Open Books Challenge 2026: Purple Cover or Purple in the Title or Subject

The Open Books Reading Challenge is a year-long reading challenge for people interested in pushing the boundaries of their reading. For full details of the program, please check-out our page at: https://www.rplmn.org/books-more/discover-more/open-books-reading-challenge

These are some ideas that fit the 2026 category "Purple cover or purple in the title or subject, to mark the 10th anniversary of Prince's death."

Happy Reading!

Updated December 31, 2025
RPL Staff
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Purple hibiscus : a novel by
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
Paper Book
"One of the most vital and original novelists of her generation." --Larissa MacFarquhar, The New Yorker From the bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her...
The only purple house in town
Aguirre, Ann
Paper Book
Welcome to the coziest house on the block--where misfits become family, magic lingers in the walls, and healing comes in the most unexpected forms. Iris Collins doesn't believe in plans. As a self-declared chaos bunny with a track record of unfinished dreams, she's never been the reliable...
The singular life of Aria Patel
Ahmed, Samira (Fiction writer)
Paper Book
'Hilarious and heart-wrenching, romantic and searching... a poetic, deeply profound exploration of the multiverses we inhabit' - Libba Bray, New York Times bestselling author of the DIVINERS series 'Addictive, inventive, and sometimes chilling......
Djinn patrol on the purple line : a novel
Anappara, Deepa
Paper Book
Discover the "extraordinary" (The Washington Post) debut novel that "announces the arrival of a literary supernova" (The New York Times Book Review),"a drama of childhood that is as wild as it is intimate" (Chigozie Obioma).   WINNER OF THE...
The purple book : use this book when you're feeling nervous!
Anthony, William (Children's author)
Paper Book
Our minds are full of colour. In fact, they're kind of like a BIG, beautiful rainbow of emotions. Sometimes, one colour shines brighter than any of the other colours. This is the Purple Book, which has lots of nifty little tips and tricks for those days when you feel nervous!
One step forward
Atkins, Marcie Flinchum
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! One Step Forward is a compelling debut YA historical fiction novel in verse about Matilda Young--the youngest American suffragist imprisoned for picketing the White House to demand women's right to vote. Raised in a...
Writing in color : fourteen writers on the lessons we've learned
Azad, Nafiza
Paper Book
Rethink the way you approach writing in this "honest, useful craft book that all fledgling writers need" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) from fourteen diverse authors that demystifies craft and authorship based on their experiences as writers of color--perfect for fans of Fresh Ink...
Violet Shrink
Baldacchino, Christine
Paper Book
In this powerful story from Christine Baldacchino, author of Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, a young girl navigates social anxiety at family gatherings and works with her father to find a solution. Violet Shrink doesn't like parties. Or bashes, or gatherings. Lots of people and...
Displeasure Island
Bell, Alice (Gaming website editor)
Paper Book
The delightful follow-up to Grave Expectations. Another playful contemporary cosy mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Ben Aaronovitch.
The world needs more purple people
Bell, Kristen
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller! Actress, producer, and parent Kristen Bell (The Good Place, Veronica Mars, Frozen) and creative director and parent Benjamin Hart have a new challenge for you and your kids- become a purple person by embracing what makes YOU special while...
The purple puffy coat
Boelts, Maribeth
Paper Book
Beetle gives Stick Insect an attention-grabbing coat for his birthday - but is that what Stick Insect really wants? A delightful story about friends learning to understand each other. It's almost Stick Insect's birthday, and his fashionable friend Beetle can't wait to give him his present - a purple...
My life in the purple kingdom
BrownMark (Musician)
Paper Book
From the young Black teenager who built a bass guitar in woodshop to the musician building a solo career with Motown Records--Prince's bassist BrownMark on growing up in Minneapolis, joining Prince and The Revolution, and his life in the purple kingdom   ...
Purple cane road
Burke, James Lee
Paper Book
Dave Robicheaux has spent his life confronting the age-old adage that the sins of the father pass onto the son. But what has his mother's legacy left him? Dead to him since youth, Mae Guillory has been shuttered away in the deep recesses of Dave's mind. He's lived with the fact that he would never...
Write your business plan : your step-by-step guide to building a thriving business
Butow, Eric
Paper Book
Write Your Business Plan, 2nd Edition is the essential guide that leads you through the most critical startup step next to committing to your business vision--writing your business plan.  Whether you're just starting out or already running a business, to successfully build a...
Eat your superpowers! : how colorful foods keep you healthy and strong
Buzzeo, Toni
Paper Book
Twenty-five different foods, grouped by color, are nutritionally decoded in this reference book for the preschool set. From grapes to beets and oatmeal to cashews, this reference book highlights and explains the benefits of 25 fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, each grouped...
We are villains
Callender, Kacen
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Kacen Callendar comes a thrilling, dark academia YA about murder, blackmail, and the one person determined to discover the truth, no matter the cost What happened to Arianna Reynolds? Ari's...
Wish upon a K-star
Cho, Kat
Paper Book
A spin-off to the New York Times best-selling Once Upon a K-Prom, a K-pop idol and an up-and-coming K-drama star must fake date in this fresh and funny romcom that Korean pop culture fans will absolutely swoon over! Moon Minseok-or Moonster as this WDB fans know him...
Recommended reading
Coccia, Paul
Paper Book
'Recommended Reading is swoon-worthy in every possible way! Bobby's story is a sheer delight and an ode to book lovers everywhere who believe that the magic of stories reaches beyond the page.' Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author. In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma,...
Sarahland : stories
Cohen, Sam
Paper Book
"Queer, dirty, insightful, and so funny" (Andrea Lawlor), this coyly revolutionary debut story collection imagines new origins and futures for its cast of unforgettable protagonists--almost all of whom are named Sarah. FINALIST FOR THE GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FOR...
Sunrise on the reaping
Collins, Suzanne
Paper Book
The unforgettable fifth book in the Hunger Games series: Haymitch's story. Feature film scheduled for November 2026. #1 USA Today Bestseller * #1 New York Times Bestseller * #1 Indie Bestseller * #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller * A New York Times Editors'...
Nightshade : a novel
Connelly, Michael
Paper Book
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Introducing Detective Stilwell: a cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina Island.   Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell...
The marvellous land of Snergs
Cossanteli, Veronica
Paper Book
A brand new, funny and quirky story based on E.A. Wyke-Smith's classic, the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, featuring wonderful illustrations from Melissa Castrillón! PRAISE FOR THE HALLOWEEDS: 'A highly entertaining mix of mystery, adventure and gory detail'DAILY...
The one hundred years of Lenni and Margot : a novel
Cronin, Marianne
Paper Book
"A beautiful debut, funny, tender, and animated by a willingness to confront life's obstacles and find a way to survive. . . . It celebrates friendship, finds meaning in difficulty and lets the reader explore dark places while always allowing for the possibility of light. Lenni and Margot are...
10 minutes to better body image : a step-by step guide for teens using CBT and mindfulness
David, Lee
Paper Book
What can you really do in 10 minutes? You could pop to the shops for some milk, watch a YouTube video or pet your cat - and now, with this book, you can improve your body image. No matter how busy or stressful your day, with 10-minute steps and quick activities, you can better...
Happy Father's Day from the Crayons
Daywalt, Drew
Paper Book
For this wonderful mini hardcover celebration of Father's Day, the hilarious Crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day the Crayons Quit love their dads--and father figures in their lives--so much, they wrote a book about it! Red Crayon loves his dad...
The Smeds and the Smoos
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
  Soar into space with this glorious love story of alien folk, from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo and Stick Man. 'By a loobular lake on a far-off planet There lived a young Smed, and her name was Janet. Not far...
Purple crayons : the art of drawing a life
Ellenhorn, Ross
Paper Book
In this joyous and inventive rereading of the beloved children's book Harold and the Purple Crayon, the author of How We Change (And Ten Reasons Why We Don't) celebrates our inherent "sacred originality" and establishes a new framework for self-reliance. In 1955, Crockett...
Every duke has his day
Enoch, Suzanne
Paper Book
Brain meets Beauty in this sparkling, fresh take on the classic Bringing Up Baby - if Jane Austen had written it! A romantic comedy with a dash of chaos featuring the most ill-behaved poodle in Regency London, by New York Times bestseller Suzanne Enoch. Michael...
Etta Invincible
Eschmann, Reese
Paper Book
In this touching debut middle grade novel, a girl with hearing loss and a boy adjusting to life in a new country connect through their love of comics and get entangled in their own fantastical adventure. Twelve-year-old Etta Johnson has Loud Days where she can hear just fine and...
The scorpion queen
Fears, Mina
Paper Book
At first glance, Princess Mariama lives a charmed life at the imperial palace in Timbuktu with servants catering for her every need. But deep within the palace walls, a terrible trial takes place for the princess's hand in marriage. Ninety-nine suitors have died and the princess is determined...
Prunella
Ferry, Beth
Paper Book
Five starred reviews! From New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry comes a fantastical and unforgettable picture book about an unusual girl whose purple thumb helps her cultivate a truly macabre garden. When Prunella is born with a purple thumb...
The colors of history
Gifford, Clive
Paper Book
Samantha Spinner and the perplexing pants
Ginns, Russell
Paper Book
Take another super-big globe-trotting, plaid pants spotting adventure with Samantha Spinner and her brother, Nipper, in the fourth book in this hilarious, puzzle-packed series! Perfect for fans of Mr. Lemoncello's Library and the Secret series, and classics like Holes and The...
Riders of the purple sage
Grey, Zane
Paper Book
This splendid, powerful, classic novel was written in 1911, but for over ninety years it has existed only in a profoundly censored version, one that undermined the truth of the characters and the integrity of Zane Grey's masterpiece. In this restored edition, with text based on Grey's original...
Fly like a girl : one woman's dramatic fight in Afghanistan and on the home front
Hegar, Mary Jennings
Paper Book
A Young Readers Edition of a compelling story of courage and triumph, this is the inspiring true story of Major Mary Jennings Hegar--a brave and determined woman who gave her all for her country, her sense of justice, and for women everywhere. On July 29, 2009, Air National Guard...
Act your age, Eve Brown
Hibbert, Talia
Paper Book
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! 'Talia Hibbert is a rockstar! Her writing is smart, funny, and sexy' Meg Cabot In New York Times bestselling author Talia Hibbert's newest romcom, the flightiest Brown sister crashes...
King of pride
Huang, Ana
Paper Book
A diverse and steamy, forbidden billionaire romance from New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Ana Huang! She's his opposite in every way...and the greatest temptation he's ever known. Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor...
Biology lessons
Kantor, Melissa
Paper Book
Biology Lessons is a heartfelt and profound contemporary young adult novel about the strength and importance of female friendship in a time when bodily autonomy is outlawed, from acclaimed author Melissa Kantor. "This is a book that Judy Blume would approve of." --...
Braiding sweetgrass for young adults : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants
Kimmerer, Robin Wall
Paper Book
I could hand you a braid of sweetgrass as thick and shining as the braid that hung down my grandmother's back. But it is not mine to give, nor yours to take. Wiingaashk belongs to herself. I offer, in her place, a braid of stories meant to heal our relationship with the world. As a...
The purple swamp hen and other stories
Lively, Penelope
Paper Book
In this new and varied collection of short stories, Penelope Lively shows that she remains a master of her craft, and one of our finest English writers. 'You are in the hands of a master' Daily Mail 'Thoughtful, intelligent and light of touch... Lively has...
Lost Talismans and a Tequila
Marie, Annette
Paper Book
You know that squirmy sensation in your gut when you have no idea what you're doing and you're about to screw everything up? Yeah, that feeling. I thought I was a good judge of character, but recent events proved me very wrong. Now, in a brilliant demonstration of my newfound...
Secrets of the Purple Pearl
McKinnon, Kate
Paper Book
Major monster mess
Miedoso, Andres
Paper Book
It's Desmond and Andres versus creepy monster lunch ladies in the sixth book of the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series! Usually the cafeteria is where good food goes to meet its maker, but at Kersville Elementary, lunchtime is a little different. For starters, the food is delicious...
Heir of storms
Murray, Lauryn Hamilton
Paper Book
'This is going to be huge' Laura Steven, international bestselling author of Our Infinite Fates HEIR OF STORMS is an epic romantasy in the style of TWIN CROWNS and early Sarah J. Maas with a touch of THE HUNGER GAMES. I am the girl who wove the storm that...
How to draw the world : Harold and the purple crayon and the making of a children's classic
Nel, Philip
Paper Book
A biography of the book that inspired Prince to adopt purple as his signature color, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Richard Powers to become a writer, and countless other creative people to become artists.A primer on the art and design of children's picture books, renowned children's literature...
The starfish sisters : a novel
O'Neal, Barbara
Paper Book
From the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids comes an emotional novel about two women facing the betrayals, heartbreaks, and refuge of true friendship. Phoebe and Suze used to be closer than sisters. Growing up in a quiet and wildly beautiful...
Captain Underpants and the preposterous plight of the purple potty people
Pilkey, Dav
Paper Book
George and Harold's time-traveling Purple Potty lands them in a crazy place in the eighth book in this #1 New York Times bestselling series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of Dog Man!The teachers are nice, the cafeteria serves delicious food, and the school principal, Mr. Krupp,...
Before colors : where pigments and dyes come from
Pimentel, Annette Bay
Paper Book
Colors don't come out of nothing. They always start somewhere . . . With something . . . With someone.
Jo Jo Makoons : fancy pants
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
Filled with lots of glitter, raised pinkies, and humorous misunderstandings, this second book in the Jo Jo Makoons series--written by Dawn Quigley and illustrated by Tara Audibert--is filled with the joy of a young Ojibwe girl discovering her very own special shine from the inside...
Creepy crayon!
Reynolds, Aaron
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! From the team behind the New York Times bestselling Creepy Carrots! and Creepy Pair of Underwear! comes the third in this hilariously spooky series about a young rabbit and his peculiar encounters--featuring a...
Surrendering to Hunt
Ryan, Jennifer
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan returns to the Wyoming Wilde series as a by-the-book lawman tangles with a stubborn young woman. Perfect for fans of authors like Maisey Yates, Joanne Kennedy and Carolyn Brown as well as Diana Palmer, Linda Lael Miller,...
Once upon a crime
Stevens, Robin
Paper Book
Featuring six marvellous mini-mysteries, including four original, brand-new and never-seen-before stories! Discover The Case of the Second Scream, set aboard the ship carrying Daisy and Hazel back from Hong Kong, and The Case of the Uninvited Guest, where Uncle...
My shadow is purple
Stuart, Scott
Paper Book
As featured on CNN, MSNBC, New York Post, The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, and more My Dad has a shadow that's blue as a berry, and my Mom's is as pink as a blossoming cherry. There's only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it's both and it's...
The Beasts We Bury
Taylor, D. L.
Paper Book
Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals-only after killing them first. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon...
Wicked darlings
Taylor, Jordyn
Paper Book
Bunny will not be quiet!
Tharp, Jason
Paper Book
From the endless imagination of Jason Tharp comes a brand-new, interactive Level 1 Ready-to-Read that's perfect for fans of Mo Willems, Jim Benton, David Milgrim, and for beginning readers who like to giggle! Bunny is being loud. His friend Big keeps asking him to be quiet, but...
Hawkeye
Thompson, Kelly
Paper Book
Remember Hawkeye? No, not that Hawkeye - your favorite Hawkeye, the former Young Avenger, the butt-kicking hero who had to save that other Hawkguy all the time and basically keep his life in some semblance of order. Yup, you know her, it's the dazzling Kate Bishop - making her solo comics debut!...
In search of the color purple : the story of an American masterpiece
Tillet, Salamishah
Paper Book
Mixing cultural criticism, literary history, biography, and memoir in an exploration of Alice Walker's critically acclaimed and controversial novel, The Color Purple Alice Walker made history in 1982 when she became the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, both...
The color purple
Walker, Alice
Paper Book
Read the original inspiration for the new, boldly reimagined film from producers Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, starring Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia Barrino. Celebrating its fortieth anniversary, The Color Purple writes a message of healing,...
Music mavens : 15 women of note in the industry
Walker, Ashley
Paper Book
Nothing moves us like music.  Music Mavens transports readers around the world (and beyond)--to a jazz performance in Genoa, an instrument lab in London, a Tokyo taiko dojo, a New York City beatbox battle, and even a film scoring session aboard the starship...

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