Getting the kids to drop the phone and pick up a book doesn’t have to be agonizing. The key is making reading time entertaining. We asked the Belmont Public Library and Belmont Books for titles that will delight even the pickiest reader in your pack.
Deborah Borsuk, coordinator of children’s services at Belmont Public Library, shared this list of recommended titles for young readers at every level:
Picture books
- “Ploof” by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser is the story of a lonely puffy cloud who wants to play with you.
- “Mr. S” by Monica Arnaldo asks kindergarteners the big question: “is a delicious sandwich their teacher?”
- “Ode to a Bad Day” by Chelsea Lin Wallace promises that even bad days end eventually.
- “Big” by Vashti Harrison (2024 Caldecott Award winner) is an ode to self-love, in which a child subjected to cruel playground taunts and criticism learns she is ok just the way she is.
- “Treehouse Town” by Gideon Sterer invites readers to explore a treetop utopia built by children and their animal friends.
Early readers
- “Nat the Cat Has a Snack” by Jarrett Lerner tells the story of Nat the Cat, who doesn’t want to share his snack with Pat the Rat. Laughs abound!
- “Worm and Caterpillar are Friends” by Kaz Windness. When a friend goes through a big change, both learn what it inside is what matters.
- In “Libby Loves Science: States of Matter” by Kimberly Derting, Libby and her friends learn about science and experimenting. When ice cream at a party melts, Libby experiments to see how the three states of matter can save the celebration.
- “Elena Rides” by Juana Medina shares the difficulty of learning to ride a bike. In Spanish and English.
- In “GiGi and Ojiji Series” by Melissa Iwai, Gigi can’t wait for her Japanese grandfather to move in, but plans don’t work out the way she hopes.
- “Ty’s Travels Series” by Kelly Lyons joins Ty on imaginative adventures with simple rhythmic text and joyful, bright art.
Chapter books and graphic novels
- “Bunny and Clyde” by Megan McDonald shares how a group of buddies decided they wanted to make mischief.
- “Lost & Found” by Mei Yu is an early reader graphic novel based on the author’s immigration story.
- In “Drag and Rex: Forever Friends” by Susan Lubner, two best friends find joy and adventure despite differences.
- “Legendarios: Wrath of the Rain God” by Karla Valenti tells the story of 9-year-old twins who travel into a book of legends to stop the rain god’s flood.
- “The Pinchers and the Diamond Heist” by Anders Sparring shares the story of a family of Pinchers, those who take things that belong to others, as they prepare to visit a diamond exhibition.
- In the “Penny Draws Series” by Sara Shepard, fifth grader Penny doodles to cope with the anxiety that sends a million questions spinning in her mind.
- “The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum” by Lisa Yee tells the story of The Misfits, an elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, and the heist of the century.
- “Max in the House of Spies” by Adam Gidwitz is about Max, who doesn’t want to move to London, but World War II is looming, and Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families.
- In “Curlfriends: New in Town” by Sharee Miller, Charlie has a lot of practice being the new girl at school, with her dad in the Air Force. But now, dad is home for good and Charlie finally has a chance to make friends and fit in.
- “Billy and the Giant Adventure” by Jamie Oliver promises a pinch of adventure, a dash of friendship, a sprinkle of mystery and a huge spoonful of magic. This is internationally-known chef Jamie Oliver’s first foray into juvenile fiction.
Nonfiction
- “The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure” by Barb Rosenstock is a picture book about the five largest lakes in North America, how they formed and why they are important.
- “The Iguanadon’s Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again and Again” by Sean Rubin is the story of the scientific process. Mysterious bones found in 1822 led to the process of defining and redefining the dinosaur that came to be called iguanodon.
- “Amazing Moments in Sports Graphic Novels” by various authors tells sports stories, including how Tom Brady took the Patriots to victory at multiple Super Bowls.
- “Animal Showdowns Series” Teresa Klepinger imagines epic animal showdowns, with fun facts, informative sidebars, infographics and great photos.
The staff at Belmont Books had these suggestions for young readers:
- In “Four Eids and a Funeral” by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar, two former best friends must work together to save their Islamic Center from demolition.
- “Safiyyah’s War” by Hiba Noor Khan is inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II. A story of suspense, compassion and courage.
- In “True True” by Don P. Hooper, a Black teen from Brooklyn struggles to fit in at his Manhattan prep school, resulting in a fight and plans for vengeance.
- “My Daddy is a Cowboy” by Stephanie Seales, C. G. Esperanza this picture book highlights the relationship between father and daughter in a celebration of Black joy and outdoor play.
- “Bunny & Tree” by Balint Zsako is a wordless adventure story about a rabbit and a tree, their friendship and their journey to find a home.
- “Walking Trees” by Marie-Louise Gay is a picture book that tells the story of a young girl and her friend, a tree, that encourages small steps toward sustainability.
The staff has also put together lists of recent titles they recommend for different grade levels. Click here or check the store for a detailed selection.
- Fourth and fifth grade: belmontbooks.com/suggested-reading-4th-5th-grade-books-updated
- Sixth grade: belmontbooks.com/suggested-reading-6th-grade-books-updated
- Seventh and eighth grade: belmontbooks.com/suggested-reading-7th-8th-grade-books-updated
- High school: belmontbooks.com/suggested-reading-high-school-updated
Book descriptions were suggested by Goodreads and Amazon.com.