Our committee of dedicated library staff members are closing in on the finalists for our annual Best Books for Kids list! No promises about which books will make the final cut (check back in November!), but here are some titles they're debating right now.

Fiction for older kids:

Weir Do by Anh Do
Weir Do, the new kid in school with an unforgettable name, desperately tries to fit in and win the attention of Bella Allen, his crush.

This book is: First in a series, Funny, Own voices, Realistic.






 

My Fate According to the Butterfly by Gail Villanueva

Believing a local legend about black butterflies, a superstitious Filipina girl concludes that she only has the remaining week before her 11th birthday to reconcile her estranged family.

This book is: Coming-of-age, Hopeful, Moving, Strong sense of place.

A Small Zombie Problem by K.G. Campbell

When August DuPont, eleven, leaves his eccentric Aunt Hydrangea's crumbling mansion for the first time ever, he meets family, makes a friend, and attracts a zombie.

This book is: Darkly humorous, First in a series, Monster mayhem.

Nonfiction:

Killer Style by Serah-Marie McMahon and Allison Matthews David

From silhouette-cinching corsets and combustible combs to lethal hair dyes and flammable flannel, this nonfiction book looks back at the times people have suffered pain, injury, and worse, all in the name of style.

This book is: Compelling, Narrative nonfiction.

The Bluest of Blues : Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs by Fiona Robinson

Recounts the story of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins, who recorded the natural world in detailed illustrations, engravings, and cyanotypes, and became the first person to publish a book of photography.

This book is: A biography, beautifully illustrated, Narrative nonfiction, Picture book.

The Important Thing about Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett and Sarah Jacoby

A picture-book biography of the legendary author of Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny and other children's classics shares insights into her life and enduring literary influence.

This book is: A biography, Offbeat, Picture book, Whimsical.

Fiction for younger kids:

¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Raúl the Third 

Little Lobo, a Mexican American, and Bernabe, his dog, deliver supplies to vendors at the Mercado, a busy border town market.

This book is: Bilingual, Cartoony, Fun, Own voices.

Truman by Jean Reidy; art by Lucy Ruth Cummins

He may be slow, but Truman the turtle is determined to find his Sarah, who has boarded a city bus on her way to preschool.

This book is: Courageous, Delicate, Feel-good, Sweet.

Count on Me by Miguel Tanco

A little girl explains how math is her passion and how it can be found everywhere in the world.

This book is: Cartoony, Educational, Subtly illustrated.

Summaries via the NoveList database.

Check out more of our New & Noteworthy books, and let us know which new kids' books you're excited about in the comments!