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Books for Kids and Tweens August 2026 |
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The Worry-Worry Whale and the Halloween Scaries
by Deborah Diesen
Turn everyday worries into confidence. First introduced in The Pout-Pout Fish, Willa Whale is worried, and she isn't having fun. Halloween is scary I wish this day were done. She's overwhelmed and anxious, in the loud spooky scene. Can Willa find a way to have a better Halloween?
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My Dad Can
by Stephen Lightbown
My Dad Can reassures children that a parent's wheelchair doesn't change who they are. Iris's dad is the best. Her dad is amazing. But sometimes they meet people who can't see what she sees, and today is one of those days. A heartwarming picture book about a young girl who learns that her dad's wheelchair doesn't define what he can or can't do. With beautifully hand-illustrated artwork from Claire Sahara Lemp and text from poet and disability rights advocate Stephen Lightbown, this title is perfect for sparking meaningful conversations that celebrate inclusion.
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A Day Off School
by Oliver Jeffers
A hilarious picture book from the mind of #1 New York Times bestselling creator Oliver Jeffers, about what incredible things you might miss if you take the day off school. By lunchtime, he wonders what fun he might be missing at school. What if there's an extra playtime, a dog on the loose . . or even A PIRATE INVASION?
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| Raven, Rising by Christine Hartman DerrTwelve-year-old Cherokee kid Raven is a skillful baker -- some of her treats even have a hint of magic. But she hasn't baked at all since her parents died. Stuck in a new town and a new school she hates, Raven grapples with guilt, grief, and trying to find friends when it feels like she'll never fit in. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Offside by Christina Diaz Gonzalez; illustrated by Mari CostaAfter their middle school finally makes the soccer team tryouts co-ed, sabotage from the guys means that Nicky and Fabiola are the only two girls who make the cut. With such a bad start, not to mention some language differences, can the new team figure out how to work together? This graphic novel combines on-the-field action with authentic emotions. Read-alikes: Tryouts by Sarah Sax; The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson. (Ages 9-13.) |
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| Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. JacksonAfter her grandmother's death, grieving, ghost-obsessed 12-year-old Harmony joins her blues musician dad on tour. At a stop in Savannah, Georgia, Harmony encounters what might be a real haunting, leading her to investigate a local unsolved murder -- and maybe find a missing person. For fans of: smart paranormal mysteries inspired by Black history, like those by India Hill Brown. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| Spindlewood by Freddie KölschAfter a misunderstanding sends her to the Spindlewood School of Seeing, eighth-grader Lilah Black finds new friends and gets caught up in a years-old mystery, all while hiding that she's the only Unseeing student at school full of Seers. If you like supernatural school stories, you don't want to miss this snarky, spooky read. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Shook by Julian Randall; illustrated by Nathan WalkerAmbitious, basketball-obsessed 12-year-old Malik "Shake" Page accidentally lives up to his nickname when a broken ankle leaves him shaken and sidelined. Shake's crisis of confidence -- and its impact on his friends and family -- is described through powerful poems, lists, groupchats, and illustrations that will keep you turning the pages. For fans of: Kwame Alexander's The Crossover. (Ages 9-13.) |
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Female Indigenous Heroes: 51 North American Women from the 1800s to Today
by Katrina M. Phillips
Meet extraordinary Indigenous women--51 biographies for kids ages 8 to 12. This collection of biographies for kids explores the lives of North American Indigenous women from different backgrounds, different life experiences, and different eras who achieved amazing things in art, science, medicine, sports, and more. Learn how their talent, passion, and determination have been an inspiration to others and helped to change the world.
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| Crumble by Meredith McClaren; illustrated by Andrea BellAt first, Emily is successful at practicing her family's special skill: magically baking good feelings into desserts for their bakery. But then tragedy strikes, and Emily's sadness begins seeping into her baked goods. Cute, colorful artwork balances the serious elements in this touching graphic novel. (Ages 7-11.) |
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| The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey HartmanNot quite alive and not quite dead, Clare the fox is content with his cozy home in Deadwood Forest, where he ushers souls into the Afterlife. That changes, however, when a badger soul named Gingersnipes makes Clare question everything he once understood. This charming and bittersweet story is sure to tug on your heartstrings. (Ages 8-12.) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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