By Kamilla Benko

Perfect for grades 4-6

Nestled in the enchanting realm of Arden, magic thrives in many forms. Spinners wield magic with thread, Forgers with metal, Gemmers with jewels and Tillers with plants. The source of all magic in Adren are unicorns – creatures who are coming back from the brink of being extinct. Twelve-year-old Olivia Hayes, however, finds herself in a peculiar predicament - despite residing in a land brimming with magic, she remains without magic abilities. In stark contrast, her Nan and sister, Laurel, are adept Tillers, wielding their...

When your daughter hears the word 'nonfiction', it might conjure up the thought of a big, boring book with lots of facts and no storyline or pictures. However, more and more nonfiction titles geared towards children are appearing on the shelves.  

We picked 5 amazing, and definitely NOT BORING, nonfiction titles for upper elementary and middle grade girls. From thrill seeking women breaking barriers to how your favorite dessert came to be, these books contain facts that tell a story and keep your reader engaged. 

Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports by Ann McCallum Staats 

Perfect for grades 7 and up

Is your daughter a thrill seeker, sports lover or enjoys the outdoors? Then this book is a perfect selection, as it shares the stories of 15 unique, diverse and modern-day women in extreme sports.

Three incredible stories told in this book include Faith Dickey, a highline walker who uses the extreme sport to overcome fear, Sneha...

Spooky, scary, and horror season is upon us. Leading up to Halloween, children and young adults are searching for stories to knock their socks off and give them a fright. We searched high and low for great reads that will give you chills (and maybe consider sleeping with the lights on). Here are six of our favorite spooky stories, some with a bit of humor, for all ages. 

Poultrygeist by Eric Geron, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Perfect for grades K-3

This spooky, yet humorous, picture book takes a fresh spin on an old joke, "Why did the chicken cross the road".  A chicken bravely crossing the road but is sadly flatted by a semitruck. The animals who have gone before him have to break the news - the chicken is now on THE OTHER SIDE. Your child will enjoy the beautiful and colorful illustrations, along with interactive storyline to discover what really happens on the other side.  

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney

Perfect...

It is important for young girls to see themselves represented in book characters. When young girls can relate to strong female character in a story it helps them build strength, know it is acceptable to be vulnerable, and provides examples of creative solutions in relatable life situations. 

On the flip side, it is also important for readers to see young girls from different backgrounds in a story because it brings visibility to cultural differences, builds empathy, and creates unity.

We picked six girl-power novels for your middle grade reader to find relatable characters and learn from others in a different life situations. 

In a Flash by Donna Jo Napoli

Simona and Carolina's father is a beloved cook in Italy but when the Italian ambassador request his cooking skills in Japan, the girls travel thousand of miles to have an adventure with their Papa. At first, living in Japan is exciting and each sister works to learn the language and customs.

But...

Graphic novels are one of my favorite type of books because it combines art and text to bring the story alive. Here are my favorite graphic novels for your middle grade reader. 

All's Faire in Middle School 

By Victoria Jamieson

Imogene (Impy) is raised by parents working the Renaissance Faire. She loves all that goes into a fair and can't wait to begin her own training. Impy's quest is to attend public school after being homeschooled her whole life. But public school is not as adventurous as she hoped and there are a ton of rules to follow. Will Impy complete her quest and become a brave knight? Watch the book trailer here. 

Guts

By Raina Telgemeier

It all starts with a stomach ache. Once her family gets over a bug, Raina realizes her stomach pain is not going away. Raina worries about a lot of things - school, friends, siblings, food and most importantly, if someone is going to puke around her. This is the author's true story about dealing with her food and...