Color Our World: Independent Reader

Our 2025 Bookworm Summer Reading Theme is Color Your World. We invite you to explore the world around you through art and books. Here are some to get you started!

Updated January 3, 2025
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Party problems
Reid, C. L.
Paper Book
Emma is excited about Izzie's birthday party. But she's also nervous. Is her dress too fancy? Will she know anyone else at the party? Did she buy the right gift? Will Emma's worries ruin her chance to have fun? Find out how Emma handles her party problems in this early chapter book from the Emma...
The orange wall
Bolling, Valerie
Paper Book
Zoya and her puppy Coco are excited for a glittery bedroom makeover in this full-color book perfect for beginning readers! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read...
Parker dresses up
Curry, Parker
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling team behind Parker Looks Up returns with this Level 1 Ready-to-Read about the fun of dressing up and dreaming big! Parker is playing dress up with her younger siblings, Ava and Cash. With each costume, Parker imagines what her life...
Pete the Kitty's outdoor art project
Dean, Kim
Paper Book
Join Pete the Kitty as he gets creative in this I Can Read story from New York Times bestselling team Kimberly and James Dean. Pete the Kitty loves art class. But when the project is to go outside and make art from nature, Pete isn't sure what to create. Then inspiration...
Soren's seventh song
Eggers, Dave
Paper Book
From Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author Dave Eggers, Soren's Seventh Song is a deadpan take on creativity and persistence, as told through the eyes of a humpback whale looking for a new song--with color illustrations by Mark Hoffman. ...
Yasmin the fashionista
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
Yasmin is bored! But a glimpse of the pretty clothes in Mama's closet turns a boring evening into a glamorous fashion show, until, OOPS! Mama's shalwar kameez is ruined! Can Yasmin's nani save the day before Mama gets home?
Uncle Fred is a knucklehead!
Gutman, Dan
Paper Book
With more than 32 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! In this second book of the My Weirdtastic School arc, join A.J. and friends as they become part of the studio audience for a TV show whose host can't seem to grow up! A.J. and the gang...
The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink
Hale, Shannon
Paper Book
When plans for a ball run a-fowl, Princess Magnolia accepts the help of a valiant new hero to save her secret decorations--and the entire evening! Princess Magnolia is at the Flower Festival prepping for the evening ball when suddenly she hears a commotion. Oh no! She isn...
The princess in black
Hale, Shannon
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Who says princesses don't wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess...
Showtime!
Lyons, Kelly Starling
Paper Book
Ty rocks out with friends in this new book in the Geisel Honor-winning series! Join Ty on his imaginative adventures in Ty's Travels: Showtime, a My First I Can Read story by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Niña Mata. Music, imagination,...
João by a thread
Mello, Roger
Paper Book
As Joao tucks under a lovingly woven quilt, he asks himself: So it's just me now? He curls up, getting cozy in bed, and soon the world of his dreams unspools on the page. The blanket in his bed unravels into deep rivers, lakes, valleys, reservoirs, mountain ranges, fishing nets full of tadpoles and...
The color of sound
Isler, Emily Barth
Paper Book
"[A] salient celebration of family, music, and neurodiversity." --starred, Publishers Weekly "A top pick for any middle school collection; a perfect book club pick and a reminder to all that patience and understanding can change lives." --starred, School Library Journal Twelve-year...
The show must demon!
Miedoso, Andres
Paper Book
A demon takes the stage in this eighteenth spooky adventure in the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series! What's worse than dealing with a demon? Being onstage in a school play with one in front of a live audience! Join Desmond and Andres as they act their way through the most cursed...
Monkey-CAM
Palatini, Margie.
Paper Book
Experience the world from a monkey's perspective via the video camera on its head in this fun and exciting Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read book in the Critter-Cam series! Through a video camera positioned on the monkey's head, readers can follow along from the monkey's point of view as...
Kitty-cam
Palatini, Margie
Paper Book
See the world from a pet kitty's point of view via the video camera perched on its head in this playful and energetic Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read book in the Critter-Cam series! Jump, Kitty. Jump. Jump. Jump. Dunk, Kitty. Dunk. Dunk. Dunk. Dunk.
The adventures of Captain Underpants : an epic novel
Pilkey, Dav
Paper Book
Laugh out loud with Captain Underpants, the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Dog Man!Fourth graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins are a couple of class clowns. The only thing they enjoy more than playing practical jokes is creating their own comic...
Cat Kid Comic Club
Pilkey, Dav
Paper Book
A pioneering new graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of the internationally bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series. Naomi, Melvin, Pedro, and Poppy are just a few of the twenty-one rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs who share their...
Poetry prompts : all sorts of ways to start a poem
Coelho, Joseph
Paper Book
A compendium of poetry prompts from Joseph Coelho (Children's Laureate 2022-2024). *2024 Everymom Best Book for Early Reading* *2024 CBC Librarian FAVORITES* *2024 CBC Teacher FAVORITES* Each fun and engaging prompt for writing a poem helps...
Everywhere beauty is Harlem : the vision of photographer Roy Decarava
Golio, Gary
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Best Picture Book of the Year A Kirkus Best Picture Book Biography CCBC Choices 2025 A Kirkus Reviews Most Anticipated Book of 2024 The New York Public Library Best...
Winged wonders : solving the monarch migration mystery
Pincus, Meeg
Paper Book
2020 Finalist AAAS/Subaru American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru 2020 EUREKA Excellence in Nonfiction Awards - Honoree Winner Best of 2020 Picture Book New Releases - Innovative Nonfiction Category The Original Art 2020 Nominee For decades, as the...
Upstaged
Asher, Diana Harmon
Paper Book
A shy seventh grader learns to step into the spotlight in Upstaged, a heartwarming middle-grade novel by acclaimed author Diana Harmon Asher. Shira Gordon is painfully shy. She rarely speaks and blushes at everything. And yet when she's alone in her room, she...
Zia erases the world
Barton, Bree
Paper Book
"Luminous, empowering, and full of heart-healing truths, this is a novel that belongs on every shelf."-Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award winning author For fans of Crenshaw and When You Trap a Tiger comes the extraordinary tale of a headstrong girl and the...
The last comics on Earth : too many villains!
Brallier, Max
Paper Book
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling series from worldwide phenomenon Max Brallier-- a spin-off based on the mega-bestselling The Last Kids on Earth! Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk face their biggest challenge yet: creating the sequel to their hit graphic novel...
Dream, Annie, dream
Brown, Waka T.
Paper Book
In this empowering deconstruction of the so-called American Dream, a twelve-year-old Japanese American girl grapples with, and ultimately rises above, the racism and trials of middle school she experiences while chasing her dreams. As the daughter of immigrants who came to...
Keep dancing, Lizzie Chu
Chan, Maisie
Paper Book
A girl tries to cheer up her grieving, forgetful grandfather by taking him on a rollicking road-trip adventure in Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu, a charming and poignant middle-grade novel from award-winning author Maisie Chan.   Twelve-year-old Lizzie Chu has...
Unstuck
Dee, Barbara
Paper Book
"Both relatable and inspiring...an entertaining and heartfelt read." --Janae Marks, New York Times bestselling author of On Air with Zoe Washington From critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee comes a middle grade novel that's "this generation's Dear Mr....
Upstaged
Easter, Robin
Paper Book
★ "Sharply written and evocative" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "This theater camp has plenty of captivating drama both on stage and off!" --Kayla Miller, New York Times bestselling creator of the Click graphic novel series ...
Maya plays the part
Erb, Calyssa
Paper Book
A Children's Book Book Council Spotlight selection! A heartwarming middle-grade debut with autism representation and a musical flair. Maya lives and breathes musicals. When her chance to finally be a part of the summer musical program at the community theater comes up, Maya is...
A copycat conundrum
Yee, Lisa
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . When San Francisco is under strange attacks-like earthquakes affecting only two city blocks at a time-who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series!
The swifts : a dictionary of scoundrels
Lincoln, Beth
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller! "Knives Out feel by way of Lemony Snicket...This archly told, never muddled debut whodunit reveals a roster of distinct characters, a labyrinthine setting and plot, and a mystery that is as clever as its heroine." - Publishers Weekly...
Besties : Work It Out
Miller, Kayla
Paper Book
A fun and fresh graphic-novel series spin-off of the New York Times bestselling Click books, featuring aspiring entrepreneurs Beth and Chanda! When the girls land a lucrative dogsitting gig, they're sure that fame, fortune, and popularity can't be far behind, but nothing can prepare them for the...
Jacky Ha-Ha gets the last laugh
Patterson, James
Paper Book
Jacky Ha-Ha is off to theater camp and funnier than ever in this hilarious illustrated novel from James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein's #1 New York Times bestselling series. Jacky Hart finally knows the thrill of having people laugh with her (not at her). She tries to...
Picture day
Sax, Sarah
Paper Book
Everyone knows the most stressful day of middle school is picture day! And that's exactly where thisyearbook-worthy graphic novel series opener begins- with reinventing yourself, drama, popularity, and the friends who see you through. Seventh-grader Viv never looks forward...
Art year by year
Bowden, Alice
Paper Book
Travel through time to discover the paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects that enrich our world. Are you seeking a lavishly illustrated timeline that showcases a glorious gallery of art from all around the world? Then SI Art Year By Year may be the book for you!
The drawing lesson : a graphic novel that teaches you how to draw
Crilley, Mark
Paper Book
Read This Comic and Start Drawing Today! Nominated for a 2017 Eisner Award For the first time ever, drawing instructor and graphic novelist Mark Crilley brings his easy-to-follow artistic instruction to aspiring artists in the form of a comic book, providing you with a one-of-a...
Fashionopolis : the secrets behind the clothes we wear
Thomas, Dana
Paper Book
A look at fast fashion and its impact on the environment and social justice, perfect for middle grade classrooms Did you ever think about where your jeans come from? How about the people who made your T-shirt, or what happens to the clothes you grow out of when you're done...

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