Category Archives: Children

Books for Kids: Hispanic & Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month.

Picture Books

A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle
Lola Out Loud by Jennifer Torres

Rafa Counts on Papá by Joe Cepeda
Sometimes, All I need is Me by Juliana Perdomo
Bright Star by Yuyi Morales

Graphic Novels & Chapter Books

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Solimar by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Chupacarter by George Lopez
Treasure Tracks by S. A. Rodriguez

Non-Fiction & Biographies

Pura’s Cuentos by Annette Bay Pimentel


View previous booklists | 2020 | 2021

September is Library Card Sign Up Month

September is Library Card Sign Up Month and we want to celebrate all of the resources you have access to with your Scotch Plains Public Library card!

Check out our Books & More page for more information about all of the free child-friendly resources available to cardholders!

Below is a fun book list highlighting some of our favorite library and book themed stories!

Picture Books

Everything in its Place by Pauline David-Sax
The Little Library by Margaret McNamara
The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli
The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson
Building Books by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Hooray For Books! by Brian Won

Early Readers

Otter I Love Books! by Sam Garton
Angelina Ballerina Loves the Library by Katharine Holabird

Chapter Books

The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander.
Story Thieves by James Riley

Recommendations from your Youth Services Librarians for Elementary Students

Is reading not quite your child’s favorite thing? Check out the list books below that features fun and engaging characters and plots!

Emerging Readers

Jada Jones series by Kelly Starling Lyons

Fourth-grader Jada’s best friend moved away but a class project on rocks and minerals, her favorite topic, could mean new friends, if only one of her teammates would stop being mean.

Guided Reading Level: N

Captain Awesome by Kirby Stan

When second-grader Eugene and his family move to a new neighborhood and he starts at a new school, he has a chance to bring out his superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome, to find the kidnapped class hamster.

Guided Reading Level: M

Monster and Boy by Hannah Barnaby

When Monster (who lives under the bed) meets Boy (who sleeps in the bed), the boy starts to scream–and Monster promptly swallows him. It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

Wednesday & Woof by Sherri Winston

Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, are the best detectives in the whole world–or at least their neighborhood. But can they find Mrs. Winters’s missing cat before her big trip? Or will the case of the cat-napped kitty be their first unsolved mystery?

Diary of a Pug by Kyla May

Baron von Bubbles (Bub) is a pug who wants nothing more than to help his human Bella in her craft projects for school, though he is a little apprehensive about the rocket she is making for the Inventor Challenge–so when he ruins the rocket while trying to get at Nutz the squirrel he needs to find a way to make it up to Bella.

Guided Reading Level: N

Itty Bitty Princess Kitty by Melody Mews

Itty Bitty Kitty just found out that she’s going to become a princess! Itty is excited, but when she learns about all the things that are going to change, she’s also nervous. Between trying out new hairstyles and being told that she can’t go to regular school anymore, Itty begins to feel like she’s not ready to be royal. Will Itty Bitty Kitty become Itty Bitty Princess Kitty after all?

Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate

Doggo, an older dog, is used to things a certain way. When Pupper shows up, Doggo’s routine changes. Pupper is very playful and soon the humans realize Pupper needs some training. But when Pupper comes back from puppy school, Doggo senses that, although Pupper is well-behaved, he isn’t happy. So Doggo shows Pupper how to rediscover his fun side.

High Interest Books

Ballpark Mysteries by David A. Kelly

“Batter up! Baseball action and exciting whodunits star in this chapter book series!”

Guided Reading Level: N

Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

Two roller-skating best friends–one tiny, one tall–share three comical adventures involving outrageously bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion.

Guided Reading Level: M

I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis

Each book tells the story of one of history’s most terrifying events, through the eyes of a kid who lived to tell the tale!

Guided Reading Level: Q

Planet Omar by Zanib Mian

Imaginative Omar goes through the ups and downs of starting a new school and making new friends with the help of his wonderful (and silly) Muslim family.

Guided Reading Leve: S

Stella Díaz series by Angela Dominguez

Meet Stella Diaz, a sweet Mexican-American girl who conquers her shyness as she prepares a presentation on marine animals for her classmates….

Note: Descriptions are taken from publishers and/or our online catalog.

Facing New Challenges With Children’s Books

Starting a new school year is an exciting and sometimes difficult time for children. Here are some books highlighting positive social skills and the beginning of new friendships, which can make any challenging situation seem a little more manageable!

Picture Books

Scribbly by Ged Adamson
The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi
Goodbye Brings Hello by Dianne White
Becoming Vanessa by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
The Smart Cookie by Jory John
Brave Enough by Rob Justus
Shy Willow by Cat Min

Early Readers

Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate
I Am Brave by Suzy Capozzi
Making New Friends by Kimberly & James Dean
When Carrot Met Cookie by Erica S. Perl

Juvenile Fiction & Graphic Novels

Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord
Bounce Back by Misako Rocks
The Class Frances O’Roark Dowell
The Golden Hour by Niki Smith
Honest June by Tina Wells
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
Restart by Gordon Korman

Apr. – Jun. 2022: Your Top Children’s Books

Check out the top circulating items during the second quarter of the year!

Early Readers

Let’s Go For a Drive! by Mo Willems
Attack of the 50-foot Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

There is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems
I am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems

We are in a Book! by Mo Willems

I Broke my Trunk! by Mo Willems

Picture Books

Your Birthday Was the Best! by Maggie Hutchings
Oona and the Shark by Kelly DiPucchio

Chapter Books

Graphic Novel

Mothering Heights by Dav Pilkey
Kristy and the Snobs by Chan Chau
Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye by Gabriela Epstein
Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey
Logan Likes Mary Anne! by Gale Galligan
Claudia and the New Girl by Gale Galligan

Disability Pride Month – July 2022

July is Disability Pride Month. The titles below explore a wide range of disability experiences for children of all ages.

Picture Books

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus
This Beach is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill7
Best Day Ever! by Marilyn Singer
Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott
It Was Supposed to Be Sunny by Samantha Cotterill

Juvenile Fiction

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit
Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger
Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers
The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker
The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
Wink by Rob Harrell

Nonfiction

Oceans of Possibilities

This year’s Summer Reading theme is Oceans of Possibilities! Here are some titles that feature the ocean and the creatures living in them!

Picture Books

Little Houses by Kevin Henkes
Oona by Kelly DiPucchio
Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley
A Is for Anemone by Roy Henry Vickers & Robert Budd

Shine! by Patrick McDonnell
The heart of a whale by Anna Pignataro
Field trip to the Ocean Deep
by Hare, John

Juvenile Fiction

The Flooded Earth
by Mardi McConnochie
Gone to Drift by Diana McCaulay
Saltwater Secrets by Cindy Callaghan
Willa and the Whale by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown
The 8th Continent by Matt London

Non-Fiction

Ocean! : Waves For All! by Stacy McAnulty
The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer
Ocean Soup : Tide Pool Poems by Stephen R. Swinburne

Let’s Read – Pride Month

Our book list comes from the Committee of the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association. For more information and for additional lists (and books for older children) please visit their website: https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/. We thank the librarians who have taken the time to select these titles each year.

Picture Books and Books for Lower Elementary Age

Calvin by JR and Vanessa Ford
Grandad’s Camper
by Harry Woodgate
Born Ready
by Jodie Patterson

Daddy & Dada by Ryan Brockington & Isaac Webster
Fred Gets Dressed by Peter Brown
The Little Library by Margaret McNamara

Chapter Books & Middle-Grade

The Anti-Book
by Raphael Simon
Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo
The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan
Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman
Meow or Never by Jazz Taylor
Too bright to See by Kyle Lukoff.

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro
Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake
Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlow

Books for Teens

Zara Hossain is Here by Sabina Khan
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass
Each of Us a Desert
by Mark Oshiro
Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz

Books for Adults

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
Stone Fruit by Lee Lai

Lambda Literary Awards 2022 Finalists

The Five Wounds
by Kirstin Valdez Quade
Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez
Blue Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu

Lamda Literary Awards

Books for Kids: Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish Heritage Month. Check out some of these titles to celebrate throughout the month!

Picture Books

Klezmer! by Kyra Teis.
Gittel’s Journey by Leslea Newman

Middle Grade Fiction

A Ceiling Made of Eggshells by Gail Carson Levine
Chunky
by Yehudi Mercado
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar.
No Vacancy by Tziporah Cohen
Eddie Whatever by Lois Ruby.

Non-Fiction & Biographies

Children’s Books for AAPI Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Check out some books celebrating these cultures!

Picture Books

Juvenile Fiction & Graphic Novels

Nonfiction & Biographies