A child sits behind a table while feeding something to a rodent through a tube, surrounded by various materials and a book.

Frankie Sparks series

For "Frankie Sparks: The Class Pet": Frankie Sparks, the self-proclaimed "best inventor in the third grade," does research and creates a tool to try to persuade her classmates that a rat would make the best class pet.

Author: Megan Frazer Blakemore Call Number: J FICTION BLA

A young donkey is on a leash with a baby bottle of white liquid on the ground in front of it.

Saving Winslow

Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army. Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louies quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.

Author: Sharon Creech Call Number: J FICTION CRE

A smiling child sits on a brick wall next to a backpack, with three small dragons nearby.

Dragons in a Bag

In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world, and along the way discovers his true calling.

Author: Zetta Elliott Call Number: J FICTION ELL

A child kid wearing a t-shirt, skirt, sneakers, and a crown, holds up a tray full of mochi with one hand.

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen

Eager to do something her big sister has not done first, Jasmine Toguchi, eight, decides to pound mochi with the men and boys when her family gets together for New Year's.

Author: Debbi Michiko Florence Call Number: J FICTION FLO

A cartoon person holds a crossbow pointed upward, while several other human and animal characters surround them.

Once Upon a Tim

With no knightly experience but plenty of pluck and an impressive vocabulary, a twelve-year-old peasant, hoping to improve his station in life, volunteers to help a cowardly prince and his not very powerful wizard rescue a princess from an evil, foul-smelling monster.

Author: Stuart Gibbs Call Number: J FICTION GIB

A child is looking upward toward a standing yeti-like creature who is looking downward at the child, both looking happy.

Big Foot and Little Foot

Hugo is a young Sasquatch who longs for adventure. Boone is young boy who longs to see a Sasquatch. When their worlds collide, they become the unlikeliest pair of best friends.

Author: Ellen Potter Call Number: J FICTION POT

Two kids, a black cat, a dragon, and a Sasquatch all stand in front of an open gate, while the shadow of a dragon passes over the moon behind them.

The Sasquatch Escape

Spending the summer in his grandfather's rundown town, ten-year-old Ben meets an adventurous local girl and together they learn that the town's veterinarian runs a secret hospital for imaginary creatures.

Author: Suzanne Selfors Call Number: J FICTION SEL

A person wearing a purple shirt drives a car, and a kid reads a book while riding in the car.

Road Trip with Max and His Mom

Max and his mom embark on a road trip as they adjust to their new understanding of family

Author: Linda Urban Call Number: J FICTION URB

A venus flytrap plant wearing a necktie holds a magnifying glass while riding on a skateboard.

Inspector Flytrap series

For Book 1: Hoping to become the greatest detective that ever grew, Inspector Flytrap, a Venus Flytrap, and his assistant, Nina the Goat, investigate "big deal" mysteries at an art museum, a cookie shop, and a garden.

Author: Tom Angleberger Call Number: J MYSTERY ANG

A black cat looks sideways while a bug dances on its head.

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective

In ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh's pampered cat Ra and his scarab-beetle sidekick question the royal palace's animal inhabitants, solve a crime, and exonerate a servant girl falsely accused of theft.

Author: A. B. Greenfield Call Number: J MYSTERY GRE

A smiling child holds a suitcase and a messenger bag, surrounding by a dozen or so blue creatures with various expressions.

Galaxy Zack series

For "Hello, Nebulon": Moving from Earth to the futuristic planet Nebulon in 2120, eight-year-old Zack is nervous about starting school and meeting people.

Author: Ray O'Ryan Call Number: I SCIENCE FICTION ORY

Three kids are nearby a swimming pool while an alien figure lurks behind a palm tree in the background.

Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn

Two boys race to get an undercover alien back to her mothership while dodging an oddball group of UFO-chasers, TV newspeople, and Florida retirees

Author: Greg Leitich Smith Call Number: J SCIENCE FICTION SMI

A child uses a marker to draw a picture of a school and other children.

The Real Riley Mayes

Funny and full of heart, this debut graphic novel is a story about friendship, identity, and embracing all the parts of yourself that make you special.

Author: Rachel Elliott Call Number: J FICTION ELL (Graphic Novel)

Two children in a wooded area are looking in either direction, with city buildings and sky in the background.

Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer

When ten-year-olds Shirley and Jamila meet, Jamila is simply hoping for a friend in her new neighborhood but Shirley is a detective and together they seek a missing gecko.

Author: Gillian Goerz Call Number: J FICTION GOE (Graphic Novel)

Various bugs are exploring an outdoor wooded area together, each with a different expression.

Bug Scouts Out in the Wild

To earn their “foraging” bug badge, Doug, Abby and Josh, the Bug Scouts, embark on an adventure in the wilderness to find an edible plant and encounter a clever, yet hungry, frog who distracts them from their mission.

Author: Mike Lowery Call Number: J FICTION LOW (Graphic Novel)

A child dressed uses a lute as a bow for shooting an arrow, while three kids and a duck are working with a magic wand, fire, and a long scroll.

Max and the Midknights

Max and a group of friends dubbed the Midknights go on a quest to rescue the Kingdom of Byjovia from the mean King Gastley!

Author: Lincoln Peirce Call Number: J FICTION PEI (Graphic Novel)

A person walks through a grassy forest while several eyeballs in the forest peer at them.

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

Kerry gets lost on his way home and has to navigate through a fantastical forest to find his way out, only most the creatures in the forest are not there to help him

Author: Andi Watson Call Number: J FICTION WAT (Graphic Novel)

A person stands in a room with yellow walls, looking out a curtained window to a night sky.

My Little Book of Big Questions

What will my life be like? Will I be happy? Will I ever be able to reach the stars? There are no answers to these questions, but in this eloquent picture book Britta Teckentrup lets children know that they are not alone in asking them and gives parents an opportunity to start a conversation with their children about the questions that come up in their lives. A young girl stands on a chair to see what it's like to be tall. A boy stares towards the sky and wonders if birds enjoy flying. Friends argue, lovers embrace, the distant sun warms the earth, and people grow old. Using soft hues, bold outlines, and unusual textures, Teckentrup's illustrations help evoke the feelings surrounding each question. As they flip through the pages children and their parents will find endless opportunities to think about life's big questions and to have conversations that will be remembered for years.

Author: Britta Teckentrup Call Number: J100 TEC

A child holds a small plant and some soil in their hands, facing an adult who holds the child's hands in their own, each person smiling.

The Seed of Compassion

One of today's most inspiring world leaders was once an ordinary child named Lhamo Thondup. In a small village in Tibet, his mother was his first great teacher of compassion. In everyday moments from his childhood, young readers begin to see that important lessons are all around us, and that they, too, can grow to truly understand them.

Author: Dalai Lama Call Number: J294.3567 BST

Four kids with differing appearances are gathered together, surrounded by flowers.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself

A picture book that introduces the concept of gender identity to the youngest reader from writer Theresa Thorn and illustrator Noah Grigni. Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.

Author: Theresa Thorn Call Number: J305.3 THO

A dozen or so graphics are shown of various earth forms and phenomena.

Earth By the Numbers: A Book of Infographics

How old is the earth? Where is the ice three miles thick? Why are volcanoes so dangerous? Where are the wettest and driest spots on the planet? Find the answers to these questions--and many more--in Earth by the numbers.

Author: Steve Jenkins Call Number: J550 JEN

Various figures are in the desert: a skeleton, a person holding a large pot, a child and a robed person looking at a map, etc.

Boy, Were We Wrong about the Human Body

Examines what is known about the human body today, and how different the facts are from what scientists, from ancient Egyptians to the recent past, believed to be true.

Author: Kathleen V. Kudlinkski Call Number: J610.9 KUD

An adult wearing a white shirt and black suit jacket looks to the side, with a building and a monument in the background.

Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon

A biography of Philip Freelon, whose rich family history and deep understanding of Black culture brought him to the role of lead architect for the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Author: Kelly Starling Lyons Call Number: J BIO FREELON

A person stirrs a pot of something with steam rising, in what appears to be a pink kitchen.

Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

A picture book biography about Georgia Gilmore, the woman whose cooking helped feed and fund the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956.

Author: Mara Rockliff Call Number: J BIO GILMORE

A person in profile with long brown hair is in the center, with water and a boat beneath them.

Hedy and Her Amazing Invention

The latest by prolific children's book author Jan Wahl, Hedy and her Amazing Invention teaches kids about the pioneering scientific work and inspiring courage of Hedy Lamarr, the famous Hollywood actress who fought against old-fashioned parents, a domineering husband, prejudice, and stereotypes to become an accomplished inventor whose work helped pave the way for many of the communications technologies we enjoy today.

Author: Jan Wahl Call Number: J BIO LAMARR