New Kids’ Books

Who’s There, Little Elf?

Author: Teresa Bellón

Illustrator: Teresa Bellón

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 4

Plot

Another interactive picture book for our list, this one introduces the many faces of Christmas. From a smiling elf to a twinkling tree to Santa himself!

Be Brave, My Baby Boo

Author: Nicola Edwards

Illustrator: Natalie Marshall

Year: 2026

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 4

More info: Part of the You’re My Little series

Plot

It’s time for Halloween, but Baby Boo is frightened of the holiday. So his sweetly spooky family helps him face his fears.

Why Kirsten loves it

This board book is bright and cheerful and not at all scary. The perfect introduction to Halloween for a toddler, especially one that might be scared!

Find this book in: Baby and Toddler Halloween Books / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026

Walk with Me: A Counting Adventure

Author: Nancy E. Uslan

Illustrator: Nancy E. Uslan

Release Date: August 25, 2025

Genre: Board Book

Age: 0 – 3

Plot

Count zebras, monkeys, and other safari animals in this adorable introduction to counting. Proceeds of the book support the children of Rwanda.

Let’s Find Yaya and Boo on the Go!: A Hide-and-Seek Adventure

Author: Andrew Knapp

Release Date: September 16, 2025

Genre: Board Book

Age: 2 – 5

Plot

This fun hide-and-seek board book is perfect for dog-loving littles. Where are Yaya and Boo hiding throughout this book? Peak around and find out!

The Bakery Dragon and the Giant Cookie

Author: Devin Elle Kurtz

Illustrator: Devin Elle Kurtz

Year: 2026

Genre: Christmas Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

More info: Bakery Dragon #3

Plot

Ember, everyone’s favorite dragon baker, is delivering cookies for the holiday season. During a storm, he falls into the chimney of a grumpy giant. While trying to respect the giant’s wish for quiet, he bakes some incredible GIANT cookies and melts the giant’s cold heart in the process.

Why Kirsten loves it

The stunning illustrations always get me with this series. Bakery Dragon is such a color-saturated work of art, and the story of kindness even in the face of animosity is one kids and adults alike should pay attention to. Also, I think this book needs a recipe because I want those cookies! Gifted by Random House Kids.

Find this book in: Best Christmas Books for Kids / New Christmas Books for Kids

The Haunted Playground

Author: R. J. Palacio

Illustrator: Brett Helquist

Year: 2026

Genre: Picture Books

Age: 4 – 8

Plot

In this charming picture book by the author of Wonder, ghosts and children alike play on the local playground on Halloween night!

Why Kirsten loves it

The illustrations are gorgeous on this sweet, fun story. I love seeing ghosts and phantoms alongside kids in cute PJs. The audiobook version is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, and he does a wonderful job. Gifted by PRH Audio.

Find this book in: Fun Playground Books / Halloween Books for Kids / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026

Papa’s Coming Home

Author: Chasten Buttigieg 

Illustrator: Dan Taylor

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 3 – 7

Plot

Jojo and Rosie are ready to welcome their Papa home from his long business trip. With their Daddy’s help, they bake a cake, load the car with goodies, and head to the airport to pick up their Papa.

Marianne the Maker 

Author: Kelly Corrigan and Claire Corrigan Lichty

Illustrator: George Sweetland

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

Plot

Marianne is a maker who values the freedom to create above everything else. But her days are filled with soccer and other scheduled events that don’t leave her much time to invent. Will her dad understand when she finds a way to skip practice?

The Day the Books Disappeared

Author: Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard

Illustrator: Dan Santat

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Genre: Picture Books

Age: 3 – 7

Plot

When a little boy wants everyone to read his favorite book, he accidentally makes all the other books disappear. Now he needs to figure out what to do so his friends can read about their favorite things too.

Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit v. Vegetable Showdown

Author: Lindsay H. Metcalf

Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham

Release Date: August 12, 2025

Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book

Age: 7 – 10

Plot

This nonfiction picture book tells the story of the Supreme Court Justice trial about if tomatoes are a vegetable or a fruit. It was Nix vs the Government, and it’s a true story!

Why Kirsten likes it

I love nonfiction picture books for their ability to turn real-life events into something fun and educational! The format of this story – with its food fight type reading, is perfect for home or school libraries!

Find this book in: Children’s Books About Food

Glitter Kittens

Author: William Joyce

Illustrator: William Joyce

Release Date: October 21, 2025

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

Plot

Joyce wrote The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which I adore, so this is one of my most anticipated kids’ books of 2025. It’s about 4 glitter kittens who are obsessed with themselves and it bothers all their non-glittery friends. When a glitter-eating monster tries to eat them for a snack, they need to see if they can step out of the spotlight and rely on the friends they made feel unimportant.

Karen’s New Year: A Graphic Novel 

Author: Ann M. Martin

Illustrator: DK Yingst

Release Date: October 6, 2026

Genre: Graphic Novel

Age: 7 – 10

More info: Baby-sitters Little Sister #13

Plot

In the latest graphic novel of the Baby-sitters Little Sister series, Karen wants to make a New Year’s Resolution, and she wants everyone in the family to make a resolution too. But soon Karen becomes the resolution police and it causes tension with her family.

Pizza and Taco: Scariest Sleepover Ever!

Author: Stephen Shaskan

Illustrator: Stephen Shaskan

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Early Reader Graphic Novel

Age: 5 – 8

More info: Pizza and Taco #11

Plot

Pizza and Taco are back with a spooky story just in time for Halloween! They’ve planned the perfect sleepover, all their friends have come over, and now it’s time for ghost stories. No one will get scared, right?

Brain Quest Phonics Workbook: Grade 1

Author: Workman Publishing

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Genre: Phonics

Age: 6-7

More info: Brain Quest Phonics #3

Plot

Brain Quest has always been a favorite of mine for teaching kids in a fun way. I used their smart cards as a kid and then their summer workbooks to keep my kids on track between grades at school. As soon as I saw their new line of phonics books, I knew they would be a hit! This new line comes in grade-appropriate workbooks (pre-k to 2nd) to help your child on the path of reading.

Clue: A Little Golden Book

Author: Megan Roth

Illustrator: Meg Dunn

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Genre: Early Reader

Age: 3 – 8

Plot

Solve a classic clue mystery with this new Little Golden Book. See all your favorite game characters come to life in this clever story!

Mr. Lemoncello’s Wondermous Christmas Gift

Author: Chris Grabenstein

Year: 2026

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Age: 8 – 12

More info: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library #7

Plot

Eloise is the new girl at school, and she’s upset that her Christmas won’t be very merry, but when she befriends Clarence, she starts to look on the bright side. After attending a Mr. Lemoncello’s Library holiday party, she discovers a key that lets her have full access to the wonderful library, so she decides to head there on Christmas Eve while her mom is at work in the hopes of cheering up her holiday spirits. But once there, she discovers a puzzle with a prize that could make her Christmas truly magical.

Why Kirsten loves it

This delightful Christmas story was everything I have come to expect from a Mr. Lemoncello’s library book. It featured a clever mystery, fantastical elements, a nice moral, and plenty of puzzles to solve. As always, I particularly appreciated the reference to modern books.

Find this book in: New Christmas Books / Christmas Chapter Books / New Kids’ Books

The Grimlore Game

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Release Date: September 22, 2026

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Age: 8 – 12

More info: The Grimlore Game #1

Plot

Being billed as Mr. Lemoncello meets The Addams Family, this fantasy puzzle book for middle graders looks perfect for mystery and fantasy lovers. Kit Devlin is an orphan from a cursed family whose wealthy grandpa just died. All her relatives have turned up to get their share of the inheritance, only to find a magical game instead. Kit needs to solve the mystery of the family curse AND win the game to get all the answers to change her life and win the inheritance.

J vs. K

Author: Kwame Alexander, Jerry Craft

Illustrator: Jerry Craft

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel

Age: 8 – 12

Plot

When two award-winning, bestselling writers team up – you know a hit is being born! K and J are the most creative students at their school. But now they need to compete against one another to try to win the school’s writing contest. Can they survive the rivalry?

The Wish Switch

Author: Lynn Painter

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Age: 9 – 12

Plot

Bestselling author Lynn Painter is releasing her children’s book debut. In it, Emma has just gained access to an ancient wishing well and the magic inside it. She’s ready to wish for the best middle school year yet… until Jackson comes along and messes with her wishes while wishing for his own dreams.

Blood in the Water

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

Age: 8 – 12

Plot

This murder mystery set on Martha’s Vineyard will be perfect for any tween’s summer reading list. Brooklyn native, Kaylani McKinnon doesn’t feel like she fits in around Martha’s Vineyard, but that isn’t going to stop her from trying to solve the murder of a teenager’s strange death.

The Memory Spinner

Author: C. M. Cornwell 

Release Date: August 12, 2025

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Age: 8 – 12

Plot

This debut fantasy is about 13-year-old Lavender, who has been suffering from memory issues since the death of her mom. Desperate to get her memories back and learn her lessons to become an apothecary, Lavendar seeks out Frey, an enchantress. But Frey is not all she seems and Lavendar might need to make some tough choices around her memories.

Dream

Author: Barbara O’ Conner

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Age: 8 – 12

Plot

Barbara O’Conner is well-known for her bestselling children’s fiction. Idalee Lovett is determined to become a songwriter this summer, and she’s going to prove herself by winner the local radio station’s songwriting contest. But first, she needs enough money to buy herself a new guitar, so she will go hunting for her grandpa’s buried treasure.