it keeps him from playing with his friends. But when he finally opens up to his grandmother about it, the monster starts to get smaller.
Wanda by Sihle Nontshokweni and Mathabo Tlali, illustrated by Chantelle Thorne and Burgen Thorne
This South African picture book follows Wanda, a girl struggling to find pride in her big hair. Though her mom combs her hair into a big afro every morning, Wanda puts it into a new style when she gets to school so that other kids won’t tease her and her teacher won’t declare her out of uniform. But when Wanda turns to her grandma, she learns about all the amazing women with hair just like hers.
Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
This sweet and funny picture book follows Laxmi, who’s distressed when her friends point out her mooch (the Indian word for mustache). When she tells her parents, they explain lots of women in Laxmi’s family have had a mooch, and Laxmi is able to find pride in herself and her appearance.
In this series-starter of a new chapter book series, Dominguita takes on a school bully who says girls can’t be knights. To prove said bully wrong, Dominguita and her friends go out into their community to help people in need.
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Michelle Mee
This charming graphic novel follows Maggie, who just wants something of her own. Her parents are busy preparing for the arrival of a new baby, and her younger brothers are off in their own world. So when Maggie is given the chance to choose a puppy on her birthday, it’s a dream come true. Until she breaks out in hives and learns she’s allergic. Now the search is on to find Maggie the perfect pet.
Dawn Raid by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith, illustrated by Mat Hunkin
This historical fiction novel is set in the 1970s in Wellington, New Zealand where Sofia, a biracial girl, is drawn into political activism. As police carry out 4 AM raids, Sofia’s family is introduced to the work of the Polynesian Panthers, a group that fights for the rights of Indigenous people and Pacific Islanders. This is written in Sofia’s diary entries and includes charming illustrations of her journey to standing up for what’s right.
