The books in this collection navigate themes and ideas appropriate for younger readers. Whether you're looking for contemporary hits like Front Desk by Kelly Yang or beloved classics like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, you can explore this collection to find a title that will excite the young readers in your life.
Publication year 1985
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Relationships: Family
Tags Disability, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Health / Medicine, Biography
Publication year 1983
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Published in 1983 and winner of the 1984 Newberry Award, Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw marks a departure for the novelist known for her books that celebrate the whimsy and adventurousness of childhood. Dear Mr. Henshaw is an epistolary novel, in which protagonist and aspiring author Leigh Botts narrates his story through letters and diary entries addressed to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. Leigh begins writing yearly letters to Mr. Henshaw in second grade but... Read Dear Mr. Henshaw Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Teams
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Relationships, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Mary Downing Hahn’s Deep and Dark and Dangerous, published in 2007 by Clarion Books, is one of numerous stories in the American artist and former librarian’s extensive catalogue. Hahn has published in the historical fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction genres, but some of her most acclaimed novels are ghost stories—including this one. Deep and Dark and Dangerous was well received by critics and was awarded Missouri’s 2010 Mark Twain Award for the best book for... Read Deep and Dark and Dangerous Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2007
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Relationships, Bullying, Children's Literature
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first graphic novel in the titular series by Jeff Kinney. Since its initial publication in 2007, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become a New York Times bestseller and 16 sequels have followed in the series. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written in a diary format and documents the misadventures of middle school student Greg Heffley, who longs for popularity and hatches dozens of schemes to achieve... Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summary
Publication year 1992
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Inspirational, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Class, Poverty, Incarceration, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Biography
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2016
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Humor, Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Fantasy, Humor, Action / Adventure, Animals, Children's Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family
Tags Humor, Animals, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family
Tags Humor, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals
Publication year 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Action / Adventure, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature
Dogsong, first published in 1985, is a young adult novel by American author Gary Paulsen, who wrote Dogsong while he was training his dog sled team for his first Iditarod run. It was awarded the Newbery Honor Award in 1986. Paulsen, who was a popular author of young adult and children’s contemporary literature, is best known for books in the coming-of-age genre, often dealing with surviving the wilderness and embracing nature. He authored more than... Read Dogsong Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality
Doll Bones (2013) is a middle grade novel written by Holly Black and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. It blends gothic, horror, and fantasy elements. The novel follows three friends, Zach, Poppy, and Alice, as their make-believe games take a turn for the supernatural, sending them on an eerie quest to return a haunted doll to a gravesite before it wreaks havoc on their lives. The novel explores the challenges of growing up and the strain... Read Doll Bones Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fantasy
Publication year 2016
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Fame, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Double Fudge (2002) is the fifth and final book in the popular children’s series by bestselling American author Judy Blume. The Fudge series begins with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and includes Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. The Fudge series was published across three decades and follows the lives of the Hatcher family, and most of the novels feature Peter Hatcher and his younger brother Fudge, who is always getting... Read Double Fudge Summary