Here you will find a relatively short list of recently published titles for children from birth through sixth grade that would make great gifts!
Stop by ICPL for more suggestions specific to the readers in your life!
Anne dares
George, K. (Kallie), 1983- author.
jREADER George K
"Anne is excited to be a guest at a party at Orchard Slope, the home of her kindred spirit, Diana Barry. But when the dares start and mean Josie Pye makes the others feel bad, Anne can't stop herself from challenging Josie to a dare . . . which leads to Anne being dared to climb the house and walk along the ridgepole!" --
Apple crush
Lucy Knisley
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Knisley
Graphic Novels, Kids
"Jen is just getting used to her life on Peapod Farm with her new stepsisters, Andy and Reese, but when the school year starts, there are even more changes in store for her."--
I read the prequel to this graphic novel, "Stepping Stones" immediately before diving into "Apple Crush," and I enjoyed them both very much. I have read several of Knisley's adult graphic novels, and am always really drawn towards her illustration style. Both of these stories are semi-autobiographical, and I think a lot of children who have gone through their parents divorce will relate to her experience. "Stepping Stones" is about Jen learning how to live and work on a farm, while "Apple Crush" is more about her adjusting to a new school and the social pressures that come with middle school. Jen gets her first job on a pumpkin patch, and I think most readers will feel a longing for crisp, fall weather, hot cider, and trick-or-treating no matter what season it is currently. I can't wait to find out what the next season holds for Peapod Farm!
- Mari
Baby bear's bakery
Kamentotsu, 1986- author, artist.
jMANGA Kamentotsu Baby
"Welcome to Baby Bear's Bakery, a brand new patisserie run by a bear cub! While Bear may be a fine baker, he is not much of a business beast, so he has plenty to learn about running a business. But, with the support of his devoted customers he's ready to bake his dream come true." --
This manga series is the cutest! The simple panel format is great for new manga readers.
- Casey
Bea Wolf.
Zach Author Weinersmith
Kids, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Literary Fiction
A modern middle-grade graphic novel retelling of Beowulf, featuring a gang of troublemaking kids who must defend their tree house from a fun-hating adult who can instantly turn children into grown-ups. Listen! Hear a tale of mallow-munchers and warriors who answer candy’s clarion call! Somewhere in a generic suburb stands Treeheart, a kid-forged sanctuary where generations of tireless tykes have spent their youths making merry, spilling soda, and staving off the shadow of adulthood. One day, these brave warriors find their fun cut short by their nefarious neighbor Grindle, who can no longer tolerate the sounds of mirth seeping into his joyless adult life. As the guardian of gloom lays siege to Treeheart, scores of kids suddenly find themselves transformed into pimply teenagers and sullen adults! The survivors of the onslaught cry out for a savior―a warrior whose will is unbreakable and whose appetite for mischief is unbounded. They call for Bea Wolf.
New middle grade graphic novel alert! Bea Wolf is a modern middle-grade graphic novel retelling of Beowulf. I would have loved to have read Bea's story in school instead of of Beo's. Even still this amazingly creative retelling also mimics the original's language by using alliteration throughout. Kids will enjoy this retelling, and not realize they’re also learning about a great classic! Plus, it was laugh out loud funny in many parts; a true delight!
- Angie
Bigfoot and Nessie
Campbell, Chelsea M., author.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Campbell Bigfoot
Bigfoot is the only one in his family who does not like having the spotlight on him, and finds a friend in Nessie who is equally desperate to get away from all the cameras.
The case of the strange splash
Winkler, Henry, 1945- author.
jFICTION Winkler Henry
Willow Feathers McBeaver, aka Detective Duck, and her pond animal pals investigate puzzling mysteries caused by human disruptions to their habitat.
Cat on the run
Blabey, Aaron, author, artist.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Blabey Cat
"What happens when the world's biggest cat video star gets accused of a crime she didn't commit? She becomes a cat on the run, that's what. Follow Princess Beautiful--for that is her name--as she goes from meme megastar #1 to public enemy #1 and cheer her on as she fights to clear her name. Is she a super villain? An internet-famous buffoon? Or a butt-kicking gal who's just been seriously underestimated? YOU be the judge..."--
The latest series from Aaron Blabey is just as fun as The Bad Guys.
- Casey
A first time for everything : a true story
Santat, Dan, author.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Santat
"A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life. Funny, heartwarming, and poignant, A First Time for Everything is a feel-good coming-of-age memoir, it celebrates a time that is universally challenging for many of us, but also life-changing as well."--
First words with cute quilted friends
Chow, Wendy (Quilter), author.
jBOARD BOOK Chow
"Designed by bestselling author of Urban Quilting, Wendy Chow, this book features cute, brightly colored pictures that your child will love looking at for hours, a compact size that's the perfect size for your child's small hands, and a sturdy padded cover that won't dissolve in their mouths"--
Forever twelve
McAnulty, Stacy, author.
jFICTION Mcanulty Stacy
At the elite West Archer Academy, all the students are gifted, but four are exceptional. Though the Evers look twelve, they're actually centuries old, possessing knowledge and talents that make them extraordinary. And boarding school is the perfect cover for their brilliance -- and their secret. It's supposed to be a typical year in the anything-but-typical lives of these "kids" . . . until Ivy Stewart shows up.
Stacy McAnulty visited ICCSD's 3rd-6th graders this year! This is her latest book and the first in a new action packed series.
- Casey
Giraffe math
Stephen R. Swinburne
j513.2 Swinburne
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Science
"Told through the voice of Twiga the giraffe, this picture book shares knowledge about giraffes through math, using measurements, graphs, fractions, time, elemental geometry, and percentages."--
Giraffe Math is wonderful and so fun! Add this to the ever-growing list of fabulous picture book nonfiction.
- Casey
Hidden gem
Linda (Illustrator) Liu
jE Liu
Picture Books
"When a small pebble sees others gathering on the steps of the Museum of Rocks, he grows curious. Once inside the esteemed halls, he is shocked by what he discovers. The only rocks on display are glittering gemstones, geodes, and crystals! These beautiful stones make him wonder: Can he be special, too? Perhaps he'll find an answer in the World's Most Beautiful Gem exhibition . . . or maybe, just maybe, he will find the answer inside himself."--Amazon.
Rocks with cute, cartoony eyes! What's not to love? This is a fun, short book with a good message delivered through the crowd-pleasing medium of rocks.
- Anne W
The hidden world of gnomes
Lauren Soloy
jE Soloy
Picture Books, Nature, Fantasy
"A delightful collection of gnome facts, featuring Lauren Soloy's gnome wisdom and gorgeous artwork."--
The Hidden World of Gnomes is stunning! A long-form picture book without chapters, this is an excellent choice for newly independent or graphic novel exclusive readers and confident lap-sitters. Pair with Phoebe Wahl's Little Witch Hazel for a magical long-form storytime.
- Casey
How do you live?
Yoshino, Genzaburō, author.
jFICTION Yoshino Genzabur
Told in two voices, fifteen-year-old Copper struggles to confront inevitable and enormous change after his father's death and his uncle writes to him in a journal, sharing knowledge and advice in 1937 Japan.
Anticipating the next, (final?) Hayao Miyazaki film? This book plays a prominent role!
- Casey
In the night garden
Carin Berger
jE Berger
Picture Books, Nature, Animals, Kids
"A collage-illustrated bedtime read about the often mysterious and always beautiful experiences to be found in nighttime spaces"--
Yet another gorgeous picture book title from Carin Berger! Pair with Ashley Wolff's "Only The Cat Saw" for a fabulous nighttime cat-themed storytime.
- Casey
Is it okay to pee in the ocean? : the fascinating science of our waste and our world
Ella Schwartz
j612.4 Schwartz
Nonfiction, Science
"Explore the human systems that make pee happen, tackle environmental questions about the impacts of human waste, discover surprising uses of urine throughout history-like in mouthwash and skin creams-and even try out at-home, hands-on experiments (with no bodily fluids required, of course!)"--
Did you know that in ancient Rome, buckets were set up along public streets to collect urine from passersby, to use for laundering clothes? That's right, once enough urine was collected, a person would stand in a giant tub filled with pee and dirty clothes, stomping on them to remove stubborn stains. Maybe next time you spill ketchup down your front, try rubbing a little pee on it. That's just one of the many fascinating facts about #1 you can learn from this new book! I won't spoil it by answering the titular question, but you can read to find out the effects of your waste on various bodies of water, how your body makes and eliminates pee, the scientific makeup of pee, and much, much more.
- Anne W
Leeva at last
Sara Pennypacker
jFICTION Pennypacker, Sara
Kids
What are people for? That's the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom. Fame! says Leeva's mom, the mayor of Nutsmore. Money! says her dad, the town treasurer. With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town's librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer--setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever.
If you enjoy the spirited early-chapter-book Clementine series about an eccentric and opinionated 8-year-old girl and the people in her apartment building, or Pax, the moving middle grade story of the bond between a boy and a fox and the lengths they'll go to in order to reunite after tragedy, try Sara Pennypacker's new middle grade novel, Leeva at Last. Perfectly paired with Matthew Cordell's scratchy illustrations, Leeva at Last is a quest/coming-of-age story that is totally hilarious, profound, and features some fantastic librarians.
- Anne W
The moon tonight : our moon's journey around earth
Chang-hoon Jung
j523.3 Jung
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Nature
"Astronomer Jung Chang-hoon provides easy-to-follow scientific explanations of first- and last-quarter Moons, ebb and flow tides, where the new Moon goes, and more."--
Another new picture book nonfiction title! "The Moon Tonight" is gorgeously illustrated, and the breadth of information is perfect for sharing with younger elementary students. I'm excited to try the included science experiment at home as well! Don't miss this title if you like creative nonfiction or have a little one interested in celestial bodies.
- Casey
The moth keeper
O'Neill, Kay (Cartoonist), author, illustrator.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL O'Neill
Graphic Novels, Fantasy
Kit is excited to prove her worth as a Moth-Keeper, a protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year, but she quickly finds that life as a Moth-Keeper is not what she imagined it would be.
Fans of the Tea Dragon Society will love this new title from Kay O'Neill!
- Casey
Of all tribes : American Indians and Alcatraz
Bruchac, Joseph, 1942- author.
j970.5 Bruchac
Nonfiction, History
"On November 20, 1969, a group of 89 Native Americans-most of them young activists in their twenties, led by Richard Oakes, LaNada Means, and others-crossed San Francisco Bay under the cover of darkness. They called themselves the "Indians of All Tribes." Their objective was to occupy the abandoned prison on Alcatraz Island ("The Rock"), a mile and a half across the treacherous waters. Under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie between the U.S. and the Lakota tribe, all retired, abandoned, or out-of-use federal land was supposed to be returned to the Indigenous peoples who once occupied it. As Alcatraz penitentiary was closed by that point, activists sought to reclaim that land, and more broadly, bring greater attention to the lies and injustices of the federal government when it came to Indian policy. Their initial success resulted in international attention to Native American rights and the continuing presence of present-day Indigenous peoples, who refused to accept being treated as a "vanishing race". Over the protestors' 19-month occupation, one key way of raising awareness to issues in Native life was through Radio Free Alcatraz, which touched on: the forced loss of ancestral lands, contaminated water supply on reservations, sharp disparities in infant mortality and life expectancy among Native Americans compared to statistics in white communities, and many other inequalities. From acclaimed Abenaki children's book legend, Joseph Bruchac, this middle-grade nonfiction book tells the riveting story of that 1969 takeover, which inspired a whole generation of Native activists and ignited the modern American Indian Movement"--
Engagingly written by Joseph Bruchac, Of All Tribes presents a wealth of information regarding the history of the United States government's treatment of various American Indian Nations. How this fraught history led to the eventual claiming of Alcatraz Island in 1969, and how this activism continues to ripple through current geopolitical and georestoritive movements. This would be a great gift book for middle-grade, and older, children, and families, especially those interested in US history and social justice movements.
- Casey
Peach and Plum, here we come!
McCanna, Tim, author, illustrator.
jREADER McCanna, Tim
In Fruitdale best friends Peach and Plum enjoy many fun summer activities, such as playing ball, going to the beach, and riding a bike--although Plum often seems to find the down-side of fun. Told in rhyming text.
Pocket Peaches
Wang, Dora, author, illustrator.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Wang
Peaches and her pals Mango and Pogi all live in a cozy town called Pocketon. When a new cat, Taro, moves in, Peaches is on a mission to befriend her. The only thing is, Taro loves all things spooky and Peaches does not. Can Peaches find a way to become friends despite their differences.
Pokémon. Ash's atlas
Last, Shari, author.
j793.93 Pokemon
"Travel across the Pokémon world like never before. Join Ash on an epic journey, meeting new friends and Pokémon along the way! Discover hidden villages, surf tropical waves, and explore historic castles. Find out Ash's top tips, must-sees, and what to pack for a perfect Pokémon trip"-- Back cover.
Simon and the better bone
Corey R. Tabor
jE Tabor
Kids, Picture Books, Animals
One day, down by the pond, Simon meets another dog just like him. And that dog has a bone just like his, only better! How will Simon ever get him to trade, when the other pup knows all the same tricks?
I love books that play with book structure, and this one features a cute dog! The innovative formatting of this title makes for a spectacular lap-sit or storytime read. Pair with Tabor's Mell Fell or Suzy Lee's Wave series for a fun book-gutter-themed storytime.
- Casey
The snow man : a true story
Jonah Winter
CATALOGING /
Science, Biographies
"Discover the true story of a man who lived alone in the mountains with a hobby of measuring snowfall that led to groundbreaking data tracking in climate change studies"--
I am obsessed, I tell you, OBSESSED with this new picture book biography of billy barr, who moved alone to a rustic, isolated cabin in the Rocky Mountains and ended up doing some of the earliest and most groundbreaking tracking related to the heating of the planet when he measured snowfall over time. Jonah Winter has penned more than forty picture book biographies related to environmental, social, and racial justice. Jeannette Winter's illustrations in predominately shades of purple and blue are a phenomenal accompaniment. Check it out!
- Anne W
The skull : a Tyrolean folktale
Jon Klassen
jFICTION Klassen, Jon
Kids, Early Chapter Books, Fiction, Paranormal, Short Story
"This is an old story. It is about a girl named Otilla who runs away. It is also about a house in the woods, and a skull who lives there, and a secret the skull has, and the night that Otilla finds out what that secret is."--
Jon Klassen’s signature offbeat humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit—with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note—The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding and quite different from most of our chapter books on our shelves!
- Angie
The story of Gumluck the wizard
Rex, Adam, author, illustrator.
jFICTION Rex Adam
Gumluck, a young, naíve wizard, does his best to help the local townspeople (and a small friendly ghost) with his sometimes critical raven sidekick, Helvetica.
Early chapter book readers will delight in this latest story by Adam Rex.
- Casey
Tegan and Sara : junior high
Tegan Quin
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Quin
Music, Graphic Novels, Memoir
"Before Tegan and Sara took the music world by storm, the Quins were just two identical twins trying to find their place in a new home and new school. From first crushes to the perils of puberty, surviving junior high is something the sisters plan to face side by side, just like they've always faced things. But growing up also means growing apart, as Tegan and Sara make different friends and take separate paths to understanding their queerness. For the first time ever, they ask who one sister is without the other"--
Kids, and Millennials in their 30s :), will love this portrayal of junior high, and for me the fact that it was written by one of my favorite bands of my teens and 20s makes it even better! Tillie Walden is such a wonderful comic artist, and the semi-autobiographical story of twins Tegan and Sara as 7th graders in a new school quickly had me invested. The feelings and experiences felt authentic, and as a twin I could relate to a lot their relationship as sisters and best friends in the same class at school. Over the course of a year of pretty typical teenager moments including a lot of self-discovery, the story also loosely depicts their beginnings as a band. A must read for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, Hope Larson and Jennifer Holm.
- Mari
Tree, wildflower, and mushroom spotting
Carson, Mary Kay, author.
j582.13 Carson
"With 448 full-color, highly illustrated pages, Outdoor School is your indispensable tool for the outdoors. This interactive field guide to plant and mushroom spotting includes: immersive activities to get you exploring, write-in sections to journal about experiences, next-level adventures to challenge even seasoned nature lovers. No experience is required--only curiosity and courage."--
This series would make a great gift for outdoor enthusiasts!
- Casey
The way champs play
Osaka, Naomi, 1997- author.
jE Osaka
Sports
"In a rhythmic celebration of sport and play, four-time Grand Slam champion and tennis superstar Naomi Osaka shares key steps to becoming a true champ, including being kind, working as a team, doing your best, and most importantly, having fun."--
A lovely rhyming picture book to read aloud with your little athletes! Tennis champion and advocate Naomi Osaka celebrates sportsmanship by sharing all the ways that champs play and highlighting that "We are all champs in our own Way. Being yourself is the way champs play!"
- Fang
Where's Joon?
Kim, Julie J., 1973- author, illustrator.
jE Kim
Jin is helping Halmoni in the garden for her birthday celebration, but where's Joon? Besides the big mess in the kitchen, Jin and Halmoni see no signs of Joon anywhere. Where could he have gone? Luckily, Halmoni has a hunch. She sends Jin on an errand through her magical portal into the wondrous world of Korean folktales with its dazzling landscapes and curious characters. In this land of enchantment, Jin and Joon meet familiar friends and foe before reuniting to embark on a new mission to fix Halmoni's magic pot.
This follow-up to "Where's Halmoni" is simply fantastic!
- Casey
Anne Dares is the latest installment in the Anne of Green Gables retelling for early readers. The entire series is beautifully illustrated and a joy to read.
- Casey