Best fall books for kids of all ages
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 19 - NOV. 25, 2021 19
BY OLIVIA HAVERON
From school to television, to almost
every aspect of our daily lives, some sort
of screen time is involved. And whenever
we aren’t looking at something digital,
we are running around trying to get
the most of this fall season. But sometimes,
we forget to sneak in a little bit of
reading time — until now. Here are the
best fall books for kids that you can read
with them or, if they are old enough,
they can read on their own. This list includes
new releases, old goodies, as well
as books that teach kids a lesson with
every page they read!
Early readers
“A Cub Story,” by Kristen Tracy,
illustrated by Alison Farrell
Ages: 2-4
In this quirky and heartfelt board
book, Little Cub examines the world as
it changes all around him. “A Cub Story”
goes through the day-to-day of the
life of this baby cub. This book is perfect
for teaching young children about comparisons,
exploring different perspectives,
and especially for reading to your
little one as they go to sleep.
“Do You Speak Fish?: A Story
About Communicating and Understanding”
by DJ Corchin, illustrated
by Dan Dougherty
Ages: 4-6
After a boy comes across a fish and
tries speaking to it, the fish does not respond.
The boy is shocked and only becomes
more frustrated when he realizes
that other animals don’t understand
him either. However, he realizes that
it isn’t up to the fish to speak Boy. He
learns that if he wants to communicate,
it’s up to the boy to learn how to speak
Fish. “Do You Speak Fish?” teaches kids
about cross-cultural communication as
well as reaching out and respecting others
who might appear different.
“Pig the Monster” by Aaron
Blabley
Ages: 3-5
Pig, the world’s greediest pug, is on
the rampage for TREATS! However,
don’t be too stingy with giving him your
candy because he has more than a few
terrible tricks up his sleeve that he isn’t
afraid to use.
“She Persisted in Sports” by
Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by
Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 4-8
Throughout history, women have
been told that they couldn’t achieve
their dreams, no matter how hard they
tried. Women have experienced a plethora
of challenges within sports. In this
book, readers will meet the women who
have excelled in their sport because of
their persistence even when all of the
odds were against them.
“The Creepy Pair of Underwear”
by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by
Peter Brown
Ages: 4-8
Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny
anymore! He isn’t afraid of the dark,
and he definitely isn’t afraid of his underwear.
But when the lights go out,
suddenly his new big rabbit underwear
glows in the dark and they might just be
a little, well, creepy. Jasper’s not scared,
obviously; he’s just done with creepy
underwear. However, every time he attempts
to get rid of them, they keep coming
back!
Upper-level reading
“Big Shot (Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Book 16)” by Jeff Kinney
Ages: 9-12
Jeff Kiney is back with the 16th
book in the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
series. This time around, Greg Heffley
is trying his hand at joining the
basketball team. There is just one
problem: The chance of winning a
single game with a team that has
this little talent seems slim. Will
Greg rise to the occasion? Or will he
end up blowing his big shot? Read
this laugh-out-loud comedy to follow
yet another misadventure of Greg
Heffley.
“Brave. Black. First.: 50+
African American Women Who
Changed the World” by Cheryl
Hudson, illustrated by Erin K.
Robinson
Ages: 8-12
Published in collaboration with the
Smithsonian National Museum of African
American History and Culture, this
biography features over 50 remarkable
African American women who have
paved the way for the next generation of
young people. “Brave. Black. First.” features
the likes of Harriet Tubman, Rosa
Parks, Serena Williams and Michelle
Obama.
“Frankie & Bug” by Gayle
Forman
Ages: 8-12
Forman’s first-ever middle grade
novel, set in 1987 Venice, California,
sees this bittersweet coming-of-age story
following a young girl and her new
friend. When 10-year-old Bug meets
Frankie, she is not super excited about
spending time with someone new. As
the summer unfolds, they find themselves
learning some important lessons
about each other, and the world.
This book for middle schoolers teaches
children about the importance of being
true to yourself and allyship, while
also showing that life isn’t always fair,
but we can make it a better place.
“Sarai and the Around the World
Fair” by Sarai Gonzalez and Monica
Brown
Ages: 7-10
In this fourth book in the Sarai Gonzalez
chapter book series, when Sarai
outgrows her bike, she’s worried she’ll
never be able to travel anywhere. However,
after Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
hosts their first Around the
World Fair, she learns that she can go
anywhere she wants if she has a little
imagination!
Young adult
“Squad” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall,
illustrated by Lisa Sterle
Ages: 13-18
In this “Pretty Little Liars” meets
“Teen Wolf” graphic novel, Becca
transfers to a new high school in San
Francisco and worries that she won’t
fit in. Much to her surprise, she is immediately
taken under the wing of the
most popular girls in school. But after
a full moon, Becca learns they have
a big secret. Becca’s new friends are
werewolves. Their prey? Slimy boys
who take advantage of unsuspecting
girls. Eager to be accepted, Becca allows
her friends to turn her into a
werewolf, and finally, for the first time
in her life, she feels like she truly belongs.
This book is meant for a slightly
older audience due to some of its
material (i.e. language).
KIDS & EDUCATION
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