Dwight Foster Public Library: Kids' Books (for Ages 8-12): January 2026

Talons of Power: A Graphic Novel (Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #9)
by Tui T. Sutherland

The graphic novel adaptations of the #1 New York Times bestselling Wings of Fire series continue to set the world on fire! For every villain, there is a hero ...Turtle isn't one of the heroes he reads about in stories. If he were, he'd use his animus powers to help Pyrrhia -- instead of keeping his abilities a secret, even from his own sister. Now that Darkstalker, the sinister and impossibly old dragon from Pyrrhia's most notorious legends, has returned, Turtle knows his own role is simple: hide. And stay hidden.The more he watches Darkstalker from the shadows, the more Turtle knows that someone needs to stop the powerful dragon. A real hero. But Turtle is running out of time to find one, which means ... he might have to try to save the day himself.

Real-Life Mysteries & Disasters: Deadly Facts, Amazing Evidence, and the True Stories Behind 22 Incredible Events
by Susan Martineau

INVESTIGATE the facts, EVALUATE the theories, and DISCOVER what really happened! From Bigfoot and UFOs to mega-volcanoes and killer lakes, this colorful and kid-friendly book presents the fascinating intel behind some of the world's most enduring mysteries and catastrophes. Does the Loch Ness Monster actually exist? What made the Black Death so lethal? And was there really a documented case of time travel? From puzzling apparitions and mythical beasts to natural mega-eruptions and terrifying man-made catastrophes, this book re-examines real events that have captured the public imagination for years. Read the stories behind each event, then examine the Case File or Disaster Dossier that follows to find out what expert investigators had to say. Assess eyewitness statements, parse newspaper clippings, and scan specialists' opinions ... then make up your own mind about what really happened!

Adventures in Math: How to Level Up Your Math Game
by Carleigh Wu

A growth-mindset book that empowers kids to take on any math challenge. A unique math book, Adventures in Math builds students' social-emotional skills in math by debunking common myths that inhibit learning and confidence. Rather than teaching readers how to master math concepts, it urges them to change their mindset about math altogether. Using stories and practical tips, it encourages readers to be curious when faced with math problems, to accept that there will be setbacks in solving them and to recognize the creativity at the root of doing math. And, just as important, it helps readers understand math's relevance in their own lives through fascinating stories about real people who have used math to do amazing things. Author Carleigh Wu is a math coach who wants to help middle schoolers rethink their attitudes about math and their ability to do it well. Guided by research-based, high-impact teaching practices, she speaks directly to readers, providing them with information to build their resilience and confidence.

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World
by Jonathan Haidt

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation, this new book for tweens is a handbook for living a happy and exciting life that isn't hijacked by a smartphone. Jonathan Haidt's blockbuster book, The Anxious Generation, has sparked a global conversation about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people's development, and has inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action. Now, Haidt and Catherine Price, author of the bestselling How to Break Up with Your Phone, have teamed up to create a new book that speaks directly to kids and early teens. Their goal? To empower young people to stand up for themselves by choosing a life not dominated by screens.

At the Speed of Gus
by Richard Scrimger

A smartly funny and sympathetic story about being different and understanding that there is more than one way to see the world. This new novel from middle grade master Richard Scrimger will reach so many kids who need to see that their brains are a gift. Augustus (Gus) Constantine’s brain moves fast, and not necessarily on a straight track. His mind (and mouth) operates at a different speed than everyone else he knows. This might have something to do with the fact that Gus has ADHD. Sometimes it feels like the best thing about him, and sometimes it lands him in a load of trouble. For example, one morning, Gus takes morning announcements wildly off script. Even though he hears nothing but laughter from fellow students at Pendrell Elementary, he’s finally pushed Miss Funn (who’s anything but) and Principal Gorby (who’s getting tired of Gus’s endless jokes and unfiltered stream of consciousness) to the limit. Now he’s suspended for two whole days. With nothing else to do, Gus takes up his sister’s invitation to take the ferry to meet her at her college. But on the ferry, Gus’s thoughts begin to race. He’s having trouble concentrating and can’t calm down. At the speed of Gus’s brain, the ride gets wilder and wilder, until it’s hard to tell what’s real from what’s imagined. But despite the convoluted road he takes, can he still find a way to get to his destination?

Down Came the Spiders
by Ally Russell

Arachnophobia meets Five Nights at Freddy's in this middle grade horror novel perfect for fans of K.R. Alexander and Mary Downing Hahn. Can you outrun eight legs? Twelve-year-old Andi loves everything about spiders -- they're endlessly fascinating creatures. So when she finds a species she's never seen before at a classmate's Halloween party, she's over the moon. Until the spiders start to behave in unusual and threatening ways, that is. They can camouflage themselves incredibly well, they can jump higher than she's ever seen, and their webs are strong. Maybe even strong enough to trap a person . . .Andi and her friends Carly and Devon try to find an adult to help, but make a terrifying discovery: the parent chaperones have been immobilized by the spiders. As the only ones who know what's going on, Andi, Carly, and Devon will have to take on the spiders themselves -- before it's too late!