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Books for Kids and Tweens April 2026 |
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The Stowaway by Griffin McElroyn the farthest reaches of a war-torn galaxy, a military transport cruiser barrels toward a supermassive black hole. The crew has vanished. The security drones have gone haywire. And the ship has flown light years off-course. It falls to a single passenger to decide the fate of this doomed voyage: A stowaway tucked into a pocket of the ship's hull. Unfortunately for the reader, YOU are that stowaway. It's your turn to sit at the table with your friendly neighborhood Game Master Griffin McElroy as he guides you down paths both hilarious and harrowing. Can you evade deadly robots, find the missing crew, and escape the ship before it reaches its final, fatal destination? Or will the Astral Order get you first?
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| Wilderness Hacks by Joslin BrorsenAfter a flood strands them alone in the Rockies, 13-year-old wilderness YouTuber Rad Shaw and his reluctant guide Sadie Hahn are forced to work together in order to survive. Told in both kids' voices, this gripping story offers breathless thrills as well as fascinating characters. (Ages 8-12.)
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| Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto CisnerosAfter wishing for more time with his father, who died two years ago, Quetzalcóatl Castillo Anguiano -- aka Queso -- is transported back to 1985, where his father is just Pancho, a fellow 12-year-old. Deep emotions pair with time-travel culture clashes in this funny, moving story. (Ages 8-12.)
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Ape Escape by Stuart GibbsIn the tenth novel in New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs's FunJungle series, super sleuth Teddy Fitzroy is on the case to rescue an abducted young gorilla When a baby gorilla is stolen from an orphanage in Rwanda, Teddy, his parents, and an old family friend find themselves in a race against time to save it. Teddy has to piece together clues to figure out where the little ape is being taken while traveling through some of the most incredible--and dangerous--terrain in the world. At the same time, he's long-distance consulting with Summer to help solve another mystery back at FunJungle. Between facing down lions on the Serengeti and chasing poachers through the bazaars of Zanzibar, will Teddy be able to find the baby gorilla before it's too late?
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| Red River Rose by Carole LindstromInspired by the real-life North-West Resistance of 1885, this richly detailed historical book focuses on spirited 12-year-old Rose, a Métis girl whose everyday concerns about friends and family transform into courage when the Canadian government threatens her Saskatchewan community. Read-alikes: Louise Erdrich's Birchbark House series; Linda Sue Park's Prairie Lotus. (Ages 8-12.)
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Goldfinches by Mary Oliver Have you heard them singing in the wind, above the final fields?Have you ever been so happy in your life? Mary Oliver, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, is one of America's most beloved poets. Introducing her unforgettable words to children for the very first time, her poem Goldfinches joyfully observes the power of the natural world as only Mary Oliver can. Illuminated by the exquisite mixed-media artwork of Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, Goldfinches fills the reader with wonder for the beauty around them and gratitude for the ability to bear witness to it.
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| A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out by Nicholas Day; illustrated by Yas ImamuraThis fast-paced, illustrated book takes a deep dive into a world-changing event: the "climate shock" that followed the 1815 eruption of Indonesia's Mount Tambora. You can follow along as catastrophic weather prompts fear, famine, rebellion, and the creation of an iconic horror story. For fans of: Steve Sheinkin. (Ages 10-14.)
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| How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel MiyaresIn the style of a graphic novel, author Daniel Miyares tells the true story of his father's childhood. Things are tough for young Carlos when his family moves from rural Cuba to a city -- and even tougher when Fidel Castro's revolution forces them to flee Cuba altogether. Dramatic artwork supports the powerful emotions in this memoir. (Ages 8-13.)
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| My Presentation Today Is About the Anaconda by Bibi Dumon Tak; illustrated by Annemarie van Haeringen; translated by Nancy Forest-FlierClassroom reports get a twist in this collection of presentations about animals, by animals. For instance, a cleaner fish talks about sharks, a barn owl talks about Tasmanian devils, and a howler monkey talks about...unicorns? Complete with hilarious interruptions from the audience, this fact-filled read will encourage you to think beyond the human point of view. (Ages 8-12.)
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| Smash, Crash, Topple, Roll! The Inventive Rube Goldberg by Catherine Thimmesh; illustrated by Shanda McCloskeyCombining biography and science, this illustrated book looks at the life of cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who asked "Why do something the simple way... if, instead, there is a catapult option?" Goldberg's mischievous drawings turned simple machines into wildly complicated contraptions, and if you read the final how-to chapter of this book, you'll learn to do the same thing. (Ages 8-12.)
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| Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr.; illustrated by Jes and Cin WibowoAfter being bullied and treated like an outcast because of his geeky interests, 11-year-old Tony is depressed and suicidal. He begins to find healing, however, thanks to therapy, creativity, and a better school. This moving, authentic graphic novel autobiography is a must-read for fans of Jerry Craft and Rex Ogle. (Ages 10-13.) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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