Check out these exciting easy and fiction titles published in October. You’ll find magic, talking animals, dystopian societies, science fiction, and fantasy. Happy reading!
ELEMENTARY PICTURE BOOKS
Cat Eyes by Laura Lee. 9780999024942. 2018. Gr K-2.
A little girl loves cats so much that she wears cat’s-eye glasses and imagines that she sees cats almost everywhere she goes.
Door by JiHyeon Lee. 9781452171425. 2018. Gr PK-1.
A mysterious door opens a new colorful world of welcoming creatures to a boy whose own world is a boring black and white.
A Drop of the Sea by Ingrid Chabbert (ill. by Raul Nieto Gurdi). 9781525301247. 2018. Gr PK-2.
When an elderly woman tells her great-grandson that the only dream that hasn’t come true for her is seeing the sea, he sets out with a bucket on a journey to bring the sea to her.
Edison : The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure by Torben Kuhlmann. 9780735843226. 2018. Gr PK-2.
A young mouse named Pete and a professor at the University of Mice, go through a trial-and-error process of inventing a submarine that will take them to the bottom of the ocean to find treasure. What they find is not gold, but a diary that connects Pete with the human inventor Thomas Edison.
Even Superheroes Make Mistakes by Shelly Becker (ill. by Eda Kaban). 9781454927037. 2018. Gr K-2.
Superheroes talk about how they feel (angry, embarrassed) when they make mistakes, but share how they can learn from their mistakes and go back to saving the world.
Got to Get to Bear’s! by Brian Lies. 9780544948822. 2018. Gr PK-2.
When the little chipmunk Izzy receives an urgent notice from her friend Bear to please come at once, she hurries out the door despite an oncoming blizzard. The snow threatens to overwhelm Izzy, but other animal friends help her out and when they all reach Bear’s place, they are surprised at what they find.
Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan & Tim Miller. 9780062791108. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Horse thinks Dog is just a baby horse and treats him as one, while Dog thinks that Horse is just a giant Dog. This leads to major problems in communication…unless they can start seeing each other as someone different than themselves.
Hotel Fantastic by Thomas Gibault. 9781771389921. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Everyone is welcome at the Hotel Fantastic. This amazing retreat is ready to meet anyone’s needs, whether you are a robot or a pirate, or a princess or an alien. Don’t believe the rumors about the dangerous creature—it’s really a great place! Visual clues might prepare the reader for the surprise ending; if not, they’ll find them the next time—or the next!
The Little Pig, the Bicycle, and the Moon by Pierrette Dube (ill. by Orbie). 9781534414723. 2018. Gr PK-3.
When Rosie the pig sees a horribly ugly creature riding a bike, she is determined to try the contraption for herself. Lots of onomatopoeia accompanies her first tries (“Bonk! Boom! Splash!”), but she learns something with every failure.
Lucy Fell Down the Mountain by Kevin Cornell. 9780374306083. 2018. Gr PK-3.
As she plummets down the mountain, Lucy asks for help from a falling man, duck, and a cave full of bears. None of them can do anything to stop her as she rolls, bumping head after butt (“butt” never fails to be hilarious), and coming to a stop at the bottom with a barf of relief. Kids will love this lively and humorous—if a bit bizarre—story.
Octopus Escapes! by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer (ill. by Frank W. Dormer). 9781580897952. 2018. Gr PK-1.
When Octopus escapes from its tank, the chase is on—with the wily runaway outwitting the security guard at every turn. The story offers not only a spirited, enjoyable tale, but will also lot of information about cephalopods and how they move.
Potato Pants! by Laurie Keller. 9781250107237. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Lance Vance’s Fancy Pants Store has a one-day only sale on potato pants. Potato rushes to get there early, but when he arrives, he sees his nemesis, Eggplant. As his anxiety reaches a peak, Potato and Eggplant learn that their issues are based on a misunderstanding.
Sleep, Sheep! By Kerry Lyn Sparrow (ill. by Guillaume Perreault). 9781771387965. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Duncan doesn’t mind bedtime, but does everything he can to avoid going to sleep. When his mother advises him to count sheep, he enjoys watching them jump over his bed—for a while. But then one sheep insists that it needs a drink of water before it can jump, and another complains that it needs to go to the bathroom. Readers and listeners who stall at bedtime will enjoy seeing the tables turned on Duncan.
Stop That Yawn! By Caron Levis (ill. by LeUyen Pham). 9781481441797. 2018. Gr Pk-2.
Gabby doesn’t want to sleep, and her grandmother agrees to take her to Never Sleeping City, where everyone parties all night and no one ever sleeps. When Grandma finally gives in and yawns on top of the Ferris Wheel, the blue yawn spreads quickly throughout the city and everyone starts nodding off. Gabby does her best to outrun the yawn, but she too gives in and goes to sleep.
There’s a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor by Wade Bradford (ill. by Kevin Hawkes). 9780763686659. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Mr. Snore is ready for bed when he stops at a fancy hotel. When escorted to a room, he begins to climb into bed and finds a mouse already there! Ushered to a different room on the next floor, he finds a pig in bed. Floor after floor, room after room, Mr. Snore finds the beds already occupied. Finally, on the 13th floor, he falls asleep in a bed—which turns out to be the dinosaur’s pillow!
The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee. 9780525555452. 2018. Gr PK-3.
A wall divides a foolish knight’s book and he believes this keeps him safe from the dangers on the other side. But he doesn’t notice the dangers on his own side until it’s too late, and he gets help from an unlikely individual who may not be as dangerous as he thought.
You’re Snug with Me by Chitra Sounder & Poonam Mistry. 9781911373476. 2018. Gr K-2.
Two bear cubs are born in the frozen north and begin asking questions about the outside world. The Mama Bear answers their questions and reassures the cubs by telling them “You’re snug with me.”
Zola’s Elephant by Randall de Seve (ill. by Pamela Zagarenski). 9781328886293. 2018. Gr PK-3.
A little red-haired girl, longing for a friend, sees a new girl named Zola moving in next door. The girl is too shy to go over, but she imagines that the big box being moved into Zola’s house contains an elephant and that Zola is playing with her elephant. However, Zola is actually sitting alone. Finally, the young girl gathers her courage and rings Zola’s doorbell, and discovers a new friend as well as what is actually in the large box.
ELEMENTARY CHAPTER BOOKS
The Bottle Imp of Bright House by Tom LLewellyn. 9780823439690. 2018. Gr 4-6.
After his father loses his job, Gabe and his family move into an old apartment building. Hefeels lucky when he is given a bottle holding an imp that can grant wishes. He gets a few things, but then he finds that there’s a catch—every time he makes a wish, someone else loses something. This funny chapter book will also raise some thought-provoking questions.
The Collectors by Jacqueline West. 9780062691699. 2018. Gr 4-7.
Overlooked in class, a hearing-impaired boy who collects lost or discarded trinkets discovers a dangerous underground world full of stolen wishes and the people who collect them.
Dragons in a Bag (Book 1) by Zetta Elliott. 9781524770457. 2018. Gr 4-6.
In this diverse, urban fantasy, a young boy named Jaxon is forced to spend the day with the grandmother he never knew he had. He soon discovers the woman his mother calls Ma is a witch and she wants Jax to deliver baby dragons to a magical world. But first he must promise not to let the dragons out of their bag, and not to feed them sweets. However, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita break both rules and find themselves in big trouble!
The Dreamway by Lisa Papademetriou. 9780062371119. 2018. Gr 4-6.
After Stella’s brother Cole is attacked by a mysterious creature, he becomes different, almost like a shadow. So when a talking mouse tells her that her brother has actually been taken prisoner in the Dreamway, she sets out to find him and bring him home before he’s trapped there forever.
The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty. 9781338255843. 2018. Gr 4-6.
With her parents away on wonderful adventures, Bronte is happy living with her Aunt Isabella and her butler. After they are killed by pirates, she finds that they have left her a set of explicit instructions: she must deliver certain gifts to her father’s ten sisters at very specific times. And since it is a faery will, she must follow it exactly or her hometown will be destroyed. So Bronte sets off on an exciting journey through the Empires and Kingdoms.
Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan. 9780062686237. 2018. Gr 3-6.
Merlin sends four bored, arrogant knights and one underappreciated squire back in time to face off against dinosaurs in this hilarious illustrated novel.
Lulu the Broadway Mouse by Jenna Gavigan. 9780762464616. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Lulu has always wanted to perform on Broadway. But she is a mouse, so even though she lives in a theater, there is no way it’ll ever happen. After all, most humans dislike mice. Lulu and her family get along well with most of the theater workers. And when a young understudy is called on to replace a sick actor, Lulu might be able to realize her dream.
Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley. 9781419728693. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Woodland fairy Nix invents wicked tricks to deter dangerous human invaders who encroach on the woodland territories. When a man tries to move into the cottage in the woods, Nix tries to scare him away, but everything goes wrong and Nix begins to think there might be more to humans than he thought.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
The Bigfoot Files by Lindsay Eagar. 9780763692346. 2018. Gr 6-8.
Miranda’s stress level soars when she finds a pile of unpaid bills and foreclosure notices. Her mother, a cryptozoologist and the author of the Bigfoot Files blog, is always off chasing mythical animals and dragging Miranda with her. And Miranda is tired of it. She agrees to go on one more trip, hoping to prove to her mom that Bigfoot isn’t real and convince her to get a real job.
Charlie Hernandez & the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo. 9781534426580. 2018. Gr 5-8.
Steeped in Hispanic folklore since childhood, middle schooler Charlie Hernandez learns the fables are true when, shortly after his parents disappear, he body begins to manifest into one of his favorite legends and he finds himself at the heart of a battle to save the world of the living.
A Cursed Delivery (Train to Impossible Places, Book 1) by P.G. Bell. 9781250189509. 2018. Gr 4-8.
Suzy Smith sneaks aboard the troll-operated Impossible Postal Express, which transports packages throughout the entire Union of Impossible Places. She suddenly finds herself as Deputy Post Master and is tasked with delivering a package to the evil Lady Crepuscula. But she botches her delivery by stealing a cursed snow globe containing a boy who claims there is a plot to take control of the Union.
The Darkdeep by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs. 9781547600465. 2018. Gr 5-7.
Middle-schoolers Nico, Tyler, Ella, and Opal discover a hidden island in a forbidden cove that appears uninhabited, but something ancient has awakened knowing their wishes, dreams, and darkest secrets.
The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire. 9781512440270. 2018. Gr 4-8.
Based on the popular fairy tale, the story tells of twelve-year-old Princess Andaryn whose father marries a new mysterious queen who bewitches the men in the royal family. Ryn is forced to make a deal with the queen: the queen will spare her brothers’ lives if Ryn remains silent for six years. However, things don’t go as planned and Ryn must find a way to save her family and her kingdom.
Forgotten City by Michael Ford. 9780062696960. 2018. Gr 4-7.
In Seattle in 2044, Kobi believes he and his father are the only human survivors of “the Waste,” a deadly chemical that killed millions of people and mutated the surviving animals and wildlife into deadly new forms. When Kobi’s father disappears, Kobi goes looking for him and discovers other survivors and a conspiracy that is even more frightening than “the Waste.”
Light Years (Book 1) by Kass Morgan. 9780316510448. 2018. Gr 7-10.
After centuries of exclusivity, the Quatra Fleet Academy opens its doors to cadet candidates from all parts of the solar system. Teens Vesper, Arran, Cormak, and Orelia are from different backgrounds and have their own reasons for wanting to join, but the four will have to learn how to work together to survive against a mysterious alien enemy.
Misfits (Royal Academy Rebels, Book 1) by Jen Calonita. 9781492651284. 2018. Gr 5-8.
Devin Nile can speak to animals and plans to be the creature caretaker in Enchantasia, until her invitation arrives from the Royal Academy. She doesn’t feel quite at home among the training she receives at the hands of Headmistress Olivina—who Devin thinks might be hiding something—and learns secrets that could threaten Enchantasia forever.
The Turnaway Girls by Hayley Chewins. 9780763697921. 2018. Gr 6-8.
Delphernia is cloistered with the turnaway girls, but instead of singing, which is she wants to do, she is sequestered into weaving the Master’s music into gold in a process called “making shimmer.” But at night, despite the warnings, she sings, molding her voice into golden birds. One day, a strange Master chooses to leave with Delphernia, and she finds herself thrust into a dangerous world of music, politics, and secrets while also entering the company of a defiant trans girl named Linna.
West by Edith Pattou. 9781328773937. 2018. Gr 6-10.
When she confronted the Troll Queen, Rose and her new husband Charles overcame the enchantment that turned him into a white bear. Now they are happy. Until, that is, Charles’ ship is destroyed and he is presumed dead. But Rose suspects something else at work and believes he is still alive. She must again set off on another journey, but this time with the entire world at stake.
Where She Fell by Kaitlin Ward. 9781338230079. 2018. Gr 7-10.
When Eliza falls through a sinkhole in the swamp near her home, she ends up in a vast network of caves. Fortunately, she finds a small group of people who, like her, got lost in the caverns. But while Eliza wants to find her way out, they have no desire to leave their Colony. When she finally rebels, she and a small band of followers try to survive enemy humanoids and massive insects in order to find their way out.
HIGH SCHOOL FICTION
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria. 9781419731464. 2018. Gr 10-12.
The high council has stayed in power in the city of Eldra based on centuries-old infallible prophesies from the elder seers. After the last prophesy, growing unrest leads to a rebellion that has raged for over a decade. In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, and her friends, come to terms with the legacy of rebellion as they take their place as soldiers against the high council, and unravel the mystery of the final prophesy.
Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore. 9781250162717. 2018. Gr 8-12.
In a family where each generation of girls is subjected to a curse which dictates that one of the girls will be left alone and the other trapped in the body of a swan, a fierce rivalry begins as sisters Blanca and Roja try to outsmart the curse, the swans, and each other. Then two local boys become entangled in the curse, and the four must face truths of their fate, their family, and what it means to love.
Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke. 9780374307066. 2018. Gr 9-12.
The Boneless Mercies, four female mercenaries led by seventeen-year-old Frey, are tired of the death trade and long for a way out. When Frey hears of a near unstoppable monster ravaging villages, she knows that slaying the monster will give the Mercies the fame and prosperity they need to escape their life of mercy killings and perhaps change the fate of women everywhere. Based on the legend of Beowulf.
The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta. 9780451478443. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Teodora will do anything to protect her powerful family, even using her strega magic. She can change their foes into decorative objects—but she has to keep her magic secret. When the heads of all the important families are poisoned (including Teodora’s father), the ruler demands that each family send a son to the capital. Using her magic to take her brother’s place, Teodora meets another stega; together they learn more about their magic, their country, and each other.
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold. 9780062742322. 2018. Gr 10-12.
Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory having no memory of her life before she was captured by a dragon, or what she faced in the dragon’s lair. All she knows is what the handsome prince tells her. What she does know, is that she is now destined to sit on the throne as queen. But as she journeys with Emory to the kingdom of Harding, she discovers that there is something sinister about the legends of kings, dragons, and damsels, and that the real danger may lie ahead rather than behind.
Dry by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman. 9781481481960. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Southern California’s water supply runs out, and in their desperation, the area becomes a war zone as friends and neighbors turn on each other. The parents of sixteen-year-old Alyssa and ten-year-old Garrett go missing while searching for water, and the two siblings must fend for themselves as they leave to search for their parents—finding unusual allies along the way.
Grim Lovelies (Book 1) by Megan Shepherd. 9781328809186. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Anouk was transformed from animal to human to serve an evil witch. As a beastie she has never left the confines of her Parisian home and longs to be amongst the Pretties who live lives of pleasure and excess. One day, she discovers that her mistress has been killed and that she is the prime suspect. Escaping with other beasties, Anouk learns that she has only three days to find the culprit or the spell that keeps her human will fade and they will all turn back into animals.
Me and Me by Alice Kuipers. 9781525300370. 2018. Gr 9-12.
During a canoe trip Lark and her boyfriend, Alec, see four-year-old Annabelle drowning in the lake. Alec is gravely injured as he jumps in to save the girl, and Lark knows that she can only save one. The split-second decision splits her in two, with the rest of the novel tracking the consequences of Lark choosing Alec or choosing Annabelle.
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand. 9780062696601. 2018. Gr 9-12.
After discovering that twenty-three girls have been kidnapped in the last 150 years, three teenage girls decide to face the evil monster that hunts on the idyllic island of Sawkill Rock. But before they can kill the monster, they must avoid killing each other.
Shadow of the Fox (Book 1) by Julie Kagawa. 9781335145161. 2018. Gr 9-12.
A thousand years ago, the great kami dragon granted a terrible wish, and the land of Iwagoto fell into dark and chaos. Now, the mischievous half-yokai Yumeko finds her life turned upside down when her adoptive home, the Silent Winds temple, is burned to the ground. She escapes with a scrap of the temple’s greatest treasure, which will grant the wish of whoever holds it. When word gets out, Yumeko must go on the run with a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan who may have ulterior motives.
