New Carlisle-Olive Township Public Library: Books for Kids and Tweens: January 2026

Recent Releases

The Stolen Songbird
by Judith Eagle; illustrated by Jo Rioux

While her moms are traveling, 12-year-old Caro and her secret pet rabbit, His Nibs, are sent to stay with strict great-aunt Gam. It's there that Caro discovers a stolen painting and gets caught up with a treacherous gang of art thieves. This twisty illustrated mystery plunges you into an adventure across 1950s London. (Ages 8-12.)

Holding on for Dear Life
by Dusti Bowling

Acclaimed author Dusti Bowling takes the bull by the horns in this moving novel about a boy struggling to keep his family together while facing the side effects of bull riding.

The Area 51 Files
by Julie Buxbaum

When Sky Patel-Baum is sent to live with her mysterious uncle, she never imagines she'll end up in Area 51, a top-secret military base with a bajillion rules. Sky feels like she's landed in a whole new world, even though she hasn't left the planet. Because gues what? Area 51 is full of aliens. Lots and lots of aliens. But somthing even stranger is happening in Area 51: aliens are going missing. Where could they be? How come everyone thinks Sky and her uncle are involved in their disappearance? And why are there eyeballs in the macaroni and cheese at Area 51 Middle School? Sky must team up with her pizza-obsessed pet hedgehog, Spike, her otherworldly next-door neighbor, Elvis, and his fluffy pup, Pickles, to solve the case!--

The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour
by Zack Loran Clark

A superb choice for fans of Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. series, Tom Booth's Eerie-on-Sea books, and creepypastas. Booklist, Starred Review What if your favorite scary story was real? With eerie illustrations and chilling creepypasta interstitials, The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos is the first in a deliciously creepy series, perfect for readers of Jonathan Stroud, Christian McKay Heidicker, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. New Rotterdam is no place for a kidand that's what Emrys Houtman likes about it. Emrys obsessively documents his town's urban legends and cryptid sightings in a Wiki, along with his neighbors and fellow horror fans Hazel and Serena. It's all in good fun until one day, the trio stumbles upon the Doomsday Archives, a collection of relics with dazzling powers and dangerous consequences. When a mysterious blood-red hourglass begins appearing around town and children begin to go missing, the trio must band together to stop the horrors plaguing New Rotterdam, or risk losing their home . . . and possibly their lives. Because after all this time hunting monsters, the kids have realized the monsters are now hunting them back.

Firefox Moon: A Juniper Lane Adventure
by Eoin Colfer

Acclaimed, mega-bestselling Eoin Colfer, named a master storyteller by School Library Journal, returns to the world of Juniper Lane for a lively new adventure! This time, Juniper takes off on a summertime quest in a story sure to delight young readers all year round.

The Marvellers
by Dhonielle Clayton

In this first novel in the series, eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts. Despite her excitement, Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy--some Marvellers mistrust her magic. Eventually, she finds friends in elixirs teacher Masterji Thakur and fellow misfits Brigit and Jason. When a dangerous criminal escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror's aid, Ella becomes the target of suspicion. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her mentor before it's too late--

Spooky Sleuths #1: The Ghost Tree
by Natasha Deen

Asim's new town is freaking him out! There are weird noises at night, eerie lights, and now an evil tree that is growing way faster than it should. he's sure there's something supernatural going on.
His friend Rokshar believes that everything can be explained by science. But even she's worried when the tree takes control of their teacher! It's starting to look like an evil spirit straight out of Guyanese folklore is to blame. Can Asim and his friends save their teacher--and the town--from the ghost tree?
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Outside
by Jennifer L. Holm

Razzi has always been told: don't go Outside. It isn't safe. There are people and creatures out there that will harm you. The walls of the Refuge will protect you from them. Razzi's friend Ollie was curious about Outside--and it led to his death. So Razzi is trying to be on her best behavior. She is the oldest kid left, the one the younger kids look up to. She has to follow the rules. But Outside has a way of getting in, and Razzi, guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, wonders what it's like to run free beyond the walls. If she steps away from everything she's ever known, what will she find?--

Ask your librarian for more great books!