The Best Children’s and YA Books of February 2020
by the Brightly Editors
Children’s and YA literature continues to be a space for telling inclusive, diverse stories, as evidenced in this roundup of February’s best new reads. From picture books about democracy to novels starring gender-creative and LGBTQIA+ kids, these books are welcome additions to any home or school libraries.
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Picture Books
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Jack at Bat
Available from:The latest in the always hilarious world of Jack finds him minding his Ps and Qs as he serves as Bat Boy at the big baseball game. But when the teams tie, Jack is called up to bat. Will he score a home run — or get distracted by snacks?
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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No More Naps!
Available from:Annalise Devin McFleece refuses to nap, so her dad takes her on a stroller-walk through the park, hoping to lull her to sleep. Every person they come across is eager to take Devin’s nap, and by the time Devin changes her mind, there are no naps left! This amusing reversal will have readers rethinking their feelings about naptime.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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Women Artists A to Z
Available from:An alphabet book that celebrates artists who are both household names and new to the limelight, Women Artists A to Z is a must-read for young creatives. Its mix of simplicity (“D is for Dots”) and extended, biographical text makes it accessible for a range of ages and enjoyable for years to come.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots
Available from:The newest picture book from the author of Eat Pete! and Goodnight Goon is essential reading for our era of discourse. A cast of robots teach readers the differences between facts and opinions, as well as the importance of gathering more information, respecting opinions, and finding common ground.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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The Box Turtle
Available from:Terrance gives a whole new (and quite literal) meaning to the name “box turtle.” Born without a shell, he uses a cardboard box instead. Terrance loves his box, but another turtle tells him it’s weird, so Terrance tries out a host of other shells before realizing that he’s pretty darn great just the way he is.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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The Bug Girl
Available from:The Bug Girl is the true story of 7-year-old Sophia Spencer, who stifled her lifelong love of insects after she was bullied for her interests. When Sophia’s mother wrote to an entomological society, Sophia received an outpouring of support from women scientists, and the hashtag #BugsR4Girls was born. A heartwarming, inspiring story about staying true to your passions.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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Vote for Our Future!
Available from:Every two years, Stanton Elementary School is transformed into a polling station so citizens can make their voices heard. Vote for Our Future! sends a hopeful message about the right to vote, and reminds those not yet of voting age that they too can help our country toward a brighter future.
(On Sale: 2/18/20)
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Chapter Books and Middle Grade
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Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet
Available from:In this first book in a new illustrated chapter book series, Omar is the new kid at school. But despite his imaginative spirit, the reality of his Big Mean Bully is no fun to deal with — particularly the bully’s anti-Islam sentiments. Thanks to his family, Omar overcomes — asserting himself as a new middle grade literary hero.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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Parked
It’s the summer before seventh grade, and Jeanne Ann stays at the library till closing time because home sweet home is an orange van. Her new friend, Cal, lives across the street in a mansion of a house. Poignant and full of big-hearted characters, Parked is an unforgettable novel about poverty and friendship.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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The Imaginaries
You know Emily Winfield Martin’s artwork from The Wonderful Things You Will Be, but you’ve never seen it like this before. In The Imaginaries, Winfield pairs her stunning paintings with one-sentence, handwritten captions (“Where they were going, there were no maps”), meant to inspire readers to imagine their own stories.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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Hilo Book 6: All the Pieces Fit
Available from:It’s time for the ultimate showdown in the fan-favorite graphic novel series named for its hero, Hilo. Razorwark has finally tracked Hilo down on Earth, but Hilo isn’t about to run away and leave all his friends, especially Izzy. All the pieces fall into place in this intergalactic installment.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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Middle School’s a Drag, You Better Werk!
Available from:Mikey Pruitt is an entrepreneur at heart, so when eighth-grader Julian Vasquez — drag queen name: Coco Caliente — seeks representation, Mikey officially opens the doors of his new talent agency (which doubles as his parents’ laundry room). As Mikey preps Julian and his other clients for the school talent show, he also starts his coming-out journey.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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Bug Boy
Available from:You may not have realized how much you needed a graphic novel series starring two beetle best friends, but Rhino-B and Stag-B are here to show you. The Bug Boys adventure through Bug Village, engage in some everyday heroics, and share their feelings with each other. Talk about cute overload.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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Birdie and Me
Birdie and Me is the coming-of-age story of big sister Jack and her gender-creative brother, Birdie, navigating loss and evolving identities with the support of each other and their unconventional guardians, Uncle Carl and Uncle Patrick. Tender and authentic, Nuanez’s debut is a must-read.
(On Sale: 2/18/20)
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YA
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Alice By Heart
Tony Award–winning Steven Sater brings his off-Broadway musical to the page with Alice By Heart, an extraordinary blend of historical fiction and Lewis Caroll’s timeless classic. In 1940 London, while the Blitz rages on, 15-year-old Alice takes cover in an underground tube station, retreating into her favorite book until she seems to disappear into Wonderland.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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The Queen’s Assassin
Available from:Melissa de la Cruz’s latest is an action-packed court intrigue woven through with magical elements. Caledon Holt is the Queen’s Assassin, irrevocably bound to her service. Shadow dreams of being a warrior like Cal, but her family would have her be a lady instead. Thurst together, the two must fight for both crown and love.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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Ember Queen
Available from:In the epic conclusion to the bestselling Ash Princess trilogy, Princess Theodosia incites a rebellion and confronts magic more powerful than any seen before in order to win back her rightful place on the throne. As emotionally complex as it is full of unexpected turns, Ember Queen is a triumphant finale.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Available from:Thriller fans won’t want to miss Holly Jackson’s debut novel. Though the murder case of high school “it girl” Andie Bell is considered closed, Pip is wary that they got the killer all wrong. She’s known Sal Singh, Andie’s former boyfriend, forever, and the facts don’t add up. But as Pip reinvestigates, she soon finds her own life in danger.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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All the Bright Places Movie Tie-In Edition
If you somehow missed Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places, you’ve still got time to read the book before diving into the Netflix adaptation, starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. It’s a heartbreaking yet affirming love story about two teenagers who meet just as grief and heartache have pushed them to the edge.
(On Sale: 2/4/20)
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The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly
Sisters Autumn and Ivy couldn’t be more different: Ivy’s life is all board games and band practice, while Autumn has gotten herself into serious trouble. When Autumn is taken hostage during a disastrous drug deal, Ivy may be the only one who can save her.
(On Sale: 2/11/20)
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Rebelwing
Available from:Andrea Tang mashes genres and social commentary in this sci-fi thriller set in a near-future Washington, D.C. Boarding school student Pru has a side gig smuggling banned media under the government’s nose, but a cybernetic dragon imprinting on her wasn’t part of the job description. Can Pru figure out how to pilot Rebelwing before war breaks out?
(On Sale: 2/25/20)
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