Middle Grade Books
Tween
Bookshelf Must-Have: Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
We’ve all heard the story of Rumpelstiltskin, the greedy guy who spun straw into gold for the miller’s daughter in exchange for her firstborn child. But is that the real story? Adventure, humor, and magic abound in this Bookshelf Must-Have pick for middle grade readers.
Tween
Jump Rope Dreams: On Discovering Double Dutch as a Child
On weekends, Doreen Spicer-Dannelly and her siblings were allowed to play outside, and going to the neighborhood playground was the highlight of her week. There, in the heart of Brownsville, was where she fell in love with Double Dutch.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Tween
Teen
The Best Children's and YA Books of August 2018
From playful picture books to diverse YA reads, there’s plenty of reading fun to be had this month. Here are some of the kids’ titles we’ve been most excited about.
Tween
Mae Respicio and Melissa Sarno Reflect on the Meaning of Home
What is a home? Is it a place, a feeling, or something else? These are questions that Mae Respicio’s The House That Lou Built and Melissa Sarno’s Just Under the Clouds — two middle grade novels that approach serious themes and big dreams with empathy and compassion — explore in depth.
Growing Reader
Tween
Which Penderwick Character Are You?
Are you like the Penderwick family's clever Skye? More like dreamy Jane? Or perhaps a daredevil just like Ben? Take our quiz to find out which Penderwick character you are!
Tween
The Question Kids Always Ask
I stand in front of an auditorium chock-full of wide-eyed fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. We’re discussing my Newbery Honor book Three Times Lucky and I’ve come to the dangerous part of the presentation: Questions & Answers.
Tween
Teen
On the Complexity of Human Stories: A Q&A with Veera Hiranandani
Veera Hiranandani discusses The Night Diary, her moving novel that follows a family’s difficult journey as refugees seeking a new home during the Partition of India in 1947.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Tween
Teen
The Best Children's and YA Books of July 2018
We’ve rounded up the most exciting new books for kids of all ages, including historical fiction, hands-on reads, teen thrillers, a fairy tale retelling, and more!
Tween
Teen
Mindfulness and Meditation Made Cool With This Moment Is Your Life (and So Is This One)
Introduce tweens and teens to the benefits of yoga and meditation with this fun and hands-on guide to practicing mindfulness.
Tween
Why Historical Fiction Is Important for 21st-Century Kids
In skilled hands, the factual history makes the character’s story feel real, and being immersed in that story makes history come alive for the reader, sometimes in surprising ways. Human emotions are timeless; relationships, social status, age- and gender-appropriate roles and issues are fluid and ever-changing.
Growing Reader
Tween
On Finding a Connection with Horses in Kids’ Literature and Beyond
Horses have taught me a lot: to be patient, to be observant, to think for myself, to enjoy the outdoors and being active, to take pleasure in who the horses are as much as in what they do.
Tween
9 Laugh-Out-Loud Adventure Tales for Tweens
With exhilarating quests, humorous characters and plots, and even a few hair-raising scares, these adventure stories will keep middle grade readers on the edge of their seats — and laughing as they flip the pages.
