Book Recs dinosaur with book logo
  • 4 stars out of 5

What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie

Twelve year old Ginny and her older brother Leo are not pleased to be spending a whole month of summer vacation with their parents deep in the Saugatuck woods at...

  • 5 stars out of 5

Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel

The title draws in the reader’s eyes; how can “killer underwear” be part of a nonfiction title?  The book aims to help the young reader develop critical thinking skills needed...

  • 5 stars out of 5

Barb The Last Berzerker by Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson

An endless war has been waged between humans and monsters, and only the bravest among them—The Berzerkers—can defeat the monsters and save the world of Bailiwick once and for all!...

  • 5 stars out of 5

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris

This book is just the perfect mix of fun, ridiculous, and adorable.  There is a cat who has been bioengineered to to be a hero, a toe-nail clipping robot looking...

Poverty & Hunger: A Reading List for Grade School

Living in poverty means that people are often going without basic needs such as food, clothing, and adequate shelter. We hope these selections serve to educate and encourage a dialogue...

  • 5 stars out of 5

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

Aster was born to be a shape shifter, but he wants to be a witch.  He knows he can do it and do it well, but his family does not...

Posted by on December 22, 2022

Indigenous Voices & Experiences: A Reading List for Grade School

We hope these selections serve to educate, celebrate, and encourage dialogue on the diverse nations, cultures, and experiences of Native peoples throughout North America. Celebrate Native American Heritage Month—and continue...

  • 5 stars out of 5

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat

Twelve Thai boys and their soccer coach bike out to a cave to explore. What they couldn’t have planned on was the rain that would flood the cave in the...

  • 5 stars out of 5

Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Starfish by Lisa Fipps tells the story of 11 year old Ellie who is carrying the weight of being fat shamed at school and at home. She spends her life...

Posted by on May 26, 2022

  • 5 stars out of 5

New From Here by Kelly Yang

Drawn from the author’s own experiences, this is a moving story that explores the stress that a pandemic can put on an Asian-American family.

Social Justice in Poetry and Verse: A Reading List for Children and Families

We hope these selections of poetry and books in verse serve to educate and encourage a dialogue on topics of social justice.

Black Voices & Experiences: A Reading List for Children and Families

Celebrate Black History Month with books by Black authors and writing focusing on Black voices, characters, history, and culture. We hope these selections serve to educate and encourage a dialogue...

  • 5 stars out of 5

Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman

Kabir was born in an Indian prison.  His mother, an inmate, is innocent, but she is also a member of the lowest Indian caste, poor, and without recourse to her...

  • 5 stars out of 5

It’s Trevor Noah: Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah is known in the USA as the host of The Daily Show since 2015, but this book tells the story of his youth.  Trevor Noah grew up in...

Posted by on December 2, 2021

YTS Staff Picks 2021 – Our Favorite Books of the year

Check out some of our Youth & Teen Services staff favorites, all published in 2021. These books represent a wide variety of formats and intended audiences. We hope you will...

Posted by on November 22, 2021

Book Recs