BLOGS > OCTOBER 27, 2022
Are you looking for fun and thought-provoking books to share with your students in Grades K-5? Don't miss these upcoming new releases that are sure to spark student interest!
The Lights that Dance in the Night
Author: Yuval Zommer
Available: November 1, 2022
“A glowing tribute to a remarkable natural wonder.” -Kirkus Reviews
In the next picture book from the creator of the holiday hit The Tree That's Meant to Be, the northern lights bring wonder and joy to all the creatures who bask in their mysterious glow. In this wonderfully festive picture book, Yuval Zommer imagines the northern lights' fleeting journey from space to Earth and how they weave a special magic for the animals and people living in the frozen lands below. With its heartfelt themes of kinship, curiosity, and the wonders of nature, it's a perfectly cozy story for families to read together.
Author: Jory John Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Available: November 1, 2022
“Sweet, good-hearted fun.” -Kirkus Reviews
Jory John and Pete Oswald serve up another heaping plate of laughs and lessons with this empowering, witty, and charming addition to their #1 New York Times best-selling series!
The Sour Grape holds grudges for every reason under the sun. Lime never returned a scarf they borrowed? Grudge! Orange never called back? Grudge! But when a friend holds a grudge against the Sour Grape without listening to an explanation, the Sour Grape realizes how unfair grudges can be. Could a bunch of forgiveness and compassion be enough to turn a sour grape sweet?
Welcome to the Island (Isla of Adventure, Book 1)
Author: Dela Costa
Available: January 31, 2023
“A well-paced adventure with simple language, this is an excellent selection for beginning readers...A charming start to a new adventure series.” -Kirkus Reviews
Meet the ever-curious Isla Verde, a young girl with a secret — she can speak with animals — in the first book of an all-new chapter book series! With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Isla of Adventure chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.
Author: Cindy Derby
Available: December 6, 2022
“Derby’s natural inclination to play with paint like a child in a mud puddle comes fully to her aid here...Our hero is bound to find fast friends with ill-mannered readers everywhere.” -Kirkus Reviews
From Caldecott Honoree Cindy Derby comes an uproarious tale about an etiquette coach and the sentient paint blob that just might teach her proper manners.
Publisher/Producer Advertisement: For more information, visit titlewave.com
An Author Interview with Don Everts
December 17, 2025
What peculiar thread connects secret superpowers, chicken farming, Victorian architecture, and the impossible awkwardness of being 14? Debut middle grade author Don Everts weaves it together for us in this conversation about his new book, Oscar and the Mystery of...
Read more
An Author Interview with Sara Amini and Illustrator Shadia Amin
December 17, 2025
Author Sara Amini and artist Shadia Amin team up for this charming, semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic memoir that explores evolving friendships, puberty mishaps, and finding a place to belong. Navigating life as a multiracial girl has never been more hilarious...
Read more
An Author Interview with Katherine Applegate
December 17, 2025
Go behind the scenes with Newbery Medal-winning author and literary superstar Katherine Applegate as she discusses her returns with two exciting new titles releasing in spring! First up is The Littlest Elephant, a picture book adaptation of the best-selling middle grade...
Read more
An Author Interview with Amy Timberlake and Illustrator Jon Klassen
December 17, 2025
Award-winning author Amy Timberlake and illustrator Jon Klassen team up to bring you the latest in the Skunk and Badger trilogy. Rock Paper Incisors follows odd-couple roommates Skunk and Badger as they explore the complexity of friendship and the meaning...
Read more
What We're Reading: Best of 2025
November 17, 2025
As the year wraps up, we’re highlighting the top books that sparked curiosity, inspired learning, and kept students turning pages in 2025. These eight standout titles – from award-winning historical fiction to imaginative adventures and engaging picture books – are...
Read more
Get Ahead of the 2026 ALA YMAs with These 5 Must-Read Contender Titles
November 1, 2025
This month, we’re diving into the most buzzworthy books of the year – handpicked by our Curation Team from our ALA Youth Media Award Contenders book list. These standout titles are generating serious award chatter, and we’re reading them now to...
Read more