2025 TD Summer Reading Books for Older ChildrenUnpublished

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For fans of Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova's Awkward, this funny yet poignant middle-grade coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning to be seen by all.  Kevin Lee...

Anne is excited to be a guest at a party at Orchard Slope, the home of her kindred spirit, Diana Barry. But when the dares start and mean Josie Pye makes the others feel bad, Anne can't stop herself from challenging Josie to a dare... which leads to Anne being dared to climb the house and walk along...

★"Twenty-one kid-lit authors of color share a wide array of delicious recipes as well as personal experiences related to culture, race, and racism. Accompanied by vibrant illustrations, these story-recipe pairings demonstrate how intertwined food and identity are...The result is a...

5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world. Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died,...

Perfect for fans of Doll Bones and Hocus Pocus, this "beautifully creepy" (Kirkus Reviews), highly illustrated middle grade novel follows a girl who hopes to fix her outcast status through a game in the haunted woods, only to discover that some legends shouldn't be...

It's the summer of 1914. Eight-year-old Bernice lives with her family in a lighthouse on Georgian Bay. One day Bernice wakes up to find a stranger named Tom Thomson sleeping in their living room. When she overhears him talk about gold on a nearby island, Bernice is determined to find it. ...

Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, New York Magazine, Quill & Quire * JLG Gold Standard Selection * Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner * Kids Indie Next Pick From the acclaimed author of The Wolf Suit comes another weirdly hilarious, masterfully thought-provoking, and lushly painted early...

In this call to bravery from Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, Faizah learns to overcome her fears and stand in front of the crowd in this beautiful celebration of family, fencing, and community.   Faizah loves being part of the community at her mosque, and...

The Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year List - Family/School/Community & Outstanding Merit (2024) An unforgettable tale of persistence and problem-solving, based on the amazing true story of a Thai soccer team...

Everlasting Tales is a collection of multicultural fairy tales and folktales--honoring the stories passed down through oral tradition by refreshing and preserving them for new generations.  Before she was the famous goddess of the moon, she was simply Chang'e.  Once upon a...

Winner of a Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor! A heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons for fans of Rain Reign and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. ...

*Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature* A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life. Dan's always been a...

★ "Profiles 13 inspirational athletes...Written and illustrated by two hijabi, these uplifting profiles set off by cheerful illustrations are sure to spark interest. Great for readers passionate about athletics and hijabi representation."--Booklist, starred review Meet 13 inspiring...

When a thunderstorm grounds all flights following a huge Muslim convention, four unlikely kids are thrown together. Feek is stuck babysitting his younger sister, but he'd rather be writing a poem that's good enough for his dad, a famous poet and rapper. Hanna is intent on finding a lost cat in the...

A middle-school girl discovers a connection between her home in the Philippines and her new home in the U.S. through a special garden in "this sweet and heartfelt novel that explores how bumpy beginnings can offer chances for new growth" (The New York Times) A National Council...

The Nguyen kids are going on vacation! It's their first time in Vietnam and staying in Grandma Nội's childhood home, so they should be excited. As soon as they enter the house, though, something doesn't feel right. Why is the door to the ancestors' room always closed? And why can't...

Winner of the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award Discover a stunning middle grade fantasy about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save humanity, perfect for fans of Tristan Strong and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Have you ever lost a sock? It's in the Sock-Verse! Get ready to embark on a series of toe-tally awesome adventures that follow a band of misfit socks as they journey through this new whimsical world. Enter Freddy: a skater sock who gets caught in a dizzying spin-cycle and is...

★"Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children's nonfiction collection." -- School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review It takes courage and bravery to survive...

Stonewall Children's Literature Award Winner 2025 Rainbow Book List Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2024 NPR's Books We Love of 2024 GLAAD Media Awards Nominee 2024 Harvey Awards' Best Children's Book Nominee For fans of The Witch Boy and Squished,...

Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change. Goodbye, old life... Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family,...

Along the way, they share lessons learned and words of wisdom sure to inspire the next generation of scientists, adventurers, and world-changers. Track a volcanologist as she braves the elements atop an active volcano. Travel alongside a mountaineer as she battles stereotypes-and...

Melody flies to London to speak at a convention about differently abled kids in this "warm and beautifully told" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novels Out of My Mind and Out of My Heart.

Live life in the trash lane with this first entry in a hilarious middle grade graphic novel series about a family of sneaky raccoons from graphic novel superstars Stephanie Cooke and Whitney Gardner! Meet the Bins family, a trio of raccoons in the risky business of dumpster...

Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, this breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage stars an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget. "A riveting read for children and adults alike." -...

Salma is going to be a big sister! Can she figure out what it means to be a good sister before the baby arrives? Silver Birch Express Award Finalist OLA Top Ten Best Bets Winner Salma's determined to be the best sister ever, so she sets out to write the ultimate guidebook to...

A new and exciting pick-your-path STEM adventure for emerging readers! This series starter takes emerging readers on an expedition to the ocean's twilight zone in search of a giant squid. But giant squids are hard to find. Readers will need to join the expedition...

A lush graphic novel about family adrift and the magical adventure that brings them together. Based on the award-winning film, this gorgeous adaptation includes a bonus story from the film's creator. Many years after the disappearance of their...

This unique story follows the process of making a book from printing to shipping to selling . . . to reading! This beautifully illustrated picture book shows the journey of one book from printer to reader. Bright, contemporary artwork details the people, the vehicles, and the...

How did cheese happen? Who pickled the first pickle? Explore the history of innovative food in this non-fiction graphic novel filled with facts, legends, and recipes. Have you ever wondered how some of our favorite foods came to be? How was cheese created and who realized it...

In the eagerly anticipated sequel to Jamie Sumner¿s acclaimed and beloved middle grade novel Roll with It, Ellie finds her own way to shine. Ellie is so not the pageant type. They¿re Coralee¿s thing, and Ellie is happy to let her talented friend shine in the spotlight. But what¿s she supposed to do...

Eight monstrous mammals battle it out in this exciting bind-up featuring four Who Would Win? books in this action-packed animal series! Which dangerous animals would win in a fight? Find out in this awesome bind-up of four books in the popular Who Would Win? series. The collection features...

Best friends Willa and Wade really want to fly. Sure, Willa's an ostrich and Wade's a penguin. But there must be something they can think of that will get them off the ground! The two thorough thinkers try different ways - from pirouettes to pogo sticks - to catch some air. But while they do a lot...

As a member of the Vipers Swim Team, Julia Nam's always in the pool. Mountainview Community Centre is like her second home, not only because swimming at the aquatic centre is her favourite thing in the world, but also because her parents run the centre's sushi cafe. Julia would much rather...