All Ages
The Best Children’s and YA Books of December
by the Brightly Editors
There’s no better winter activity than snuggling up in a blanket with a warm drink and a book. Whether you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift or something for your kid to read over the winter break, you’ll find plenty of excellent ideas on this list. Here are the best and brightest books for children and teens this publishing month.
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Picture Books
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Our Beautiful Colors
Also available from:Learn your colors with a group of adorable Black babies (including one with vitiligo) playing together at the park. The children run on the green grass, eat red berries, and chase orange butterflies. This vibrant Little Golden Book is an excellent choice with its upbeat, rhyming text and colorful illustrations.
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Little Owl's Love
Also available from:Everyone’s favorite owl returns with a new story about finding joy in family, friends, and nature. Themes of gratitude and reflection make it the perfect story to read as we head into the new year.
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How We Say I Love You
Also available from:Through small acts of kindness, an Asian American girl and her family show their love for each other. This sweet story celebrates the ways people express love without words. It’s a charming book guaranteed to deliver warm, fuzzy feelings straight to your heart.
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Disney's 100th Anniversary Boxed Set of 12 Little Golden Books (Disney)
Also available from:Celebrate Disney’s centennial with this gorgeous set of picture books! This boxed set includes 12 classic Disney Little Golden Books like Mickey Mouse’s Picnic, It’s a Small World, and Frozen, among others. It’s a must-have for any die-hard Disney fan.
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Together: A First Conversation About Love
Also available from:Having meaningful conversations with children helps them grow up to be kinder and more self-aware with better self-esteem. The First Conversations series helps parents and caregivers have those crucial conversations with even the youngest kiddos. Learn about love in all its forms with this colorful and joyful picture book.
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Smart Sisters
Also available from:From the creator of Happy Hair and Cool Cuts comes another affirming, positive picture book about sisterhood and friendship. Rhyming text, vibrant illustrations, and a self-esteem-boosting message will make this book a favorite for girls of every age.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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She Persisted: Rosalind Franklin
Also available from:Kids who like biology will love this informative chapter book biography about Rosalind Franklin. Readers will learn about this fascinating woman, her childhood, how she became a scientist, and her contributions to the study of DNA. With black and white illustrations throughout, this 80-page biography is a must-read for science-loving kids.
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Who Was Alex Trebek?
Also available from:Most people know Alex Trebek as the host of Jeopardy! But Alex didn’t always work for the popular quiz game show. Young (and young-at-heart) readers can learn about this beloved TV personality, from his childhood to his first radio job and eventually hosting one of America’s favorite television shows.
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The Famously Funny Parrott
Also available from:Buckle in because you’re about to go on a fun-filled escapade with best friends Freddy and Piccary! This book contains four hilarious short stories featuring the dynamic duo and their misadventures in Freddy’s fancy convertible. The rib-tickling humor and vintage-looking illustrations will appeal to kids and parents who loved The Wind in the Willows.
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Matchmaker #3
Also available from:Get out your lab coat and beakers and join your favorite science-loving kid for Valentine’s Day in the third installment of this highly illustrated chapter book series. Miles and his friend Jada invite their grandparents to help with a science project and notice everything they have in common. Could it be love?
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Pencilmation: The Graphite Novel
Also available from:Is your kid obsessed with the animated YouTube series, Pencilmation? Now, kids have a screen-free option for hanging out with their favorite doodles. This graphic novel delivers all the laughs and fun they love about the show directly to the page. Kids will read this one on repeat!
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YA
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The Excalibur Curse
Also available from:Get your fill of romance, magic, and betrayal with the breathtaking conclusion to The Guinevere Deception series! Dive back into the Arthurian Legend as Guinevere grapples with who and what she is while trying to save Camelot from utter destruction. It’s an action-packed thrill-ride series fans will obsess over!
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So, This Is Love
Also available from:If you loved Tracy Andreen’s YA holiday romance, So, This Is Christmas, you’ll want to pick up the sequel. Finley already got the guy. Now she wants to keep him. As Finley and Arthur head back to school, they navigate the questions and insecurities of a new romance. They do some soul-searching to figure out how to define their relationship now that Christmas is over and they’re back to real-life.
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