Happy almost Halloween for those of you who celebrate. Lots of fun books coming out this week to add to your To Be Read list! Let’s take a look.
Books for Kids
ET The Extra-Terrestrial – Picture book based on the famous 80s movie. A great way for adults to relive a part of their childhood and introduce these characters to their children.
The Koala Who Could – A koala tries to deal with change when he prefers things stay the same. The illustrator for this one is a favorite of mine. I’m looking forward to seeing this one in person.
Ara’s Rocky Road to White Belt – Book 1 in the Team Taekwondo graphic novel series about a turtle who wants to be part of the team but isn’t sure he has what it takes. This looks adorable – great for kids studying martial arts as well as any kid who needs a story about perseverance.
Bear on the Loose – Book 2 in the Branches series Hilde Cracks the Case about a young journalist. I can’t say enough how much I love Branches books for kids ready to stretch their reading skills into short chapter books.
Jake – Puppy Place book #47
Safari Pug: The Dog Who Walked on the Wild Side – Book 3 in the Adventures of Pug series. This looks absolutely adorable! Great for fans of animal books.
Super Rabbit Racers – Book 3 in the Branches series Press Here with a video game feel.
The Wildwood Bakery – Book 7 in the awesome Owl Diaries series from Branches. These books are adorable and my students went crazy for every new addition to the series.
Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults
Dogs: From Predator to Protector Graphic Novel – Nonfiction graphic novel about dogs. Great science series for kids.
Dream Jumper – Curse of the Harvester (Graphic Novel) – Book two in this graphic novel series about a boy who can jump into other people’s dreams.
The Fourth Ruby – Book 2 in the Section 13 series about two friends who have been framed for a major theft. I have book one on my TBR shelves. I need to get to it soon so I can can catch up.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas – From the author of The Boy Called Christmas comes this new Christmas story about the girl who received the very first Christmas present but now she is losing her Christmas spirit. This sounds delightful, and I am looking forward to reading it!
Have Sword Will Travel – Two kids uncover an ancient talking sword and set off on an adventure to save their kingdom. Sounds like my kind of middle grade fantasy!
The Legends of Luke Skywalker – A collection of Luke Skywalker stories. Could they all be true or are they tall tales and legends? As we get closer to the release of the next Star Wars film, I am getting more excited. This is a perfect time to dive into some of the stories that will set up the the next film.
Little Bigfoot Big City – Book 2 in the Littlest Bigfoot series about a girl in search of her past and a small Bigfoot who wants to break free from the expectations of her tribe. This series sounds terrific. I have added them to my list!
My Life Is a Joke – The latest middle grade book from James Patterson starring Jacky Hart who wants to act and sing all summer while her parents have other plans for her – like finding a job.
Race to the Finish – Book 2 in the Girls Who Code series. This looks like a fun book about friendship and coding with a diverse cast of characters.
The Trials of Morrigan Crow – Book 1 in the Nevermoor series. A cursed girl finds herself in a magical world competing for a chance to stay in Nevermoor and avoid her fate in our world. This sounds fantastic, and that cover is absolutely gorgeous. This is certainly on my list for this week!
Undercover Princess – A princess and a scholarship student attending the same school decide to swap identities but someone knows what they are up to. I’m curious to find out more about this one. It has a promising premise! First in a new series.
Kid Chef Bakes – Includes recipes as well as how-tos for common baking tasks like separating eggs. This looks like a fantastic reference for the budding chefs in your life! Targeted to kids 8 to 13.
The Empress – Sequel to The Diabolic. Nemesis is trying to settle into her new role as Empress, but the ruling class wants no part of the new world order. Can Nemesis prove to the Empire that she is not the killing machine she was created to be?
My New Crush Gave to Me – A girl rigs the Secret Santa at the school paper in order to get her crush, but she will have to trust his annoying cousin to help her pick the perfect gift. This is at the top of my Christmas book list!
Otherworld – From actor and kids’ author Jason Segel comes this virtual reality tale. Can technology give us everything we think we want? And is it worth the price we would have to pay? This sounds like a thriller along the lines of Warcross, but with more danger and tension. I am intrigued by this. It’s on my library list.
A Teen’s Guide to Getting Stuff Done – Helps teens determine their procrastination type and then figure out strategies to use it to their advantage.
Books for Adults
Blackberry Burial – Book 2 in the Berry Basket Mystery series about a shop owner who finds remains that could belong to a person who went missing twenty years ago. This series looks fantastic, and I have added it to my list.
Cremains of the Day – First in a new series. Tallie thought her marriage was her ticket out of a life of dead bodies at the family funeral home, but when her marriage falls apart and she starts cleaning houses for money, she stumbles onto a dead body anyway. This sounds like a fun new mystery series!
Deck the Halls with Fudge (Kindle novella) – For e-book readers comes a novella in the Candy-coated mystery series. Secondary characters in the series get to be the stars this time as they look into a murder while Allie, the usual sleuth, is busy with holiday orders at her Fudge shop. I am woefully behind on this series, but this story makes me want to get caught up asap so I can enjoy this one!
The Engagement Plot – He broke her heart on national television, but now they need each other, so a sham engagement seems to be the smart solution. This sounds cute.
Knit to Kill – First book in the new Black Sheep & Co series about a group of knitters who head out for a wedding, but a murder interrupts the festivities. Looks like the author has a previous Black Sheep Knitting mystery series. I’m not sure how this spin off fits in, but I am curious to check it out.
The Quiche and the Dead – Book 1 in a new Pie Town mystery series about the pie shop owner and her 70 year old assistant looking into a murder to save the business. I love checking out new mystery series. This is on my library list.
Ring in the Year with Murder – Book 4 in the Otter Lake Mystery series takes place at a Great Gatsby-themed New Year’s party. I’m not familiar with this series, but the set up for this particular book sounds terrific.
The Secret, Book and Scone Society – First in a new series. Guests who come to Miracle Springs looking for something to cure their ills usually find their way to Miracle Books where the owner uses her special skills to help each guest find a book that will help whatever ails them. After finding a dead body, Nora pulls together a group to help her investigate. This sounds fascinating!
Slay Bells Ring – Book 7 in the Caprice De Luca series about an interior decorator. When a Vietnam Vet who plays Santa at Christmas is found dead, Caprice is sleuthing again. Look at that cover! It makes me want to snuggle under the covers and start reading!
Thread the Halls – Book 6 in the Mainely Needlepoint Series. Another gorgeous Christmas cover, this time for a book about famous guests coming to town for the holidays – and murder on the menu. I’m not familiar with this series, but I’d love to give this Christmas cozy a try.
Be the Gift: Let Your Broken Be Turned into Abundance – The latest from Ann Voskamp challenges readers to find a way to be a gift to others every day.
How We Eat with our Eyes and Think with Our Stomachs: The Hidden Influences that Shape Your Eating Habits – 40 Questions to help readers zero in on WHY they make the food choices they do.
Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter – This book leaves politics behind and looks at the HOW of Donald Trump’s campaign and election win and how business people can use similar techniques. It works for those who want to persuade as well as those who want to be able to recognize and resist the techniques. I find this book’s premise intriguing. I don’t know if I’ll read it – or like it – but it is fascinating to think about.