Gifting Guide (Part 4) Chapter Books, Graphic Novels, and Middle-Grade Books
Books! They make the best presents! Because my book gifting ideas were overflowing, I broke up this Gift Guide into four sections to make it easier for you to search. First is the board book guide, where I share some of the best board books I've come across that would make fantastic gifts for the littlest readers in your life. Parts two and three are fiction picture books and nonfiction picture books. The final gifting guide includes chapter books, graphic novels, and middle-grade books. Be sure to reference back to each as I plan on expanding each list. All books in these lists have been released in the past year, with a few exceptions. If you need even more book gifting ideas, be sure to check out my list of the unique kids books that make amazing gifts. Happy reading and gifting!
(Tip: As always, I organize my book list starting with the simplest books towards the top of the list and the more complex books towards the bottom of the list.)
This image shows a mix of six book covers that show a child pretending to be a zombie, an outline of a girl filled with stars, a mountainous lake area, an assortment of monsters, a family slowly approaching the bottom of stairs where someone fell, and a trio of concerned witches
Chapter Books
To the Ice
by Thomas Tidholm, illustrated by Anna-Clara Tidholm
A remarkable adventure into the Arctic, three kids unexpectedly go on one day by accidentally floating away on a big ice floe. The trio comes across penguins, an abandoned hut, and eventually, a stormy sea voyage to return safely home. I love how this book blends reality and imagination to create an attention holding read.
Dory Fantasmagory: Can't Live Without You
by Abby Hanlon
If there was one series I could buy for my home, Dory Fantasmagory would be it; it has been that well loved by all readers in my home and with all the kids I've shared it with! Funny, ridiculous, and surprising, it has many elements that make it a fantastic read-aloud for sharing. This latest release in the series might be my favorite of the set!
Graphic Novels
Misfit Mansion
by Kay Davault
Iris wishes more than anything to leave the safety of the monster mansion foster home for horrors to find a family. Will she venture out to the new world? If so, what will the world think of her? What about the dark secret lurking in the bottom of the house Iris discovers? Friends, new experiences, bravery, and more combine in this mystery drama graphic novel.
Duel
by Jessixa Bagley, illustrated by Aaron Bagley
Sisters, fencing, drama, middle school, and grief combine in this graphic novel, where two sisters fight one another to be the best. But is being the best what they really want or need? Ever since their dad got sick and died, Lucy and Gigi have struggled to get along. When Lucy is humiliated by Gigi on her first day of middle school, Lucy challenges Gigi to a fencing duel, with the winner proving who's the best once and for all.
The effects of that warming and the damage it causes are apparent in the lives of the two children fighting for survival in this graphic novel. Sami, who earns a living fishing with his grandfather in a village along the Indian Ocean, has a more challenging time finding fish. In northern Canada, Yuki is noticing the effects of the melting ice when polar bears begin to come into the town looking for food.
Middle Grade
So this actually released last year, but it was new to me this year and one of my new favorite read-alouds. A sweet and captivating historical fiction about three orphaned children during WWII looking to find a place to finally call home.
The Firefly Summer
by Morgan Matson
When a letter shows up inviting Ryanna to spend a summer with grandparents she doesn't remember, she's not sure if she should go. With determination and curiosity, she decides to go to learn more about her mother, who died when she was young. Ryanna learns more about her mom, herself, and the family she never knew existed. There's outdoor fun, cousin time, s'mores, new friends, and a treasure hunt at the family camp. Unfortunately, the neighbor of the family camp wants to bulldoze down the camp at the end of the summer. Will Ryanna and her family be able to stop the beloved family camp from being torn down before it's too late?
Magic mixes with girl power, drama, friendships, and adventure when a trio of witchlings is named together for the Spare coven; the coven looked down upon by almost everyone. Seven decides to invoke the Impossible Task with her two new Spare members. Will they be able to complete the Impossible Task and seal their coven to get access to their full power, or end up being turned into toads forever?
The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels
by Beth Lincoln, illustrated by Claire Powell
The Swift family chooses names based on dictionary consultations when a baby is born. Shenanigan lives up to her name as a mischiefmaker; however, is there more to her than just mischief? When the Swifts gather to search for the long-lost treasure hidden at the family home, some family members take risks and actions that harm others to get to the treasure. Shenanigan and her sisters and cousin work together to get to the bottom of it and discover the culprit.
Wildoak
by C. C. Harrington, illustrations by Diana Sudyka
It's the 1960s, and Maggie is desperate not to have to read aloud at school to have others stare and laugh at her stutter. After another extreme tactic to not have to speak, she's dismissed from yet another school and told she needs to be institutionalized for her stutter. Her parents send her to stay with her Grandpa Fred, who lives in a remote area surrounded by the ancient Wildoak forest, hoping her stutter will clear. Maggie stumbles upon Rumpus, an exotic pet snow leopard from a department store that someone discarded, trapped, and suffered in a cruel trap. Maggie and Rumpus heal together with the help of the ancient woods. When a powerful landowner threatens to bulldoze the forest, and the townspeople decide to hunt down the monster cat, Maggie, and Fred must work together, and Maggie must find her voice to help save her beloved forest and Rumpus. Alternating between the perspectives of Maggie and Rumpus, readers will be drawn in to hear how Maggie grows and steps up in the face of danger. So well done, and I love the back matter resources to help curious readers learn more about reforestation and snow leopard conservation efforts and more about stuttering today for those with and without stutters. Be sure to pick up this empowering read for earth-loving kiddos wanting to make a difference!
Let's Fill This World With Kindness: True Tales of Goodwill in Action
by Alexandra Stewart, illustrated by Jake Alexander
Kindness stories from different areas of life, like during wars, prejudices towards our planet, and more, make up this nonfiction collection of 25 plus goodwill stories. After each chapter, there are questions to engage readers in a conversation about kindness acts. There is also a section on kind customs and a section on kindness stars. I love reading about kindness acts, so I've read many, but this book had quite a few I had never heard of before! Great read to share to learn more about different kindness acts and get ideas on ways to show kindness in your own life!
Rise Up and Sing! Power, Protest, and Activism in Music
by Andrea Warner, illustrated by Louise Reimer
Divided up into eight chapters, this nonfiction read highlights singers and songs with a message of fighting for a better world. Each chapter breaks down a movement fighting for rights, the musical activists making a difference in that category, a top ten songs playlist for that category plus bonus tracks, and questions for the reader. Movements highlighted include climate justice, indigenous rights, racial justice, disability rights, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, anti-war, and human rights—a powerful read for inspiring change.
