The Best New Kids’ & YA Books To Read Right Now
by the Brightly Editors
Fall has officially arrived, bringing cooler temperatures, cozy sweaters, and new books to read! With kids back in school and the holidays just a couple of months away, it’s the perfect time to stock up on these exciting new titles. Whether you’re looking to get a jump on holiday shopping or are looking for a book to enjoy now, here are the best children’s and YA books coming out this month.
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Picture Books
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The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake
Buy from:The baker dragon returns for his second picture book filled with friendship, magic, and baked goods. While watching his friend’s bakery, Ember receives a request to make a cake for the fairy princess. After several failed attempts, he takes a trip to the library, where he finds the recipe for the perfect cake.
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I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea
Buy from:Follow a blind child on a sensory journey through the changing seasons in this vibrant picture book. Neveah uses sounds, smells, tastes, and touch to sense the changing seasons. From crunching snow to the smell of the beach in summer, readers will love exploring their senses.
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Crocodiles Everywhere
Buy from:This gorgeous picture book helps kids process their big, uncomfortable feelings. It’s about a little girl who notices two crocodiles following her everywhere after her best friend moves away. When she approaches the creatures, she discovers that they represent her sad and angry feelings over the loss of her friend.
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I’m Very Busy
Buy from:The only thing Bridget wants for her birthday is to spend the day with her friends. Unfortunately, they are all too busy to spend time with her. When her friends realize the significance of the day, they make time to celebrate with Bridget. This adorable book from beloved picture book creator Oliver Jeffers encourages readers to prioritize relationships over busyness.
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I Am My Name
Buy from:Taken from her Indigenous family as a child, a young girl grows up with a new family and a new name. As an adult, her Bubbe (grandmother) helps her track down her birth family and reconnect with her Cree heritage. Readers will love this picture book memoir about a girl rediscovering her heart, voice, and identity.
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Together We Are Sunshine
Buy from:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727132/together-we-are-sunshine-by-jamilah-thompkins-bigelow-illustrated-by-raissa-figueroa//
Sisterhood meets nature in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Three sisters get impatient with each other as they explore the great outdoors. But when a storm rolls in, the girls must work together to stay safe. Vibrant illustrations and a poetic story make this celebration of sisterhood a must-read.(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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Peter’s Christmas Gifts: A Storybook
Buy from:Join Peter Rabbit and his sisters as they prepare for Christmas. The little rabbits can’t wait to give gifts to their friends, but when all the presents disappear, what are they to do? Children will love reading this festive holiday story about their favorite mischief-making rabbit.
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Pop-Up Peekaboo! Gabby’s Dollhouse
Buy from:Babies and toddlers will love playing peekaboo with their favorite characters from Gabby’s Dollhouse! Tiny readers will delight in lifting the flaps to uncover a pop-up character hiding on each page of this sturdy board book.
(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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Ms. Rachel and Bean and the Bedtime Routine: Encouraging a Calm and Comforting Good Night
Buy from:Ms. Rachel fans will want to read the latest title in her series of picture books for young readers. With her signature songs and tips, Ms. Rachel guides children and parents through a comforting bedtime routine.
(On sale: 10/21/2025)
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Finding Lost
Buy from:After her dad dies, Cordy’s mom starts thinking about moving their family out of the little town where they live. Desperate to stay in her hometown, Cordy starts looking for a miracle. But when she discovers a stray dog, she never expects the little creature to be the exact thing her family needs. This heartwarming book is a must-read for dog lovers!
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A Glimmer of Change
Buy from:Kids who read A Kind of Spark will enjoy this prequel, which tackles bullying, neurodivergence, and the importance of speaking up. When Keedie notices other kids bullying her sister, she creates an agency to tackle the problem. Soon, she is overrun with requests from kids who want revenge on their nemeses. Now, Keedie must walk a tightrope between standing up for the underdog and becoming the very thing her agency stands against.
(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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Dragonborn
Buy from:When tension with her overprotective mother causes Alex to transform into a literal fiery dragon, her world gets turned on its head. Now, she must attend a special academy for kids like her and learn to control her inner dragon. But when a dark force threatens the human world, Alex must use her fledgling powers to protect it. Young readers who love dragons, adventure, and magic will love this series opener!
(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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Invisible
Buy from:When budding artist J.J. Sugar receives a life-altering diagnosis, his disease appears next to him in the form of a creature. With the annoying and sarcastic trailing behind him, J.J. must survive middle school and learn to manage his new disease. Any child who has faced a significant challenge will appreciate this humorous and insightful story.
(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop
Buy from:Heists, time travel, and secret agencies combine in this action-packed adventure novel. When twins Pearl and Patrick discover time travel and visit Ancient Egypt, they unknowingly threaten the entire timeline. With rival organizations hot on their trail, the siblings set out to find the original inventor of time travel and fix the timeline they disrupted.
(On sale: 10/21/2025)
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Wilma Rudolph: The Graphic Novel
Buy from:Sports lovers will enjoy this inspiring graphic novel about Wilma Rudolph, a girl who lost the ability to walk properly after contracting polio. Despite her disability, Wilma worked hard and reached her dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist.
(On sale: 10/21/2025)
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XO Ballerina Big Sis
Buy from:Prima ballerina Tiler Peck shares her best advice, tips, and encouragement with young readers in this nonfiction book. With helpful information about dealing with everything from stage fright to proper nutrition, Peck becomes the “big sis” that every young ballerina needs.
(On sale: 10/21/2025)
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A Kids Book About Giving
Buy from:Using big, bold, and colorful text, this delightful book teaches children about the various ways we give gifts to one another. Whether it's a physical item or something intangible like time or a smile, there are many ways to give. This book helps kids recognize and celebrate them all.
(On sale: 10/28/2025)
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YA
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And the River Drags Her Down
Buy from:Soojin Han disregards the rules of her magical ability when she uses it to bring her sister back from the dead. But what starts as a joyful reunion quickly takes a darker turn when Soojin realizes her resurrected sister has another agenda. As bodies pile up, Soojin must figure out how to stop her sister from destroying everything she loves.
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Reel Love
Buy from:Social media meets romance in this adorable rom-com from the author of The Homecoming War. When Jamie attends an influencer convention with her social media-famous grandmother, she never expects to run into her grandmother’s biggest rival, or her super cute grandson, Ethan. But when a video competition brings the teens closer together, they must figure out how to tell their grandmothers about the budding relationship.
(On sale: 10/21/2025)
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My Life as an Internet Novel, Volume 1
Buy from:As an avid reader, Dani knows the tropes in internet novels, but never expected to become one of the characters she reads about. When she wakes up as the side character in an internet novel, she has no choice but to go along with the storyline. Soon, she’s following her gorgeous best friend on adventures and fighting off feelings for four cute (and fictional) guys.
(On sale: 10/14/2025)
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Last Chance Live!
Buy from:Death row inmate Eternity Price auditions for a television show competition where the winner receives clemency for their crimes and losers get executed. Expecting cutthroat competition, Eternity is prepared to do whatever it takes to win the game. However, as she becomes friends with the other players, she must decide whether to sacrifice their lives or her own.
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Moth Dark
Buy from:Six years ago, the Dark collided with Sascia’s world, upending both realms. When she meets Nugau, the prince of the Darkworld and Sascia’s would-be assassin, she realizes something more sinister is at play. As tensions rise between the realms, Sascia and Nugau risk everything for love. This lush fantasy novel will keep YA readers turning pages well into the night.
(On sale: 10/28/2025)
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