The Best Children’s and YA Books of October 2019
by the Brightly Editors
October is packed with reads both delightful and profound — from picture books celebrating generosity and creativity, to middle grade reads about the power of kindness and YA titles that feature fearless protagonists. There’s something for everyone (including you!).
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Picture Books
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The Gift Inside the Box
Known best for his grown-up reads Grant and Take and Originals, Adam Grant and his wife, Allison, share an uplifting message of generosity with young readers. An unopened gift box is patiently waiting for the just-right person, but keeps falling into selfish hands. After all, what every gift box really needs is a generous giver to transform the gift box into a gift.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Preorder from: -
I Wonder
Available from:Encourage your child’s wondering side with this whimsical picture book that indulges the curiosities of children. It’s easy to forget the world is full of magic until we’re invited to view it through a child’s eyes. That sense of marvel is bottled up in the playful illustrations and tender conclusion.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Also available from: -
Elbow Grease vs. Motozilla
Available from:The little monster truck with a big heart is back on the track in this fast-paced addition to John Cena’s bestselling series. Elbow Grease’s next opponent, Motozilla, is quite a beast, to put it mildly — but Elbow Grease has four big brothers on his side, and teamwork changes everything.
(On Sale: 10/8/19)Also available from: -
The Crayons' Christmas
Available from:Fans of the hilarious bestsellers The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home can get in the Christmas spirit with their favorite plucky, colorful characters. The Crayons’ Christmas is stuffed with interactive elements — including removable letters from the crayons themselves, punch-out ornaments, and more — all wrapped up in a sweet story about giving.
(On Sale: 10/15/19)Also available from: -
Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows
Available from:Even unicorns wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes. Kevin is having one of those no-good days, made all the more difficult by the pressure to constantly radiate positivity. Luckily for Kevin, he’s about to learn about expressing his feelings — even when his feelings aren’t as pretty as rainbows.
(On Sale: 10/22/19)Also available from: -
Sunny Day: A Celebration of the Sesame Street Theme Song
Does your family know the Sesame Street theme song so well, you could sing it in your sleep? Don’t miss out on this stunning tribute from today’s most iconic illustrators! Each line of “Sunny Day” is rendered by a different artist, creating a heartwarming celebration of inclusivity and 50 joyful years on Sesame Street.
(On Sale: 10/22/19)Preorder from: -
The Space Walk
Available from:In this giggle-inducing parody of the parent-child relationship, astronaut Randolph Witherspoon has major interstellar plans. But Ground Control keeps reining Randolph in, insisting that he eat lunch and change his clothes. Can Randolph and Ground Control work together to complete their distinct missions?
(On Sale: 10/29/19)Also available from:
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Middle Grade
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The Bootlace Magician
In this enchanting sequel to Circus Mirandus, Micah Tuttle — a magician’s apprentice — is continuing his studies with his mentor while living among magicians and mythical creatures of the circus. But when a dangerous foe makes a target of Circus Mirandus, Micah will have to harness his magic in order to protect his home.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Preorder from: -
Magic Tree House Deluxe Holiday Edition: Christmas in Camelot
Available from:In this special edition from the Magic Tree House series, Jack and Annie are invited to spend Christmas Eve in Camelot. This is no holiday vacation, though; the enchantress Morgan le Fay sent for the siblings because Camelot is in trouble. Will Jack and Annie be able to help?
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Also available from: -
Return of the Temujai
Available from:In the eighth book of the Brotherband Chronicles, the peaceful land of Skandia is under threat by warriors known as the Temujai. Hal and his brothers brave the high seas to defend their land in this thrilling read ideal for fans of epics like The Lord of the Rings.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Also available from: -
Reach for the Skai
In her empowering memoir, actress and activist Skai Jackson pulls back the curtain on celebrity life and encourages readers to stand up for their values. Known best for her roles on Disney’s Bunk’d and Jessie, Skai dips into her own insecurities and shares how she claps back to bullying culture.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Preorder from: -
White Bird: A Wonder Story
Available from:R. J. Palacio’s newest addition to the Wonder universe is a gorgeous and powerful graphic novel that centers on Julian’s grandmother when she was a young Jewish girl seeking refuge in Nazi-occupied France. Written and illustrated with care, White Bird demonstrates the life-changing power of kindness.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Also available from: -
Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat: The Spacedog Cometh #3
Available from:In Book 1 of the Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat series
, Klawde was the unexpected guest on Raj Banerjee’s doorstep. Now, in the third installment of the series, both Klawde and Raj have uninvited visitors: for Raj, it’s his grandmother, who seems bent on humiliating him; and for Klawde, it’s an intergalactic canine with a bone to pick.
(On Sale: 10/8/19)Also available from:
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Young Adult
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The Fountains of Silence
Available from:The Fountains of Silence captures an overlooked moment in history: the quiet fascism that gripped Spain after the Spanish Civil War. So buried was General Franco’s dictatorship that tourists still flocked to Spain for holiday, including Daniel Matheson — hoping to connect with his heritage. There, he falls in love with Ana, whose family’s struggles mirror their country’s.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Also available from: -
Scars Like Wings
It’s been a year since Ava Lee’s parents were killed in the fire that destroyed their home, and since Ava became a burn survivor. At her aunt and uncle’s insistence, she returns to high school, where she’s certain she’ll be shunned. But when Ava meets Piper and Asad, she starts to wonder if there might be life after tragedy after all.
(On Sale: 10/1/19)Preorder from: -
The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
Available from:In the exhilarating sequel set in the parallel world of His Dark Materials (soon to get the HBO treatment), Lyra is a 20-year-old college student who doesn’t know that her professor, Dr. Polstead, is the Malcolm who had such a hand in her fate. She’s about to start putting the pieces together, though, after she and her daemon uncover familiar secrets.
(On Sale: 10/3/19)Also available from: -
The Beautiful
Available from:Renée Ahdieh returns with another page-turning romance, the first in a new series. In 1872 New Orleans, Celine Rousseau has found refuge among the sisters of the Ursuline convent, and she’s immediately taken with the city — including the seductive Sébastien Saint Germain. Celine’s attraction to Sébastien becomes all the more forbidden when he’s revealed to be a vampire.
(On Sale: 10/8/19)Also available from: -
Jackpot
In her latest novel, bestselling author Nic Stone examines how privilege plays out in romance. Rico pitches in for her household by working at a gas station after school. When she recognizes the jackpot-winning ticket as one she sold — and it never gets cashed in — she and her (mega-rich) best friend, Zan, go looking, and their differences rise to the surface.
(On Sale: 10/15/19)Preorder from: -
Full Disclosure
Available from:Simone is the new girl at school, and though she’s doing well for herself — directing the student production of Rent, mutually crushing on a boy named Miles — she has a big secret, one that already haunted her at her last school: she’s HIV-positive. Afraid of how Miles will take the news, Simone hesitates, until a threatening note is slipped in her locker. A fearless and powerful read, Full Disclosure is sure to spark important conversations.
(On Sale: 10/29/19)Also available from:
