Avid Kids’ & YA New Releases

This week, there are so many awesome new kids’ books being published that we just have to share some of our favorites!

BOARD BOOKS

Today I’ll Be a Unicorn by Dana Simpson
Recommended ages: 2–5
Why you need it:

• UNICORNS! Seriously, though — this would make a great gift for any imaginative toddler/preschooler, and I feel like most toddlers/preschoolers are by default imaginative. It would also be a great baby shower gift. And it pairs well with our unicorn toys for a themed gift!
• The characters are from the kids’ graphic novel series Phoebe and her Unicorn (like Calvin & Hobbes, but sparklier), which is a perennial Avid favorite. This is a great way to introduce a younger audience to the series and to let older siblings share a favorite with their younger siblings.

PICTURE BOOKS

All of Us by Carin Berger
Recommended ages: 3 & up
Why you need it:

• This is for anyone looking for a beautiful and “message-y” book for a kid— this one carries a message about inclusiveness, community, and the power of love.
• Great pacing and lyrical text means it’s a great choice for reading aloud.

Night Out by Daniel Miyares
Recommended ages: 4–8
Why you need it:

• A new perfect bedtime story for anyone looking for something that someone definitely would not already have!
• For fans of imaginative adventures in picture books — think Aaron Becker’s Journey, Where the Wild Things Are, Dream Animals by Emily Winfield Martin, The Night Gardener by the Fan Brothers, etc.
• I really, really love Miyares’ art — so soft and expressive! His gentle art will be perfect for quieting little minds for bedtime. See below!

A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker
Recommended ages: 5 & up
Why you need it:

• Another great entry into the picture books on grief category — in this one, the girl is coping with the loss of her dog Sascha. This is for anyone looking for something different to address this topic with a child.
• This is the same person who did Journey, Quest, and Return, which are Avid favorites.
• Wordless! Kids can create their own story, and those not yet independently reading can “read” the pictures to figure out what is going on.

The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall, illus. by Isabelle Arsenault
Recommended ages: 4 & up
Why you need it:

• Y’all, Isabelle Arsenault is absolutely one of the best illustrators out there. Everything she touches is beautiful — she often incorporates lush botanical themes into her art, and this topic allows her to really shine. Plus look at that adorable lil’ bee:

• Not just beautiful, this book also has an educational aspect (one review called it “sneakily educational” which is the best kind of educational TBH) — it shows how honeybees live and how important they are to our ecosystem. If you are a local farmers market aficionado (little or big), gardener, science educator, or just a honeybee enthusiast, this book is perfect for you.
• Playful, lively prose makes this a great for reading aloud.

KIDS’ INDEPENDENT READERS

The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham
Recommended ages: 5–8
Why you need it:

• The Princess in Black series is an Avid favorite, so already-fans will need this new installment in the series!
• This series is perfect for anyone looking for strong female protagonists in their books and anyone who is not super-duper into pink frilly princesses.
• Lots of full-color illustrations throughout makes this book a great confidence-builder for newly independent readers, and it still works perfectly as a read aloud as well.

MIDDLE GRADE

Lumberjanes: The Moon is Up by Mariko Tamaki, illus. by Brooklyn Allen
Recommended ages: 8–12
Why you need it:

• Lumberjanes is a solid Avid favorite, and these middle grade novelizations introduce the series to a younger audience.
• The first book in the series (this is the second installment), Unicorn Power, was an Avid bestseller, and I guarantee this one will be just as good as the first.
• Features characters on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum!

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Recommended ages: 10 & up
Why you need it:

• This empowering read is for anyone who is looking for a book with a strong female protagonist or who is looking for realistic fiction with a global lens.
• For fans of I Am Malala, The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Hena Khan, The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

KIDS’ GRAPHIC NOVELS

I Am Gandhi: A Graphic Biography of a Hero by Brad Meltzer
Recommended ages: 10 & up
Why you need it:

• I like the unique format of a graphic novel biography for young readers featuring different artists! This is a great option for kids (or a adults!) who like realistic graphic novels or who are looking for some activist inspiration.

YOUNG ADULT

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
Recommended ages: 14 & up
Why you need it:

• Described as “VERONICA MARS meets THE CRAFT meets HEATHERS,” which is really all the endorsement I think anyone should need!
• For anyone who likes their murder mysteries with a side of humor and witchiness.