Busy Numbers

By Martha Costa

Just starting on the 1-2-3s? Build a bridge to counting with the charming construction sites of Busy Numbers! Colorful bulldozers, cranes, and trucks drive this numerical journey. After counting a given item on the page—like how many orange hats or red trucks there are—little readers can spin a number wheel to show their answer. (No idle hands or minds on this worksite!) Before you know it, your 12- to 24-month-old will be pointing out numbers and colors on the page like a hard-hat professional. And if your child is a fan, author Martha Costa has an entire board book series waiting for them, from Busy Shapes to Busy Colors.

Light Up the Stars!

By Gabrielle Clima

Baby’s hands are always busy—reaching for Mom’s hair, snagging a banana slice on the high chair tray, or pointing gleefully at every puppy in sight. Light Up The Stars! illuminates ten million more directions to reach for. Slide down shimmering rainbows and cruise across constellations as you explore the language of night and day. Your 1- to 3-year-old will unlock their motor skills to pull tabs, grow flowers, and even light up a city sky with its high-contrast illustrations.

Everybody Needs a Buddy

By Ellen Jackson

We’re pretty sure it’s a scientific fact: Baby brains (and adult brains) love adorable animals. Wielding the power of cuteness, Everybody Needs a Buddy is one of the good books for babies starting to internalize key lessons. Watch your little ones learn the importance of friendship as they guide their furry friends through lessons of kindness. On each sturdy board page, Maddie Frost’s illustrations capture companionship across the animal world while Ellen Jackson’s rhymes add memorable musicality. When you read together, your baby may just roar and crow with every lyrical line.

What Makes a Rainbow?

By Betty Schwartz

Rainbow, schmainbow. As adults, we may forget just how beautiful the colors of those arches are. But for your baby? Every new hue is like a laser light show at a Wiggles concert! Explore the wonder of colors through our hoppy friend the Little Rabbit in What Makes the Rainbow? Watching him bounce from color to color and friend to friend, your budding reader will get to practice story sequences as they work to construct a magnificent rainbow!

My Magical Dragon

By Yujin Shin

Alphabet letters, colors, and numbers are all important early-life skills. But what about bravery? Or imagination? My Magical Dragon ignites that adventurous spirit, wrapping your child in a mystical, cloud-filled escapade. Spin wheels and slide panels while following this sparkly dragon into his enchanted land. Tactile details keep curious hands engaged, while special holographic foil adds a shimmer that draws your reader’s attention. If your little one loves fairytale books, My Magical Dragon will introduce them to their imagination and their love of reading.

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home

By Kathryn Cristaldi

How much do I love you? To the moooooon and back! Kathryn Cristaldi’s sweet board book is the perfect bedtime send-off for your favorite newborn or toddler. Let your little one know how much you love them as they sail off to Mars with their favorite spotted friends. Sturdy pages, touching illustrations, and the perfect dash of humor make this nighttime read a verbal and tactile dream. They’ll be requesting this bedtime story until the cows come home!

Light Up the Stars!

by Gabriele Clima

Interactive board books are a playground for perceptual learning, tailor-made for early brain development.

In Light Up The Stars!, your child will go starry-eyed for all the different ways to grab, pull, and push throughout the book. Young readers will adore the books’ interactive pull-tabs, which unlock the ability to bloom flowers or light up a city skyline. A perfect bedtime read, Light Up the Stars! places the twinkling, majestic world above us into your baby’s hands.

One Red Sock

by Jennifer Sattler

In Jennifer Sattler’s One Red Sock, the Little Purple Hippo can’t find a matching red sock. As she frantically tries on different colors, we slowly learn that perhaps matching socks aren’t really what matters after all. The beauty of Jennifer Sattler’s tale is how it subtly lets children know that mistakes are perfectly normal.

Perspective and humor sparkle throughout this picture book, making it one of the best read-aloud books for young children. But be warned: you may be inspired to mismatch your and your child’s socks (shoes, shirts, and more) well into their elementary school years!

The ABCs of Love

by Rose Rossner

Reading with your baby is always valuable bonding time, but no book shares the love like The ABCs of Love. This adorable board book also just so happens to be a fantastic introduction to the alphabet.

These heartwarming rhymes are a great fit for little learners as language development begins to take shape. Adorable animal illustrations and colorful, high-contrast pages also support visual focus. The ABCs of Love is an absolute favorite among Literati parents, and with pages this sweet and comforting, we think you’ll see why!

Where’s My Llama?

by Becky Davies

Touch-and-feel elements are essential to supporting tactile perception, which is convenient when little ones can’t seem to get their hands off of them!

From furry llamas to rough cacti, Where’s My Llama is one of our favorite interactive board books thanks to its wide variety of textures your baby will love to explore. As they search for the hidden llama, your baby can lift flaps and find the fuzz, all while immersed in a vibrant and colorful story filled with sensory stimulation and adorable animal friends!

Busy Numbers: Spin the Wheel to Learn Numbers!

by Clever Publishing

Grab your hard hat and your thinking cap—we’re heading to the construction site! With the help of a spinning wheel and some hardworking builder friends, your baby can learn all about numbers.

Busy Numbers helps little ones develop fine motor skills while getting familiar with basic counting concepts (and perhaps even sparking an interest in machinery). The spinning wheel element is creatively weaved into each scenario; little hands will certainly be kept busy!

Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave

by Jessica Hische

Journey together through a world filled with positivity and beautifully hand-written words of wisdom in Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave, written and illustrated by Jessica Hische. This book reminds readers that tomorrow is a new day full of opportunities and empowers them to be bold when trying new things.

Your little one will love listening to these comforting words, making this a perfect bedtime read with the potential to remain a special part of your home library.

8 Little Planets

by Chris Ferrie

We all know the planets are extraordinary, but did you know that they can also be… adorable? In 8 Little Planets, you and your reader can explore the most fun and friendly solar system in the universe!

The bright colors and layered pages of this delightful board book take little ones on a tactile trip around the sun. As your little one tours the galaxy, the book celebrates the unique qualities of each planet. Set to the tune of “Ten Little Monkeys,” this stellar story’s familiar rhythm makes it a super fun read to keep in the nightly orbit!

Which One is Different? Numbers

by Kasia Dudziuk

Now that we’ve got colors and letters covered, let’s talk numbers! Our #1 pick for an introduction to the 1-2-3’s is a playful and interactive board book, Which One is Different? Numbers. This book asks readers to spot the differences in its illustrations: “Which bicycle has 2 wheels?””Can you find 1 car on its own?”

As your baby gets more familiar with object identification, this book can support their ability to discern differences. The combination of everyday objects and larger-than-life dinos keeps little readers engaged, while interactive counting gives them a headstart on math and problem solving.

Rainbow Colors

by Juliana Perdomo

Rainbow Colors is a creatively designed introduction to the colors of the rainbow that features humorous search-and-find rhymes and a message of inclusivity with diverse children from all over the world.

Curved and layered “touch-and-feel” board pages increase in size as you move through the book, which helps to develop your child’s hand-eye coordination as they turn the pages. Rainbow Colors delivers on more than just bold hues—it’s an all-around fantastic addition to your home library as your baby’s cognitive development leaps into bold new territory!

It Came in the Mail

By Ben Clanton

Little Liam loves getting mail. Sound familiar? This witty and wondrous story will fill your little one with joy as adventures with fire-breathing friends start to fill Liam’s mailbox. Equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, this book is full of visual jokes and wordplay that will have your preschooler giggling as they listen along. The story also teaches a valuable lesson in friendship and sharing that’s perfectly timed as readers get ready to enter kindergarten.

Wipe-Clean Space Activities

By Usbourne

Author Kirsteen Robson leads your little stargazer to the moon and back on this interactive journey through space. Using a special wipe-clean pen, your child will navigate mazes, connect the dots, and doodle to their heart’s content. They’ll strengthen basic coordination and visual skills while experiencing the joys of space and science firsthand. With its wipeable surface, this is a book that keeps on giving. Loan it to friends, pass it down to younger siblings, or wait a couple of months and let them enjoy the fun all over again—just like new!

Bug Hotel

By Libby Walden

This lift-the-flap book takes kids on an adventure through the amazing world of insects from the backyard, then inspires them to create their very own Bug Hotel! Your preschooler will love finding out who’s hanging out in the habitat, and gathering some buzz-worthy bug facts along the way! Haven’t you always wanted an up-close encounter with bumblebees, butterflies, snails and beetles? This book is an immersive look at all the amazing nature unfolding in our own backyards!

Not Quite Narwhal

By Jessie Sima

Kelp always thought he was a narwhal like the rest of his family—a unicorn of the sea, literally. Even if his “tusk” isn’t very long, he’s not a great swimmer, and he doesn’t enjoy eating fish. Told with heartwarming illustrations and spare, sweet text, Jessie Sima’s debut is about fitting in, standing out, and the all-encompassing love of family. The pace of this adorable story paired with its bubbly artwork makes Not Quite Narwhal a top pick for read-aloud time with your preschooler.

Bear Snores On

By Karma Wilson

The brown bear’s cave is a cozy hideout as long as the bear stays snoozing. Despite soothing illustrations and adorable woodland creatures, things are quite suspenseful in this bedtime gem. Repetition and rhythm in this story are great for developing your little one’s listening skills, while the unique tone and word choice helps introduce new vocabulary.

One World, Many Colors

By Ben Lerwill

Forget rose-colored glasses—see through the lens of all of our world’s truly vibrant colors! From the yellow taxi cabs of New York City to pink cherry blossoms in Japan, Alette Straathof’s gorgeous illustrations take us around the globe to show us how it—and we as people—are made up of many colors.

Don’t Wake the Dragon

By Bianca Schulze

This adorable, interactive bedtime story is full of whimsy and fun for your little one. The book’s structure helps teach cause and effect as readers are challenged to keep the restless dragon asleep! While they sing sweet lullabies and make sure their page-turning doesn’t cause a door-slamming breeze, your mini-knight-in-shining-armor will delight in all of the cleverly hilarious instructions.

Color Blocked

By Ashley Sorensen

In this vibrant and interactive picture book, there’s a problem afoot: the color is trapped! In the spirit of Press Here, readers will twist, tap, shake and turn this book to magically unleash the power of colors. Your little one gets to save the day while listening and responding to directions, while at the same time learning all about the wizardry of primary and secondary colors. This ultra-creative story structure gives your kindergartener room to experiment with imagination and color (All the fun; none of the mess!)

The Snatchabook

by Helen Docherty

When the Snatchabook flies into town, bedtime stories begin to disappear! Thankfully, one book-loving bunny vows to stay awake to catch her town’s book thief. Can Eliza Brown save the day—and night—for a town full of passionate bedtime readers? This rhyming read-aloud shares a valuable message of friendship and acceptance, while developing your reader’s listening comprehension.

Moon’s First Friends

by Susanna Leonard Hill

This inviting picture book tells the story of the Apollo 11 mission—and so much more—from the unique perspective of the Moon! As you share this adorable bedtime read-aloud, your little one can soak up tons of information about the history of our planet: from its majestic animals, to the revolutionary inventions that made space travel possible. Truly jam-packed with facts, this is a spot-on read for curious kindergarteners, that can offer a little perspective on the great big world around them.

Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell

by Sue Hendra

In this sweet story, Norman the slug wishes he could be a snail—which means he’ll need a shell! Readers can follow along on Norman’s misadventures as he searches for the perfect “shell” to call his own (spoiler alert—it’s a doughnut). And while this book’s silly plot and glittery pages are sure to keep your kindergartener engaged, the real treat of this story is a lesson in self-acceptance at its center.

Life on Earth: Human Body

At this age, kids are keen to learn how things work. Life on Earth: Human Body has a ton to teach about the intricate and delicately-balanced systems inside of us. Your reader can explore the fundamentals of physical wellness through informative graphics, simple text, and age-appropriate lessons on everything from bones to breathing. This informative read also illustrates why it counts to take care of ourselves, helping kids understand and make healthy choices on their own.

If I Built a School

by Chris Van Duren

If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels, and a trampoline basketball court in the gym. As your first grader gets settled into the school day routine, this wacky story challenges them to think outside the box, and dream up new possibilities within the context of their real-life surroundings. If I Built a School is a read-aloud adventure that will have their imagination running wild!

Snail’s Silly Adventures

by Mary Peterson

The graphic novel format can be a fantastic introduction to longer dialogue, helping readers gather context and understand story sequences visually. With its cute illustrations and graphic approach, Snail’s Silly Adventures is a great precursor to graphic novels that can help bridge the gap between picture books and easy readers. As Snail leaves his bucket to experience the wide, wonderful outside world, your little one’s memory and comprehension will be supported with adorable illustrations and a memorable sequence of events.

The Couch Potato

by Jory John

We love a relatable character who encourages good habits. While following along with a friendly potato—a Couch Potato, of course—readers can discover all of the wonderful things that exist outside of the comfort of home. The silliness of this story will have first graders giggling, while they learn an important lesson about exploring their surroundings.

Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain

by JoAnn Deak and Terrence Deak

Every brain needs a little break, right? This spectacular STEM book teaches kids all about the importance of sleep, and how good sleeping habits help their brains thrive. Written by neuroscience experts, Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain can also be used to teach your child to adopt a growth mindset. With informative illustrations and simple scientific explanations, they’ll begin to see their brain as a muscle that gets stronger with exercise.

Pluto Gets the Call

By Adam Rex

If you were a planet who suddenly found out you weren’t a planet—you might have some questions! In this hilarious and educational story, Pluto searches the solar system to understand what sets him apart from his planetary buddies. First graders will have a blast listening to funny dialogue throughout the book, while learning a tremendous amount of real astrological information. As a little one with lots of questions, your reader may relate to Pluto in a big way!

Flower Talk

by Sara Levine

Fun fact: flowers do more than sit still and look pretty. In the floral world, color is actually a powerful language. While it may be a few years until your little one learns all about the plant life cycle, this book is rich with STEM concepts that can encourage an interest in the natural world. Flip through these amazingly-artistic pages with your little reader and learn how to speak “flower” for yourself! Then it’s time for a nature walk.

Memoirs of a Hamster

By Devin Scillian

The leave-you-in-stitches follow-up to Memoirs of a Goldfish, this is the story of Seymour the hamster and his insane adventures with humans and house cats alike. As your second grader gets more comfortable remembering story sequence and reading aloud, this whimsical and giggle-inducing story is the perfect challenge to help usher them into solo reading.

We’re All Works of Art

By Mark Sperring

This book takes an artful approach to teaching lessons of self-acceptance. As your second grader’s awareness of themselves and others grows, they’ll surely benefit from a reminder that it’s wonderful to be different. This story is full of abstract illustrations that embrace everyone’s own originality. A brief introduction to different styles of art in this book can also encourage your little ones’ creative side!

Lovely Beasts

By Kate Gardner

Within these boldly-illustrated pages lies an invaluable lesson: never judge a creature by its fur, teeth or creepy-crawly scales. Bite-sized facts about even the “scariest” animals will restore your little reader’s compassion for the world around them, as this lovely read teaches important lessons about how we judge others at a glance. Second graders will love this fact-filled journey into the natural world, with text that’s simple to read, and super fun to share!

Laugh-Out-Loud Ultimate Jokes for Kids

By Rob Elliott

What second grader doesn’t love to laugh? This book is jam-packed with jokes, puzzles, and goofy games to help your reader get acquainted with humor. This 2-in-1 collectible copy combines Laugh-Out-Loud Awesome Jokes for Kids and Laugh-Out-Loud Road Trip Jokes for Kids into one side-splitting book. Rob Elliott includes tried-and-true jokes (think chickens crossing roads) with brand-new iterations, making this book a hilarious must-have for every household.

National Parks of the USA

By Kate Siber

National Parks of the U.S.A. stuns with glossy, realistic illustrations that will introduce your child to diverse landscapes and animal species they might not realize are in our very own backyard! And they aren’t just pretty to look at—your child will learn facts they can remember and recite back. This book includes a crossword of predators, a bird word search, spot-the-difference games with insects, a pull-out poster map, and dozens of stickers. Safe to say there’s hours upon hours of fun to be found in this book—no travel necessary!

Maze Quest History: Travel Through Time!

by Anna Brett

For George and his pup Milly, it’s just a normal day at the Natural History Museum—that is, until they’re suddenly rocketed into the past! To get home, they’ll need the help of your very own little history buff. You and your reader can help George and Milly navigate through the past in Maze Quest History: Travel Through Time! With over 48 mazes to solve, this interactive book sprinkles in historical facts across all major time periods, making it more educational than your typical book of mazes. The narrative format also helps readers engage with the story sequence as they memorize (and repeat) new fascinating facts!

National Parks of the USA

By Kate Siber

National Parks of the U.S.A. stuns with glossy, realistic illustrations that will introduce your child to diverse landscapes and animal species they might not realize are in our very own backyard! And they aren’t just pretty to look at—your child will learn bite-sized facts they can remember and recite back.

This book includes a crossword of predators, a bird word search, spot-the-difference games with insects, a pull-out poster map, and dozens of stickers. Safe to say there’s hours upon hours of fun to be found in this book—no travel necessary!

Roscoe Riley Rules #1: Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs

By Katherina Applegate

Accidental rulebreaker, Roscoe Riley, gets himself into a sticky situation when he tries to solve a problem for his teacher. But this little guy is so used to inadvertently getting into trouble that he’s got a list of “time-out activities” that are sure to keep your little one busy. Short, fast-paced chapters and funny sentences have been known to keep readers glued to their chairs!

Marge in Charge

by Isla Fisher

Marge is a one-of-a-kind babysitter with an over-the-top kind of attitude. This rowdy, rainbow-haired rule-breaker comes off as tame, but is quick to get siblings Jemima and Jake into all sorts of hilarious mischief. Third graders will get a kick of Marge’s wild antics, while building comprehension skills with longer dialogue and fewer pictures.

Your Very Own Robot

By R. A. Montgomery

Some kids want puppies. Some want hamsters. Some just really want a robot. In this choose-your-own-adventure book, readers get to “build” their own robot and go nuts (and bolts) with it throughout the fun story. The unique format is perfect for third graders who are developing a newfound sense of autonomy, while the subject matter may spark an interest in autonomous machines!

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

By Robin Newman

Miss Rabbit’s carrot cake has gone missing and Detectives Wilcox and Griswold are on the case! Mystery stories can help third graders understand how to use context clues and connect the dots between cause and effect. This delicious whodunnit is just desserts for readers who love stories that keep them guessing and giggling.

Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Lunch Walks Among Us

By Jim Benton

It’s hard fitting in, especially when you’re a mad scientist in grade school with a love for the creepier things in life. Jim Benton, the bestselling author of Dear Dumb Diary, is back with this lovable misfit who learns that the greatest power she contains is being herself. This book is delightfully different, just like Franny. If your third grader already loves science, silliness, and monsters, they’ll zoom through these pages.

The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB

by Adam Shaughnessy

Classic mythology, meet contemporary mystery-solving. This delightful, race-to-the-finish read is everything we want from a young-reader mystery novel: clever, satisfying, and intriguing to the last page. Packed with Norse and Russian mythology, this fantasy is a major departure from your average middle-school whodunnit—a little bit of genre-blending can go a long way for a budding bookworm!

Pashmina

by Nidhi Chanani

Priyanka has a lot of questions about her family’s past, but her mother refuses to answer them. One day, Pri finds a magical pashmina that transports her to a mysterious world. Is this the key to her family’s history—or something more sinister? This graphic novel is a beautiful story about juggling two cultures. Not only can it mesmerize any young reader, but it’s packed with lessons in empathy and creative inspiration.

The Good Thieves

by Katherine Rundell

It’s 1920s Manhattan. A crooked real estate mogul has stolen Vita’s grandfather’s mansion. But Vita has hatched a plan—break into the mansion, take back what’s rightfully theirs, and expose the villain. With complex emotions of justice, hope, and grief, this enthralling story helps fourth-graders learn more about their world, and develop a love for independent reading.

Write Your Own Story Book

By Louie Stowell

Sometimes all a curious storyteller needs is a springboard! Write Your Own Story Book is a guided workbook to get every rookie wordsmith excited about writing. With whimsical illustration and engaging prompts, readers can channel their inner Shakespeare and learn the foundational skills to go above and beyond as writers.

Copycat Science

By Mike Barfield

Turns out you don’t need impressive gray facial hair to feel like Einstein or Darwin for an afternoon. Grab your lab coats and protective goggles, this graphic novel-style guide lets your reader step into the shoes of famous scientists and recreate experiments at home! This informative, interactive read can help nurture a budding interest in STEM, but comes packed with facts to excite young history buffs, too!

Strange But True: 10 of the World’s Greatest Mysteries Explained

by Katherine Hulick

In this captivating book, Hulick takes readers on a fact-first journey from UFOs to krakens, with a pit stop in Atlantis. The author provides psychological and scientific explanations behind these mysterious phenomena to help your child learn how science can help discern fact from fiction. Hulick invites your reader to think scientifically and expand their critical thinking skills. In her pursuit of factual explanations for strange phenomena, she covers a wide variety of historical and scientific topics—your reader will learn a little bit of psychology, geography, and even some marine biology!

Framed!

by James Ponti

Framed! centers on a young sleuth who is so good he’s “on the FBI Director’s speed dial.” Think Sherlock Holmes in grade school with a sharp sense of humor—and it’s just the first of the series! We love an independent problem-solver, but the strong friendship at the center of the story makes it a must-read. Plus, the main character’s framework for solving life’s daily mysteries is one that your young reader can keep in their toolbelt, too.

The Homework Machine

by Dan Gutman

A nerd, a wisecracker, a goody-two-shoes, and a slacker. What could these four possibly have in common? They all share one secret: the homework machine. In this cross-clique adventure, the D Squad is on a mission to hide their magical creation from fellow fifth graders—or worse, their teachers.

In The Homework Machine, it’s a classic humans vs. technology battle. Will the squad be able to control their machine? Or will they lose their special tool… and also their top grades? Your favorite young reader will cackle with every page of this hilarious sci-fi adventure.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

by Dusti Bowling

Born without arms and adopted as a toddler, our protagonist is the new girl in town. She’s also a daydreamer with an attitude and a wild sense of humor—but her life takes a turn when she discovers a secret in a rundown western theme park.

This inspiring story will prepare your reader for longer, more in-depth narratives, while sharing lessons in empathy and self-acceptance that are spot-on for their social development.

LOL: A Keepsake Journal of Hilarious Q&As

By Brandon T. Snider

“Dear Diary” can get a little boring from time to time. How about a prompt to get that journal entry started—would you rather shave your head or wear the ugliest wig in the world for a week? Eat a slug, or keep a live cricket in your mouth for five minutes?

With super silly would-you-rathers, fill-in-the-blanks, and doodle ideas, this book beats a blank diary any day of the week. Your middle-grader will love coloring outside the lines in this keepsake journal and digging deep to answer thought-provoking questions.

This is Not a Science Book

By Clive Gifford

Don’t let the title fool you—this activity book teaches science through stealth. Your middle-grader will draw, puzzle, and build their way through this super-interactive book, and before they know it, become a science sage.

This book is a perfect pick for kids who are shy around the subjects of math and science. They’ll map out bones in the body, create their own optical illusions, and even build high-flying rotocopters. This book is a non-intimidating romp through the natural world, making it the best book for sixth graders or seventh graders who struggle with science.

The Land of Roar

by Jenny McLachlan

It’s been years since Rose and Arthur traversed the folding bed in Grandad’s attic to their imaginary Land of Roar, but while cleaning the attic, Grandad himself gets pulled in! And if our readership is any indication, so will your middle-grade reader.

With constant danger and intrigue, this gorgeously-illustrated story has proven time and time again to help develop consistent reading habits in budding fantasy-lovers.

Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret

by Trudi Trueit

Forget book reports—at Explorer Academy, students are graded on their code-cracking, obstacle coursing, and virtual-reality explorations. But for new pupil Cruz, this elite school has a few more challenges up its sleeves.

With solvable puzzles, Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret is the perfect book for those who need a little brain challenge to stay engaged. Get your young scientist in on the journey, and give them Trudi Truett’s full-throttle adventure.

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels

by Linda Skeers

The daring and adventurous women who have shaped the world are often missing from history textbooks. Supplement your kid’s education with these stories of 52 women who fearlessly pushed boundaries. Read all about Helen Gibson, the first professional stuntwoman, or Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space!

From action scenes to astronomical heights, this book covers a multitude of fields and interests, so no matter what your child loves to do, they’ll find tons of inspiration and motivation to challenge themselves. You may just want to invest in a helmet and some elbow pads for your adventurer once they finish this essential anthology of history’s toughest ladies.

Adventures in Engineering for Kids: 35 Challenges to Design the Future

by Brett Schilke

Adventures in Engineering asks an important question: without limits, what can kids create? The answer is pretty much anything and everything, including the first human settlement on another planet.

This book recruits your child to an elite engineering team, the Irresistible Futures Agency. It’s their job to help design City X and solve the many challenges that lie ahead. With 35 design and engineering challenges, this is one of the best books for sixth-graders or seventh-graders who love science, puzzles, and making the impossible a reality.

Odd Gods

by Daniel Weitzman

Oddonis is a son of Zeus. He’s surely odd—he doesn’t have powers like the rest of his family and even has webbed toes—but he’s also endearing. He and his friends at Mount Olympus Middle School are an ungodly group, but can they pull it together in time for a big school election?

This mythological mix-up will put your own middle-schooler into giggling fits. As a perfect mix of Percy Jackson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this out-of-the-box read is a fun-filled introduction to epic myths—their English teacher will thank you!

The Lost Property Office

By James R. Hannibal

Jack’s got a knack for discovering all things lost and found. From scarves to books, Jack Buckles has a special gift for locating all of London’s abandoned treasures. But there’s one thing he can’t find—his long-lost father and sister. That is, until a few family secrets emerge.

James R. Hannibal’s clever thriller is a top pick for readers who enjoy a bit of magic in their mystery. The whimsical London setting helps make this a fully immersive read, while challenging readers to link past and present.

Ocean!

Published by DK Children

Every seventh grader needs awesome fiction adventures, but sometimes the most fascinating reads are 100% factual. In this stunning encyclopedia of everything ocean, readers can dive into our planet’s largest and least explored world. From whales, to waves, wrecks, and more, Ocean! is a fact-filled addition to the bookshelf that can answer your reader’s ocean-related questions for years to come.

Middle School Misadventures

by Jason Platt

This graphic novel follows the story of Newell—a middle schooler who doesn’t exactly have it all together. When our clumsy protagonist learns that his only way out of summer school is to enter the Talent Show, it’s going to take a miracle for things to go even ok. This hilarious, relatable main character is perfect for seventh grade readers who might feel a little unsure of themselves while navigating the trials and tribulations of seventh grade.

A Wolf Called Wander

By Rosanne Parry

After a rival wolfpack breaks his family apart, Swift is left to find his way back home—wherever that may be. The only things standing in his way? The treacherous Pacific Northwest coast and the ticking of time. Based on a true story, A Wolf Called Wander will suck your child into its gripping tale of survival and hope. Young readers will pour over each cliffhanger and twist, as well as Rosanne Parry’s detailed sketch illustrations. For the adventurous student, it’s a sure-fire, unputdownable novel.

Escape at 10,000 Feet

by Tom Sullivan

In this installment of the Unsolved Case Files graphic nonfiction series, readers can dive into the riveting true story of D.B. Cooper: the only unsolved hijacking case in U.S. history. The graphic nonfiction format—complete with maps and diagrams—makes this book especially engaging for visual learners, while the minute-by-minute breakdown of events makes this mystery tough to put down, even for reluctant readers. Seventh graders will love digging into the secrets of this unsolved case, while learning to relate true moments in history to the present day.

The Explorer

By Katherine Rundell

This epic survival story will have your seventh grader asking themselves “What would I do if I crash-landed in the Amazon?” Rundell’s book offers readers a fantastic opportunity to fall in love with fiction, thanks to highly immersive descriptions and heightened character complexity. At the same time, introspective moments are perfectly-suited for the seventh grade sensibility, prompting readers to think deeply about complicated situations.

Dry

By Jarod Shusterman and Neal Shusterman

In this captivating survival story, one teen must make crucial decisions for her family in order to survive a devastating drought. Readers won’t be able to take their eyes off of this vivid, near-future dystopia as they’re challenged to understand the reasoning and motivation behind certain characters’ reactions. Full of tension and pulse-pounding suspense, Dry is a distressing reminder of our current climate reality and a gripping “what if” exercise for your eighth grader.

Burn After Writing Teen

By Rhiannon Shove

The made-for-teens edition of Rhiannon Shove’s ultra-engaging personal journal, Burn After Writing, will get your eighth grader thinking about big questions and looking inward for answers. The fun, thought-provoking prompts throughout this book provide an outlet for some complicated thinking—the kind that eighth graders aren’t always sure how to approach. Journaling is a fantastic form of self-care, but sitting down in front of a blank page can be a little daunting (even for adults). This book provides the perfect safe space for teens—unlike that math test next period, there are no wrong answers here!

Blood Metal Bone

By Lindsay Cummings

After being wrongly accused of her brother’s murder, Sonara gets a second chance at uncovering the truth. A clever blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements allows readers to get in touch with more specific genre preferences. With an expansive world to explore and a wide cast of characters, your eighth grader’s memory and comprehension will be adequately challenged, while they stay completely immersed in a total page-turner.

Knowledge Genius! A Quiz Encyclopedia to Boost Your Brain

by DK Publishing

Do you have a future Jeopardy contestant on your hands? You might after you get this fact-packed book in front of them. First, readers will dive into a whole slew of “general knowledge” subjects. Then, they can quiz themselves and find out just how much they’ve learned! Other than the obvious educational value of a brain-boosting encyclopedia, the self-testing format found in this book is incredibly impactful. When students quiz themselves on information, they’re more likely to encode it deeply and recall it later. That’s right—this book can actually help teach your eighth grader how to study effectively!

Gone Dark

By Amanada Patnitch

Survival stories are popular among eighth and ninth graders as readers can jump into super high-stakes scenarios, relate to teen characters, and watch them grow into heroic versions of themselves. In Gone Dark, the country’s power grid is suddenly compromised, leaving Zara to make an impossible choice in order to survive. Eighth graders will find a strong message about resilience and facing one’s past with confidence while following along for the adventure.