It may be the middle of September, but you’ll notice Christmas books are starting to sneak into publication already. Let’s take a look at some of the books releasing this week!
Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books
Rocket’s Christmas Surprise (Board Book) – Rocket and his friends wait up for Santa to give him gifts, including a story that Rocket wrote. As always, the illustrations in this one shine! I can’t wait to read the whole story.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Pop-Up Book) – A new pop-up edition of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas.
The Eight Knights of Hanukkah – The knights are called in to stop a dragon named Dreadful from ruining the last night of Hanukkah.
I Love You More Than Christmas – Little Bear tries to share what he loves more than Christmas, but his declaration is interrupted time and time again. This looks sweet.
Imogene Comes Back! – A sequel to the delightful Imogene’s Antlers, 35 years in the making. Every day Imogene wakes up to a new surprise. This is on my wishlist for this week.
Margaret’s Unicorn – Margaret finds a lost baby unicorn. This looks so sweet!
Peppermint Post – The North Pole Postmaster finds a lost Christmas letter after Santa has already left to deliver his gifts on Christmas Eve.
Princesses vs. Dinosaurs – A group of princesses and a group of dinosaurs argue over whose book it is. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Twelve Unicorns of Christmas – A girl and her unicorn celebrate the season. This looks darling.
What If You Had an Animal Tongue? – A continuation of the series about animal features.
Books for Kids – Early Chapter Books
Bumble and Bee: Let’s BEE Thankful – Book 3 in the Bumble & Bee series from Scholastic ACORN. Froggy is ready to settle in for the winter, but Bumble and Bee want one more fall adventure.
Creature Campers: The Wall of Doom – Book 3 in the Creature Campers series. The campers take on a ropes course.
Kung Pow Chicken: Jurassic Peck – Six years ago I discovered this delightful series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Finally, they are releasing a fifth book in the series. I am so excited to see more adventures for Kung Pow Chicken! This time, the heroes go back in time.
Mia Mayhem and the Super Family Field Day – Book 9 in the Mia Mayhem series. Mia and her family participate in Family Field Day.
The Puppy Place: Fluffy & Freckles – Book 58 in the Puppy Place series. Charles finds a lost puppy while on vacation. He and his dad decide to foster the pup, who becomes friends with an undersized newborn lamb.
Snazzy Cat Capers: Meow or Never – Book 3 in this fun mystery/heist series for kids. (You can read my review of book one here.) Ophelia’s cousin tries to beat her in a heist competition, but she thinks the painting he brings is a fake.
Spy Penguins: Golden Egg – Book 3 in the Spy Penguins series. Two penguins who want to join the Frosty Bureau of Investigation take on a new case tracking down an escaped criminal. At the same time, they have to babysit.
Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults
The Derby Daredevils: Shelly Struggles to Shine – Book 2 in the Derby Daredevils series. Shelly looks for a way to shine when her team competes in their first tournament.
Fly on the Wall – Henry is desperate to escape his overprotective family for awhile, especially because he is keeping a big secret. But when his trip to Singapore to visit his father is canceled, he decides to go on his own.
Magic Misfits: Fourth Suit – The fourth and final book in the Magic Misfits series by Neil Patrick Harris. (The Magic Misfits: ♥♥♥♥) The tension builds towards a final confrontation with their longtime enemy.
My Life in the Fish Tank – The latest book from Barbara Dee, author of Maybe He Just Likes You and Everything I Know About You (♥♥♥♥½). When her older brother is diagnosed with a mental illness, Zinny feels the need to keep it secret, even from her best friends and the support group at school.
Rescue Dogs: Jet – Book 3 in the Rescue Dogs series. An abandoned dog struggles to adjust to the leash in his training as a search and rescue dog.
Tamora Carter Goblin Queen (e-book) – A girl who discovers two goblins who have passed through a portal to our world wonders if they know anything about her missing friend.
Three Keys – Sequel to the award-winning novel The Front Desk. Mia thought things had turned around for her and her family. But her new teacher doesn’t think Mia’s writing is very good, the motel is struggling, and a new immigration law will threaten everything if it passes.
The True Definition of Neva Beane – Neva negotiates her questions about growing up and about the changes in her family and the world around them through words and their meanings.
Turning Point – Two friends spending a summer apart negotiate new experiences – a new romance for one and a prestigious dance program with unforseen racial tensions for the other – with distance between them.
The Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found – Book 4 in this popular middle grade series. This time, the kids are caring for a person making a home in their community garden’s shed.
Even If We Break (LGBTQ+) – From the author of This Is Where It Ends (♥♥♥♥) and The Oracle Code. Five friends head to a cabin for a last round of their murder mystery game, but this time the game has become all too real. YA thriller fans should check this one out.
Grown – From the author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming (♥♥♥♥½). Enchanted had dreams of stardom, and R&B star, Korey Fields had the power to make her dreams come true. But behind closed doors, Korey was not who his fans thought he was. Now he’s dead, there’s blood on Enchanted’s hands, and she has no memory of what happened.
Legendborn – Expected to be one of the hottest books of the fall season. When Bree moves to a residential program for bright high schoolers, the last thing she expects to encounter are demons and mages. But when a mage calling himself a “Merlin” tries to erase Bree’s memory of what she saw, he unlocks not only her own magic, but her memories of her mother’s death – and the Merlin who was at the hospital. I already have this on hold from the library.
#NoEscape – Book 3 in the #MurderTrending series, which is actually a prequel to the other two books. Twenty years before the first book, #MurderTrending, Persey joins an escape room competition where the competition doesn’t just lose. They die.
Surrender Your Sons (LGBTQ+) – A teen who “comes out” to his mother is sent away to a conversion camp. But nothing at the camp is what it seems. Connor is determined to not only rescue the other kids there, but to expose the camp for what it really is.
Books for Adults
Chance of a Lifetime (Hardcover) – A couple fell in love in 1844 and accidentally changed the future. Now, he has an assignment to meet her again today and push her towards the man she should have married originally. I’m curious about this one. It seems to be a quirky mix of reincarnation and angels and a second chance at love.
Love Is a Battlefield (e-book) – First in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series. Former college roommates scheme to get their adult children to meet on a fishing trip to Oregon. This sounds like a hoot.
Mayhem in Montana (September 20, e-book) – Book 4 in the Accidentally Undercover series. Dora and Evie stay at a ranch to help a friend investigate a murder.
One Winter’s Night (September 16, e-book) – Book 2 in the Kelsey Anderson series. When Kelsey’s friend, Mirren moves to town, at first everything is great. She’s thrilled to have a friend in town, especially when her boyfriend, Jonathan, is in America. But when Mirren uncovers some secrets about Jonathan and his family while working for the local paper, will she pick her career over her friends?
See Her Die (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Bree Taggert series. A homeless teen says her friend was shot, but when Sheriff Bree Taggert arrives at the shuttered campground, there’s no sign of a shooter or a victim. The K-9 unit she calls in finds a body – but not the one they were looking for. This sounds twisty! This book – and the rest in the series – are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Son of a Stitch (e-book) – Book 5 in the Knitorius Murder Mystery series. Megan thought the latest dead body was an accident, but now that she has acquired a stalker, she has to wonder if the two are connected. This book – and the rest in the series – are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (Hardcover) – A new story from the author of Eragon about an alien relic and a deadly secret.
60-Day Enneagram Devotional: Peacemaker AND Helper AND Individualist (Hardcover) – Three Enneagram devotionals release this week. I’m eager to see these in person and see how deep they go.
Dirty Lazy Keto Dirt Cheap Cookbook (Paperback) – 100 Keto recipes, designed to be easy and inexpensive.
The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation: How Knowing Ourselves Can Make Us More Like Jesus (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram resource with an emphasis on spiritual growth and development. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Everything Is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We’re Doing Here (Hardcover) – A new book from Rob Bell.
Football’s Fearless Activists: How Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Fellow Athletes Stood Up to the NFL and President Trump (Hardcover) – Includes interviews and history behind the protests against racial inequality in the NFL.
The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to be You (Trade Paperback) – Understanding and celebrating introversion.
Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life (Hardcover) – I am all for recipes that simplify my life!
You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracles of God’s Presence and Power (Hardcover) – The latest from Max Lucado.