The Best Children’s and YA Books of December

by the Brightly Editors

Whether you’re looking for last-minute holiday gifts or books to snuggle up with during the winter break, December is an excellent time to visit a bookstore. From charming picture books to sweeping young adult fantasies, these books will keep the readers in your family warm and happy this winter. Here are the best books coming your way this month.

  • Chapter Books & Middle Grade

  • Who Was John Lewis?

    by Crystal Hubbard and Who HQ, illustrated by Stephen Marchesi

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    When your kids learn about the Civil Rights Movement in school, they will enjoy reading this biography of John Lewis. He was an activist who supported Martin Luther King Jr. and served as Georgia’s congressman for over 30 years. Readers will learn about his childhood, influences, awards, and the steps he took to make a difference in society.

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  • Mayor Good Boy Turns Bad

    by Dave Scheidt and Miranda Harmon

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    Canine favorite, Mayor Good Boy, has had enough of being the star of politics and Hollywood. He embraces his bad-boy side in this hilarious third installment in the Mayor Good Boy graphic novel series. Mischief, humor, and surprises await for young readers!

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  • Oops, I Burped Mad Libs

    by David Tierra

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    Get your giggle on with these fill-in stories where potty humor takes center stage. The grosser the bodily function, the bigger the laugh. Kids will be in stitches as they complete these silly stories and read them to each other.

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  • The Last Rose

    by Leah Cypess

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    Mera must rescue her older sister Darlina from the Beast and his enchanted castle in this fractured retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Kids will love revisiting this beloved fairy tale and following Mera as she uncovers the mystery behind the Beast. This fourth book in the Sisters Ever After series will keep long-time fans and new readers captivated from beginning to end.

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  • Tasty

    by Victoria Grace Elliott

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    Young foodies, budding chefs, and aspiring food scientists will love this graphic novel about the history and legends behind their favorite dishes. Whether they love cheese, pickles, pizza, or Jell-O, kids will learn how each food became the tasty bites we enjoy today.

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  • Wonka

    by Roald Dahl, adapted by Sibéal Pounder, created by Simon Farnaby and Paul King

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    If your kid can’t get enough of the magical, musical movie Wonka, they’ll love this novelization of the film. The story retells the movie’s events, introducing readers to the young Willie Wonka, his ambitious dreams, and the quirky characters he meets. It’s the perfect book to read over the winter break!

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  • YA

  • The Ruined

    by Renée Ahdieh

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    The much-anticipated finale of The Beautiful Quartet will sweep you into a world filled with romance, betrayal, magic, and war. Bastien leads the charge to protect the Winter Court while Celine looks for a time-traveling mirror, hoping to stop a war. YA readers will want to binge-read this breathtaking series conclusion.

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  • Caught in a Bad Fauxmance

    by Elle Gonzales Rose

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    A lakeside vacation, a high-stakes bet, and fake dating? Sign me up! This adorable rom-com is the perfect lighthearted read to keep you company over winter break. The neighborhood Winter Games at Lake Andreas turns competitive when rival families go head-to-head for the prize. To gather intel on each other, the teen boys from each family strike up a fake relationship — with swoon-worthy results.

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  • Her Dark Wings

    by Melinda Salisbury

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    Greek mythology meets dark romance in this utterly captivating YA fantasy novel. After a life-altering betrayal and her best friend’s death, Corey gets pulled into the Underworld, where nothing is as she imagined. Hades, the Fates, and her own dark powers lure her deeper into the land of the dead. Lush prose and breathtaking romance make this retelling of the Persephone myth a must-read!

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  • Where There’s Smoke

    by E. B. Vickers

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    Pick this one up if you’re in the mood for a YA thriller with plenty of plot twists. After her father’s funeral, Calli finds a girl, alone and frightened, on her property. Calli thinks she is doing the right thing when she takes the girl home and helps her regain her strength. But when a detective shows up, and the townspeople start whispering, Calli realizes there’s more to the strange girl than she thought. Now, she wonders if her kindness put her in the crosshairs of a killer.

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