Welcome to another installment in our series of blog posts featuring children’s books we’re currently loving! “Book Chat with the Youth Services Team” features one book recommendation from each of our Youth Services team members. We cover a variety of books from fiction to non-fiction, picture books to chapter books, graphic novels and more! We hope that this month’s reading recommendations get you excited about some awesome new books we’ve added to our collection as well as some oldies but goodies. Enjoy!

RICHARD RECOMMENDS WOLFBOY IS SCARED BY ANDY HARKNESS (AGES 3 – 6).

In this sequel to “Wolfboy”, Andy Harkness takes our intrepid hero on a journey through the forest and the Grumble Monster’s lair, a truly terrifying journey for our friend, however, Wolfboy isn’t frightened of anything…or so he says.  Asking his rabbit friends to go first so that he can guard them for anything sneaking up behind them, our hero makes his way through the forest, mistaking many common things for “scary” things.  When he finally does meet the Grumble Monster, he finds out that people and monsters are not what they may seem to be after all.  This is a fun read similar to “Let’s Sing a Lullaby With the Brave Cowboy” by Jan Thomas where the main character finds that appearances can be deceiving.  Enjoy reading this Spooky Month!

LISA RECOMMENDS THE SKELETON AND THE CAT BY BRANDON JAMES SCOTT (AGES 4 – 8).

One would not think a book about a skeleton would make one feel warm and fuzzy inside but this new release by Brandon James Scott does.  A skeleton, who lives alone, starts getting a black cat as a persistent visitor to his house. He agrees to let the cat into the house if the cat tells him a joke.  An unlikely friendship develops between the two as the cat adds excitement to the skeleton’s life through five different stories. I can foresee this duo starting a new series of books together. If you are a Frog and Toad fan, you will enjoy this book!

MAEVE RECOMMENDS THE LAST MAP MAKER BY CHRISTINA SOONTORNVAT (AGES 8 – 12).

Prepare to set sail on an adventure full of secrets and mysteries. The Last Mapmaker is a Newbery Honor Book set in a Thai inspired fantasy kingdom. The story follows twelve-year-old Sai in her prestigious role as apprentice map maker. She may have played the part of a lady of high society to secure her position, but her true origin is anything but. When the mapmaker that she works for is recruited to a once in a lifetime expedition to discover new lands, Sai knows this is her chance to change her life for the better. Once on board the reality of the situation is far different than she had expected. She is faced with the difficult task of uncovering secrets and sifting through legends of dragons to discover the true purpose of their expedition.

This book is a fun and fast paced adventure that will keep readers at the edge of their seats. The story is filled with beautiful imagery of tropical islands and life on the open ocean. Sai is faced with many difficult decisions through the book that will keep readers engaged. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in search of an adventure.

SUMMER RECOMMENDS MEXIKID DREAMS: A GRAPHIC MEMOIR BY PEDRO MARTIN (AGES 10 – 14).

Last year one of my recommendations was Mexikid, Pedro Martín’s debut graphic memoir about his childhood in the 1970s as part of a large, loving, and eccentric Mexican family in southern California. This month I have the pleasure of recommending his follow-up graphic memoir, Mexikid Dreams! While other kids spend their summer watching cartoons and going to the beach, Pedro and his eight siblings pick strawberries on their family’s sharecropping lot. After his eldest brother gets a job and no longer has to pick fruit in the hot sun, Pedro tries to find work that his father will permit him to do instead of farming. From joining the church band and performing for incarcerated people at a local prison to creating the (very Star Wars-inspired) posters for all the school dances and recitals, this sequel is full of more Martín family antics that readers will enjoy. The sharecroppers experiences with la migra parallel today’s ICE, prompting important conversations about the immigrant experience both 50 years ago and today.

RACHEL RECOMMENDS PLEASE PAY ATTENTION BY JAMIE SUMMER (AGES 10 – 13).

Sixth-grader Bea had been practicing magic tricks, which is why the POP-POP-POPs she heard in English class made her think of fireworks. They were gunshots. Her classmates were able to get to the wall opposite the door, to get down like their teacher told them, but Bea’s wheelchair was stuck. Now, Bea can’t stand crowds or tight spaces. She can’t sleep through the night, and she panics at sudden loud noises. She doesn’t want to talk about it. But if anything is going to change, Bea might have to.

Please Pay Attention is a novel in verse framed as a letter. It is a story about grief, surviving life being split into before and after, grappling with powerlessness, and the hope that people with the power to change things will have the basic human decency to do so.

JOAN RECOMMENDS SQUIRRELS SCAMPER BY MÉLINA MANGA (AGES 1- 4).

Autumn is a great time to read Squirrels Scamper with your preschooler. It’s part of the Outside Our Window Board Books, which encourages children to explore, protect, and connect with nature. While outside playing and raking leaves with one of their caregivers, 4 year old Kamali and 3 year old Josiah observe how squirrels move, work, and play, and they imitate those actions. Although the story is short, the clear realistic illustrations and simple text pair well together and encourage age appropriate discussion. A Note to Caregivers on the end pages suggests ways to promote adaptability along with other activity ideas to engage children in learning about squirrels in their own neighborhoods.

KATIE RECOMMENDS GRUFFALO GRANNY BY JULIA DONALDSON (AGES 3 – 7).

Julia Donaldson is back with the third installment of her popular Gruffalo series! In Gruffalo Granny, the gruffalo and his child prepare to welcome granny with a delicious mouse stew, but the mouse keeps thwarting their attempts by telling them captivating stories. Each of the stories is based on one of Donaldson’s books, making this story an ode to her picture book career. This is a story that will delight preschoolers and early elementary students.

BETH RECOMMENDS IT’S WATCHING BY LINDSEY CURRIE (AGES 8 – 12).

Lindsay Currie usually writes ghostly tales, and this one is no different. It all starts with a coveted spot on the school paper for the most interesting stories. Josie, Jackson, and Alison are determined to get that spot by proving the legendary town ghost is really haunting the cemetery and the town. So, on Halloween night the three of them start their adventure. They go to the cemetery and start a ritual to prove the ghost’s existence. Only problem is they are caught and chased out by security. They think they didn’t succeed until mysterious messages start to arrive saying “IM WATCHING”. Will they be able to figure out who is stalking them in the next 3 days? Read this thrilling, chilling tale to find out what really happens to Josie and her friends.

LAUREN RECOMMENDS THE MAGIC LIBRARY OF WATERFALL WAY BY JULIE ABE (AGES 8 – 11).

Lyra Hunt, an 11-year-old girl, is considered “extremely unremarkable” in this magical world. She will do whatever it takes to prove herself and her worth to become a part of a guild. With her love of stories and a little help from a furry friend, she can change her fate and beat the odds of her prophecy. This book has adventure, magic, and life lessons that would be great for a lover of books. I loved how much found family and learning to trust yourself are highlighted in this book. It’s the first in this series, and I look forward to the next one!

GENEVIEVRE RECOMMENDS NELL O’DELL HATES QUESTS BY EMILY B. MARTIN (AGES 8-12).

Nell is the extremely opinionated and stubborn daughter of two famous magical questers. Due to her parents’ current occupation as innkeepers at the crossroads of all quests, Nell has had to listen to countless adventurers claiming that they’re chosen to obtain more glory than any other “chosen ones.” Sometimes, she even has to listen to predictions about her own future greatness due to the fame of her parents. But how can every quest end in glory when each questing party says pretty much the same thing? How can a chosen one be worth anything if they’re not the first chosen ones to come to the inn (maybe not even the first chosen ones that week)? How can someone who has heard about so much “glory” and “destiny” ever feel compelled to go on their own adventure when all the adventure stories just sound the same? But when someone suddenly threatens the Inn, Nell must set out on her own, joined over time by extremely unlikely companions on what most definitely is NOT a quest to save her family from ruin. Can she overcome her own prejudices in time, or is she too disillusioned by magic and adventure to realize what’s most important about (ahem) NOT (ahem) quests?

ADRIANE RECOMMENDS ONE JAR OF MAGIC BY COREY ANN HAYDU (AGES 9 – 13).

The town of Bellingham Bright is all about magic. Everyone talks about magic. On New Year’s Day, everyone goes to the TooBlue Lake to capture magic. The first year she can capture magic, Rose, who is expected to do amazing things, only captures one jar of magic. For her father, who is the strongest and most powerful magic user in the town, this is a disappointment.

This book takes a look at expectations, love, family pressure, and learning to love who you are. It is a beautifully written book that explores learning to love the magic and gifts you were born with — even if you are not meant for magic.

MADISON RECOMMENDS OOPS! I ATE YOU BY Ævar Þór BENEDIKTSSON (AGES 5 – 8).

Perfect for readers who like a mix of spooky and silly in their stories, Oops! I Ate You follows a zombie who just wants to make friends. However, his undead hunger gets in the way of his craving for companionship. Joaquín Camp’s hand-drawn, mixed-media illustrations, created with markers, make the story approachable rather than frightening. Combined with cheeky, dark humor and rhyming text, this book is frightfully good!

That’s a wrap on this month’s book chat! Want more fun stories to read? Then check out our past October Book Chats!

October Book Chat with Youth Services Team – 2025

October Book Chat with the Youth Services Team – 2024

October Book Chat with the Youth Services Team – 2023

October Book Chat with the Youth Services Team – 2022