If your kids have already bulldozed through our first round of summer reading recommendations, you’re in luck. We checked back in with NoVA librarians and bookstore staff to find more expert book recommendations for children of all ages.
8 and Under
Paolo, Emperor of Rome by Mac Barnett
“Cute art and a sweet story! Little Paolo, a wiener dog confined to a hair salon, escapes and runs the streets of Rome. Mac Barnett is lauded time and time again for good reason.” — Emma Davis, Hooray for Books!
The Brilliant Ms. Bangle by Cara Devins
“The much-loved librarian has retired. Ms. Bangle is new and unknown. A fun and beautiful story of students getting to know (and maybe, just possibly, like) their new school librarian! With bold illustrations and characters to love!” — Anne Sinclair, Dolley Madison Library
Flora’s Wish by Fiona Halliday
“This is a beautifully layered and tender story of friendship, loss, and grief wrapped gently in the changing seasons. Gorgeous illustrations breathe life into Flora’s journey through joy, sorrow, longing, and letting go but never forgetting.” — Amy Lane, Bards Alley
The Light Inside by Dan Misdea
“This wordless graphic novel is a gem! Young Jack-o-Lantern is afraid of the dark, but his trusty stuffed friend keeps him safe. But, oh no! Jack’s companion gets stolen by a feisty feline. In order to get his friend back, Jack must face his fears and bravely befriend the things that go bump in the night.” — Amy Lane, Bards Alley
That’s Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed
“It’s the first day of school and Mirha is nervous. When no one, not even her teacher, can say her name correctly, she wonders if she will ever be able to make friends and feel comfortable. After some reassurance from her family, she finds her confidence to handle the situation with assertiveness and grace. This book is a great conversation-starter for the beginning of a new school year.” — Jennifer Roy, Brambleton Library
Gustav is Missing!: A Tale of Friendship and Bravery by Andrea Zuill
“Little Cap, the mushroom, and his best friend Gustav, the slug, live a cozy life in their safe little house. The world is a scary place full of unwanted surprises. But when Gustav goes missing, Little Cap must be brave and venture out of his comfort zone to save his best friend. Little Cap’s confidence is tested, but he rises to the challenge and learns the world isn’t as scary as he thought.” — Michelle Miller, Ashburn Library
Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract by Mirka Hokkanen
“One cat is old, and one cat is new. One cat is grumpy, and one cat is happy. These two cats are as opposite as two cats can be, but when grumpy cat reaches his tolerance limit and acts, he feels bad about the consequences. Maybe grumpy cat likes this new family addition more than he thought.” — Michelle Miller, Ashburn Library
Ages 9–12
Monstrous by MarcyKate Connolly
“A criminally underrated read, which I loved growing up. A young chimera girl saves girls from a sickened city and is confronted with tragedy. Compelling, beautiful, haunting.” — Emma Davis, Hooray for Books!
Jacky Ha-Ha: A Graphic Novel by James Patterson
“It’s summer vacation, but it’s a wild ride through Jacky’s New Jersey summer vacation! Filled with mistakes and forgiveness, family and love, it’s a laugh-with-Jacky (not at her) trip down memory lane!” — Anne Sinclair, Dolley Madison Library
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
“Sail into the unknown with adventurers and rebels in Christina Soontornvat’s gripping high-seas fantasy. There [will] be dragons, but also a diverse cast of charismatic characters and a world you’ll never want to leave.” — Amy Woolsey, Bards Alley
The Wildes: The Amazon by Roland Smith
“This is the first in a fun new series about the wilderness adventures of siblings Ring and Asia Wilde. In this fast-paced thrill of a book, they must find out who kidnapped their conservation biologist mother, and why. The reader gets a glimpse into the real-world problems plaguing the rain forest today. Adventurous and quirky characters come together to fight the money hungry villains that want to strip the rainforest for financial gain.” — Nicole Thornton, Brambleton Library
Ages 13–18
This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
“Boarding school has never been this stupid fun! Boys school vs. Girls school, but what do you do when it’s teens vs. adults? Not a masterpiece of a book, but a funny, quick, relatable, and perfect no-judgment read of things we should not do but love to read about others doing!” — Anne Sinclair, Dolley Madison Library
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh
“One beautiful story after another. An anthology of short stories based on South and East Asian folklore. Looking to discover 16 amazing authors at once? Start here.” — Emma Davis, Hooray for Books!
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
“This camp-y slasher had such a consistently creepy vibe, I was terrified to turn the page, but I couldn’t put it down! If you’re a classic horror fan, this one’s for you: a horror-themed camp experience, secret societies, and shocking betrayals all wrapped up in a fast-paced read great for young adults.” — Mallory Sutton, Bards Alley
Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey Novel by Amanda Quain
“This book somehow manages to combine elements of ‘spooky,’ ‘humor,’ and ’emotional depth’ into a pitch-perfect smoothie of a contemporary Young Adult novel. Inspired by Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey — but with the main characters gender-swapped — Ghosted follows put-together high school senior Hattie Tilney as she navigates college applications, her absent headmaster mother’s expectations, grief over her father’s death, and the new boy in school, whose charm and enthusiasm for ghost hunting reopen some doors in her heart that had been long closed. From clever banter to heartfelt reckonings with grief and familial bonds, you’ll fall in love with this book from the first page!” — Lelia Nebeker, One More Page Books
Feature image by Przemek Klos/stock.adobe.com
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