All Ages
The Best Children’s and YA Books of September
by the Brightly Editors
You made it through the summer, and fall officially starts this month. This time of year is our favorite for book releases, and we have many fantastic new titles to share with you. You’ll find giggle-worthy picture books, adventurous middle grade novels, and spooky YA books to get you in the mood for Halloween.
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Picture Books
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I Have a Superpower
Also available from:Basketball fans and active kids will love NBA star Stephen Curry’s new picture book about finding your superpower. Readers will learn that you can accomplish anything if you work hard and keep a positive attitude. It encourages kids to dream big and reach for the stars.
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The Crayons Trick or Treat
Also available from:Everyone’s favorite box of crayons is back in a hilarious Halloween-themed adventure. Readers follow the Crayons on their first trick-or-treat as Purple Crayon demonstrates the proper way to do it. This light-hearted book is an excellent addition to your stack of Halloween reads.
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Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese
Also available from:Food, family, and storytelling combine in this picture book about African American cuisine and culture. A young girl helps her grandmother prepare food for a holiday celebration. While they cook, the grandmother tells her stories about their family, how they came to America, and how they gained freedom.
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Welcome to the Big Kids Club
Also available from:From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of She Persisted comes a picture book about becoming an older sibling. New babies are a lot of work, and this book teaches soon-to-be older siblings everything they need to know. Colorful illustrations and plenty of humor make this book a must-have for any growing family.
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Misty the Cloud: Friends Through Rain or Shine
Also available from:Help your child learn social-emotional skills with the help of TODAY Show co-host Dylan Dreyer and the adorable cloud Misty. When the clouds and sunbeams clash at a party, it looks like the fun is over. However, when they put aside their differences, they reach a compromise that works for everyone.
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Not All Sheep Are Boring!
Also available from:Get ready to giggle your way through bedtime! Saturday Night Live comedian Bobby Moynihan delivers a laugh-out-loud picture book that kids and their grown-ups will love reading every night. Readers of all ages will discover that counting sheep is far more exciting than they thought.
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I am Batman
Also available from:Comics-loving kids will enjoy this fictional biography of one of the most iconic superheroes. Readers will learn about Bruce Wayne’s childhood, influences, and what drove him to fight for justice.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Witches of Brooklyn: S'More Magic
Also available from:Summer camp gets a hefty dose of magic when Effie the witch gets out of school. Spending the summer outdoors with a bunch of kids she doesn’t know sounds boring. But trouble always finds Effie, and summer camp is no exception. Kids who love graphic novels and stories about witches will enjoy Effie’s newest adventure.
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Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House
Also available from:Jack and Annie have gone on magical time-traveling adventures for the last 30 years, and they’ve learned plenty of essential lessons along the way. This book combines those lessons with the author’s memories and stories from her childhood to create a one-of-a-kind book that every series fan will adore.
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The Last Kids on Earth and the Forbidden Fortress
Also available from:Don’t miss the eighth installment in this wildly popular series! In this book, Jack, Quint, June, and Dirk get reunited and must work together to stop an evil plot to destroy the world. It’s jam-packed with the humor, action, and thrills that series fans expect.
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The Area 51 Files
Also available from:This new series from the New York Times bestselling author of What to Say Next is about a girl named Sky who moves in with her uncle in Area 51. At first, she loves her new home, but when a group of aliens vanishes and Sky takes the blame, she must figure out what really happened. Friendship, mystery, aliens, and humor take center stage in this rollicking science fiction adventure.
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Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish
Also available from:Kids who can’t get enough of diary-style novels will gobble up this funny, prank-filled book. When Airi moves to Hawaii and starts at her new school, her teacher is too enthusiastic for Airi’s taste. To cope, she rallies her new classmates and friends to launch an all-out prank war against the teacher. Kids will laugh through every twist and turn in this hilarious novel!
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Holler of the Fireflies
Also available from:When Javari leaves his Brooklyn home and goes to a small West Virginia town for summer camp, he isn’t sure what to expect. Between the culture shock and STEM lessons, Javari makes new friends, finds himself, and learns essential life lessons in this thought-provoking coming-of-age novel.
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Pirates Past Noon Graphic Novel
Also available from:Head to a tropical island with Jack and Annie in this graphic novel adaptation of the Pirates Past Noon chapter book. Readers can relive the popular adventure—getting captured by pirates and searching for buried treasure—in full color!
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YA
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Miss Peregrine's Museum of Wonders
Also available from:Take a deep dive into the world of Miss Peregrine with this essential guide. From familiars to time loops, this book gives series fans everything they need to know about navigating the unconventional universe. Mega fans will go nuts over the stories, secrets, photos, and places that fill the pages of this gift-worthy book.
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Secrets So Deep
Also available from:From the bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies comes a ghostly mystery for YA readers. Avril returns to the camp where her mother drowned to search for answers about her death. While Avril searches for clues, she digs up secrets, legends, and frightening visions of herself and her mother at the water’s edge. This spooky thriller will send chills up your spine!
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How To Succeed in Witchcraft
Also available from:This modern witch story is the perfect YA read for fall. Join Shay and Ana as they compete for a scholarship to their dream university, tackle the lead roles in the school musical, fall in love, and stand up for what’s right. It’s a fun, flirty story with magic and social justice tossed into the mix.
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Soul of the Deep
Also available from:If you loved Skin of the Sea, you won’t want to miss the sequel! After saving the world at the cost of her freedom, Simi soon learns of a new threat growing in the ocean and on land. To stop it, she must abandon her post and join a secretive god in a desperate attempt to save the world once more.
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Well, That Was Unexpected
Also available from:A match-making attempt goes wrong when Sharlot’s and George’s respective parents feel like they’re losing control of their children and try to set them up. Cultures clash, dates get faked, and two teens accidentally fall for each other in this adorable and hilarious YA rom-com.
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