Good Reads Youth

Pip and Zip

By Elana K. Arnold
JP Arnold, Elana

 

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A family finds two abandoned duck eggs and are in for a big (and very cute) surprise in this story that is reminiscent of LeUyen Pham's Outside Inside , from award-winning author Elana K. Arnold and charmingly illustrated by Doug Salati. Once, when we all had to stay home for the whole long springtime, When schools were closed And work was closed And everything fun was canceled After we were all so bored of TV And computers And video games And screens of every kind Dad said, "Let's take a walk." On this walk, the family discovers two abandoned duck eggs and takes them home to wait for them to hatch. They read and learn and laugh together until one day... Pip and Zip are born! This spirited, comforting story of family, love, and ducks will stay with you for years to come.

Incredible Shrinking Lunchroom

By Michal Babay
JP Babay, Michal

 

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The students at Parley Elementary have a hard time using the space in their lunchroom efficiently. When they get tired of shoving and arguing, they write a letter to their principal asking for help. She responds by moving all the science projects into the lunchroom. Now it's even more crowded! Through a series of letters and increasingly hilarious scenarios, the lunchroom gets more and MORE chaotic. When the principal finally announces that the lunchroom is once again only to be used for lunch, the students are overjoyed with the result.

Wheels on the Bus

By Jane Cabrera
JP Cabrera, Jane

 

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The wheels on the bus go round and round on the way to the watering hole. But who's on the bus? A lion roars, flamingos flap, and a hyena laughs a big ha-ho-hee as they travel on the bus with their animal friends. Don't forget to watch out for the crocodile too, whose jaws go snap! Together, a simple trip becomes a raucous adventure that young readers can sing and move along with at any story hour, family reading time, or energy-filled morning. Jane Cabrera's Story Time celebrates children's best-loved read along nursery rhymes and songs.

The More You Give

By Marcy Campbell
JP Campbell, Marcy

 

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A modern-day response to The Giving Tree , this lyrical picturebook shows how a family passes down love from generation to generation, leaving a legacy of growing both trees and community. Once there was a wide-open field, and a boy who loved his grandmother, who loved him back. The boy's grandmother gives him many gifts, like hugs, and Sunday morning pancakes, and acorns with wild and woolly caps. And all her wisdom about how things grow. As the boy becomes a father, he gives his daughter bedtime stories his grandmother told him, and piggyback rides. He gives her acorns, and the wisdom he learned about how things grow. His daughter continues the chain, then passing down gifts of her own. Here is a picture book about the legacy of love that comes when we nurture living things--be they people or trees.

Gift for Nana

By Lane Smith
JP Smith, Lane

 

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A thoughtful little Rabbit sets out to find the perfect gift for his Nana. He knows she will love anything he brings her but Rabbit wants this gift to be extra special. As he travels on his quest, Rabbit encounters an assortment of creatures-a crow, a smiling full moon, a stickler (whatever that is), a big fish, and a volcano. Each is certain they offer the best advice but nothing they suggest seems right for his Nana. It's not until Rabbit reaches the highest peak, that he finds exactly what he's been searching for.

Don't Worry, Murray

By David Ezra Stein
JP Stein, David Ezra

 

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Murray worries...about lots of things.

He doesn't want to go out in the rain. He's scared of the barking dogs at the park. Fireworks make him jump.

But gradually he learns that he can put on a raincoat. He can make new friends. He can be brave.

Punky Aloha

By Shar Tuiasoa
JP Tuiasoa, Shar

 

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Meet Punky Aloha: a girl who uses the power of saying "aloha" to experience exciting and unexpected adventures!

Punky loves to do a lot of things--except meeting new friends. She doesn't feel brave enough.

So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother's magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a BIG adventure for the very first time.

A Warbler's Journey

By Scott Weidensaul
JP Weidensaul, Scott

 

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With poetic language and lush oil paintings, children will cheer on the tiny but mighty yellow warbler as she makes her perilous migration journey from the tropics of Central America to the Canadian tundra.
The warbler is helped along the way by three different children and families: a Nicaraguan family whose traditional shade coffee farm sustains migrant birds, an African-American family that creates a garden in their backyard on the gulf coast to provide food for her, and a family from The Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation in Canada who have preserved land for all animals.

Mrs. Noah's Doves

By Jane Yolen
JP Yolen, Jane

 

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Mrs. Noah kept birds. She kept many a variety of birds, ravens and robins, eagles and eiders, cockatoos and crows. But out of all the birds she kept, her favorite were her doves. When the flood comes, Mrs. Noah brings them onto the ark. But there is a special mission for the doves.

Best in the World

By Derek Anderson
JE Anderson, Derek

 

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Croc and Ally are two best friends who don't always see things the same way, but there's one thing they do agree on--their friendship comes first! In this story designed to engage early readers, charming characters combine with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers! Croc is grumpy. Ally is happy. Croc sees a problem. Ally finds a solution. In The Best in the World , Ally asks Croc to help him remove his spots. After that, Ally gets ready for anything that could possibly happen that day with several silly protective measures. Finally, Croc helps Ally figure out what he is the best at being.

Caring for Sister

By Megan Borgert-Spaniol
J Easy Borgert-Spaniol, Megan

 

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Malik shows his baby sister that he cares by giving her things to make her feel comfortable and safe: a toy, a book, a blanket, and more.

I am Thankful

By Suzy Capozzi
JE PBK Capozzi, Suzy

 

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It's Thanksgiving, and there's a lot to be done before turkeytime! A young boy has plenty of autumn adventures, from running in the turkey trot to helping his family bake pies. But then the weather threatens to ruin the annual family football game! Luckily, the jam-packed day proves there's never a shortage of things to be thankful for

Backyard Pet

By Doreen Cronin
JE Cronin, Doreen

 

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The Chicken Squad is back for their eighth (mis)adventure, and this time the fowl siblings adopt unique pets in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read from the bestselling author of Click, Clack, Moo . Sugar sees all her siblings have different pets in the backyard. At first, she thinks some of them are silly (how can wildflowers be a pet?). But she wants to join in the fun and find a backyard pet, too!

You Can Read, Pout-Pout Fish!

By Deborah Diesen
JE Diesen, Deborah

 

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Mr. Fish has a frown at school--because he does not know how to read! But with a little help, patience, and perseverance, he starts to learn letters and words and whole books. Reading is fun!

Meet Carly and Cartoka!

By Maria Le
JE PJ Masks

 

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New villains Carly and Cartoka steal all the PJ Masks' vehicles to make their Flashcar the fastest car on the road. Catboy thinks he can retrieve all the vehicles by himself, but he soon realizes teamwork is the best way to get things done!

Monsters in a Mess

By Candice Ransom
JE Ransom, Candice

 

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In this rhyming second book in the Level 1 Ready-to-Read Red Truck Monsters series, the fun-loving family of monsters gets a new pet! A family of monsters go for a drive in their red truck and buy a new pet goldfish. But then they get home and realize there's no place to put the fishbowl in their cluttered space! Can they clean up and turn their "mess sweet mess" into a "home sweet home?"

How to Bake an Apple Pie

By Jean Reagan
JE PBK Reagan, Jean

 

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The perfect fall treat for Grandma is an apple pie! But can you and Grandpa pull off the surprise? From the New York Times bestselling creators of How to Babysit a Grandpa comes a seasonal Step 2 early reader full of apple pie fun! When the weather is cool and the apples are fresh, the best things to do is warm up by baking an apple pie! It's grandma's favorite! Join Grandpa to create a delicious surprise to warm Grandma's heart on a chilly autumn day. Plus, you can learn a few tips and tricks from the experts -- kids! This Step Into Reading story features a fun Grandpa and grandchild relationship, and all the shared moments that come with baking from scratch together.

The Smurfs: Meet the Smurfs

By Peyo, creator
JE Smurfs

 

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It's time to meet all the neighbors in Smurf Village! In this Level One I Can Read book, meet the iconic, charming little blue characters with big personalities. Featuring artwork from the all-new Nickelodeon animated series!

Who are the Smurfs and where do they live? What do they look like and what makes Clumsy different from Hefty and Brainy? Discover the ins and outs of the Smurfs cast. From Papa Smurf to Smurfette to the wicked Gargamel and his feline sidekick, find out what makes each Smurf smurftastic in their own way!

An Elephant & Piggie Biggie-Biggie!: Volume 2

By Mo Willems
JE Willems, Mo

 

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From award-winning, best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems comes a bind-up of five Elephant & Piggie adventures to spark early-readers' imaginations. Titles include: I Am Going! We Are in a Book! I Broke My Trunk! Listen to My Trumpet! I'm a Frog!

Maddie and Mabel

By Kari Allen
J Allen, Kari

 

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Meet Maddie and Mabel, two spunky sisters who navigate their relationship with humor and heart. Maddie is the big sister. Mabel is the little sister. But who is actually in charge? Mabel, who never stops asking questions? Or Maddie, who can be bossy and demanding? Readers will see that being in charge might not be as important as working together. The first book in this early chapter book series introduces two relatable characters who make mistakes as they learn important life lessons. Friendship between siblings can often be a heart-warming work in progress. Through joyful storytelling and story-sharing, Maddie and Mabel exemplify the best of what these young years can offer us: imagination, joy, play, forgiveness, and family. In a way that's accessible for new readers and enjoyable for anyone who has also made mistakes and made amends with their own sibling, Maddie and Mabel endears, entertains, and delights.

Lifeling

By Kirsty Applebaum
J Applebaum, Kirsty

 

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For fans of Tuck Everlasting comes a fantasy adventure from Kirsty Applebaum about a twelve-year-old boy who can bring living creatures back from the point of death--in exchange for part of his own life. Twelve-year-old Lonny can stop death in its tracks. But there's a price to pay for his magic. Each time he saves a life, he must sacrifice years of his own. In order to keep his power a secret, he's always stayed away from the nearby town of Farstoke, where the townsfolk might take advantage of a lifeling boy for their selfish and dangerous ends. But when Lonny's family is left with no money, he and his brother Midge are forced to venture into Farstoke in search of work. Lonny soon finds that the people of Farstoke aren't the frightening monsters he's been told to fear. Or so they seem at first glance. As Lonny debates revealing his secret ability to the town, he must ask himself if the people of Farstoke are really who they appear to be, and if he is willing to risk his life to save another.

Frank and the Bad Surprise

By Martha Brockenbrough
J Brockenbrough, Martha

 

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Frank the cat has it good: Tons of toys, unlimited Whiskies(tm) and space and quiet to stretch and nap and think and write. Then his people bring home a box. A box with something unexpected inside. A puppy. A puppy who doesn't know the rules of naps. A puppy who slobbers and tackles and barks. This won't do. Frank will just have to find a better home. Should be easy, right?

Rise of the School for Good and Evil

By Soman Chainani
J Chainani, Soman

 

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The journey starts here. Every step is filled with magic, surprises, and daring deeds that test courage, loyalty, and who you really are. But they only lead you to the very beginning of the adventures that are THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL.

Singing with Elephants

By Margarita Engle
J Engle, Margarita

 

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Cuban-born eleven-year-old Oriol lives in Santa Barbara, California, where she struggles to belong. But most of the time that's okay, because she enjoys helping her parents care for the many injured animals at their veterinary clinic. Then Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature moves to town, and aspiring writer Oriol finds herself opening up. And when she discovers that someone is threatening the life of a baby elephant at her parents' clinic, Oriol is determined to take action. As she begins to create a world of words for herself, Oriol learns it will take courage and strength to do what she thinks is right--even if it means keeping secrets from those she loves.