Category: The Kids Are All Right

In this sweet picture book, a young boy finally gets to visit his mom’s hometown after years of only hearing about in her stories. But things aren’t as he expected, until he gets to visit his mom’s beloved river, and he can then see the magic she spoke of.

In this funny, warm middle grade novel, Annabelle’s expecting another humdrum year in the sixth grade. But when she meets new student Bailey, that begins to change. But so does Bailey’s home life, as she learns her father has something in common with Bailey: he’s trans.

This Thai-inspired fantasy follows Sai, who’s managed her way onto a ship that she hopes will take her away from her past. Sai is keeping a secret: though she’s played the role of genteel lady, her father’s a con man, a fact that could doom Sai in a world where one’s ancestors determine what their position in the world will be.

This historical novel-in-verse is set during the 1980s in Brooklyn. Told by dual narrators, two boys—JJ and Pie—become unlikely friends, bonding over their shared love of art. But a run-in with police threatens to destroy their new bond.

When Tia Fortuna has to move from her little pink casita at the Seaway, Estrella visits one last time and listens to Tia Fortuna’s memories from living there for decades. They say goodbye to the house and head to La Casa de los Viejitos where Tia Fortuna meets new people and sets up her new home where new memories will be born.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. Isn’t it amazing? I love a cover with a cool house on it! In this middle grade story, Asha’s dream house is Donnybrooke, a mansion that sits on the highest hill in Coreville. When her best friend Sam is accepted into a new school and starts spending all his time with Prestyn (who actually lives at Donnybrooke), Asha feels lost. This story is told in the points of view of Asha, Sam, and Donnybrooke itself!

Merra, Locky, Roozle, Finn, and little Jory love their ramble shamble house. They spend their days taking care of the chickens, making mud pies, and tending the garden. But when they come across a picture of a “proper” house in a book, they wonder if their little house is so great after all. They set out to make their house just like the one in the book until they discover that maybe their ramble shamble house is the perfect place for them just as it is.

Rabbi Ruben takes a look around the synagogue and realizes it could use some sprucing up. So he sets out to fix the creaky floorboards, the drafty windows, and the leaking faucet. But when his efforts don’t quite succeed, the congregation pitches in to make the synagogue feel like home.

I just love this picture book about a young girl and her grandfather who lives in Newfoundland. When the young girl visits, she has to take a ferry to his home where they explore the docks and green hills specked with puffins and read at night by the lantern light. I love the Canadian landscape, so I was a huge fan of this picture book!

This inspiring picture book from Colin Kaepernick is a sweet story of self-esteem and self love, set after Kaepernick was asked to draw his family.

In this sweet picture book, a girl and her grandfather come up with a plan to help her grandmother, who often gets confused and lost in her memory. They get to work on their garden, growing gấc seeds to make grandmother’s favorite dish from her wedding.

In this heartfelt middle grade, June and Tyrell are kids living in a homeless shelter. June’s a new arrival struggling with her new life at Huey House, and Tyrell helps her adjust, showing her the good things about their new home. Then, as a new housing policy puts homeless families at risk, June and Tyrell work together to find a solution.

In this fun adventure middle grade, young witches hoping to be sorted into a powerful coven are shocked to instead be named as Spares. But when not even their Spare coven can be sealed, Seven and the other Spares embark on an impossible task to preserve their magic and become full-fledged witches.

This gorgeous, wordless picture book follows a marmot who sees part of his home destroyed by wildfires. He (adorably) sets out to replant the forest, taking care of his baby trees and enduring windstorms and winter. This marmot is probably the most adorable creature I’ve seen!

This intergenerational picture book begins with a grandfather’s story of leaving his home country as a young child with just one small bag and one nut. When he arrived in the new country, he planted it in a pot and watched it grow. When he bought a house, he moved it to the backyard and watched it grow. And from that tree came more walnuts, which his granddaughter collected… I loved this story so much!

This informative non-fiction book for middle grade readers tells the human story of the climate change conversation from the recent past into the present day. It wrestles with the long shadow of our failures, what might be ahead for today’s generation, and crucial questions of how we understand the world we live in—and how we can work together to change the outlook for the better. 

I really enjoyed this non-fiction picture book about Frederick Law Olmstead. I am familiar with him because he designed a lot of NYC’s parks, including the park I got married in (Fort Tryon Park!). It was wonderful to learn more about his life and the vast number of projects he undertook all throughout America.

This picture book is set right in my neighborhood! Years ago, Tony Hillery invited a group of students from an underfunded school to transform a vacant lot into a beautiful and abundant farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration. The author’s portion of proceeds from the sale of this book directly benefits the non-profit organization Harlem Grown.

If you’re planning summer camping trips, I highly recommend 50 States 500 Campgrounds, published by National Geographic. Filled with great information and photos, this is a must have book if you’re researching where to go and where to stay.

In this sweet picture book (the picture book debut of YA author Nina Lacour), a child struggles with one of their moms going on a trip for a few days. The change in their routine is stressful and saddening, until they come up with the perfect way to welcome their mom home.

From the author of Not Quite Narwhal, also known as one of the cutest picture books ever written (please also try Harriet Gets Carried Away), comes this sweet story of Nimbus, a Pegasus who wishes on a star to find friends like her. What she finds is a Unicorn named Kelp and a few other creatures who open her eyes to so much more than she was looking for.

In this silly picture book, Goldie knows plenty about being the best grandchild and puts all her know-how to work with her grandpa, who also has a well of knowledge about grandparenting.

In this animal adventure, Cress and her family move into a new apartment when their dad doesn’t return home from one of his expeditions. In their rowdy new home, Cress tries to figure out if this strange place, without her dad, can ever be a real home.

This novel-in-verse is set in 1980s California, where Persian-American Ava loves to listen to music and surf with her best friend Phoenix. When Phoenix’s lymphoma reemerges, and Ava starts volunteering at the hospital at her mom’s direction, Ava has to find a way to keep her head above water.

This fun, colorful picture book is loaded with charming rhymes and an upbeat mood, celebrating all the dads raising amazing daughters.

In this picture book, a small sailor develops a friendship with a whale called Blue. When Blue doesn’t appear one day, the sailor goes looking and discovers Blue is feeling ill after accidentally swallowing a bunch of plastic.

This lyrical picture book celebrates all of life’s magical moments but also celebrates the small, mundane moments made special by the presence of people we love.

In this middle grade novel from actor John Cho, twelve year old Nigel finds his life, and his city, turned upside down after the acquittal of cops filmed brutalizing Rodney King, and the shooting of a Black teen Latasha Harlins by a Korean shop owner. As Los Angeles spirals into chaos, Nigel’s dad heads to their family store, and Nigel and his friends make their own journey to join him, and they’re forced to reckon with the racism infecting and affecting their community.

In this heartfelt novel, twelve year old Mira faces a downer of a summer with her best friend moved away, her dad out of work, and her nemesis now living nearby. When she learns her beloved cat Fig Newton is diabetic, Mira is determined to scrounge up the money needed for his insulin shots.

Goat and Frog are friends; Goat likes to lead, and Frog likes to follow. But Goat starts jumping on it, along it, above it, inside it, beside it, around it, and under it. It’s a lot, and Frog doesn’t know if he can keep up. Can their friendship survive this?

Meet an unlikely group of heroes: Toots the Bean, Chip Ninja, Tammy the Tomato, and Leonard, a wedge of cheddar cheese. But as strange as these heroes might be, they’re the only ones who can save kids all over the world (even the annoying ones). When they get a call that a kid in Ms. Sternbladder’s class missed breakfast and isn’t allowed to have snacks, they know he needs to eat something or he can’t do all the things he needs to do that day! Can the Hunger Heroes save the day?

This sweet friendship book by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell reminds me of books I loved reading with my kids when they were younger: Frog and Toad, The Fire Cat, and Little Bear. In this new story, Cornbread loves planning and Poppy does not. When winter approaches, Cornbread is completely prepared but Poppy is not! What will Poppy do?

Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family are endlessly entertaining in this early chapter book series. I love Yasmin and her energy and all the ways she creatively solves problems. There are plenty of books in this series, which is great for newly independent readers!

I love LeUyen Pham’s illustrations, and this new book for burgeoning readers is no exception. In this book, a bunch of dinosaurs have an itch: Triceratops, Pterodactyl, Brontosaurus, AND T-Rex! But DINOSAURS DO NOT SCRATCH. Right?

One, Two, Kat, and Four are really good at doing lots of things… but one thing they are not good at is naming clubs! Will they be able to find the perfect name before it’s too late?