New Children’s & Middle Grade Must-Reads bookshop.org 12 books that will spark their imagination! Abby Cunningham Nov 10, 2021 SHARE TO FACEBOOK Looking for a new bedtime story or the perfect new book for your avid reader? We’ve got the list for you! Here you will find new children’s and middle grade must-reads for kids that will be sure to spark their imagination and teach a life lesson along the way. We choose to partner with Bookshop.org when possible to provide you with the following links so that you’ll be supporting local bookstores with your purchase. Please note if you decide to purchase through our affiliate links we may receive a small portion of the profit. 1. The Mermaid Queen by Alane Adams bookshop.org Abigail and Hugo have just defeated the powerful alchemist and restored the balance of power in Orkney when they find out that their trusted mermaid queen just unleashed a serpent named Jormungand. Years ago, Jormungand held the world captive until it was banished to an underwater prison. Abigail and Hugo embark on a journey to return Jormungand to his cell. As Abigail realizes that her powers are not enough, she must repeatedly tap into her dark magic, which could alter her path forever. Click here to buy The Mermaid Queen! 2. Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste bookshop.org Naya’s mom says Jumbies only exist in stories, so she sets out on a nighttime adventure to see for herself. Naya is certain that Jumbies are real, even though everyone she meets on her journey says otherwise. She knows that some of them have thick fur, or big mouths or glowing skin, and she’s determined to find them. Click here to buy Looking for a Jumbie! 3. A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan bookshop.org Welcome! There are billions of ways to make someone feel welcome. Welcoming someone is an opportunity to make a new friend and maybe even get a new perspective on life. Learn how to say the word “welcome” in 14 different languages to shine light on a universal hope of love and acceptance. Click here to buy A Hundred Thousand Welcomes! 4. The Girl Who Ruined Christmas by Cindy Callaghan bookshop.org Brady Bancroft was a visitor in a town known for delivering the perfect Christmas tree to the White House – and she destroyed it. To repay her debt, she must remain in this unfamiliar town for the entire Christmas season. Brady is devastated about these consequences at first, but over her month-long stay, she realizes that there is much more to Harper Hollow Falls. In the end, the town reminds Brady of the true meaning of Christmas, and Brady even saves the town. Click here to buy The Girl Who Ruined Christmas! 5. The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu bookshop.org Luka, destined to be a sorcerer, often overshines his sister Marya. Every young boy holds the potential to have the rare magical abilities and protect the country from The Dread. The family has so much hope for Luka, but Marya can never seem to do anything right. Marya is invited to attend Dragomir Academy, a place for wayward young girls. The academy promises girls like Marya a chance to make something of themselves in service to a powerful sorcerer. Through learning how to fit into a world with no place for them, the girls discover the truth about the magic that men in their country have. Click here to buy The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy! 6. Frankie and Amelia by Cammie McGovern bookshop.org After being separated from his family, Franklin is a very independent cat. Until he meets Chester, a super goofy dog. Chester is a service dog to his person, Gus, and thinks he knows just the girl to become Franklin’s person – Gus’s classmate, Amelia. Amelia has a hard time with people sometimes, but she loves cats. Franklin understands her, so when Amelia gets in trouble at school, Franklin is determined to help in any way he can. Click here to buy Frankie and Amelia by Cammie McGovern! 7. Tidesong by Wendy Xu bookshop.org Sophie, a young witch, is being pressured to attend the Royal Magic Academy – the best magic school in the realm. Sophie doesn’t feel great about this, considering her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, she is sent to relatives she barely knows, and they give her more chores than magic lessons. Frustrated, Sophie takes learning magic upon herself and when a spell goes wrong, her magic is suddenly entangling with that of Lir, a water dragon. Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from, but he is skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might ace her entrance exams. Can she prove herself without the help of Lir? Click here to buy Tidesong! 8. A-Okay by Jarad Greene bookshop.org Jay is starting 8th grade with a few pimples and doesn’t think much of it besides wondering when the annoying zits will go away. When the acne gets worse, Jay is prescribed a powerful medication with some crazy side effects, but he knows it will all be worth it! At school, Jay has nobody to sit with at lunch, all his friends are in different classes and his best friend is avoiding him. School is getting tough, but Jay must continue to believe that everything will be a-okay. Click here to buy A-Okay! 9. Keeping it Real by Paula Chase bookshop.org Marigold Johnson is looking forward to attending an event for teens who love fashion at her family’s business, Flexx Unlimited. Mari realizes that she is not on the same page as the other three trainees. Kara seems to hate her for no reason. As time goes on and tension builds, Mari thinks she has figured out why Kara doesn’t like her. She also uncovers secrets about her family and herself. Keeping it Real is a story of family, friendship and what happens when children are sheltered by their parents. Click here to buy Keeping it Real! 10. Major Makes History by Jill Twiss bookshop.org President Joe Biden and his rescue dog, Major, have an inseparable bond. What he didn’t know when he adopted Major, is that the dog would be saving him, too. Major tells the story of how he first met Joe, and the crazy story of how he ended up in the White House. It’s not easy being a presidential dog, he must protect Joe from terrors like vacuum cleaners. His most important job, though, is helping Joe become a better version of himself. Click here to buy Major Makes History! 11. The Smart Cookie by Jory John bookshop.org No matter how hard she tries, this cookie has never felt like a smart cookie. Life is hard when you are constantly comparing yourself to all the other brilliant rolls and clever cupcakes in the bakery. With a sprinkle of courage, this cookie will hopefully realize that perfect test scores aren’t the only ingredients for intelligence. Click here to buy The Smart Cookie! 12. Unicorn Playlist by Dana Simpson bookshop.org Best friends Marigold and Phoebe are known to follow their own path, but life isn’t always just rainbows and unicorns. After seeing so many problems in the world and drama at school, Phoebe seriously wonders why humans are in charge instead of unicorns. With her best friend Marigold, every day is magical. She introduces Phoebe to unicorn music and even tracks down a long-lost family member. Together, Marigold and Phoebe play all the hits on the unicorn playlist. Click here to buy Unicorn Playlist! We Want to Hear From You Which of these books would your children love? Message us on Instagram @womendotcom or Facebook to tell us! REVIEW BOOKS