Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! A mild cold has now turned into bronchitis as I enter the third week of being sick. To top it off, my daughter has a new virus too! Ah, kindergarten germs. I had lots of October fall plans but it looks like we’re going to be taking it easy.
Speaking of taking it easy this fall, are you at a bit of a loss for what to read next? Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes. I’m one of the TBR bibliologists, so if you sign up for a letter, I might be the one recommending you books!
Bookish Goods
Holographic Magnetic Bookmark by EclipseTreasuresLLC
This silly and spooky bookmark is a great Halloween present. $4
New Releases
How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up by Ruth Spiro, illustrated by Teresa Martínez (picture book)
I initially wasn’t sure how this picture book was going to land with kids since it addresses adults, but it’s a winner! The young narrator explains coding and how computer programs work to her befuddled dad. She does so by showing him the inside of a computer and how to code by mapping out their path to the playground and the choices they make at the playground. My daughter loved reading it and drew her own codes after we read it together! And her adult (me) now understands coding a bit better, too.
A Year of Black Joy edited by Jamia Wilson, illustrated by Jade Orlando (middle-grade)
This is a really cool middle-grade nonfiction anthology where 52 Black experts share the joy and knowledge they have about one of their passions. Some also include activities, like chef Andi Oliver, who includes a recipe for spiced squash and caramelized red onion skirlie. Dr. Ronx Ikharia discusses the joy of vaccines and describes how they work, author Patrice Lawrence describes the joy of story hunting and provides questions to help readers find a story, and so much more.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Spooky graphic novels are one of my favorite mini-genres. Here are four I love, two for early readers and two for middle grade readers. These are great for Halloween and beyond!
Skeleanor the Decomposer by Emily Ettlinger (early reader graphic novel)
Skeleanor the skeleton loves music and dreams of joining a human band in a nearby village led by Ms. Ratsimiziva. She tries every instrument she can find, not realizing they’re all broken. She decides to perform in the town, but when she does, she scares everyone! Will she ever be able to join the band? This is a sweet graphic novel.
A Super Scary Narwhalloween by Ben Clayton (early reader graphic novel)
The eighth Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel is a hilarious Halloween tale. Narwhal loves Halloween and has so many ideas for what to dress up as. Maybe too many ideas? Jelly, on the other hand, has no ideas and finds Halloween to be too scary. When other sea creatures flee from a monster they claim has eaten Narwhal, Jelly summons his courage to save his best friend and, in the process, finds the perfect Halloween costume. I think my daughter and I have read this 5+ times this week alone.
Ghost Book by Remy Lai (middle-grade)
Remy Lai is such a broad-ranging writer and illustrator. My daughter and I love her Surviving the Wild graphic novel series, but this one is quite a bit different. Based on Chinese mythology, it’s about two 12-year-olds whose lives unknowingly entwined when a desperate parent made a bargain with the keepers of death when they were infants. July Chen has always been able to see ghosts, but has learned to ignore them. But she can’t ignore William, who is stuck between the world of the living and the world of the dead. She decides to help him, and in so doing, she discovers the truth behind her yin-yang eyes. It’s a charming adventure with a little bit of spookiness.
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (middle-grade)
I loved this queer and witchy middle-grade graphic novel! When Snap’s dog goes missing, she decides to investigate the town witch’s home. Instead of finding a scary witch, Snap finds Jacks in Crocs and a tee, working on taxidermy, which is admittedly creepy. The two become unlikely friends. This heartwarming graphic novel has a lot of nuance and depth.
Here’s a glimpse into our sick day at home today. Tissues and bingo. We probably spent 3-4 hours this morning playing board games and putting together puzzles. Quarto Kids has started a new imprint of puzzles and games and sent me a few samples right in time for us all to get sick. This is their National Parks of The USA Bingo game, to go with the book National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber. It’s neat! I’m glad we had the diversion.
If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.
All the best,
Margaret Kingsbury