The Best Children’s and YA Books of November 2019
by the Brightly Editors
This month’s best new book releases feature laugh-filled romps, intriguing mysteries, and out-of-this-world adventures. We’ve rounded up our favorites, so stock up your household’s TBR stacks and get a head start on holiday shopping!
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Picture Books
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Bad Dog
Available from:What happens when you wish for a dog and get a cat instead? One little girl's about to find out. Her new "dog" Rocky doesn't appreciate playing fetch, going on walks, or coming when he's called - but she's determined to make a dog out of her new pet anyway. This laugh-out-loud story of a stubborn girl and her equally stubborn cat is destined to become a reader favorite.
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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Some Snow Is…
Available from:The poetry in Some Snow Is... will have the whole family eagerly awaiting winter's first snow, and even identifying all the wonderful differences between each snowfall. From first snow to snow-day snow, and all the way until the last snow, this seasonal celebration is a perfect companion for winter's main event.
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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A is for Audra: Broadway’s Leading Ladies from A to Z
Available from:H is for homage and also for heroines - the powerhouse heroines of Broadway, that is. A is for Audra is a showstopper of an alphabet book that sings and dances its way through decades of the greatest leading ladies in theater, from Audra McDonald to Liza-with-a-Z Minnelli. Shine a light on some of history's most beloved entertainers and get ready to relive your Broadway favorites.
(On Sale: 11/12/19)
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Happiness Is a Warm Puppy
Available from:First released in 1962, this sweet gift book from the Peanuts gang got a bright update just in time for the holiday season. Its timeless ode to friendship and joy will resonate with both longtime Peanuts fans and new readers alike - or, better yet, shared between the two.
(On Sale: 11/19/19)
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My Book with No Pictures
Available from:B. J. Novak's bestseller The Book with No Pictures has been making families laugh themselves silly since it first published in 2014. Now, with this fill-in-the-blank book accompanied by hilarious, nonsensical word stickers, readers can create their own version of the delightfully preposterous book using whatever wacky vocab comes to mind.
(On Sale: 11/19/19)
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Bear Is Awake!
Available from:In a charmingly unique alphabet book from the author of Extraordinary Jane, a bear wakes up mid-winter and has to figure out how to stay busy until spring. Luckily, the bear strikes up a friendship with a little girl who's more than willing to help, and introduces the bear to all the fun that winter has to offer.
(On Sale: 11/26/19)
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Mr. Boddington’s Studio: San Francisco ABCs
Available from:The vibrant, Brooklyn-based stationery store Mr. Boddington's Studio brings another bustling city to life for young readers with San Francisco ABCs. Kicking off with A for Alcatraz and B for the Bay Bridge, this cheerfully illustrated picture book highlights the wonders that make up San Francisco.
(On Sale: 11/26/19)
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Middle Grade
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The Lacrosse Mix-Up
Available from:In the latest Zach and Zoe Mystery, the 8-year-old twins join the lacrosse club and have a winning first game. But the next day, one of the lacrosse sticks turns up damaged. Their coach blames old equipment, but Zach and Zoe suspect foul play, and they're determined to get to the bottom of things. Sportswriter Mike Lupica once again concocts an action-packed, sports-themed mystery.
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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Shine!
Available from:Piper's hero is astronaut Nellie Dumont Frisse, whose catchphrase "Shine on!" isn't meant for someone like Piper. Or so Piper thinks - especially after she transfers to Chumley Prep, a fancy private school where everyone has seemingly extraordinary talents. Co-written by the author of the much-loved Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series, Shine! is a heartwarming story that prizes kindness and generosity.
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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Sincerely, YOU
Seventeen-year-old Savannah Maddison founded Savannah's Soldiers, a letter-writing campaign between students and deployed military members. In Sincerely, YOU, Savannah shares the day-brightening (and sometimes life-changing) magic of penning a thoughtful letter. Packed with tips, prompts, and inspiring messages, this heartfelt instructional will put snail mail back in style.
(On Sale: 11/19/19)
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YA
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Games of Deception
For fans of Jesse Owens and The Boys in the Boat, Games of Deception recounts the incredible story of basketball's beginnings in 1891 and its debut at the 1936 Olympic Games. The Americans who landed in Berlin for the event were presented with Hitler's façade and unable to see the troubling signs that would lead to WWII and the horrors of the Holocaust. Maraniss's rich account blends athletics with a pivotal moment in history.
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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The Guinevere Deception
Putting a female-centric spin on the Arthurian legend, White introduces Princess Guinevere as King Arthur's betrothed. Dark magic is closing in on Camelot and vying for Arthur's fall, so the powerful wizard Merlin orchestrates the arrival of Guinevere, a secret changeling, to help save the realm. Will she manage to navigate the court of old and new powers, and keep Camelot alive?
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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Song of the Crimson Flower
Lan, the daughter of a wealthy nobleman, is in love with Tam, and she thinks it's him serenading her with a flute each night. But when she learns that was actually the poor apprentice, Bao - and that Tam never loved her - she takes her hurt out on Bao. Cursed by a witch and his soul trapped in his flute (with the knowledge that only love will set him free), Bao accompanies Lan on a life-altering journey of war, blood magic, and slow-burning romance.
(On Sale: 11/5/19)
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Blood Heir
Available from:Like Elsa from Frozen, the crown princess of the Cyrilian Empire, Anastacya Mikhailov, has a dark secret: she's an Affinite, a reviled subset of the population with unique gifts they can use to control the world. Ana must go on the run when her father is murdered, and she seeks help from the most corrupt person she knows: Ramson Quicktongue. A tale full of cunning and intrigue, Blood Heir is the thrilling inception of a new trilogy.
(On Sale: 11/19/19)
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Starsight
Available from:In the anticipated sequel to Skyward, readers get more of aspiring pilot Spensa, who has her hands full reckoning with the truth of her infamous father's fall from grace, the introduction of an alien race, and the not insignificant task of saving humankind. Unexpected and thrilling, Starsight promises another high-flying plot helmed by a fearless heroine.
(On Sale: 11/26/19)
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