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!
Beth recommends: The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly (ages 8 and up)
Can I just start by saying WOW?! This interactive book is a great spooky book for the upcoming season. There is a QR code at the back of the book so when you are done, you can go back and interact with the ghosts from the story. The plot for the book goes like this: A VERY dramatic girl and her family have to travel to Ohio after her grandfather dies. After a near death experience on the way, Lila all of a sudden can see ghosts. At first she doesn’t believe what she’s seeing but when her dead grandfather shows up and says he’s been murdered… well that changes things. Lila, who has trouble making friends, meets Teddy and together with her little brother Caleb, they try to find out what happen to her grandfather. Why is their new house a portal to the afterworld? Why is the whole town having nightmares of one kind or another? Who is causing all of these issues? And most important… what happened to grandfather? Read this fun, spooky book and help the ghost cross over to the other side.
Lisa recommends: Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (ages 10-14)
For children who like reading American historical fiction, this is a 2025 release for them to enjoy. Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson takes the reader back to the early days of the Revolutionary War in Boston. Elsbeth is a motherless housemaid whose father mysteriously disappears. She takes service with a large notable family to support herself while trying to determine what happened to her father. With the backdrop of the American Revolution, Anderson has created youthful characters and shows readers what the time was like for children of that era. Anderson sourced her material from experts and primary sources giving credibility to the accuracy of the book.
Adrianne recommends: Very Bad at Math by Hope Larson (ages 8 to 12)
Verity ‘Very’ Nelson is super popular and good at everything, except math. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t seem to pass math. She is so bad she even gets put in a special class for tutoring, until she finds that there is more going on than just being bad at math. This graphic novel was a great dive into discovering you have a learning disability, what it means, and how to keep her brain from “flipping out when it sees numbers.” This book showed that even a popular kid like Very can have a learning disability and struggle with things.
Sarah recommends: It’s Taco Knight by Megan Maynor (ages 4 and up)
Ever feel like you don’t have enough time to make dinner? The people in the village feel your pain. Luckily, the Knights of Dinner are there to ensure villagers never go hungry. There’s Pizza Knight, Noodle Knight, Soup Knight, and more — all working hard to feed the village. Then, Taco Knight comes to town. The people are ecstatic at first – guacamole for no extra charge? yes! – but when Taco Knight tries to make tacos every night… things get messy and feelings get hurt. This picture book is full of puns, wacky humor, colorful illustrations, and great reminders about sharing, kindness, empathy, and how variety really is the spice of life. Kids – and adults – of all ages are sure to *eat* this one up!
Madison recommends: Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca (ages 5-10)
Rajani LaRocca’s Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States is a beautifully illustrated and lyrically written picture book that warmly explores the varied paths to American citizenship. It opens with the simple, powerful reminder: “Some of us are born American. Some choose,” and carries readers through the hopes, hardships, and resilience of immigrants who arrive from all over the globe. With mixed‑media art by Huy Voun Lee in red, white, and blue hues, the narrative gently traces the journey from arrival to naturalization, and celebrates the oaths, rights, responsibilities, and contributions that define participation in democracy. This book provides a great opportunity for little once to learn and have a conversation about immigrants in the Unites States.
Fun activity: Invite kids to draw a map or timeline of their family’s journey—whether they’ve lived in the same city for generations or moved from somewhere far away. Children can label places, add illustrations of important moments (like first homes or favorite traditions), and share their stories. This promotes connection, empathy, and appreciation for diverse backgrounds.
Summer recommends: Mexikid by Pedro Martín (ages 10 and up)
Pedro is the 7th of 9 children in his large Mexican American family. While his older siblings were born in Mexico, he was born in California, and he loves comic books and action figures. When his parents decide to move in Pedro’s abuelito – grandfather – they embark on a life-changing road trip in their Winnebago. Pedro balances his “mostly American” and “somewhat Mexican” sides while in his abuelito’s hometown. This full-color graphic memoir is hilarious and touching; while Pedro navigates his identity he also learns more about abuelito and his exploits during the Mexican Revolution. September 15th kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, and September 16th is Mexican Independence Day, making this the perfect time to check out and read this great volume.
Lauren recommends: Snoop by Gordon Korman (ages 9 to 12)
The plot is based off a movie from 1954, “Rear Window,” but with a modern twist. Carter is stuck in a wheelchair and bored out of his mind. Since he can’t join the “Chairmen of the Bored” committee due to a lifetime ban, he has to find another way to entertain himself. He finds out that you can access all the live feeds from police cams around his town and begins watching everyone and everything going on. However, what started out as a fun thing to pass the time soon turns into something more as he notices very strange things occurring. Now he has to decide to either get himself in trouble for being a snoop or to allow something bad happen and not do anything about it.
April recommends: SCHOOLED by Jamie Sumner (ages 10 and up)
Schooled by Jamie Sumner is a heartfelt novel about a boy named Tobin who has spent most of his life being homeschooled by his mom. But when his mom ends up in rehab, Tobin is forced to attend public school for the first time. Life at middle school is overwhelming: crowded hallways, complicated friendships, and a whole new set of rules. Tobin doesn’t know where he fits in, but with the help of a few unexpected allies, he begins to find his place. This book explores mental health, family struggles, and learning to be yourself in a world that expects you to fit in. Jamie Sumner writes with empathy and humor, making Tobin’s journey both touching and relatable. Schooled is a great pick for readers ages 10 and up, especially those who enjoy realistic fiction.
Rachel recommends: Beetle and the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne (ages 8-12)
Once every ten years, ’Allowstown throws the Chimera Carnival: a three-day spectacle to welcome visiting dragons! Beetle, Kat, and Penny are thrilled to experience the festival, even if Beetle’s gran—the Town Witch and general magic problem solver—will be buried underground for the duration (it’s a goblin thing). Things become more complicated when Kat’s parents show up and are less than thrilled with her academic progress. If she can’t impress them, they’ll make her re-enroll into a traditional academy far away from Beetle and Penny. Beetle is unsure of what to call her relationship with Kat now, and neither of them are sure if they should tell Beetle’s gran or Kat’s parents. Oh, and Beetle’s hand changed into a paw for a few hours and there’s fur growing on her arms. It, uh, probably isn’t anything to be worried about. As for Penny…well, Penny might be at the very heart of all the dragon magic in ’Allowstown. And that is something to worry about, because all the dragons have gone missing.
Please note that this book is a sequel. Things will make much more sense if you read Beetle and the Hollowbones first!
Richard recommends: The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of Cabin Island by Franklin Dixon (ages 8 and up)
Keeping in the vintage reads vein I decided to try the Hardy Boys after last month’s Nancy Drew. This one is number 8 in the series. The young detective-brothers are invited to a house on Cabin Island for Christmas by a wealthy friend of their father’s. What starts as a relaxing holiday retreat quickly turns into not one, but two baffling mysteries when their host’s grandson disappears, coupled with the disappearance of a set of valuable medals. The boys quickly find themselves up the their necks in danger and intrigue. Will the Hardy Boys be able to solve this case? Check out the book and find out!
Joan recommends: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin (ages 2-7)
Does your kiddo like ice cream? How about dinosaurs? Or dogs that play guitar? This fun picture book features a guitar-playing pup named Groovy Joe. He’s rocking out and enjoying a tub of Haagen Dogs Doggy Ice Cream when- Oh no!- hungry dinosaur after hungry dinosaur shows up at the door. Luckily, Joe knows, “It’s awesome to share!” But what’s a dog to do once all the ice cream is gone? If you know the first four Pete the Cat books, you might recognize Eric Litwin’s kid-friendly storytelling style, which is great for a read-aloud. Young children will enjoy the silly scenario, predictable pattern, and especially the sing-along bits.
Well, readers, that’s a wrap! Check back again next month for some more fabulous reading recommendations. Until then, happy reading!
