Check out these exciting easy and fiction titles that were published in November. Happy reading!
ELEMENTARY PICTURE BOOKS
Amy the Red Panda Is Writing the Best Story in the World by Colleen A.F. Venable (ill. by Ruth Chan). 9780062338488. 2017. Gr PK-2.
As Amy starts to tell a story, a shower of letters prompts her animal friends to add their own suggestions.
Bear and Chicken by Jannie Ho. 9780762462667. 2017. Gr PK-1.
A bear fins a frozen chicken in the snow and takes it home to defrost it and have it for dinner. When the chicken thaws, he thinks that he is doomed to be eaten, but that’s not what the bear has in mind.
The Best Tailor in Pinbaue by Eymard Toledo. 9781609808044. 2017. Gr K-3.
Industrialization in Brazil has changed Edinho’s town of Pinbaue. His Uncle Flores, a tailor, once sewed beautiful clothing of bright colors, but he had to make gray overalls for workers of the new factory. And now that cheap uniforms are imported from overseas, Uncle Flores has no work—until Edinho comes up with an idea.
The Boy and the Whale by Mordicai Gerstein. 9781626725058. 2017. Gr PK-2.
A young boy defies his father’s instructions and sets out to free a whale caught in their tangled fishing net.
Can’t Catch Me! by Timothy Knapman (ill. by Simona Ciraolo). 9780763694968. 2017. Gr PK-K.
A mouse proud of his speed taunts other animals, boasting that they can’t catch him in this cumulative story with a funny ending.
Claudia & Moth by Jennifer Hansen Rolli. 9780425288337. 2017. Gr PK-2.
Claudia loves butterflies but her mother won’t let her take them home, so Claudia paints them instead and hangs her art in her bedroom. But when winter comes, she grumbles that there is nothing left to paint—until a small moth pays a visit.
Here We Are : Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers. 9780399167898. 2017. Gr PK-2.
This picture book written for a newborn child introduces what life on Earth is like, covering topics like land and ocean, daytime and nighttime, and what it means to be a person.
How to Find an Elephant by Kate Banks (ill. by Boris Kulikov). 9780374335083. 2017. Gr PK-2.
Head into the wild with a young explorer to search for an elephant. It shouldn’t be difficult, but look out, or he’ll find you first!
I Won’t Eat That by Christopher Silas Neal. 9780763679095. 2017. Gr PK-1.
Cat is hungry, but he’s bored with his dry cat food. Several animals give advice on things they like to eat, but Cat finds something disgusting with all their suggestions. Then someone offers him just the right thing…
It’s Shoe Time! by Mo Willems (ill. by Bryan Collier). 9781484726471. 2017. Gr K-3.
If you choose to wear unmatched shoes, can they still be a pair? Wordplay and some sassy shoes make this an entertaining easy reader.
Read the Book, Lemmings! by Ame Dyckman (ill. by Zachariah OHora). 9780316343480. 2017. Gr PK-3.
A literate fox attempts to teach a trio of overzealous lemmings to read in order to save them from their habit of jumping off cliffs.
The Scary Wind (Hedgehog and Robbit) by Pablo Albo (ill. by GOMEZ). 9788494597176. 2017. Gr PK-K.
As they eat cabbages and search for snails in their garden, a silly hedgehog and rabbit hear a scary sound and try to find courage to face it.
Snow Scene by Richard Jackson (ill. by Laura Vaccaro Seeger). 9781626726802. 2017. Gr PK-1.
The author and illustrator walk readers through winter scenery and festivities, up into the first changes into spring.
Snowball Moon by Fran Cannon Slayton (ill. by Tracy Bishop). 9781499804959. 2017. Gr PK-1.
After the lights go out one snowing evening, several children meet outside to have fun in the snow. Then they go back inside to warm up before heading off to bed and dreams of more fun tomorrow!
Through with the Zoo by Jacob Grant. 9781250108142. 2017. Gr PK-1.
Tired of putting up with the young visitors to the petting zoo, Goat escapes into the main zoo, but he finds different problems there.
ELEMENTARY CHAPTER BOOKS
Goldeline by Jimmy Cajoleas. 9780062498755. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Goldiline, a girl with hair as white as summer snow, with eyes flecked with gold, travels the Hinterlands—where magic and stories are just as real as each other—together with Gruff and his bandits, living off of what they steal. However, when the man who convinced the townies to kill her mother because she was a witch starts targeting Goldiline as well, her life becomes that much more complicated in her search for a place to call home.
How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe (and Put It Back Together Again) by David Teague. 9780062377494. 2017. Gr 3-5.
When the star of his baseball team gets injured, Oscar needs to fill in—though he’s quite inept at the game. Fortunately, Oscar has a secret weapon: a watch that can stop time. He uses it to make a home run, win the game, and become a town hero. But there are unexpected consequences to stealing time. Oscar has broken the universe, and if he doesn’t return the time he stole, the universe will be destroyed. In addition to being an enjoyable read, this book offers up some valuable life lessons.
In the Country of Queens by Cari Best. 9780374370527. 2017. Gr 4-6.
In 1961, shy and over-protected Shirley must begin speaking up if she is to do what she wants, including talking about her beloved, deceased father.
The Magic Misfits (Book 1) by Neil Patrick Harris. 9780316391825. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Street magician Carter runs away to a quite little town, only to have things change for the worse when Bosso and his thieving carnies show up. He teams up with five other illusionists, and they come up with a plan to use their magic skills to defeat the Bosso gang. More than a fantasy adventure, this book offers codes and ciphers and tricks.
Monster Nanny by Tuutikki Tolonen. 9780544943544. 2017. Gr 2-5.
A nanny shows up to stay with the Hellman children while their mom goes to a spa. They’ve had nannies before, but none like this! Grah is a real monster! Really, he’s a dirty, hairy monster! When the Hellmans find out that all the neighborhood kids have monster nannies as well, they band together to figure out what’s going on.
Mr. Gedrick and Me by Patrick Carman. 9780062421609. 2017. Gr 3-5.
Since Stanley’s dad died, their house—and their lives!—have been a mess, and his mom is grateful to hire Mr. Gedrick as a temporary nanny and housekeeper. But the family needs more than just a clean house and a child minder, and Mr. Gedrick has plans. But just where did he come from—and how did he know they needed help? Kids dealing with grief and loss should be steered toward this funny and touching book.
Mutant Bunny Island by Obert Skye. 9780062399120. 2017. Gr 3-6.
Perry, comic-book aficionado, knows just what to do when he receives a coded message for help from his Uncle Zeke. It must have something to do with evil newts! With a supply of junk food, he heads off to Zeke’s home on Bunny Island (where only healthy food is allowed)—but his uncle has disappeared! Perry will need the help of a couple of island locals to solve the mystery of his uncle’s disappearance and foil the evil forces behind it.
Oddity by Sarah Cannon. 9781250123282. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Ada and her friends face zombie rabbits, alien mobs, and Puppet Cartels as they explore their small New Mexico town, where what’s strange is normal and vice versa. They are seeking clues to the mystery of what happened to her twin sister.
Penelope March Is Melting by Jeffrey Michael Ruby. 9781524718282. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Glacier Cove sits atop an iceberg, where nothing bad ever happens. But when the glacier starts to melt, Penelope is determined to find the cause…and stop it. With her younger brother and a weirdo from school, she’s off to solve the mystery. They might need some help from some penguins, too!
The Real McCoys (Book 1) by Matthew Swanson & Robbi Behr. 9781250098528. 2017. Gr 3-5.
Ten-year-old detective Moxie McCoy investigates the disappearance of Eddie the Owl, the school mascot, with the help of her annoying little brother, Milton.
The Road to Ever After by Moira Young. 9781250117298. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Davy is an orphan and lives by his wits. When he and a stray dog run afoul of the town’s top brass, the skip to the edge of town. There they meet grouchy and reclusive Miss Flint; she plans to die on her 80th birthday and wants to do it in her childhood home, but she needs someone to drive her there. She recruits Davy, and off they go on a journey of mystery and adventure.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
Being Fishkill by Ruth Lehrer. 9780763684426. 2017. Gr 7-10.
A hardened seventh grade girl changes her name to Fishkill Carmel after her abusive grandfather dies and her drug-addicted mother leaves. She moves to a new school in order to toughen up her image but meets Duck-Duck Farina who, along with her mother, teaches Fishkill what family can truly mean.
Lily’s Mountain by Hannah Moderow. 9780544978003. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Unable to believe their father died while climbing Mount Denali, twelve-year-old Lily and her older sister, Sophie, climb the mountain in order to rescue him.
The Lost Frost Girl by Amy Wilson. 9780062671486. 2017. Gr 4-7.
A girl named Owl finds out she is the daughter of the legendary Jack Frost, and heads out on a quest to meet him. Embarking into a world of winter and magic, Owl starts to wonder if she has powers of her own, and what that means.
Martha and the Slave Catchers by Harriet Hyman Alonso. 9781609808006. 2017. Gr 6-9.
In 1854, Martha is desperate to find her little brother Jake and bring him to the safety of the abolitionist community she has found refuge in. But to do so, Martha will have to allude slave catchers and risk her own life.
The Relic War (Daniel Coldstar, Book 1) by Stel Pavlou. 9780062126054. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Daniel’s memory has been wiped clean, like the other boys around him, and he’s forced to search through an old mine on a forgotten planet for relics of the aliens who once lived there. When he finds a relic that possesses incredible power, he must decide if he’ll hand it over to the Overseers or use it to escape. His decision could change the galaxy forever.
Sisters of Glass (Shard, Book 1) by Naomi Cyprus. 9780062458476. 2017. Gr 4-7.
A legendary mirror unites two girls, one a non-magical princess from a long line of powerful magi, and the other a pauper’s daughter who possesses a powerful magic force.
The Wild Book (Yonder) by Joan Villoro (transl. by Lawrence Schimel). 9781632061478. 2017. Gr 5-8.
After Juan’s parents separate, he is sent to life with his weird Uncle Tito for the summer. The whole summer! His uncle’s residence is a huge, dusty library, and when Juan discovers that the books can move by themselves, Uncle Tito declares that he is a Lector Princeps: a reader to whom books will tell their secrets. Juan joins his uncle in his quest to find the The Wild Book, which has never been read yet, before the wicked Pirate Book does.
HIGH SCHOOL FICTION
Alone by Cyn Balog. 9781492655473. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Seda, sixteen, feels her invisible childhood nemesis, Sawyer, growing stronger just as a group of stranded teens takes shelter from a blizzard in the dilapidated mansion Seda’s mother inherited.
The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew. 9780763691257. 2017. Gr 10-12.
In 2014 Nazi England, Jessika Keller is a dutiful daughter of the Greater German Reich, but her best friend and first love Clementine is a dangerous radical who has caught the attention of the regime. Now Jess must choose between her perfect, loyal life and what she knows to be right.
The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody. 9781481499187. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Ryn is still devastated by her best friend’s death, and she can’t even read the last text her friend sent to her. She plans to spend anniversary of her death alone, but finds herself trapped by a blizzard at the Denver International Airport. There she meets Xander, who might get Ryn to face her problems and get on with her life.
The Closest I’ve Come by Fred Aceves. 9780062488534. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Marcos Rivas is a Florida street kid with an abusive home life and a desire to be more than he is. When he is placed in an after-school program for troubled teens with promise, his new friends help him see that he has more of a future than being a street kid forever.
Eight Days on Planet Earth by Cat Jordan. 9780062571731. 2017. Gr 9-12.
On the very same day, Matty’s dad leaves and Priya shows up. Priya is a strange girl who claims to be waiting for her spaceship to show up and take her home. Matty doesn’t believe her, of course; he and his dad used to search the skies for UFOs, but Dad is gone and there is no life on other planets. But what is the truth about Priya? Readers who suspend disbelief just a little will find Matty and Priya enchanting and hopeful.
Frankie by Shivaun Plozza. 9781250142993. 2017. Gr 8-12.
Frankie doesn’t know why she always seems to be angry, until Xavier, her younger half-brother, shows up. Her mother abandoned her when she was four and he was one, and she’s not sure she wants to open that can of worms. Until Xavier disappears, and she frantically starts searching for him. But finding her brother could change her life, and Frankie needs to decide if she wants to learn to love again.
Good and Gone by Megan Frazer Blakemore. 9780062348425. 2017. Gr 10-12.
After months spent moping on the couch, Lexi’s brother decides to go on a search for a missing rock musician, and she decides to join him, hoping that it will clear her mind after her boyfriend dumped her. Along the way, she begins to see the truth about that relationship—and the real reason why her brother has been so withdrawn.
Here We Are Now by Jasmine Warga. 9780062324702. 2017. Gr 9-12.
While her mother is out of town, Taliah accompanies her estranged father—a famous rock star who one day appears on her doorstep—to Indiana to meet his dying father and the rest of his family. On the way, Taliah learns about how her parents met and separated, her mother’s experience as a Jordanian immigrant, and her own ability to accept change and open up to others.
I Never by Laura Hopper. 9781328663788. 2017. Gr 10-12.
Janey King has never been in love—maybe never even in like—with a boy. She is perfectly fine with that, considering she has her newly split-up parents, school, and track to worry about. Then on the flight back from vacation she meets Luke, and everything changes.
Kids Like Us by Hilary Reyl. 9780374306281. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Martin, an American autistic teen, is living in France for the summer. His mother has enrolled him in summer. When he falls for a girl in his class, in his mind she becomes linked with the main character in his favorite novel. He struggles to fit in and to understand his new social relationships.
No Saints in Kansas by Amy Brashear. 9781616956837. 2017. Gr 9-12.
This fictional reimagining of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” deals with the real-life quadruple murders of the Clutter family in 1959.
Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson. 9781250142108. 2017. Gr 8-12.
Ellie loves science fiction, and her dream is to attend Rayevich college and major in science fiction lit. When she finds a summer camp that offers its competition winners a full scholarship to Rayevich, she adopts an alias and sneaks off to join the other nerds. However, she doesn’t expect her genius cousin to show up and threaten to blow her cover. This story is inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.
Now Is Everything by Amy Giles. 9780062495730. 2017. Gr 9-12.
On the outside, the McCauleys look like the perfect family, but on the inside Hadley knows it is a fake. She has to be perfect at everything in order to protect her sister Lila from her father. However, when she starts dating Charlie in secret, it leads to an explosive accident at home. At the hospital, Hadley then tries to take her own life, and no one but she knows the real reason the accident happened.
Ready to Fall by Marcella Pixley. 9780374303587. 2017. Gr 9-12.
After Max’s mother dies of cancer, he imagines that her tumor has taken up residence in his own body. Obsessed with the tumor getting control, Max finds his grades plummeting, and his father transfers him to a progressive arts school. The geeks in the theater department become new friends, helping Max learn to deal with his grief and fear.
Renegades by Marissa Meyer. 9781250044662. 2017. Gr 7-12.
Renegades are prodigies with extraordinary abilities who’ve established peace in the city. But Nova hates the Renegades for what happened to her family ten years earlier, and now, at sixteen, Nova befriends a Renegade boy named Adrian with the intention of infiltrating the Renegades and exacting her revenge.
Rosemarked (Book 1) by Livia Blackburne. 9781484788554. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Zivah recovered from the rose plague, but she now wears its rose markings on her skin and is highly contagious—ending her calling as a healer. Dineas, a young rebel warrior, also survived the plague, but his umber markings prove that he is now immune and does not carry the disease. Many rosemarked people in the capital city are isolated in ghettos, and since Zivah and Dineas cannot catch the disease again, she plans to volunteer at the ghetto hospital while Dineas hopes to infiltrate the empire’s military forces. They will need to trust each other if they hope to succeed.
This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada. 9781481496339. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Before he died at the hands of the evil Cartaxus organization, Cat’s geneticist father encoded a message for his daughter, entrusting it to Cole, one of his captors. Though she has been hiding from Cartaxus, Cole manages to find her and give her the message: her father had made a vaccine for the terrible plague that threatens to destroy all of mankind, and Cole needs her help to release it. But can she trust him?
ADULT CROSSOVER FICTION
Artemis by Andy Weir. 9780553448122. 2017. Gr 10-Adult.
Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara is a small-time smuggler living in the moon colony of Artemis. One day, she stumbles across the possibility for a huge score, which requires her specific skill set. But during the job, Jazz realizes she has stumbled into a conspiracy much larger than just money; and soon the fate of Artemis is at stake.
Weave a Circle Round by Kari Maaren. 9780765386281. 2017. Gr 10-Adult.
With a deaf stepbrother and a genius little sister, Freddy is afraid people will think her family is weird. Then two bizarre neighbors move next door to her family. Their house starts to do weird things, too—and suddenly Freddy and her neighbors have fallen into a time portal and find themselves hundreds of years in the past. Now she needs to figure out just how she fits in to this mystery.
Winter of Ice and Iron by Rachel Neumeier. 9781481448970. 2017. Gr 11-Adult.
Princess Kehara’s country is vulnerable, situated as it is between the lands of Mad King of Emmer and those of the ruthless King of Pohorir. She will do anything to buy time so her people can prepare for a possible war. In Pohirir, the Wolf Duke hopes to be able to break away from his hated king. Both are at a loss, until fate throws them together.
