County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries: Books for Kids and Tweens: January 2026

Recent Releases

The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story
by Daniel Nayeri

As World War II rages across Iran in 1941, 13-year-old Babak and his little sister Sana are orphaned. Hoping to work as a teacher with the nomadic Bakhtiari people, Babak straps a chalkboard to his back and leads Sana on a dangerous trek into the mountains. This historical story is bittersweet and full of fascinating details.

All Ears
by Stuart Gibbs

Resident sleuth Teddy Fitzroy is on the case to find a missing African elephant and clear his friend Xavier of vandalizing a bulldozer in protest of a builder ruining a beloved piece of land they call TurtleTown.

Available on Libby

The Experiment
by Rebecca Stead

Nathan never understood what was fun about secrets, probably because he's always had to keep a very big one. Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader, Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end. Nathan, his parents, and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he's been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.

Maggie and the Story Shadows
by Annabelle Oh

Thirteen-year-old Maggie and her friends investigate her mother's disappearance and discover a world where stories are real.

At the Speed of Gus
by Richard Scrimger

For 13-year-old Gus, having ADHD means that his racing thoughts can become a maze, and sometimes it's tough to separate imagination from reality. When a school suspension gives him time to visit his sister on Vancouver Island, the journey is anything but straightforward.

The Treasure of Ocean Parkway
by Sarvenaz Tash

Podcasting sleuths Amin and Roya are thrilled when their neighbor Thea brings them a new case: a secret room filled with puzzling clues that lead the trio on a treasure hunt throughout their New York apartment building.

A Year Without Home
by V. T. Bidania

After U.S. troops pull out of Vietnam, eleven-year-old Gao Sheng and her family are forced to flee their home in Laos and make a new home in a refugee camp in Thailand.

Great Graphic Novels

Absolutely Everything: A Graphic Novel
by Damian Alexander

Lately, life feels like a lot for Marcella. Sixth grade seems complicated on purpose. Marcella keeps forgetting her homework or getting distracted while she's doing it. Plus, her bestie has new friends, and her parents even want to move apartments. She's trying to keep track of the changes--but absolutely everything is stressing her out!

Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel
by Natalie Babbitt

Celebrate Tuck Everlasting's 50th anniversary with the bestselling graphic novel adaptation of this beloved and spellbinding children's classic that has sold more than 10 million copies.

Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain: A Graphic Novel
by Juan E. Zambrano

Welcome to the island of Asunciâon, home to the most powerful witches--and Pacheco, their biggest fan. Pacheco's biggest dream is to practice magic! There's just one problem: commoners, and especially boys, aren't allowed to learn witchcraft. However, once his family's fishing business begins to suffer, Pacheco is determined; he's certain that learning magic is the best way to help his family and community. As Pacheco enters the world of magic, he finds himself caught up in the rules and schemes of a whole new society and surrounded by magical creatures in need of protection. Pacheco will have to dig deep to muster the courage--and magic--to defend his future.

Masks: A Graphic Novel
by Margaret Rae

Poe, Rice, and Shelley are three monster kids who hide from the outside world. But when they learn about Halloween, they realize it's the one night of the year when they can be their true selves-scales and all. This quirky, heartwarming (or perhaps heart-worm-ing?) graphic novel is all about struggling to fit in, exploring self-acceptance, and highlighting the love of found family.

Free Piano (Not Haunted)
by Whitney Gardner

Margo, a lonely aspiring songwriter, discovers her secondhand synthesizer is haunted by a 1980s pop star, leading to an unexpected bond and a journey of self-discovery as she grapples with the true meaning of making music and fame.

Maker Girl and Professor Smarts: Beware the Evil Lair
by Jasmine Florentine

Maker Girl and Professor Smarts have been captured by supervillain Queen Ka- hing With her power to poof money into existence, she's gone on an online shopping spree and decked out her evil lair with the hottest supervillain gadgets. But wait Is that death ray actually just a laser pointer taped to a toaster? Could she have been scammed? This evil lair needs a major makeover, and Maker Girl and Professor Smarts need to escape Can they use their powers of making stuff and knowing stuff to convince Queen Ka- hing to let them go--in exchange for upgrading her evil lair?

Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel
by Calista Brill

Ten-year-old African American Nora learns to love her new home in rural Greenville when she starts an eventing team with the horseback riders at Creaky Acres.

Ask your librarian for more great books!